Frequently Asked Questions

Create an AHDRC account from the Register page and confirm your email address. Registration alone does not activate archive access: an active AHDRC subscription is also required.

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Subscriber membership is €250 per year and dealer membership is €500 per year. Special assistance is €1,000; call us to discuss its benefits.

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Yes. Institutional licences are available on request and can cover entire research departments. Contact us with your institution's details and we will respond within a few working days.

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You can cancel or change your subscription at any time from your account page. Access remains active until the end of the paid period. Day Passes are not auto-renewed, so they require no cancellation.

Every ID has a unique number which you can use as a reference in your citation.

Yes. Use the "Leave a comment" button on any object detail page, or email us directly. Comments are private between you and authorized administrators; archive edits are reviewed and the full edit history is kept.

Archive images are provided for scholarly consultation only. Copyright is retained by the original photographer, photo provider, or institution and is credited on each object page. Redistribution or commercial use requires permission from the rights holder.

Create an AHDRC account using the registration form. An account must have a confirmed email address and an active subscription before subscriber archive access is available.

1. Open the Login page and select "Request access".
2. Open the Register page from the Login page and complete the registration form.
3. Confirm your email address using the confirmation link sent to your inbox.
4. Arrange an AHDRC subscription with the centre. You can access the subscriber archive only once the subscription is active.

After your account is verified, we kindly ask you to set up Two-Factor Verification for added security.

1. Download an authenticator app on your phone (e.g. Google Authenticator, free and cross-platform).
2. Log in and go to your account section by clicking your email address at the top right, or press "Enable now" on the red banner.
3. Click Two-Factor Authentication, then Setup Authenticator App.
4. Scan the QR code displayed on screen with your authenticator app.
5. Enter the 6-digit code generated by the app to complete the setup.

Once registered and verified, you can log in to access the archive.

1. Press "Login" on the top right of the screen.
2. Enter your email and password.
3. If you have 2FA enabled, you will also be asked for a 6-digit code from your authenticator app.

Use the "Forgot password?" link on the login page to receive a reset email. If no email arrives, check your spam folder and ensure @ahdrc.org is whitelisted.

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Search one archive section at a time. Enter words or a record identifier and refine the results with Culture, Country, Object name and Recently added filters.

1. Open Search Archive and choose one section: Objects, Field Photos, Who’s Who, Publications, Exhibitions, Collections or Auctions. The selected section is highlighted.
2. Enter a keyword or record identifier. If a Culture, Country or Object name suggestion appears, you can select it to add a filter without starting the search yet.
3. Optionally refine your search with filters. Multiple values within the same filter group use OR; different filter groups combine with AND.
4. Click Search to run your query. Sidebar filters apply immediately when selected; after removing a search chip, click Search to refresh the results.

Yes. Prefix a word with - to exclude records containing it (for example, mask -metal -Belgium). Search within one archive section at a time, such as Objects, and combine the query with Culture, Country or Object name filters. Multiple choices within one filter group use OR; different groups use AND.

We collaborate with museums, universities, and private foundations on documentation, hosting, and shared research.

Sponsors & Partners

Supporter contributions are €2,000–€4,999 per year and Benefactor contributions start at €5,000 per year. Patron Council membership is by invitation. Contact us to discuss recognition and benefits.

Sponsors & Partners

AHDRC is a Belgian non-profit. Donations may qualify for tax deductions under Belgian law, and we can issue receipts for institutional donors elsewhere. Please contact us for jurisdiction-specific guidance.

AHDRC is an independent non-profit based in Brussels, founded in 2016. It is run by a small team of researchers and supported by a network of curators, scholars, and institutional partners.

About AHDRC

Yes. AHDRC is a registered Belgian non-profit (ASBL/VZW). Subscription revenue and donations fund archive expansion, researcher support, and partnerships with African institutions.

Material comes from private and museum collections, art dealers, auction catalogues, scholarly publications, and general archives across Europe, the US, and Africa. Every object is catalogued with its source and, where possible, provenance chain.