Admission Free
About the 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 our Online 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. There is lift access from the ground floor.
Family History
Please note that the Museum is not a repository for soldiers’ service records. Family historians wishing to research soldier ancestors should first read the Research Tips on our website, or download one of the following leaflets for more advice:
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Information Sheet 1: |
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Information Sheet 4: Soldiers’ Records 1920 - present |
Opening Times
The Templer Study Centre is open from 10.00am to 5.00pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and on the first and third Saturday of each month (except Public or Bank Holiday Weekends).
Arriving at the Museum
Please leave all bags and briefcases at the cloakroom at reception. You will need to remove any pencils, notepads or computers required for research.
Accessing the Templer Study Centre
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.
The Study Centre is fully accessible to wheelchair users by use of the lift in the lower foyer.
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 items or enquire about specific holdings, please contact the Centre by email:
tsc@national-army-museum.ac.uk
To pre-order books or periodicals by telephone, or for Readers’ Ticket queries: Department of Printed Books: Extension 2421 or 2454
To pre-order archival material or photographs: Department of Archives, Photographs, Film and Sound: Extension 2485 or 2420.
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: Extension 2473 or 2499
fda@national-army-museum.ac.uk.
A maximum of 12 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. Advance appointments are required to view items from the prints and drawings collections on a Saturday. 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 not be copied on the actual day of the visit but posted later to the researcher. 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
List of photocopy charges:
A4 35p per sheet
A3 45p 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.
