Emily Dickinson Collection, 1840-2005 (bulk 1850-1955): Collection Overview

Abstract:

The collection documents the creative work and personal life of Emily Dickinson, spanning her lifetime, from 1830 to 1886; her family and friends; and the early publication history of her work. It also includes material from Dickinson scholars Mabel Loomis Todd, Millicent Todd Bingham, Jay Leyda, and others. The collection includes original poems, manuscripts, and letters from Dickinson to family and friends; images of the poet, including the daguerreotype and silhouette; physical artifacts related to Dickinson; manuscript transcriptions; printers' copies and proofs; Mabel Loomis Todd's correspondence, research indices, and writings; and material from or about Dickinson's friends and family, including correspondence, photographs, objects, and scrapbooks.

Terms of Access and Use:

Restrictions on access:

Access to original material and artifacts is restricted for preservation reasons; high-resolution digital surrogates of all of the Dickinson manuscripts are available for use in the reading room. Permission from the Head of Archives and Special Collections is required to use original Dickinson material and should be requested in writing at least 24 hours in advance. Materials from other institutions which are included in the Emily Dickinson Collections cannot be duplicated, as indicated.

Restrictions on use:

Requests for permission to publish material from the Collection should be directed to the Head of Archives and Special Collections. All of Dickinson's poems and letters published before 1923 are in the public domain. Permission to quote from the Johnson and Franklin editions should be directed to Office of Copyrights and Permissions, Harvard University Press, 79 Garden Street, Cambridge, Mass. 02138-1499 (tel. 617-495-2600; fax 617-496-4677). It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights.