Houghton Library

The vast majority of Houghton material is either in the public domain or under copyrights not controlled by Houghton Library.

Houghton Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of most collection material (a few exceptions are listed below), nor does it charge permission or use fees. Permission, however, may be needed from other copyright holders or executors.

When to Contact Us

Please notify the library if you plan to publish facsimile editions of Houghton materials, and for articles, editorial projects, biographical and critical works that incorporate a substantial portion of a manuscript and/or collection. The library may wish to receive a copy of such works for its records.

Researchers must notify the library when publishing images of or quoting from the collections listed below. The list includes the major collections for which these conditions apply, but it’s not exhaustive. Please email the library with any questions.

• American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM)
• American Repertory Theatre
• Thomas Bouchard
• Emily Dickinson
• Ralph Waldo Emerson
• Bernie Gardella
• Joseph Clark Grew
• Iranian Oral History Project
• Sally Jacobs
• Alix Jeffry
• Frederick Kiesler
• John Lindquist
• Amy Lowell
• Angus McBean
• L.E. Sissman
• Andrei Sakharov Archives
• Arks Smith
• Tobi Tobias
• Thomas Wolfe*

*There can be no reproduction or publication of material in these collections without advance permission from the copyright holder.

Any requests to write up or publish T. S. Eliot’s material must be cleared through Faber’s Permissions Department.

For material protected by copyright, certain uses (including but not limited to quoting, publishing, performing, and reproducing) may require permission from the copyright holder. When required, it’s the researcher’s responsibility to obtain such permissions.

The following resources may be helpful in this regard:

• Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States, published by the Cornell University Copyright Information Center, can help researchers to determine if a work is in the public domain.
• Harvard University's Office of Scholarly Communications Fair Use Guide explains fair use and gives advice on determining if your use of a copyrighted item falls under the fair use statue.

Several online resources can be useful in finding the current copyright holder of a work, and requesting licensing permission:

• The WATCH File (Writers, Artists, and Their Copyright Holders) maintained by the Harry Ransom Center and the University of Reading is a database of copyright contacts for writers, artists, and prominent figures in other creative fields.
• Artists Rights Society is a copyright, licensing and monitoring organization for visual artists in the United States.
• DACS is a visual artists’ rights management organization in the United Kingdom.
• The ADAGP is a French collective which monitors copyright in the visual arts.
• ASCAP and BMI are performing rights organizations which license and collect royalties for musical works.

Citations

Houghton Library asks that researchers cite all material referenced, quoted, or reproduced with the following citation format:

[Call number]. Houghton Library, Harvard University.

For example, a photograph reproduced from the Henry James papers would be cited as: MS Am 1094 (2245). Houghton Library, Harvard University.

Houghton Library considers loan requests on a rolling basis. If you would like to submit a request for an exhibition loan, please complete this form. Please note that we require requests from external borrowers at least 12 months prior to the exhibition opening date and requests from Harvard campus affiliates at least 6 months prior to the exhibition opening date. If you have any other questions, contact Houghton Library’s Registrar, Carie McGinnis. 

• Face to Face: Portraits of People of Color Before Photography
• Animals Are Us: Anthropomorphism in Children's Literature; Celebrating the Peter J. Solomon Collection
• Such a Curious Dream! Alice's Adventures in Wonderland at 150
• Books in Books: Reflections on Reading and Writing in the Middle Ages
• Picturing Prayer: Books of Hours in Houghton Library
• Boston's Crusade Against Slavery"
• Let Satire Be My Song:" Byron's English Bards, and Scottish Reviewers
• Diaghilev's Ballet Russes, 1909-1929: Twenty Years that Changed the World of Art
• Open House 75: Houghton Library Staff Select
• HIST 75H: A Masterclass on Houghton Library
• "Life is in the Transitions:" William James, 1842-1910
• A Monument More Durable than Brass: The Donald and Mary Hyde Collection of Dr. Samuel Johnson
• "I Shall Ever Be Your Dearest Love:" John Keats and Fanny Brawne
• Harvard's Lincoln
• Public Poet, Private Man: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow at 200
• Private Proust: Letters and Drawings to Reynaldo Hahn
• The Adventures of Thackeray in his Way Through the World: His Fortunes and Misfortunes, His Friends and Family
• History of the Harry Elkins Widener Library

• The main entrance to Houghton Library via Quincy Street is accessible by automatic door and ramp.
• Restrooms are located on the ground floor, are wheelchair accessible, and are gender inclusive.
• The Houghton Reading Room has adjustable-height chairs and one adjustable-height table.
• Exhibition spaces and classrooms can be accessed by elevator.
• With advance notice, we can arrange accommodations for event and lecture attendees. We are also happy to discuss private exhibition tours for groups requiring accommodations.  

