Historical & Special Collections
Open to all researchers regardless of their affiliation, Historical & Special Collections houses one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of research materials for the study of legal history. Its chief mission is to acquire, catalog, preserve, and make available to researchers materials that document the history of the law in general and of Anglo-American law in particular. Historical & Special Collections holds nearly three thousand linear feet of manuscripts, over one hundred thousand rare books, and more than seventy thousand visual images.
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Hours
By Appointment
Tuesday-Friday, 10am to 5pmThe Historical & Special Collections reading room will be closed on the following days:
- April 27, Limited availability
- May 30, 3:00-5:00
- May 31
Announcements
- We have a new LibGuide about accessing and donating student material in Historical & Special Collections! Explore this new resource to learn more about donating material from your HLS student organization and accessing existing collections.
- Coming soon! Historical & Special Collections will begin using Harvard Library Special Collections Request on June 1, 2018. Researchers will be able to request material through HOLLIS and register in advance. This registration will be valid at other Harvard archives and special collections that use Harvard Library Special Collections Request!
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Exhibits
View online content that supports our exhibits on display in the Library’s Caspersen Room!
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Image credits: Photos by Brooks Kraft, 2014.