Research

The Museum’s on-line catalog will provide you with a great deal of information about specific items in the Museum’s collection. However, the Public Museum also makes historical and scientific material in its collections available to qualified persons under circumstances that ensure preservation of the material and appropriate dissemination of the resulting information.

If you are interested in obtaining access to the Museum’s collections or collection records, you will need to make an appointment in advance to visit the Museum’s off-site facility known as the Community Archives and Research Center, which is located about three-quarters of a mile from the Museum’s downtown Van Andel Museum Center exhibition facility.

For collection questions, or to schedule an appointment to obtain access to the research center, please call the Museum’s collection management office at (616) 456-3973 or email your request to the Museum’s curator of collections and preservation.

When you contact us, you’ll be sent research guidelines, a research & access agreement form, directions, and a fee schedule that outlines potential costs that may be associated with photocopying, photographic duplication, publication, etc.

On-line Catalog

For online access to a database of the Museum’s collections, Click here http://www.communityarchive.org and select “SEARCH” on bottom menu bar.