Houghton Library

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Houghton Library is the primary repository for rare books and manuscripts at Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is part of the Harvard Library system and serves as a major center for research in the humanities.

History[edit | edit source]

Houghton Library was established in 1942, named after Arthur A. Houghton Jr., a Harvard alumnus and benefactor. The library was designed by the architectural firm of Coolidge, Shepley, Bulfinch, and Abbott and is situated in Harvard Yard, adjacent to Widener Library.

Collections[edit | edit source]

Houghton Library's collections are vast and diverse, encompassing a wide range of materials from different periods and regions. The library holds significant collections in the following areas:

Notable items in the collection include a Gutenberg Bible, the papers of Emily Dickinson, and the John Keats collection.

Facilities and Services[edit | edit source]

Houghton Library provides a variety of services to support research and scholarship. These include:

Reading rooms for accessing rare and fragile materials
Reference services and research consultations
Exhibitions showcasing items from the collections
Digital collections and online resources

Access and Use[edit | edit source]

The library is open to Harvard students, faculty, and staff, as well as to external researchers and the general public. Access to certain materials may require prior arrangement due to their rarity and fragility.