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Houghton Library

Home to Harvard’s rare books and manuscripts, literary and performing arts archives, and more: a destination for students, scholars, and the public.
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Today's Hours

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General
10am - 5pm
Archives and Special Collections Reading Room at Houghton Library
10am - 4:45pm
Houghton Exhibition Galleries
10am - 5pm

Open to All Researchers

Houghton Library’s rare and unique special collection materials are available to all researchers regardless of affiliation. All materials must be requested for viewing in our reading room in advance of visiting the library.

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Researching with Special Collections

Learn how to find and access special collection materials from Houghton Library as well as other libraries across Harvard.

Houghton Library's reading room

Visiting the Reading Room

Make an appointment to view materials in our reading room and learn more about what to expect for your visit.

The exterior of Houghton Library

Ask a Houghton Librarian

If you have a research questions or are not sure how to access our collections, our librarians are here to help.

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Fellowships & Prizes

Houghton Library offers several fellowships, prizes, and funding opportunities for researchers at Harvard and beyond.

Collection Highlights

Our collections highlight rare books, manuscripts, and archives spanning literature, history, and the arts, supporting humanities research from the medieval period to today.

A class of students in Houghton Library

Teach with Houghton

Houghton Library offers many opportunities for teaching and learning with primary sources and unique texts. Whether you're looking to bring in a group for a single visit, develop a semester-long project, or anything in between, we're here to facilitate your learning and curiosity.
 

Exhibitions

Exhibitions and events are open to the public. If you can’t visit in person, you can explore many of our exhibitions and collection highlights online through Bloomberg Connects.

About Houghton Library

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