Collections Access Policies

The current Access Policies and Rules Governing Use of Archives and Collections for Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site was signed by Superintendent Newman on April 15, 2020.

 

 

Availability

Researchers are encouraged to complete their preliminary research at archives and libraries with a broader topical focus before approaching the holdings of the Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site (LONG). The National Park Service has limited reference staff and research resources; priority will be given to researchers whose work focuses on materials available only at LONG. Access to materials is dependent upon their physical condition and the level of processing to-date by the NPS. All research must be done on-site in the research room. Exceptions may be granted for examining objects on exhibit in situ.

Access

• Researchers should submit a written request to the curatorial office, detailing their research project to the curatorial staff.
• Requests for materials should be submitted two weeks in advance, to allow for the evaluation of the request and the scheduling of curatorial staff to oversee the research.
• All research requests should be addressed to:
  • [e-mail]
  • Curatorial Office, Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, 105 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138.
• Approval of all requests will be based on availability of curatorial staff to supervise researchers and the condition of the material requested.
• To ensure long-term preservation of materials, researchers may be asked to use existing digital surrogate copies at the discretion of curatorial staff.
• The curatorial staff at LONG requests that the researcher read the abstracts in the archival guide or finding aids before requesting to view any collection of documents.
• To ensure the conservation and security of this resource, browsing is not permitted.
• Due to space constraints, one research party of no more than three people may be accommodated at a time.

Facilities

The research room closes from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. Use of public transit is strongly encouraged; the closest MBTA subway stop is at Harvard Square. Limited on-site parking is available for researchers.

Citations

• When crediting the park, list “National Park Service”; “Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site” or “Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters NHS”; collection, series, and folder titles; and catalog and item numbers if applicable. See the preferred citations in the scope and content note of finding aids.
• Credit the creator of the item (e.g., photographer) if known. - When reproducing images, use the following credit line: “Courtesy of the National Park Service, Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site.”

Research Room Rules

• Only lead pencils, not pens or markers, may be used for note taking.
• Use of portable equipment, including tape recorders, computers, scanners, and cameras, is subject to security procedures and prior approval by staff. Roll-feed scanners are prohibited to avoid damage to materials.
• No food, beverages, or smoking will be allowed in the historic structure, including the research room.
• No coats, packages, containers, folders, cases (including briefcases), or bags (including handbags larger than wallets) are permitted in the research room area.
• The research room will close if no supervisory staff is available.
• Researchers must maintain quiet in the research room.
• Researchers register annually and must sign in and out each time they enter or leave.
• Researchers may not remove any archival or manuscript materials from the research room.
• Researchers may work with archival or manuscript materials only in the research room, not in museum storage or staff work spaces. Researchers may work with museum objects in the research room or in situ, at the discretion of curatorial staff.
• Researchers must submit for inspection all materials carried into and out of the research room.
• The park reserves the right to limit access to fragile or restricted collections.
• Researchers will work with only one document from one folder from one box of materials at a time to avoid damaging a collection's original order.
• Researchers who disregard these rules or endanger the records or the work of others will be denied access.

Reproductions

• Reproductions are available within reasonable limits. In order to minimize damage from light, handling, and equipment, approval to reproduce and the selection of a reproduction process is at the discretion of curatorial staff.
• Researchers must submit written requests for copies or duplicates.
• Researchers may photograph documents with their own camera at the site if the condition of the document permits. Flash and external lighting may not be used without prior written application and approval. Please notify the staff if you wish to photograph at the time of your request for an appointment.

Copyright

• The holder of the original copyright is not necessarily the National Park Service. The National Park Service is not legally liable for copyright, privacy, or publicity infringement when materials are wrongfully used after being provided to researchers for “fair use.”
• Permission to obtain a copy for scholarly purposes does not constitute permission to publish.
• See Copyright and Privacy Restrictions Statement.

Handling

• Hands must be washed before handling collection materials.
• Only one box or volume of material will be issued at one time.
• When handling the archival and manuscript materials, only one folder may be removed from a box at a time, and folders must be laid flat on the table.
• Documents should be handled with utmost care and viewed only one at a time.
• Manuscripts and books may not be leaned on, written on, folded, traced over, or handled in any manner that may damage them.
• Researchers must maintain the original order of documents within their folders. Attending staff should be contacted if there is any sign of damage or if items appear to be out of order.
• No attempt should be made to reorder or rearrange the documents or folders or to repair any physical damage.
• It may be necessary for a staff member to handle certain materials for the researcher, at the discretion of staff.
• Gloves must be worn when required by curatorial staff.
• Latex or nitrile gloves must be worn when working with materials that may pose a health hazard.