Researchers interested in visiting the museum’s collections should fill out our online form at least two weeks in advance of your visit. We kindly request that all research give at least 2 weeks notice prior to visits. The appropriate curator will be in touch regarding your request as soon as possible.
Research Request FormResearchers planning to study the collections should read the Collections Access Guidelines and Visiting the Collections. Please note if the applicant requesting access is a student, the museum will require a letter of support from a faculty advisor.
Please note that the Archaeology collection is temporarily closed for research.
McClung Museum collections areas include:
- Archaeology—southeastern US archaeological and bioarchaeological collections, North American ethnology collection. Temporarily closed for research.
- Arts & Culture—natural history prints, material culture from around the world, tourist photography, historical collections about Knoxville and Tennessee, American and European fine and decorative arts, military collections, among others (Curator Cat Shteynberg)
- Paleoethnobotany—archaeological botanical collections, modern comparative seed, fruit, and wood collections (Associate Curator Kandi Hollenbach)
- Malacology—comparative and archaeological collections of freshwater mollusks (Curator Gerald Dinkins)
All curators may be reached by phone via the museum’s main office: 865-974-2144.
Visiting the Collections
Upon arrival, inquire at the front desk for the location of the office of the staff member who is to help with your visit. If you find that you will be late by more than one hour, please call the museum at 865-974-2144 so that they may inform the staff member.
Such photographs are for personal and research use only. Researchers should fill out a Rights & Reproductions Form for any other use, including scholarly publication, exhibition, electronic transmission, or general distribution in any medium.
Orders for professional publication-quality prints, transparencies, and digital images may be placed with the museum’s Rights & Reproductions department. Please see Rights & Reproductions for more information about these photographic services, as well as our photo policies, terms of use, and fee schedules.