McGill.CA / Redpath Museum / Collections

Access to the collections

Research requests

To all McGill community members and external researchers,

Thank you for your interest in the Redpath Museum’s collections.

If you sent us a research request, please be advised that due to staff shortages, a high volume of requests, and ongoing projects, we are currently experiencing lengthy delays in responding to research and information inquiries.

In alignment with the Redpath Museum’s mission, requests are being prioritized as follows:

  1. Internal McGill courses and research-related inquiries
  2. External research and information inquiries

External requests will be addressed in the order they are received, once internal McGill needs have been met. You will receive a follow-up message as soon as we are able to assist with your request.

Currently, we are unable to provide a precise timeline for responses. However, please be assured that we are working diligently to gather the necessary information.

We understand that this may cause an inconvenience, and we sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding.

Access to the collections

The Redpath Museum provides access to the collection for research, education and public programs. Access is provided in a number of ways, including permanent exhibits, public program events, school visits, electronic catalogues and loans.

 

The Redpath Museum Collections and Archives available for research

To facilitate access and encourage research and collections use, the Redpath Museum curatorial team prepared the Guidelines for Requesting Access to Collections which provides guidance on how to navigate the many resources that are available at the Museum. It is our hope that this document will answer some frequently asked questions and will help everyone who wishes to access the collections. You can download the guidelines here:

PDF icon access_guide_redpath_museum_2025.pdf

 

General Guidelines for Research Visits

  • The curator or curatorial technician must be contacted in advance and an appointment is necessary for accessing the collections. In a short written request, prospective visitors must describe their project so the curatorial staff can evaluate the possibility of and the time needed for the visit
  • Visitors can access the collections by appointment between 9:30am-4:30pm, Monday to Friday, under supervision.
  • All requests will be considered, but priority is given to students’ projects during the academic year.
  • Consultations take place in the curatorial offices. The curator or appointed staff member will be present throughout the consultation.
  • A fee will be charged for any authorized commercial use of the collections. Resource limitations, conservation requirements and security concerns are considered and can limit access to the collections.

Loans

Specimens and objects from the Redpath Museum collections are available on loan for research or public exhibition. In general, collections are not available for loans to non-academic or non-professional users.

  • Loans for scientific projects are made to individuals working in recognized institutions.
  • Loans for students will be made to their supervisors who are responsible for the material on loan.
  • Access to the type collection is made through supervised visits to the collection. Type material may not be taken out on loan.
  • The initial loan period is of 6 months and can be renewed for a year.
  • A processing fee will be paid by professional users when the loan is for commercial purpose.
  • The material on loan cannot be transferred by the borrower to any other individual without prior approval by the curator.

The Redpath Museum reserves the right to refuse to make loans at its discretion.

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Land Acknowledgement

McGill University is on land which has long served as a site of meeting and exchange amongst Indigenous peoples, including the Haudenosaunee and Anishinabeg nations. We acknowledge and thank the diverse Indigenous peoples whose presence marks this territory on which peoples of the world now gather.


Rematriation, Repatriation and Restitution Statement

We acknowledge that the return and restitution of cultural and natural heritage to communities of origin is an essential part of reconciliation and of recognizing the fundamental rights of Indigenous Peoples. As part of wider efforts to activate the standards presented in the Canadian Museums Association Report Moved to Action: Activating UNDRIP in Canadian Museums (2022), the Redpath is working towards pro-active restitution practices. As per our Collections Management Policy (2024), repatriation requests will be received by the Redpath Museum Director and will be treated on a case-by-case basis.

 

Accessibility

Please note that the Redpath Museum is not accessible to individuals using wheelchairs. There are no access ramps or elevators, and access to the upper floors is only possible via a central staircase. The exterior entrance, interior spaces, exhibition rooms, and restrooms are not adapted to meet universal accessibility standards. Additionally, the building is not air-conditioned. For more information, please refer to the Kéroul 2025 accessibility report. 

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