RESEARCHER SERVICES

You can contact our customer service for all matters related to our collections and their use.

You can browse our archive catalogue and read digitised text documents using our database. In addition to the word search, you can search for materials by the name of the records creator, location, temporal coverage, classification or material type, for example. You can also use our database to reserve materials to be examined on-site at the archive. Digitised photos and posters can be browsed here. Instructions for using the archive database can be found here.

Our collections can mainly be examined freely at the archive’s reading room. We require our customers to follow to the archives' Rules of Use. Please also familiarise yourself with the guidelines for the Responsible Conduct of Research when using our materials.

We recommend that you reserve the materials from our database in advance before your arrival. If you place your request before 3 p.m., the materials will usually be available for pickup shortly after the request is received. Requests submitted after 3 p.m. may be examined on the following weekday after 10 a.m. If you want to review restricted materials, you will need a research permit first. Please contact our customer service for applying the permit. All materials that are subject to permission can only be examined after the research permit has been granted. The processing time is usually 1–3 working days.

Photographing and copying the archive materials for your personal research is permitted for note-taking purposes, with the exception of restricted materials and oral history collection, the photographing and copying of which is not permitted in principle.

PAID RESEARCHER SERVICES

It is possible to take photocopies of the documents for your own use if there are no legal obstacles or obstacles related to the condition of the materials.

It is also possible to obtain documents and photos in digitised form under the aforementioned conditions.

Our materials are available for distance loan for the price of delivery costs to a library or archive offering long-distance lending services if there are no obstacles to the loan (such as the materials being in a fragile condition or in high demand). We do not distance loan restricted materials or oral history.

See our service prices.

VISITING THE ARCHIVE

  • The archive is open from Monday to Wednesday and on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • You do not need to notify us of your arrival in advance, but we recommend that you request the desired materials in advance from our database to make your visit smoother.
  • You can also browse catalogues and request materials on site on our client computer. In this case, be prepared to wait for the materials to be collected. Please note that materials requested after 3 p.m. will not be available until the next working day.
  • The materials can be examined at the archive's reading room, where you can bring your own note-taking and work equipment (computer, camera, mobile phone).
  • Eating is allowed in a designated area.
  • Our personnel offers guidance with using our database, archive catalogues and materials by phone, email or on site at the archive.
  • Visiting the Finnish Labour Archives is free of charge.
  • Accessibility: There are no stairs at our customer premises, but there are thresholds and doors that need to be opened manually. The personnel at the archive will assist you if necessary.
  • Please only visit the archives when you are in good health.

CITATION GUIDELINE – ARCHIVE MATERIALS

Citations – method 1: (from specific to general: item name and temporal coverage, storage unit, records creator, archive)

Incoming letters 1929, F7, Forssa Workers' Association, TA.

or

Forssa Workers' Association's Annual Report 1929, D6, TA.

Citations – method 2: (from general to specific: archive, records creator, storage unit, item name and temporal coverage)

TA, Forssa Workers' Association, F7, Incoming letters 1929.

or

TA, D6, Forssa Workers' Association's Annual Report 1929.

Reference list: (from general to specific: archive, records creator, [containers used, document name and date])

Finnish Labor Archives (TA), Helsinki

Forssa Workers' Association

or

Finnish Labor Archives (TA), Helsinki

Forssa Workers' Association

- Annual reports and Plans of Activities 1929–1980 (D6)

- Incoming letters 1926–1947 (F7)

or

Finnish Labor Archives (TA), Helsinki

Forssa Workers' Association.

- D6: Annual Reports and Plans of Activities 1929–1980.

CITATION GUIDELINE – ORAL HISTORY

For example, referring to Lasse Dahlroos’s memoir “Merikarvialaisen merimiehen muistelmat”:

Citations:(The Commission of Finnish Labour Tradition [TMT], storage unit, archival unit, Finnish Labour Archives)

TMT : 396 : 11991 : Finnish Labour Archives (TA)

Reference list: (archive, records creator, [title,] storage unit: archival unit)

Finnish Labour Archives (TA), Helsinki

Collection of the Commission of Finnish Labour Tradition (TMT)

- Merikarvialaisen merimiehen muistelmat 396 : 11991