Archives & Library

How to Access

The Paul Mellon Centre’s Archives and Library collections are open to everyone and there is no charge for accessing the materials. To make the process as straightforward as possible, we have provided a large amount of information online. We strongly urge anyone interested in our collections to consult these online resources prior to contacting us.

What Service Do We Offer?

If you have an enquiry about the Archives & Library collections at the Paul Mellon Centre, we are happy to help. Before contacting us, we strongly recommend that you visit our Archives & Library Collections webpages where you will find general information about our holdings as well as more detailed information about our individual collections.

Alternatively, if you are already familiar with our holdings, we recommend that you search our catalogues in order to identify if we hold material of relevance to your query.

If, after looking at the information already available online, you have a question about our holdings or would like help with an enquiry, you are welcome to use our enquiry service.

There is no charge for this service but please note that we are a small team and there may be limitations on our time. Enquiries will be addressed on a case-by-case basis and we will do our best to help you.

Please Contact Us providing details of:

  • your name and contact information
  • the nature of your enquiry (please provide as much information relevant to your query as possible)
  • how you think we might help.

We aim to reply to enquiries within five working days of receipt.

Services We Are Unable To Offer

The Centre does not hold any of Paul Mellon’s art collection. If you are interested in finding out about this, you should contact the Yale Center for British Art.

The Centre does not provide opinions on, authenticate, or offer valuations on works of art. However, you are very welcome to make an appointment to consult the Centre’s Archives & Library to undertake the research yourself.

Other Services We Offer

If you would like to consult Archives & Library material in person at the Paul Mellon Centre, please book an appointment.

If you would like to request copies of Archives & Library material please complete our Request for Digital Images form.