Contact Houghton Library with questions about accessibility of elevators, the reading room/classrooms, and restrooms.

Houghton Library is committed to supporting and promoting research, teaching, and learning, while at the same time preserving our rare and unique collections.

Houghton Library is not available as a background setting for non-educational, non-collection-related projects or promotions.

Filming and recording on-site at Houghton Library may be accommodated when:

• A Harvard faculty member requests filming as part of their teaching program;
• The University or Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Administration requests filming to promote education and/or teaching with the Harvard collections; or
• A request from outside Harvard is for an educational project in which Houghton Library collections are integral.

All filming, recording or media requests should be made at least two weeks in advance.  Submit your request through the Harvard Library Communications Media Request Form. 

The vast majority of Houghton material is either in the public domain or under copyrights not controlled by Houghton Library.

Houghton Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of most collection material (a few exceptions are listed below), nor does it charge permission or use fees. Permission, however, may be needed from other copyright holders or executors.

When to Contact Us

Please notify the library if you plan to publish facsimile editions of Houghton materials, and for articles, editorial projects, biographical and critical works that incorporate a substantial portion of a manuscript and/or collection. The library may wish to receive a copy of such works for its records.

Researchers must notify the library when publishing images of or quoting from the collections listed below. The list includes the major collections for which these conditions apply, but it’s not exhaustive. Please email the library with any questions.

• American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM)
• American Repertory Theatre
• Thomas Bouchard
• Emily Dickinson
• Ralph Waldo Emerson
• Bernie Gardella
• Joseph Clark Grew
• Iranian Oral History Project
• Sally Jacobs
• Alix Jeffry
• Frederick Kiesler
• John Lindquist
• Amy Lowell
• Angus McBean
• L.E. Sissman
• Andrei Sakharov Archives
• Arks Smith
• Tobi Tobias
• Thomas Wolfe*

*There can be no reproduction or publication of material in these collections without advance permission from the copyright holder.

Any requests to write up or publish T. S. Eliot’s material must be cleared through Faber’s Permissions Department.

For material protected by copyright, certain uses (including but not limited to quoting, publishing, performing, and reproducing) may require permission from the copyright holder. When required, it’s the researcher’s responsibility to obtain such permissions.

The following resources may be helpful in this regard:

• Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States, published by the Cornell University Copyright Information Center, can help researchers to determine if a work is in the public domain.
• Harvard University's Office of Scholarly Communications Fair Use Guide explains fair use and gives advice on determining if your use of a copyrighted item falls under the fair use statue.

Several online resources can be useful in finding the current copyright holder of a work, and requesting licensing permission:

• The WATCH File (Writers, Artists, and Their Copyright Holders) maintained by the Harry Ransom Center and the University of Reading is a database of copyright contacts for writers, artists, and prominent figures in other creative fields.
• Artists Rights Society is a copyright, licensing and monitoring organization for visual artists in the United States.
• DACS is a visual artists’ rights management organization in the United Kingdom.
• The ADAGP is a French collective which monitors copyright in the visual arts.
• ASCAP and BMI are performing rights organizations which license and collect royalties for musical works.

Citations

Houghton Library asks that researchers cite all material referenced, quoted, or reproduced with the following citation format:

[Call number]. Houghton Library, Harvard University.

For example, a photograph reproduced from the Henry James papers would be cited as: MS Am 1094 (2245). Houghton Library, Harvard University.

Houghton Library considers loan requests on a rolling basis. If you would like to submit a request for an exhibition loan, please complete this form. Please note that we require requests from external borrowers at least 12 months prior to the exhibition opening date and requests from Harvard campus affiliates at least 6 months prior to the exhibition opening date. If you have any other questions, contact Houghton Library’s Registrar, Carie McGinnis.