All researchers wishing to use the Society's collections are required to create a Portal1791 account. This account allows you to:
During registration, you will create a username and password. We recommend that you follow good security practice and choose a password that is different from those you use to access other systems.
Researchers visting the MHS must provide a valid, government-issued photo ID and be photographed by MHS staff to complete their registration and gain access to the library.
Our staff strives to provide an environment of mutual respect and consideration for researchers visiting us onsite and interacting with us remotely. Our library policies support this environment. Researchers are expected to follow all library policies outlined below and to follow all instructions given by MHS staff.
Researchers are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the MHS handbook regarding personal behavior, including harassment (sexual and other forms), use or threat of violence, and solicitation. A copy of the MHS handbook can be made available upon request.
Any researcher that feels the behavior of a staff member, researcher, or other visitor violates these policies should report the behavior to a staff member so that it can be addressed.
MHS staff may inform any researcher that violates library policy or whose behavior infringes upon the environment of mutual respect and consideration for all (or individual) researchers and staff members that they must leave the premises and/or that distance communication including telephone, email, and chat exchanges, will be ended. Repeated violations will result in loss of library privileges.
The unique and fragile nature of many of the Society's collections requires special care to preserve these items for future generations. Researchers support this effort by following our security and materials handling policies.
**Personal medical devices and/or medication that must be in proximity to the researcher can be placed in a clear plastic bag and brought into the library.
**Personal notes may be copied onto MHS paper and brought into the library with the approval of the reference librarian. Notepaper will be subject to inspection when departing.
Please note that library staff may deny access to items in poor physical condition and unprocessed collections.
If you have a disability that may restrict your ability to access MHS collection materials and/or to adhere to the policies outlined above, please contact the reference desk (reference@masshist.org or 617-646-0532) in advance of your visit so that we can work together to develop an accommodation plan.
Researchers may photograph materials for reference use using a handheld camera with the flash turned off. Researchers must abide by the confines of current copyright law and follow reading room policies and staff instructions related to handling materials for photography. Loose documents must be photographed as they lie in their folders; bound items in a book cradle. Items such as, but not limited to, tripods, lighting enhancements, scanners of any type, and video/sound recording equipment are not permitted.
There is no self-service photocopying of collection materials. Requests for staff created reproductions, either digital or photocopy, should be made directly through the Portal1791 system. For more information about our reproduction policies and fee structure please see our website.
Reference reproductions are intended for personal/study use only. They may not be donated to or deposited in other libraries or archives or made available to other researchers without the written permission of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Similarly, ownership and/or possession of reproduced material does not imply permission to publish or quote from documents. Researchers must follow the use permission process whether they have consulted materials in person in our reading room, via microfilm or online database at the MHS or another institution, or via photocopy or reference reproductions.
The MHS welcomes use of research materials held by the Society in publications and other distributable media. Separate permission is not required for use of research materials that are in the public domain.
In cases where materials are protected by copyright it is the sole responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission from the copyright holder. For more information about the library use permission policies see our website.
In all cases, use of MHS collections must be acknowledged through correct citation of sources. Reproduced images require use of the credit line "Collection of the Massachusetts Historical Society."
The MHS accepts donations of any publications that result from research in our collections.
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.
The MHS will retain the information we collect from you in connection with your use of your Portal1791 account indefinitely. The collected data is stored in a secure third-party software called Aeon, a product of Atlas Systems, Inc. We may use this information for administration and maintenance of collections or library operations, and to conduct research in trends of collection use in support of Massachusetts Historical Society's mission. We may also be required to provide information to satisfy any applicable law, regulation, legal process or governmental request; or to detect, prevent, or otherwise address fraud, security, or technical issues.
Many questions can be answered by visiting our FAQ page. For other questions, contact a library staff member by emailing reference@masshist.org or calling 617-646-0532. For assistance placing a reproductions order, you can contact our reproductions team by emailing reproductions@masshist.org or calling 617-646-0542.
By clicking the "Create New Account" button you acknowledge that you have read and agree to abide by all policies outlined above.
