- Visiting the Library & Archives
- Research & Reproductions
- Donating Materials
- Club Records & Archival Deposits
Visiting the Library & Archives
Do I need an appointment to view or research collections?
Yes. Research visits are by appointment only, so that staff can pull and prepare your requested materials. Please provide at least 48 hours’ notice, and note that a photo ID is required for entry.
To schedule an appointment, please use this form.
What are your hours of operation?
Appointments are available: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Library & Archives is closed on Wednesdays.
Where is the AKC Library & Archives located?
101 Park Avenue, New York, NY, just south of Grand Central Station and a few floors above the Museum of the Dog.
What is in the AKC Library & Archives?
- AKC administrative and historical records: minutes, reports, correspondence
- Club records: founding documents, by-laws, and premium lists.
- Personal papers of prominent breeders, judges, and fanciers
- Visual materials: photographs, negatives, scrapbooks, and ephemera
- Book and periodicals: approximately 15,000 volumes, including the AKC Gazette, stud books, and breed histories.
Research & Reproductions
How can I explore the collections?
- Use the library catalog, Caius, to search for books, periodicals, etc.
- Use the Archives database to browse finding aids and collection descriptions.
- Use the Digital Library to search and read past issues of the AKC Gazette and historic show catalogs.
- All past issues of the AKC Gazette are available online and free of charge and can be filtered by year, keyword, and section (main body, Secretary’s Pages, event results).
How do I research pedigrees or registration history?
Start by contacting the AKC Registration or Customer Service departments at info@akc.org or 919-233-9767.
If the dog’s registration predates our electronic databases, Registration or Customer Service will contact the Library & Archives on your behalf to conduct a manual search.
For historical pedigree research, you may also schedule an in-person visit to consult the Stud Book register and related archival materials.
I am unable to visit in person. Can I request remote research assistance and is there a fee?
The Library & Archives provides complimentary reference assistance for brief inquiries. Requests requiring extended staff time, including complex or multi-source searches or those with incomplete citations, are handled as fee-based research services and subject to staff availability, the condition of materials, and any applicable restrictions.
The fee for premium research & historical pedigree research is $75 per hour and includes up to 10 pages of copying/scanning per hour.
Please note that reproductions are provided as a service to support research. Requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and depend on the condition and format of the materials, copyright status, donor or institutional restrictions, and staff capacity. Reproduction does not constitute permission to publish, distribute, or otherwise reproduce materials.
Donating Materials
Can I donate my personal or club’s records to the AKC Archives?
The AKC Archives primarily collects club records and AKC administrative records. While we do occasionally accession personal collections from prominent breeders, handlers, and judges, our focus is generally on materials created and maintained by clubs.
What’s the process for donating materials to the Archives?
All potential donations must be reviewed by Archives staff in advance. Materials should not be sent without prior approval. Unsolicited materials will not be retained and may be disposed of without notice.
Submission and Review
Prospective donors are asked to submit a preliminary inventory describing the materials offered. This inventory should include, as applicable:
- Format (print/paper, audio-visual, or digital)
- Condition (for example: excellent, good, fair, or poor)
- Approximate extent (number of boxes, folders, or files)
- Donor contact information, including name, address, phone number, and email address
- Relevant information about provenance, access restrictions, or special preservation considerations
Archives staff may request additional information to evaluate the materials, including details regarding privacy concerns, legal restrictions, or preservation needs.
Selection Criteria
Materials may be selected for acquisition if they:
- Fall within the Archives’ collecting areas
- Align with established collecting strengths
- Are likely to be of value to researchers
- Can be adequately supported by the Archives in terms of processing, preservation, and access
The Archives reserves the right to decline materials that are moldy, dirty, unstable, or otherwise pose a risk to staff or existing collections. Materials may be accepted in whole or in part, at the discretion of Archives staff.
Acceptance and Transfer
Donors will be notified by email if materials are not accepted.
If materials are accepted, in whole or in part, they will be formally transferred to the AKC Library & Archives through a Deed of Gift. This agreement outlines the terms governing ownership, access, copyright, and any future deaccessioning. Execution of a Deed of Gift is required for all acquisitions.
The Deed of Gift is typically provided by email for electronic signature. Once the agreement has been completed, Archives staff will coordinate delivery instructions with the donor.
