Indigenous Collections

Learn how to access or donate to our collections

The collections of the American Philosophical Society's (APS) Library & Museum contain material related to the languages, cultures, histories, and continuity of more than 650 different Indigenous peoples, primarily in North and Central America. They include:

Archival collections from the 1500s to the present day
Manuscripts including field notebooks, correspondence, maps, and compilations of stories and vocabularies
Over 5,500 hours of audio and video recordings, from the 1920s to the 2020s
Tens of thousands of photographs and other images of Indigenous peoples and places
Rare books, and hard-to-find local publications, touching upon community histories from many eras

Access to Collections

Explore the Indigenous Subject Guide

Our goal is to assist in finding and utilizing the extensive archival collections at the APS's Library & Museum in innovative ways that honor Indigenous knowledge, cultivate scholarship, and strengthen languages and cultural traditions.

The Indigenous Subject Guide provides detailed information for learning more about Indigenous materials in our collections. Check out our video tutorial for tips on how to use this Guide and ways to request materials.

CNAIR digitizes archival materials for free for Indigenous community researchers and work in direct support of Indigenous community-led initiatives. Indigenous communities are not required to work through third parties to obtain access.

How to find and request material (video tutorial)

Donating to the Collections

CNAIR accepts donations to the collections of the APS Library & Museum, including new materials produced by contemporary projects and materials created by scholars over their career of work. The many types of materials actively added to the collection include

audio and video (both digital and analog)
original written materials
photographs
rare and local publications
ephemera

Donated materials do not need to be connected to academic disciplines. CNAIR's collection development policy seeks to archive materials reflecting the full breadth of Indigenous history, presence, and lived experience.

Please inquire with [email protected] in advance regarding any prospective donations.