# Getty Research Institute

> organization with archives and databases for art history and provenance research

**Wikidata**: [Q11203476](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11203476)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getty_Research_Institute)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/getty-research-institute

## Summary
The Getty Research Institute (GRI) is a research organization dedicated to art history and the humanities. Located at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, it provides access to extensive archives, databases, and a specialized research library. Founded by J. Paul Getty in 1985, the institute operates as a program of the J. Paul Getty Trust.

## Key Facts
- **Inception:** Founded in 1985 by J. Paul Getty.
- **Location:** Located at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, California, United States (ZIP Code 90049).
- **Coordinates:** Latitude 34.076888888889, Longitude -118.476.
- **Parent Organization:** Operates under the J. Paul Getty Trust.
- **Leadership:** Mary Miller serves as the Director (starting in 2018), succeeding Thomas W. Gaehtgens (2007–2018).
- **Primary Function:** Operates as a research institute with archives and databases specifically for art history and provenance research.
- **Components:** Includes the Getty Research Institute Library and the Getty Vocabulary Program.
- **Membership:** A member of the Digital Library Federation, the International Confederation of Architectural Museums, and Europa Nostra.
- **Identifiers:** ISIL: US-11; ROR ID: 00qb4ds53; VIAF ID: 125395425.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of the Getty Research Institute?
A: The institute serves as an organization dedicated to research in art history and the humanities. It maintains archives, databases, and a library to support scholarly study and provenance research.

### Q: Where is the Getty Research Institute located?
A: The institute is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, specifically situated within the Getty Center complex.

### Q: Who oversees the Getty Research Institute?
A: It is a program of the J. Paul Getty Trust. As of 2018, Mary Miller acts as the director of the institute.

## Why It Matters
The Getty Research Institute represents a critical infrastructure for the global study and preservation of art history. By maintaining the Provenance Index Databases, the institute plays a vital role in tracking the history of art ownership, a key element in authenticating works and resolving historical ownership disputes. Its status as a member of the Digital Library Federation and the International Confederation of Architectural Museums highlights its commitment to digital accessibility and the preservation of architectural heritage. Furthermore, through the Getty Vocabulary Program, the GRI contributes to the standardization of terminology in the art world, facilitating better data exchange and cataloging for institutions worldwide. It acts as a central hub for scholars, providing the physical and digital resources necessary to advance the understanding of visual culture.

## Notable For
- **Provenance Research:** Operating the Provenance Index Databases, a crucial tool for tracing the ownership history of art objects.
- **Specialized Library:** Housing the Getty Research Institute Library, designated as a major art and research library.
- **Vocabulary Standards:** Hosting the Getty Vocabulary Program, a department responsible for creating standardized terminology for the arts.
- **Global Reach:** Maintaining multilingual resources and aliases, including designations in Japanese, Korean, Russian, and Spanish.
- **Institutional Collaborations:** Serving as a partner to the J. Paul Getty Museum and holding membership in high-profile cultural federations like Europa Nostra.

## Body

### Organizational Structure and History
The Getty Research Institute (GRI) is an organization classified as a research institute. Established in 1985, it was founded by the American oil industrialist J. Paul Getty. The institute functions as a component of the larger J. Paul Getty Trust and is physically integrated into the Getty Center in Los Angeles.

### Facilities and Resources
The GRI operates several key facilities and departments designed to support art historical research:
*   **Library:** The Getty Research Institute Library functions as a specialized art library and research center.
*   **Getty Vocabulary Program:** A specific department within the institute dedicated to producing structured terminology resources for the visual arts.
*   **Provenance Index:** The institute operates the "Provenance Index Databases," an item operated by the GRI to assist in historical research.

### Leadership and Governance
The institute has been guided by several notable directors over its history:
*   **Salvatore Settis:** Served from 1994 to 1999.
*   **Thomas W. Gaehtgens:** Served from 2007 to 2018.
*   **Mary Miller:** Appointed Director in 2018.

### Affiliations and Identifiers
The institute maintains a global presence through various memberships and identifiers. It is a member of the Digital Library Federation, the International Confederation of Architectural Museums, and Europa Nostra. In the academic and library sectors, it is identified by several key codes:
*   **ISIL:** US-11
*   **GRID ID:** grid.446893.4
*   **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n00000345
*   **Research Organization Registry (ROR) ID:** 00qb4ds53

### Location and Contact
The headquarters are located at the Getty Center in Los Angeles.
*   **Address:** Los Angeles, CA 90049
*   **Website:** http://www.getty.edu/research/
*   **Social Media:** The institute maintains a YouTube channel (established 2009) and a Facebook presence under the handle GettyResearchInstitute.

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-01-10
2. CiNii Research
3. BnF authorities
4. CiNii
5. [Source](https://www.clir.org/about/current-sponsors-and-funders)
6. [Source](http://www.icam-web.org/memberlist.php?subnode_id=1&key=U)
7. [Source](https://www.europanostra.org/membership/international-networks/)
8. ROR release v1.19
9. Open Library
10. Virtual International Authority File
11. [Source](https://www.artforum.com/news/mary-miller-appointed-director-of-getty-research-institute-75015)
12. [Source](http://news.getty.edu/getty-research-institute-director-thomas-w-gaehtgens-to-retire-in-2018.htm)
13. [Source](https://italianacademy.columbia.edu/fellow-observatory/salvatore-settis)
14. Name and Title Authority File of Catalonia
15. Trove
16. AGORHA
17. [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/c/gettyresearch/about)
18. GRID Release 2015-12-14
19. GRID Release 2016-12-06
20. BabelNet
21. RERO
22. Quora
23. SNAC
24. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
25. Babelio
26. [Source](https://www.getty.edu/vow/ULANFullDisplay?find=500294218&role=&nation=&page=1&subjectid=500524811)
27. artist-info
28. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
29. FactGrid
30. YouTube API
31. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)