Research
The Computer History Museum welcomes use of its collections by all researchers, including teachers, students, media members, intellectual property specialists and computer hobbyists. The archival collection consists of manuals, books, marketing brochures, periodicals, technical reports and other types of documentation listed in more than 32,000 catalog entries in our collections database as well as over 27,000 physical artifact entries.
Using the Collection for Research
To begin, we suggest searching the museum's collections database to find applicable materials. Audiovisual materials may be requested by sending us an Audiovisual Request. For all other research requests, please email us at Research to:
- Discuss a research project in general
- Seek access to the collection
- Request a complimentary search of our collections to determine if we have materials relating to your needs
Research Policies & Fees
Museum membership is required for access to research materials. Your membership fees help support our mission to preserve the history of computing for future generations. Membership rates vary based on use of the collection.
| RESEARCH TYPE | MEMBERSHIP LEVEL | HOURLY RATES | PHOTOCOPIES |
| Student | Student ($60/year) | FREE (3 Hours Max) | $0.50/page |
| General | General ($75/year) | $50/hour | $0.50/page |
| Professional | Professional Researcher ($1000/year) | $150/hour | $0.50/page |
General & Student Researcher
Individuals writing scholarly papers, dissertations, pursuing other academic projects, or having a keen interest in computing history are asked to join the Museum at the General level. Students may join the Museum at the Student level. We will gladly consider waiving fees for graduate or undergraduate students with a valid university ID. These students may email us at Research for further assistance.
General Membership Level entitles members to:
- 1 free hour of research assistance per year
- Additional hours are billed at $50 an hour
- CHM Digital Quarterly Newsletter
- CHM Digital Core Magazine
- Unlimited Admission for Member
- 10% Store & Cafe Discount
- Priority Access & Free Admission to CHM Lectures
Student Membership Level entitles members to:
- 3 free hours of research assistance per year
- CHM Digital Quarterly Newsletter
- CHM Digital Core Magazine
- Unlimited Admission for Member
- 10% Store & Cafe Discount
- Priority Access & Free Admission to CHM Lectures
Professional Researcher
Individuals representing professional or corporate entities for which the research outcome is financial (for example: lawyers, consultants, corporations, the motion picture industry) must become members at the Professional Researcher level ($1,000) before accessing the collection.
Professional Researcher Membership entitles members to:
- 1 free hour of research assistance per year
- Additional hours are billed at $150 an hour
- CHM Digital Quarterly Newsletter
- CHM Digital Core Magazine
- Unlimited Admission for Member
- 10% Store & Cafe Discount
- Priority Access & Free Admission to CHM Lectures
- Exclusive Invitation Only Events
- CHM Printed Core Magazine
On-Site Research
For on-site research, the Computer History Museum is located in Mountain View, California. A staff member is required to be present, and research appointments must be scheduled in advance. Appointments are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Specialized research projects that necessitate a substantial investment of staff time, whether undertaken by individuals or on behalf of professional entities, may require special arrangements with Museum staff.