Club Records & Archival Deposits
Can member clubs donate to the Archives?
At this time, the AKC Archives must prioritize parent club collections due to space and labor limitations. However, the Archivist is willing to consider donations from member clubs based on size, historical importance, research value, and other factors. Parent clubs may choose to curate and include important member club materials in their collections.
What type of material should our club send?
Materials sent to the AKC Archives should be primary sources. Primary sources include original meeting minutes, constitutions, by-laws, correspondences, photographs, negatives, original research, catalogs, premium lists, lists of prominent sires and dams, audio and videotapes. Secondary sources, such as published materials, including catalogs or yearbooks, are primarily within the library’s jurisdiction. The AKC Library does accept books, which are housed on its shelves, and rare books, which are kept in a secure location and accessed under strict supervision. The entire library catalog is available here.
How should my club get started?
Club officers and members should begin by compiling a clear inventory of materials that have been preserved, as well as those that still need to be gathered. Once you have a working list, contact the Archivist to discuss the scope and significance of the materials in your inventory. Sharing this inventory will allow the Archivist to evaluate the collection and begin the conversation about a potential donation, including preparation of a Deed of Gift.
What is the purpose of the Deed of Gift? Do we need to sign it?
The Deed of Gift outlines the terms governing ownership, access, copyright, and any future deaccessioning. A Deed of Gift is required for all acquisitions and should be signed by your club officer. Collections that have not been legally deposited with the AKC Archives through a Deed of Gift will not be processed.
Can we place access restrictions on our records?
Yes, clubs are free to restrict whole collections or certain materials so that only specified parties (such as officers or members) can access them. These restrictions should be clearly outlined in the Deed of Gift prior to the donation of the collection.
Who will incur the expense of shipping and handling?
Shipping expenses of materials must be handled by the donating individual or club.
How are collections assembled and stored?
All club records are closely scrutinized by the AKC Archivist. The Archivist ensures that archival-quality information is available to the public for research purposes. The records are analyzed, arranged, stored, and cataloged into a database. Depending on their access and storage requirements, physical collections are kept on-site or in a secure off-site facility.
AKC departments and the AKC Dog Museum probably have enough information about our club. Why more?
Records prior to the AKC’s commencement of electronic record-keeping in 1980 may not be comprehensively preserved, and digital preservation amongst clubs may be scattered and not suitable for long-term preservation. Thus, we need to solicit the clubs in an effort to create the most complete historical record of the sport possible.
Can we request our records back?
Once officially accessioned, materials are retained permanently. We may occasionally allow the loan of items (for exhibits or digitization) on a case-by-case basis.
Will our records get digitized?
Only a portion of materials are digitized. The AKC Archives does not have the capacity to support large-scale digitization projects. Digitization is prioritized based on historical significance, research demand, staff availability, and preservation needs.
What if we want the original records back and not a copy?
In general, no. Materials donated to the AKC Archives are considered permanent transfers and are not returned. In rare cases, the AKC Executive Secretary and Archivist may consider exceptions on a case-by-case basis.
Can we give the AKC Archives the copies rather than the originals?
The AKC Archives prefers the originals because they are primarily what researchers seek in a repository. However, if only copies of historically significant documents are available, we would certainly consider including them in the archives.
What is the Archivist’s role for clubs that have an appointed archivist or historian maintaining records?
A club is at liberty to maintain its own records. Submission to the AKC Archives is voluntary. For clubs with an appointed archivist or historian, the AKC Archivist can offer guidance on collecting and preserving materials.
Do we want marked or unmarked catalogs?
AKC already maintains the records for its events. Our complete run of marked historic catalogs through 1983 has been digitized and made accessible in our Digital Library. We are interested only in historic catalogs missing from this collection.
Do you want copies of our newsletters?
Yes. Newsletters can provide valuable information for future researchers. However, many newsletters are already held by the AKC Library & Archives. A catalog of our newsletters can be found here.
If a record is closed, what does that mean?
It means records are not accessible to the public unless researchers can provide enough evidence that they are conducting valuable research. In this case, a written request must be made in writing to the AKC. The request will be taken into consideration by various departments. However, in most cases, a closed record remains inaccessible for a period of time (e.g. 50 or 75 years). This is done to protect the privacy of any living individual(s).