Dr. Robert Ira Lewy Reference Service

Researchers can search LBI’s extensive library, archival, art, and photograph collections online. Significant portions of these collections have already been digitized. Thus, you can conduct much of your research independently from home.

However, you may find that after identifying a resource online you have further questions about it. For instance, detailed inventories have been created for many archival collections and placed online, but some of these collections have not yet been digitized, which may leave open questions about whether the items are pertinent to your research.

In cases like this, LBI's Dr. Robert Ira Lewy Research and Reference Service provides researchers support in the Lillian Goldman Reading Room of the Center for Jewish History as well as via email, using the form below.

If you do not hear back from us within a week, please check your spam or junk email folder.

Contact LBI's Dr. Robert Ira Lewy Reference Service

First Name *

Last Name *

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Brief description of your inquiry *

What is the general topic of your question? Or, if your question concerns a specific collection or work in our catalog, it would be especially helpful if you entered the title or call number here. For example "AR 7002, the Jacob Jacobson Collection." Please limit to 150 characters.

Detailed inquiry *

Let us know how we can help you. Please be as specific as possible about what information you seek.

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Guide to LBI's Online Catalog

To ensure the fastest and best response to your request, please make sure you do the following before submitting an inquiry.

Search the collections online
Use the Online Catalog of the Leo Baeck Institute (LBI) to find all digital and non-digital content from LBI collections. LBI's collections are also included in the Online Catalog of the Center for Jewish History (CJH).
Determine whether a digital resource is available
A large percentage of the archival and photograph collections as well as many art objects and rare books are available in digital form. Search results in LBI's or CJH's Online catalog will include a link to the digitized materials if they exist.
Related: DigiBaeck: Digital Collections at LBI
Consider a visit to the Reading Room of the Center for Jewish History
If you identify an archival collection or book that interests you, but it has not been digitized, you can access it at the Center for Jewish History. Patrons in New York City typically receive the fastest access to library books and non-digitized archival collections in the Lillian Goldman Reading Room of the Center for Jewish History.
Submit an inquiry
If you have identified a non-digitized archival collection or other holding and cannot visit the Center for Jewish History to examine it yourself, please submit an inquiry using the form below. LBI staff can answer basic questions about its contents for you or, for a fee, provide copies or scans.
Note the call number of the collection or item you are interested in.
The call number is is a unique identifier that contains information about the location of the object. It is listed in search results, catalog entries, and at the top of each “Finding Aid” for archival collections (e.g., “AR 5098”).
Include specific subjects and proper names with your inquiry
Make sure you let us know if you are interested in a specific person, family surname, town, business, etc.
Please be patient
The average response time for inquiries is 1-3 weeks. LBI staff cannot perform substantive research for you and may only determine what materials we hold that are pertinent to your request. LBI reserves the right to decline research requests that place undue strain on staff resources.

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Email: inquiries@cjh.org.

Contact LBI's Dr. Robert Ira Lewy Reference Service

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