The Information Research Center at the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is the equivalent of a sleeper player in a draw, a tremendous off-the-beaten path resource that enables visitors to play time traveler. On multiple occasions, I've used the center to research and contextualize articles and television pieces. While the visits were ostensibly for work, they quickly became immensely enchanting.

- Jon Wertheim,
Sports Illustrated & Tennis Channel

The IRC is a comprehensive tennis library and archive devoted to the history of tennis and its great players, the social growth of Newport Society, and the architectural designs of the Newport Casino, a National Historic Landmark.

At the IRC, patrons have access to more than one hundred years of historic documents, publications, photographs, and audio-visual materials relating to the history of the Newport Casino, of tennis, and of the personalities that have made tennis such a fascinating sport.  Researchers are welcome to reserve time to make use of our collections in a quiet, secure and comfortable library setting, or to request basic research services from our knowledgeable staff.

IRC resources have been instrumental in many recent publications, including Chris Bowers’ The Book of Tennis and Paul Fein’s Tennis Confidential. The IRC also contributed resources for the production of an A&E Network documentary Mansions, Monuments & Masterpieces-Newport: Playground of the Rich and Famous.  

The History Channel, BBC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, FOX Sports, Tennis Channel, BET, and numerous other network, cable and independent media companies have utilized the resources of the International Tennis Hall of Fame's Information Research Center in various productions.

Nearly 30,000 photographic prints and slides that chronicle and showcase both the history of the sport of tennis, as well as the beautiful Newport Casino.

With more than 5,000 printed materials, including yearbooks, media guides, magazines and periodicals, the collection documents the history, players, and venues of the sport.

Nearly 3,500 film, videotape, and audiotape records of major and historic matches and tournaments from around the world, as well as Tennis Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies.

PHOTO SERVICES

Patrons wishing to obtain a reproduction of any photograph from the Information Research Center's Photograph Archives, or to inquire about image licensing and rates, please contact the Museum Staff.

Fees will be assessed on a case-by-case basis
Final product(s) will not be released to patron until payment has been received.

AUDIO VISUAL SERVICES

Portions of the collection are available for use in film, television and radio productions. Please contact the Museum Staff for licensing availability and rates.

STAFF RESEARCH SERVICES

Patrons wishing to use the Information Research Center’s large selection of resources, but unable to make a site visit, are welcome to request IRC staff assistance. IRC staff can perform basic research for patrons, or provide copies of research materials. Please contact the Museum Staff. 

Fees will be assessed on a case-by-case basis 
Subject to staff availability

The Information Research Center is dedicated to preserving the documented story of tennis throughout the world.  If you are interested in helping achieve this goal by adding to our historic collection of documents, publications, personal papers, photographs, audio recordings, and moving image media, please contact Nicole Markham, Curator of Collections, at 401-849-3990 ext. 1110.