Human Relations Area Files, Inc. (HRAF) is an internationally recognized organization in the field of cultural anthropology. Founded in 1949 at Yale University, HRAF is a not-for-profit membership consortium of universities, colleges, and research institutions. Its mission is to provide information that facilitates the cross-cultural study of human behavior, society and culture.
In the 1930s, behavioral scientists at Yale's Institute of Human Relations started to develop a classification of cultural information by subject, providing quick access to research materials. HRAF grew out of these efforts. Today, HRAF is committed to developing dynamic, fully-indexed electronic collections on the World Wide Web. HRAF has two electronic collections: eHRAF World Cultures and eHRAF Archaeology. Availability of HRAF collections is limited to members of the HRAF consortium.
HRAF also publishes encyclopedias in conjunction with reference publishers such as Macmillan, Henry Holt, and Plenum, and produces the Bibliography of Native North Americans (BNNA) with EBSCO. For more information on publications click here.
HRAF is a financially independent research agency of Yale University and is located in New Haven, Connecticut.
Member Services:
755 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT
06511-1225
Tel: 203-764-9401 or 1-800-520-4723
FAX: 203-764-9404
E-Mail: hraf@yale.edu
A view of our main lobby.