What not to do at the National Archives.

Below is a set of rules for any future researcher who needs to look at anything that's being held at the National Archives.

The National Archives takes security very seriously. I don't know if the items they hold (or at least the ones I've looked at) are particularly valuable, or if it's the fact that they have the original copies of most of their material, so by definition if something gets taken or destroyed, it's gone forever, but they're very on edge about it. There may have also been an incident in Maryland earlier this year, according to the signs they keep posted around the building.

The local branch of the National Archives is on 7358 South Pulaski Rd, on the West Side. As of now, the folks there are pretty nice.

If you're coming for the first time, you're going to have to sign in at the front (you'll always have to) and fill out a researcher application. You then have to go through a half-hour-long training (complete with video, if I remember correctly) about how to appropriately handle material at the Archives. Once you finish the training, you get a cute little researcher card, researcher number and all.

My researcher identification card (I assumed it'd be appropriate to blur some of the information out).)

Now you get to touch the documents.

You can't bring a jacket, a bag, or a pen into the room with the documents. You'll get a key and you'll have to keep all that stuff in your own little locker. Remember, the whole point is to keep you from stealing or permanently marking the documents. Don't worry, there's a special room for eating lunch, if you're staying the day. You can bring a pencil, though. Phones and laptops are also allowed, making for one of the weirdest lists of banned/allowed items you'll ever run into.

You have to sign in again once you enter the room. And at least if you're looking for the civil docket of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, you need to fill out a form detailing specifically what documents you need. It takes them a while to get them out for you, so if you're making a large request (like us), expect it in batches. You also need to fill out a pink slip that I think is supposed to link you with the documents you just made them fetch.

Once you get your documents, you're still nowhere out of the woods. Plenty of folks with criminal intent (yes, it's a crime to take things out of the Archives, I think a federal one) have gotten to exactly this point in the process. And so:

• You can only handle one folder at a time, and ideally only one page at a time. Don't start pulling everything out.

• While you're flipping though dockets, you must be in the full and unobstructed view of staff, who will be in the room with you at all times. Push anything between you and the staff out of the way so they can watch those hands.

• Don't write anything on the pages.

• Do not fold the pages.

• If there's a staple in a page, it may be removed, but you have to ask the staff to remove it for you.

On the bright side, you can take photos or scans of whatever you want, using your device. They'll also make copies for you, but that costs 80 cents a page.

And that's about all I can remember. If you've been following this, once you're done you'll have one folder to put back onto their cart and three sign-outs to complete. If you're going to be back in a week or less, they'll hold your stuff for you. Take your contraband out of your lockers and remember to return the key. Wave goodbye to the staff, go home, and, if you need to, plan your next visit.