The Archives and Special Collections Reading Room appointments are closed through February 2025, and reference services are limited as we relocate our collections to a new vault. Please contact us with any questions.
The UCSF Archives and Special Collections reading room is free and open to the public. Due to the unique and often fragile nature of our collections, materials are available for access under supervised use and by appointment only. We also offer remote reference and reproduction services.
Plan your research
Find materials
- You can search all of our collection material using UC Library Search and the Online Archive of California.
- Browse our digital collections and major collecting areas that include thousands of images, documents, and other digital files. Learn more about how we are providing our archives as data.
Schedule a reference appointment
- To schedule an online reference appointment, you must first submit a request. You can make a request by logging in to your Archives and Special Collections Request System Account and selecting New Request.
- Each appointment must have at least one request associated with it, and all appointments must be confirmed by staff.
- We can provide you with subject area expertise, help you identify relevant materials, and provide assistance for using our Request System.
Request material to view in-person
- A request link is provided for each record and archival collection. When you click on the request link, you can request the specific item to consult with in the reading room. Your materials will be waiting for you on your selected date of arrival.
- If you have not already created a Request System Account, you will be prompted to do so when you hit the request link. Once you have an account, you will be able to log in at any time to view and manage your requests.
Request materials or permissions
- Make a reproduction request in our Request System.
- To request permission to publish materials provided by UCSF Archives and Special Collections, please contact us. Note that we can only license materials where the copyright is specifically held by the UC Regents.
Meet the Archives Staff
Edith Escobedo
Processing Archivist
Polina Ilieva
Associate University Librarian for Collections, University Archivist
Lisa Nguyen
Digital Archivist
Lupe Samano
University Records Archivist
Kate Tasker
Director of the Industry Documents Library
Rachel Taketa
Industry Documents Library Processing and Reference Archivist
Allison Tracy-Taylor
Oral History Archivist
Peggy Tran-Le
Research and Technical Services Managing Archivist
Sean Purcell
Digital Health Humanities Program Coordinator
Emma James
Industry Documents Library Project Archivist
Connect with us
Subscribe and follow
Subscribe to get the Archives Digest email newsletter.
Follow us on X at @ucsf_archives.
Find us
Open to the public by appointment Wednesday – Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. If you have questions, please contact us.
530 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, Fifth Floor