What is the Harvard Library?
Harvard University has over 70 libraries that together comprise the Harvard Library, the largest academic research collection in the world.1 The two principal sub-libraries that contain the most holdings pertaining to Mormonism are the Harvard Divinity School Library and the Widener Library. Harvard began its pursual of Mormon-related collections with the purchase of the Eli H. Peirce collection of Mormon Americana in 1914. Ever since then, the library has continued to acquire Mormon-related collections.
Visiting the Library
Harvard Divinity School Library Hours:
Mon-Fri: 8:30am-10:00pm
Sat: 10:00am-6:00pm
Special Collections at the Harvard Divinity School Library:
Mon-Fri: 9:00am-5:00pm
Widener Library Hours:
Mon-Thurs: 9:00 am-10:00 pm
Fri: 12:00pm-5:00pm
Sun: 12:00pm-8:00pm
What Researchers Should Know
- Patrons who are not affiliated with Harvard must obtain either a reading room card or a borrowing card in order to call down items and view them in the reading room. For more information go to the visitor access page.
- Harvard uses their own online catalog, HOLLIS, to search for collections.
*Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the library and reading room are currently closed to non-Harvard students, faculty, and staff. For more information and updates see: https://library.harvard.edu/about/news/2021-07-29/harvard-library-spaces-reopen-fall-semester
Utilizing the Library Digitally
Harvard Library has a collection of more than 6 million images available through their Digital Collections page.
Other Helpful Resources
The Harvard Divinity School Library offers a range of useful tools to aid researchers. They have a helpful “Ask Us” function as well as an easy way to contact relevant subject librarians.
Important Collections
Harvard Library’s Mormon-related collections specialize in rare, published materials as well as unique photograph collections.
- Deseret Alphabet Book of Mormon
- A collection of pamphlets, for and against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
- Mormon Magazine Miscellany
- Papers of Ruth May Fox, 1856?-1977, undated
- George Albert Smith Papers, 1935 – 1969
- Henry Standage Journal, 1846 – 1851
- Building the Mormon University next to Augusta Victoria in Jerusalem
- Ann Eliza Young: Wife no. 19
- Orson Pratt: New Jerusalem, or, The fulfillment of modern prophecy
- Skandinaviens stjerne, 1851:1 okt.-1889:15 sept