Archives

THS strives to preserve the architectural, social, and cultural past of American theatres. The THS archival collection contains information on over 18,000 theatres across the country with holdings dating back to the late 1800s. Made up of photographic prints, operational records, blueprints, photo negatives and slides, programs, books, artifacts, newspaper clippings, artwork, and magazines, the collection represents the largest public collection of material documenting movie theatre architecture in America.

We invite you to join us as we celebrate, document and promote America’s historic theatres by engaging in our archive treasures.

Submit Research Request

Online Catalog

Finding Aids

THS does not currently have an archivist on staff, and our collections are stored in a 3rd party storage facility. All research requests are reviewed by the THS Archives committee, and we cannot guarantee our capability of fulfilling requests. We please ask that researchers review the finding aids that we have online and specifically cite the collection, box, and if possible, folders they are interested in.

Research request fees – Please note that there may be fees for submitting research requests that require consulting THS collections. A member of the THS Archives committee will contact you with a quote for the services you are requesting, and we will require payment before the research request will be acted on. This process may take several weeks.

Reproduction request fees – Please note that there may be fees for submitting a request for digital reproductions from the THS collections. A member of the THS Archives committee will contact you with a quote for the services you are requesting, and we will require payment before the reproductions will be created and delivered. This process may take several weeks.

Usage fees – When it is deemed appropriate, THS reserves the right to charge additional usage fees in addition to the reproduction request fees. THS will provide the required citation information to ensure that the materials are correctly identified. When usage is permitted, it is for one-time only. Future usage of collection materials must be shared with and approved by THS.

Policies and Procedures for Collection Reproduction and Usage

  1. All researchers requiring reproductions of material from collections held by the archives must complete the reproduction and usage form describing the item(s) desired. If you have a deadline for the receipt of materials, please indicate the deadline on the form.
  2. Creation of copies does not include permission to publish or use for anything other than research/personal reference without receiving necessary usage permission.
  3. Not all reproduction requests can be accommodated due to material format or preservation issues.
  4. Acceptable forms of payment are credit card or check. Payment is required before processing a request.
  5. All researchers requesting usage of material from photographic or manuscript collections held by the archives must indicate as appropriate the intended usage; title of publications/display/presentation; date of publication/display/presentation; publisher; print run; language(s). Usage fees will be charged in addition to reproduction fees.
  6. The copyright law of the U.S. (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to make a photocopy or reproduction. One of the specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for a purpose which does not qualify as “fair use,” that user may be individually liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law or other applicable law.
  7. The reproductions are provided by the Theatre Historical Society “as is” without warranties of any kind. THSA makes no ownership, copyright or licensure representations and extends no warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including, but not limited to warranties of ownership, merchantability, accuracy, fitness for a particular purpose, or copyright infringement.
  8. The entire risk as to the use of the reproductions provided herein is assumed by the Requestor; provided further that the Requestor agrees to indemnify and hold THSA harmless from any and all costs (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), damages, and/or liabilities, whether actual or threatened, that arise as a result of the Requestor’s use of the reproductions.
  9. Citations/Credits for use of THS archival materials must follow the convention below:

    Theatre Historical Society of America, [Collection Name/Number], [Image Name/Number], [Date]