Templer Study Centre

The National Army Museum's Templer Study Centre offers visitors an unrivalled opportunity to explore in depth the campaigns, personalities and social history of the British Army. Admission is free.

Seating 15 Readers, the Centre offers access to the Museum's collections of regimental and campaign histories, archives, photographs, prints and drawings, providing a rich picture of soldiers' daily lives through the ages. Visitors can also draw upon the expertise of the Study Centre curatorial staff.

The Centre now provides access to nearly 25,000 archive and photograph collections and 10,000 books via a searchable catalogue in the Centre, in addition to the existing manual card indexes.

The Templer Study Centre is located on the Lower Ground Floor of the Museum, next to the Lecture Theatre. The Study Centre is fully accessible to wheelchair users by use of the lift in the lower foyer.

Please note: The Museum is not a repository for soldiers' service records. Family historians wishing to research soldier ancestors should first have a look at our Family History page.

Accessing the Templer Study Centre

On arrival, please leave all bags and briefcases at the cloakroom at reception. You will need to remove any pencils, notepads or computers required for research.

To obtain a Reader's Ticket, please bring with you some form(s) of identification showing your photograph and your name and address:

• Current full UK driving licence
• Current signed passport
• National identification card
• Recent utilities bill
• Recent bank or credit card statement
• Bus Pass
• University card

Your Reader's Ticket is valid for three years. Ticket holders can use the Templer Study Centre without an appointment on the days it is open. Issue and retention of a ticket is contingent on agreeing to abide by the Study Centre Rules.

Printed books, archives and photographs

Books, periodicals, documents and photographs can be ordered in advance of a visit to the Centre. A minimum of 24 hours' notice is required to guarantee that the items will be ready.

To pre-order books or periodicals, or for Readers' Ticket queries:

• E: books@nam.ac.uk
• T: 020 7881 2421

To pre-order archival material or photographs:

• E: apfs@nam.ac.uk
• T: 020 7881 2485

Watercolours, drawings and prints

References to these items are currently to be found in the picture card index. Items with a negative number may be viewed on microfiche. If you know the Accession Numbers, you may make a prior order through the Department of Fine and Decorative Art:

• E: fda@nam.ac.uk
• T: 020 7881 2473

A maximum of 25 items per visit can be viewed (unless pre-ordered with at least 48 hours' notice). Hand-lists are available for the Ogilby Boxed Collection and Carman Collection: these boxes must be ordered 24 hours in advance. For viewing on Saturdays, prints and drawings must be pre-ordered with a minimum of 24 hours' notice. For specialist advice, please ask to see a member of the Department of Fine and Decorative Art. Albums with photographs of oil paintings are available for reference.

Photocopying

A photocopy service is available to researchers, although larger quantities may need to be posted later. Items that cannot be photocopied include:

• Items over 100 years old
• Photographs, prints and drawings
• Delicate or fragile items (at staff discretion)
• Items with unsuitable bindings (at staff discretion)
• Items with copyright restrictions

Photocopy charges:

• A4 36p per sheet
• A3 46p per sheet

Please note: Although digital photography by researchers is not permitted in the Templer Study Centre, an imaging service is available for items too old or delicate to photocopy. Copies of photographs can be obtained from our Picture Library.