Department of Art

Collections: Works of art, posters, art medals, postcards and printed ephemera.
Study facilities: Main Building, Lambeth Road (map) - the Print Room and Photographic Services are open by appointment, Monday-Friday, 10.00am - 5.00pm
Copy material supplied: In-house access to an image database with over 3000 images with colour print-out facility. Black and white reference photocopies, hire of 5x4" colour transparencies from stock (allow 4 weeks for new photography), black and white photographic prints may be ordered (Photograph Archive rates and availability apply).
Copyright: Much of the collection is Crown copyright and licence fees are administered by the Department. 
Enquiries about art images should be referred to artimages@iwm.org.uk (Tel: +44 (0)20 7416 5215)

Department of Documents

Collections: Personal letters, diaries, manuscripts, unpublished memoirs, foreign documents and war crimes trials records.
Study facilities: Main Building, Lambeth Road (map) - the Reading Room is open to any member of the public Monday - Saturday 10.00am - 5.00pm (14 years and under to be accompanied by an adult). Please make an appointment as seats are sometimes limited. The Department is closed during the last two full weeks at the end of May. Study room now available for wheelchair users and others unable to negotiate stairs. For details of special facilities please telephone 020 7416 5222
Copy material supplied: Black and white photocopies (small quantities available the same day). Colour photocopies, photocopies of material larger than A3 and special photography can be arranged on request. Limited film/photography by the customer may be arranged subject to a facility fee.
Copyright: Largely private copyright holders for personal documents.

Department of Exhibits and Firearms

Collections: Three-dimensional objects - including artillery, vehicles and small craft, uniforms, medals and insignia, weapons, flags, communications equipment, models, medical equipment, cameras, toys, currency and ephemera.
Study facilities: Main Building, Lambeth Road (map) -  researchers are seen by appointment in one of the Department's visitor rooms, open Monday-Friday, 10.00am - 5.00pm (prior booking essential as space is limited).
Please note: much material is located at the Imperial War Museum Duxford, in Cambridgeshire. Access details from the Department.
Firearms Collection: Access to the Firearms Collection is for bona fide research only, by written application to Keeper, Exhibits and Firearms. Proof of identity is needed.
Copy material supplied: Black and white photocopies, polaroids (usually available the same day). Special photography may be arranged subject to a facility fee. Copyright: Restrictions on the copying of banknotes. British orders, medals, decorations and insignia are Crown copyright.

Film and Video Archive

Collections: Footage shot by service cameramen, newsreels, documentaries, amateur footage and television programmes.
Study facilities: All Saints Annexe, Austral Street (map).
Opening times: Monday - Friday 10.00 am - 5.00pm
Appointments are necessary to research the catalogue, card indexes and associated documentation and to view films and videos. 24 hours notice is normally sufficient to research. 5-7 working days notice is normally required to arrange a viewing as the films and videos have to be retrieved from external storage.
Copy material supplied: Non-commercial users contact film@iwm.org.uk for further information. Commercial reproduction of any material must be cleared with the Imperial War Museum.
Commercial users contact filmcommercial@iwm.org.uk for further information.
Copyright: The collection is mostly Crown copyright or in the ownership of the Imperial War Museum. Where rights are held elsewhere the appropriate permission will be required before material can be released. See Film and Video Archive's Terms and Conditions

Department of Printed Books

Collections: Books, pamphlets, periodicals, maps, technical drawings, aerial propaganda leaflets and ephemera including song-sheets, stamps, theatre programmes and army forms.
Study facilities: Main Building, Lambeth Road (map) - the Reading Room is open to any member of the public Monday - Saturday 10.00am - 5.00pm (14 years and under to be accompanied by an adult). Please make an appointment as seats are sometimes limited. Limitations imposed by the design of our 19th Century building mean that access to the Reading Room is difficult for many disabled visitors. However, alternative facilities are available. The Reading Room is closed for stocktaking during the last two full weeks in May, but telephone, email and fax enquiry services remain open. Some material is held off-site and so some days' notice may be required before it can be made available in the reading room. Study room now available for wheelchair users and others unable to negotiate stairs. We also have special cctv and voice simulation equipment to help blind and visually impaired people to read some of our material. For details of special facilities please telephone 020 7416 5342
Copy material supplied: Black and white photocopies (within 1 week), black and white reproductions and photocopies of maps, reproductions of microfilms. Special photography and fax transmissions may be arranged subject to a facility fee (Photograph Archive rates and availability apply). Colour reproductions can be arranged.
Copyright: Copies are supplied in accordance with restrictions imposed by current legislation. Reproduction fees may be charged.

Photograph Archive

Collections: Photographs by official military, professional and private photographers.
Study facilities: All Saints Annexe, Austral Street (map) - see map. The Visitors Room is open by appointment, Monday-Friday, 10.00am - 5.00pm.
Copy material supplied: Fuji Pictrostat prints available same day, provided original can be copied. Black and white hand-printed photographs in a range of sizes made to order - allow four weeks; a 'rush service' is available at additional cost. Colour transparencies, where available may be hired. Black and white reference photocopies made the same day.
Copyright: The bulk of the collection is Crown copyright. Applications for reproduction rights should be addressed to the Keeper, Photograph Archive. Please note that the rights for works of art and posters are administered separately by the Department of Art. Copies are supplied in accordance with restrictions imposed by current legislation. Reproduction fees may be charged.
Copy material supplied: Black and white photocopies (within 1 week), black and white reproductions and photocopies of maps, reproductions of microfilms. Special photography and fax transmissions may be arranged subject to a facility fee (Photograph Archive rates and availability apply). Colour reproductions can be arranged.

Sound Archive

Collections: Mainly oral history interviews; also speeches, broadcasts, sound effects, lectures, poetry readings.
Study facilities: Main Building, Lambeth Road (map) the Reading Room is open to any member of the public Monday - Saturday 10.00am - 5.00pm (14 years and under to be accompanied by an adult). Please make an appointment as seats are sometimes limited. Limitations imposed by the design of our 19th Century building mean that access to the Reading Room is difficult for manby disabled visitors, however a study room is available for wheelchair users and others unable to negotiate the stairs. The Reading Room is closed for stocktaking during the last two full weeks in May. All visitors may listen to recordings and consult printed and database catalogues. Some typescripts are avilable.
Copy material supplied: Copies may be ordered on audio cassette, CD or DAT, subject to copyright.
Copyright: Largely Museum copyright; reproduction fees are charged.