The drawings, photographs, and structural descriptions preserved by Historical Egypt represent irreplaceable records of Egypt's urban development. To balance scholarly access with document conservation, our curatorial board enforces a strict set of researcher clearance guidelines.
1. Accreditation Levels
Access to our physical reading rooms and restricted blueprint portfolios is categorized by the following academic clearance levels:
- Level 1 (General Digital Access): Granted to independent writers, history students, and architectural conservation candidates. Requires a verified email and a brief description of your study topic.
- Level 2 (Physical Portfolio Access): Granted to university faculty members, restoration architects, and registered preservation groups. Requires an official institutional letter and a detailed list of catalog reference numbers.
- Level 3 (Archival Scanning Permits): Granted to lead restoration teams working on active preservation projects in Downtown Cairo. Requires structural authorization documents and coordination with Dr. Tariq Mansour.
2. Photography & Drawing Guidelines
Researchers are permitted to sketch and capture reference photos under strict preservation rules:
- No flash photography is allowed on paper documents, as light bursts degrade 19th-century inks and blueprint papers.
- Tracing paper may only be placed on protected, polyester-sleeved drawing sheets.
- All reference illustrations and sketches published in journals must carry the citation line: "Source: Historical Egypt Registry, Cairo."
3. Image Use & Copyright Licensing
Historical Egypt acts as a scholarly repository and index. We do not own the intellectual property copyright for all mapped structures, many of which remain the private property of families or national entities.
- Scholarly Use: Low-resolution metadata sheets and building description pages may be copied for private study under academic Fair Use principles.
- Public Publication: High-resolution blueprint scans and detailed site layouts require written clearance from the building's current conservation board. Historical Egypt will assist in coordinating clearances when possible.