Finding Aids:
A finding aid (also known as an inventory or register) is a description of the material found within a manuscript collection. Finding aids for the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center's manuscripts collections and other holdings may be found in the Library's reference room. They reflect the changing standards in the archival field. Some of the finding aids contain detailed inventories, listing each individual item and every correspondent, while others provide only a summary explanation of the contents of the collection. Nearly every collection is open to the public and available for research. Due to the fragile nature of some of these unique documents, researchers may be asked to use the microfilm version if available. Photocopiers (25 cents per page) are available in the research room. Occasionally, restrictions may be placed on photocopying due to the fragility of a particular document.

Online Finding Aids:
At the present time, finding aids for only a few of the Center's collections appear online, however, titles for all collections except Miscellaneous Manuscript Collections are listed. As work continues on this project, more finding aids will be available online. Currently, all online finding aids must be browsed. Researchers are encouraged to contact the Curator of Manuscripts for more information about the Center's manuscripts collections. mailto:ncard@rbhayes.org)

Online Card Catalog:
Currently, cataloging information on some of the Center's manuscripts collections appears in BGlink and OhioLINK Information on the bulk of the collections in BGLink and OhioLINK are retrieved most easily by Keyword, Author, or Subject searches.