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Historical & Special Collections

Open to all, Historical & Special Collections (HSC) connects researchers around the world with legal history, and supports the Harvard Law School’s research, teaching, and learning mission.

Harvard Law School Library
Langdell Hall
1545 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138

Email: specialc@law.harvard.edu
Phone: 617-495-4550

Manuscript page with full richly painted and illuminated floreate border with a fine large initial miniature of King Edward IV in royal robes enthroned and holding a globe but without a scepter, with the arms of Lord Hastings in border.
Detail of three rare book spines, printed before 1500.
Full-length view of +/- 45 people standing on the steps of Austin Hall, Harvard Law School campus.

Hours

The Root Room, Historical & Special Collections’ reading room, is open by appointment only, Tuesday-Friday, 10-5.
To schedule an appointment or get in touch with a member of the Historical & Special Collections staff, please email specialc@law.harvard.edu.

UPCOMING CLOSURES:

Wednesday, April 22, 1pm-3:30pm

Friday, April 30, 11:30am-2:30pm

Tuesday, May 26, 1pm-4pm

Wednesday, May 27, 11am-3pm

Thursday, May 28, all day

  • Featured image for Revisiting “Learned Hand’s Tailor” article

    Revisiting “Learned Hand’s Tailor”

    This 2017 post was written by KB Beck, former manager of Historical & Special Collections, about a fashionable discovery in the Learned Hand papers.  View the archived web page of the original post, which is part of the Harvard University Archive’s A-Sites: Archived Harvard Websites collection, or read below…  April 17, 2017  By KB Beck 

    April 20, 2026

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