Since 1942, Houghton’s founding collections have been greatly augmented by a curatorial team whose responsibilities are now divided by period or theme. Today’s curators balance consolidating Houghton’s areas of traditional strength, and forging new directions to better serve the library’s mission to support teaching and research.
Early Books and Manuscripts
Material dating from approximately 3000 BCE to 1600 CE and ranging from papyri to early and illuminated manuscripts to early printed books. While there is an emphasis on Western languages and cultures, the collection is also strong in Arabic, Indic, Persian, and Syriac manuscripts.
Early Modern Books and Manuscripts
Books, manuscripts and prints from the period 1600–1800. The collection is very broad in scope but particular areas of focus include the history of the Atlantic world, European and American literature, mathematics and physical sciences, and the history of the book.
Modern Books and Manuscripts: World Culture, 1800 to Today
Manuscripts, books, photographs, and popular culture material with a focus on literature and history of Europe and the Americas, and Arabic and Indic manuscripts. Additional subjects include the history of missions, the Russian Revolution, publishing history, music, philosophy, and much more.
Harvard Theatre Collection
Rare books, manuscripts, images, ephemera, and audiovisual materials documenting the performing arts, with particular strengths in Anglo-American theater, ballet, opera, music, and historical forms of popular entertainment.
Printing and Graphic Arts
Original artifacts from all periods illustrating the book arts and the materiality and historical development of the book, whether manuscript or printed. Primary emphasis is on books in languages that use the roman alphabet, although the collection includes representative examples from other cultural traditions.
Woodberry Poetry Room
The Woodberry Poetry Room is a warm, welcoming poetry library and landmark audiovisual archive featuring over 5,000 spoken voice recordings, located in Lamont Library and overseen by Houghton Library.