A research type, inert atmosphere vacuum glove box of stainless steel construction is described. The apparatus is suitable for a wide range of chemical and metallurgical applications as well as for physical property measurements on reactive samples. The design features a gas purification and recirculation system, automatic moisture monitoring system, and automatic pressure control system. A stereomicroscope with a long working distance to facilitate examination and experimentation on samples within the chamber is mounted over the chamber window. The vacuum glove box was designed to give a routine working environment of less than 1 ppm water and oxygen in argon. Mass spectrometric analysis on random samples of gas from the chamber has confirmed the operational efficiency of the apparatus.