Over 300,000 rare books, 3,500 linear feet of manuscripts, and 70,000 visual resources—photographs, prints, paintings, and objects—make up Harvard Law School’s Historical & Special Collections, one of the world’s most comprehensive archives of research materials for study of the history of law.
![People viewing collection in display](https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bk.hls_.20140415.5510.2550.jpg)
![Close up of antique hardbound books](https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bk.hls_.20140415.3815.2550.jpg)
![1741 painting of Isaac Royall and Family by American painter Robert Feke](https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bk.hls_.20140415.5571.jpg)
![painting of Sir Thomas Plumer by Sir Thomas Lawrence](https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bk.hls_.20140415.5569.jpg)
![View of vintage books on shelves](https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bk.hls_.20140415.3792.jpg)
![This book is the oldest printed book in the collection, printed ca. 1468 in Cologne. It contains De contractibus mercatorum, a treatise on merchant contracts written by German theologian Johannes Nider.](https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bk.hls_.20140415.3810.jpg)
![Antique print of the Declaration of Independence behind glass](https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bk.hls_.20140415.5501.jpg)
![Reseachers sorting through boxes of manuscripts, photos and books](https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bk.hls_.20140513.8499.jpg)
![Open book with medieval transcripts inside](https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bk.hls_.20140513.8558.jpg)
![Researcher sorting through boxes of paper](https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bk.hls_.20140415.3699.jpg)
![Lesley Schoenfeld looking through a drawer of memorabilia](https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bk.hls_.20140513.8751.jpg)
![A woman displaying a framed burse](https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bk.hls_.20140513.8765.jpg)
![A researcher wearing white gloves looking at an antique cane](https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bk.hls_.20140513.8589.jpg)
![Visitors looking at a display](https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bk.hls_.20140415.3642.jpg)
![The top of a tall clock with intricate details](https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bk.hls_.20140415.5567.jpg)
![A white gloved hand holding a wax seal stamp](https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bk.hls_.20140513.8513.jpg)
![Closeup of someone wearing white gloves handling antique brooches](https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bk.hls_.20140513.8495.jpg)
![An antique weathered book cover](https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bk.hls_.20140415.3779.jpg)
![Bronze bust of Felix Frankfurter](https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bk.hls_.20140513.8647.jpg)
![Antique typewriter with](https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bk.hls_.20140415.3761.jpg)
![](https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bk.hls_.20140513.8794.jpg)
![Two students inspecting an old carved hand holding hair](https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bk.hls_.20140513.8609.jpg)
![Closeup of judge bobbleheads](https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bk.hls_.20140415.3676.jpg)
![Closeup of digital devices and wires](https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bk.hls_.20140415.3690.jpg)
![Digital devices in a canvas bag on top of a desk](https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bk.hls_.20140415.3693.jpg)