IMF Archives
Source details
- Canonical URL
- IMF Archives
Other formats
Purpose and scope
- The Archives of the IMF present a rich source of information for the analysis of the organization's core activities throughout its history.
- Holdings offer primary resources on IMF work, policies, decision making processes and member country relations, covering economic issues including global monetary cooperation, financial stability, and sustainable economic growth.
- Holdings include records in various formats: manuscripts, digital records, photographs, audio recordings and multimedia.
- The holdings consist of two components: (1) the Executive Board Documents and (2) the Institutional Archives (departmental archives, fonds and collections).
Access policy and rules
- IMF’s Open Archives Policy (Decision No. 14498 – (09/126), adopted 12/17/09 and effective 03/17/10, as amended) gives the public access to documentary materials maintained in the IMF's archives including:
- Executive Board documents, which are available to the public under 3- and 5-year rules except for items exempted from public disclosure.
- Institutional archives, which are available after 20 years.
- Records exempt from public disclosure include:
- Legal documents protected by attorney-client privilege;
- Confidential documentary materials provided to the IMF by external parties, including member countries, their agencies and central banks, unless such parties consent to their declassification;
- Personnel files, medical and other records pertaining to individuals; and,
- Documents and proceedings of the IMF Grievance Committee.
- Since 1996, the time rules for access were modified to respond to the users' community but the initial records types excluded from access by external researchers remain unchanged.
- Secret or Strictly Confidential documents can be requested to be declassified and access will be granted only upon consent of the IMF Managing Director.
- Records exempt from public closure cannot be opened to the public.
Practical access procedures and limits
- Digitisation and Onsite Consultation Requests — Updates:
- The temporary moratorium on digitisation requests at the IMF Archives has now been lifted.
- Researchers may submit requests under the following limits:
- Digitisation: up to 5 files per month
- Onsite consultation: up to 10 files per month
- Requests will be handled in line with existing access policies and subject to staff capacity.
- Research request limitations:
- Onsite consultation: up to 10 files per month, to be requested in advance of the visit.
- All requests are subject to availability, access status, and staff capacity.
- Records eligible for declassification will be reviewed in accordance with the IMF Open Archives Policy before they are ready for research use. Users can only make an appointment to view requested records after they have been notified of the completion and results of the review process.
- Only records previously cleared for public access will be available for immediate onsite consultation; records not yet cleared will require an internal review before an onsite appointment can be scheduled.
- The Archives are open to the public only by appointments. Inquiries should be sent to archives@imf.org; responses are provided within 5 working days.
Visitor requirements and reading room services
- Who can use the Archives:
- Members of the general public can conduct onsite research in the IMF Archives.
- Appointments and identification:
- An appointment is required; visitors must present a current government-issued photo ID such as a passport or driver's license.
- Location and accessibility:
- The IMF Archives is located in the IMF Headquarters 1 Building (HQ1) in Washington, D.C.
- The reading room is accessible by elevator.
- Reading room rules and equipment:
- By appointment only; see the Reading Room Protocol for details.
- Photocopies are no longer provided.
- Use of a digital camera is recommended; flash photography is not permitted. A camera stand is provided. Staff may deny requests to copy fragile original materials for conservation reasons.
- Laptop computers may be used; there is a WIFI connection in the Reading Room.
- Professional researchers may be authorized to conduct research on behalf of someone who cannot come onsite, with advance notice.
- The Archives can provide brief factual responses for those unable to visit; substantive or analytical work requires in-person research. General inquiries on IMF policies or statistical data should be directed to the IMF Public Affairs Division at publicaffairs@imf.org; inquiries about IMF publications available for purchase should be directed to publications@imf.org.
- Archivist services:
- An archivist will retrieve materials from the off-site repository, deliver items to the researcher in the reading room, explain reading room rules and how to use records, and maintain a collection of reference works for use in the reading room.
Collections and organizational structure
- Executive Board Documents:
- Digital set of official papers for circulation to the Executive Board and staff, issued since 1946 by the Secretary's Department.
- Collection includes agendas and minutes of Board meetings; policy papers; staff reports; reports on missions to member countries; and discussions of fiscal, monetary and economic policy issues.
- Most of this collection has been digitized and documents in the public domain are available via the Archives catalog.
- Institutional Archives – major collections and fonds:
- Bretton Woods Conference Collection: records of the Secretariat of the Bretton Woods Conference (1940-1947) and papers of IBRD / IMF staff and certain U.S. Treasury and Delegation members; available in physical and digital formats.
- Central Files Collection: physical, topical collection organized into six series: Administration, Country, Economic Subject Files, International Organizations, IMF Organization, and Publications; established in 1946.
- Departmental Archives: records from the office of the Managing Director, Departments, Offices, and Bureaus from 1946 onward; standard series include Chronological Files, Consultation Files, Consultation Minutes, Country Files, Economic Subject Files, and records maintained by Department Heads, Deputy Directors and Advisors.
- Management Records: files of former Managing Directors Ivar Rooth (1951-1956), Per Jacobsson (1956-1963), Pierre-Paul Schweitzer (1963-1973), Hans Johannes Witteveen (1973-1978), Jacques de Larosière (1978-1987), and Michel Camdessus (1987-2000), Deputy Managing Directors, and Advisors.
- Area/Regions Departmental Records: holdings include records from the Research Department's early records (1946-1950) and subsequent regional departments (Asian, European, Middle Eastern, Western Hemisphere, African, etc.) described according to standard series (chronological files, consultations files, country files, international organization files, technical assistance files, mission files).
- Functional Departmental Records: include Research Department records including the Statistics Division; Bureau of Statistics; Central Banking Department; Exchange and Trade Relations Department (1946-1995); Operations Department (1946-1950); Exchange Restrictions Department Records (1950-1964); Fiscal Affairs Department; IMF Institute; Legal Department; Treasurer's Department and former Comptroller’s Office Records (1946-1950).
- Staff Members, Associations and Foundation papers: examples include the Hubert Neiss Papers (1983-2000), the Jacques Polak Papers (1919-2006), and the Per Jacobsson Foundation (1963-2006).
- The holdings include records documenting relations between the IMF and member countries, the United Nations and other international organizations, as well as relations with regional and national organizations in the economic arena.
Copyright, usage, and citation
- The researcher's use and publication of Fund archival material is governed by the IMF Copyright and Usage Terms.
- As a general matter, only personal, noncommercial usage is permitted.
- For additional permissions to use Fund archival records, follow the instructions in the IMF Copyright and Usage Terms and submit a request.
- Materials also are available for purchase on the IMF Bookstore Website.
- Researchers must comply with copyright law and sign an agreement upon arrival.
- How to cite records found in the IMF Archives:
- Include: (1) Location reference: Name of the repository, Title of the fonds or collection, and Reference Code (if any); and (2) Document description: Title of Series, Sub-series, Folder title, and date range.
Service notices and upcoming closures
- Service Notice: digitisation moratorium lifted; requests handled subject to access policies and staff capacity.
- Upcoming Closures:
- 3–14 August 2026
- 7 September 2026
- 12 October 2026
- 25-27 November 2026
- 14-31 December 2026
- 1-15 January 2027
Contact and location
- Archives and Records Management
- Room C-186
- 700 19th St., NW,
- Washington, D.C. 20431
- E-mail: archives@imf.org
- Tel:202-623-4913
Content in this bundle
- Reading Room Protocol
- Imf Archives — Citing Unpublished Records
References