Schlesinger Library's materials are requestable using your HOLLIS Special Request account, which allows you to place and manage your requests for access to Schlesinger Library’s materials. HOLLIS Special Request is available to Harvard and non-Harvard researchers and can be used at any participating Harvard library or archive.
All researchers must have a HOLLIS Special Request account to request Schlesinger Library materials, including copy requests. This includes all members of a research team planning a visit to the Library. Information for research teams or researchers coordinating with a research proxy is available on our Research Teams Guide.
(Note: If you have an existing HOLLIS Special Request account you use to request from Harvard’s other special collections libraries, that account also works with Schlesinger Library’s materials!)
With your HOLLIS Special Request account you can:
Collection materials, including books, periodicals, and manuscript collections, can be requested through HOLLIS, Harvard library's online catalog. Requests for manuscript and archival material with an associated finding aid (guides describing the contents of archival collections) must be made at the item-level directly from the finding aid in HOLLIS for Archival Discovery.
Researchers are encouraged to place requests at least 2-3 business days in advance of visiting so we can confirm material location and access to items with restrictions. As material with restrictions may take longer to review, requesting in advance ensures staff have enough time to review and prepare materials for your use. We cannot guarantee a turnaround time regarding requests that require written permission as this is dependent on the collection’s donor or their representative. Requests for material stored offsite must be made by 2:00pm at least one business day in advance. We are able to hold up to 10 boxes from off-site storage per researcher. Requests for additional offsite boxes will be fulfilled as materials are returned to storage. Please share your questions with us using the Ask a Schlesinger Librarian webform.
Have questions about getting started with HOLLIS Special Request?
Not sure how to place requests in HOLLIS?
Not sure how to make requests through a finding aid?
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Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America, Harvard Radcliffe Institute
3 James St. | Cambridge, MA 02138 | 617-495-8540
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