Special Collections

Resources at Harvard and Beyond

Microfilm resources

Over 10,000 readers, histories, geographies, social studies, science and mathematics textbooks from the Historical Textbooks Collection have been microfilmed under grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The HOLLIS record for each title filmed contains a filming note and gives the reel and master negative numbers. The reels are available for use in Gutman Library whenever the library is open (see Hours), and may also be borrowed by other libraries through Gutman Interlibrary Loan. Copies of reels may be purchased through the Harvard College Library's Imaging Services (617-495-3995).

Copying services

Photocopying and other forms of reproduction for Special Collections items are available, providing that the materials are not too fragile to be copied or that no copyright restrictions apply. More information is available from the Special Collections Librarian.

Related Collections

At Harvard

Other collections in the Harvard University Libraries which complement Gutman's holdings include:

• Harvard University Archives: the official records of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, including the records of its administrative and academic departments as well as papers of its deans and faculty, are held here. The University Archives collects the official records of all schools, faculties, and divisions of Harvard University, with holdings extending from its founding in 1636 to the present.
• Houghton Library: pre-1800 historical textbooks and manuscript collections of many American educators and reformers.
• Schlesinger Library on the History of American Women: many manuscript collections documenting the role of women in education.
• Widener Library: collections on the history of higher education in America and throughout the world, in the Educ, Educ R, and Educ U classifications. These are cataloged in the HOLLIS Catalog.

At other institutions

(Note: This section will be updated on a regular basis but should not be regarded as definitive)

Historical Textbook Collections:

• Abilene Christian University
• American Antiquarian Society
• Baldwin Library of Historical Children's Literature, University of Florida
• Bridgewater State College
• Center for Research Libraries
• Cubberley Education Library, Stanford University
• De Grummond Children's Literature Collection, University of Southern Mississippi
• Dellinger Education Collection, Butler University
• Hofstra University
• Illinois State University, Normal
• Indiana State University, Terra Haute
• Indiana State University, Muncie
• Jones Library, Amherst, MA
• Library of Congress, Washington, DC
• Miami University, Oxford, OH
• Gottesman Libraries, Teachers College, Columbia University
• National Library of Education
• Ohio State University Libraries--Rare Books and Manuscripts Library
• Ohio University--Rare Books Collection
• Rutgers University
• Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos
• State University of New York at Oneonta
• State University of New York at Stony Brook
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign--Education and Science Library-- School Collection
• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • North Carolina Collection
  • Digitized Textbooks from the Confederate States of America
• University of North Carolina, Greensboro
• University of Pittsburgh
  • Special Collections
  • 19th Century Schoolbooks[digitized texts]
  • Elizabeth Nesbitt Room
• University of South Carolina--Rare Books and Special Collections
• University of South Carolina--Historical Children's Literature Collection
• University of Texas, Arlington
• University of Texas, Austin
• University of South Florida, Tampa
• Watkinson Library, Trinity College, Hartford, CT

Recent Textbooks can be found at:

• Boston College -- Educational Resource Center
• Bridgewater State College
• Framingham State College
• Lesley University

Public School Reports:

• Boston Public Library
• Cubberley Library, Stanford University
• Library of Congress, Washington, DC
• Watkinson Library, Trinity College, Hartford, CT

Resources on Children's Television:

• American Center for Children's Television
• Center for Media Literacy
• KIDSNET
• Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Archives (University of Pittsburgh)
• Museum of Broadcast Communications
• Museum of Television and Radio, New York and Los Angeles
• National Public Broadcasting Archives
• Prix Jeunesse