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Copyright and the Online Collections Search

MHS Open Access Policy

The preservation, transmission, and advancement of knowledge in the digital age is promoted by the creative use and reuse of digitized content for research, teaching, learning, and creative activities. The goal of digitization is to enhance access to the Missouri Historical Society’s collections for students, scholars, and the community.

To this end, we have adopted an Open Access Policy. You are welcome to download and utilize any digital file that the Missouri Historical believes is likely in the public domain or is free of other known restrictions. This content is available free of charge and may be used without seeking permission from the Missouri Historical Society.

If a digital file is unavailable for download, this may mean that the collection item has copyright or other privacy restrictions. If you have a question about a specific reference, please email us at permissions@mohistory.org.

How to Research Copyright on the Online Collections Search

The Missouri Historical Society does not license digital content. It is the users responsibility to understand the legal implications of utilizing the images/digital assets on this site.

The Missouri Historical Society makes every effort to document what is known about the copyright status of its collection items via a “Rights” statement in every record. In doing so, we make use of the statements crafted by the Digital Public Library of America (Dp.la) and Europeana (europeana.eu), which can be found at rightsstatements.org.

Because copyright (which includes the right to digitally reproduce/represent the item and circulate this reproduction) may be held by individuals or entities outside of the Missouri Historical Society, it is important that site users pay close attention to this copyright statement and make their own determination about their right to download, copy, transmit, or make other use of the digital file—beyond what is allowed under the “fair use” clause in the United States Copyright Act. [link]

Notes for Users:

  • The Missouri Historical Society can only give permissions with respect to rights it has and makes no representations or warranties that use of these images will not violate rights held by other persons or entities.
  • The user is solely responsible for procurement of any necessary permission, authorization, or release associated with the image from the copyright owner, if there is any.
  • As a courtesy, the Missouri Historical Society requests the following credit when using one of its digital images or assets, “Courtesy of the Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis.” If possible, a link back to the record permalink should also be included. This helps us track image use and helps others more easily find this content.
  • Users may not suggest or imply that the Missouri Historical Society endorses, approves, or has participated in any projects utilizing images obtained from the museum.

Digital Millennium Copyright Act

The Missouri Historical Society asks that users aware of any rights information associated with a digital file contact the museum’s designated agent for notification of claimed infringement in compliance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), 17 U.S.C. §512(c)(2).

Please include:

  • Electronic or physical signature of the copyrighted work owner (or authorized person)
  • A description of the copyrighted work, including the URL or permalink where this infringing content is available
  • Your contact details: email address, telephone and address
  • A statement in “good faith belief” that the work is not authorized by the copyright owner
  • A statement by you, person who sends the takedown notice, that the information you send in the notice (above information) is accurate and that you are either the copyright owner or you are authorized to act on copyright owner’s behalf

You can read Copyright Law – 17 U.S.C 512(c)(3) for more information.

Send to the Designated Agent at:

Missouri Historical Society

Attn: Amanda Claunch

Archivist, Photograph and Prints

225 South Skinker Blvd.

St. Louis, Missouri 63105

Or by email at: amc@mohistory.org