Gallery records

Heinz Archive and Library opening hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10.00 to 17.00 by appointment only.

020 7321 6617 (Type Talk: 18001)
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The Gallery Records contain material relating to the Gallery's activities since its foundation in 1856. Visitors may consult these resources in the Archive and Library Public Study Room, but must make a booking to do so.

Temporary restricted access to negatives: We are currently carrying out essential maintenance on the Gallery’s negative collection stores; these negatives form an important part of the photographs collection. As such there will be no access to a large proportion of these collections until May 2024, so the Gallery cannot fulfil digitisation requests or research enquires in the meantime. Please contact us after this date and the Gallery apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

Search the Archive Catalogue

The records document the history, development and activities of the Gallery, including:

  • the history and provenance of works of art in the Gallery's Collections
  • the management of portraits in the Collections, including acquisition, display, conservation, and research
  • the organisation of exhibitions
  • the development of the building
  • the development of public access and education programmes
  • the development of Gallery policy in all areas of business

The Archive recently embarked on a major cataloguing programme. To date approximately 20,000 records (about one third of the Gallery's archival records) have been catalogued. The catalogue is available to view online. Records will continue to be added on a regular basis.

The Gallery's records are public records. Although they are generally available for public consultation, some information in them, such as personal data or information supplied to the Gallery in confidence, may be restricted under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998, and the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

For the first time, the National Portrait Gallery is starting to provide online access to parts of its fascinating Archive. These journeys focus on two remarkable periods in the Gallery’s history: the life and work of the first Director, Sir George Scharf and its wartime activities.

View the Archive Journeys