Frequently Asked Questions

What are your hours?

The Southeastern Architectural Archive is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am - 12:00 noon and from 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm.  The SEAA observes Tulane University holidays, so it is best to verify operating hours prior to a campus visit.

Do I need to make an appointment?

The Southeastern Architectural Archive strongly recommends that all researchers make appointments to consult archival records. This ensures that the requested items are available.  80% of the SEAA's holdings are located in an Off-Site Storage Facility and the SEAA requires a two-week notification to retrieve off-site materials.  No appointment is necessary to view SEAA exhibitions, consult reference works, or use the Garden Library of the New Orleans Town Gardeners.

Where are you located?

The Southeastern Architectural Archive is located on the Uptown Campus of Tulane University. Its Reading Room and the Garden Library of the New Orleans Town Gardeners are located in Room 300, Joseph Merrick Jones Hall, 6801 Freret Street. More information regarding our location, driving directions, and parking may be found here link.

Can I check out materials?

No.  The Southeastern Architectural Archive and the Garden Library of the New Orleans Town Gardeners are non-circulating repositories.

Can I get copies made of SEAA or Garden Library materials?

Normally, yes.  Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction.  One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.  United States copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code) governs the making of photocopies and other reproductions of copyrighted material.  Consult with SEAA staff before assuming that copy services are an option.

How do I search archival collections?

The Southeastern Architectural Archive’s card catalog and online collection guides list individual projects by known identification (building name, patron, and/or street address).  For the online resources, researchers can search an individual collection finding aid by using the “find” feature within the portable document format (pdf) file.  Researchers can search across multiple collections’ finding aids by using an Internet search engine such as google, and by entering known information (building name, patron, or street address) in quote marks followed by the qualifier “Southeastern Architectural Archive.”

Not all collection inventories are online.  Researchers may consult the SEAA card catalog, located in the Reading Room, during our regular business hours.  Card catalog indexing is based on information recorded on the project work, perhaps by building name, patron and/or street address.  Knowing this information prior to arrival at the SEAA will expedite the research process.

Will you research something for me?

While we can refer you to resources that may be helpful, SEAA staff cannot do research for you.  There are many freelance researchers working in the New Orleans metropolitan area who may be able to provide their services.

Any other tips?

The SEAA maintains supplementary materials to assist researchers in finding information about the built environment in the Gulf Region.  We retain historic atlases, Sanborn maps of New Orleans (coverage dating from 1876), New Orleans city directories (from 1856), and a growing collection of trade catalogs and manuals.