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The Kinsey Institute preserves a vast archive that is available for scholarly research on sexuality. Our collections include publications, objects, art, and data materials drawn from multiple fields, including biology, medicine, psychiatry, literature, religion, art, law, and many other areas. Here you can learn more about the range of items in our archives and their scholarly use.

Please note: The Kinsey Institute Library & Reading Room will be closed during Indiana University's Winter Break from Monday, December 22, 2025 to Friday, January 2, 2026.

Did you know?

Our collections are available to use for your academic research and creative projects.

Access our collections

Artifacts

Figurines, coins, medical devices, clothing, cards, games, pottery, ceramics, and more from multiple contents and cultures dating back over 2000 years.

Books & Magazines

Significant monographs, ancient manuscripts, textbooks, fiction, guides and manuals, comics, newspapers, and magazine collections.

Film, Video, & Audio

Historical footage, erotica, stag films, sex education programs, nature documentaries, peepshows, therapy, and international pornography from 1915 through to today.

Fine Art

Engravings, etchings, lithographs, drawings, paintings, scrolls, and sculpture from distinguished artists including Rembrandt, Hogarth, Kunisada, Chagall, Matisse, Picasso, and Judy Chicago.

Historical Moments

Records, depictions, media, and memorabilia from key moments such as ancient Greek and Roman culture, Victorian medical renaissance, major wars, U.S. presidential elections, and the 1980s HIV epidemic.

LGBTQ History

Works by queer artists, LGBTQ publications, undercover bathhouse police footage, vintage adult films, and personal papers and correspondence.

Memorabilia

Diaries and correspondence, photo albums, collectibles, prison letters, activist materials, clothing and accessories, event programs, consumer goods, and amateur art.

Photography

More than 85,000 prints and negatives dating from the 1850s to today including works from notable photographers like David Levinthal, George Platt Lynes, Mariette Pathy Allen, and Robert Mapplethorpe.

Research Archives

Documents, data, manuscripts, publications, notes, and other records from sex researchers, educators, therapists, associations, and organizations from the 1800s through to today.

Museum and gallery loans

The Kinsey Institute collaborates with museums, galleries, and cultural institutions to develop exhibitions, design programming, and provide loans. Our curatorial partnerships bring our collections to public audiences in new and creative ways.

We have collaborated on exhibitions and loaned items to prestigious museums and galleries worldwide, such as the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, Musée d’Orsay in Paris, Newfields in Indianapolis, Wellcome Trust in London, and Whitney in NYC.

Contact our curator about loans

Licensing and permissions

Scholars, artists, authors, producers, and many others around the world use our collections in their books, films, lectures, documentaries, and podcasts, as well as other academic, research, and creative projects. To make an inquiry or request licensing for your project, please contact our collections staff.

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Fellowships and scholarships

Fellowships and scholarships providing funding for research in the Kinsey Institute collections are available both for Indiana University and external scholars.

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How to access our collections

Our expert library staff is here to help. Whether you're exploring a research project, producing a documentary, writing a book, or looking for specific materials, we can help guide you. You can also consult our online catalog which contains general info on books, magazines, video, and film titles.

Contact collections

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Location: Lindley Hall, 150 S Woodlawn Ave
Hours: Monday - Friday, 10am-4pm by appointment. Closed on major holidays and Indiana University semester breaks.

Users must be at least 18 years old, have demonstrable research needs related to materials in our collections, and register in advance. Please contact our collections staff to schedule your visit.

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Would you like to contribute to the world's understanding of sex and relationships? Help advance research and support preservation at the Kinsey Institute with a gift today.

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Collections

Explore our collections

Did you know?

Artifacts

Books & Magazines

Film, Video, & Audio

Fine Art

Historical Moments

LGBTQ History

Memorabilia

Photography

Research Archives

Museum and gallery loans

Licensing and permissions

Fellowships and scholarships

How to access our collections

Make an impact

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