If you are planning a visit to any archive or special collection, make sure to contact them directly before visiting. Many items are stored off site or need special arrangements for use, so give as much lead time as possible.
Tips for archival researchers from Barbara Heck, Elizabeth Preston, and Bill Svec, "A Survival Guide for Archival Researchers" from the December 2004 issue of Perspectives on History: The Newsmagazine of the American Historical Society
