YIVO’s Photo Archive is particularly notable in images related to Jewish life in Eastern Europe; American Jewish immigration history; Yiddish theater; and the Holocaust.

A high proportion of the films in YIVO's small Film Archive are unique or rare items. A highlight of the collection is the approximately 75 home movies of prewar Jewish communities in Poland and Lithuania.

The Max and Frieda Weinstein Archive of YIVO Sound Recordings houses over 15,000 recordings. The collection includes both music and spoken word.

YIVO’s music collections contain sheet music, music manuscripts, and the papers of musicians and composers.

The Art and Artifacts Collection includes paintings, drawings, rare prints, and traditional and ceremonial art.

The Sidney Krum Jewish Music and Yiddish Theater Memorial Collections include music, recorded sound, plays, and photographs.