COLLECTIONS

Collections Policies & Procedures

Details about visiting the Archives, Research & Reproduction Fees, Copyright and more.

Research Policy

Appointments are free for members and $10 for non-members. For research not accommodated through an appointment, the Archivist is responding to research queries. Because of the increased demand on staff time, please allow for a one to two month delay between making the request and receiving your response. The Dedham Museum & Archive charges a research fee for any reference assistance that will take more than 15 minutes of research consultation time. See research fees below for members and non-members.

Archival Procedures

Researchers should familiarize themselves with these regulations prior to visiting the Archives.

  1. No personal belongings such as large bags or coats are allowed in the archives. Researchers may leave their belongings in the office or coat rack.
  2. Notes may be taken using a laptop, tablet, phone, or paper and pencil. The use of pens is not allowed in the Archives.
  3. No food or drink, with the exception of water, is allowed in the Archives and hands must be clean and dry before handling archival materials. Water must not be on the reading table with materials, and must be in a container with a closed cap.
  4. Archival items may be photographed using a personal camera or cellphone, without the use of a flash, at no charge, with use of Courtesy of Dedham Historical Society & Museum overlay.
  5. Photocopies of archival items may be requested and are subject to a fee. Digital reproductions of items must be requested through the use of our Image Reproduction Request Form. Reproduction requests may be denied
    due to the status or condition of the material. Please see our Archival Research and Reproductions Fees schedule for more information.
  6. Storage areas are closed to researchers; staff will retrieve requested items and deliver them to the researcher at the reading table.
  7. Researchers are allowed to call one box of material at a time. Researchers may open only one folder at a time, and ensure that the order of material is maintained within each folder and box.
  8. All archival materials must be viewed flat on the table. Do not make marks on any materials or affix extraneous items to any pages. No objects should be placed on top of any archival materials. Please report any concerns or
    damages regarding materials to Archives staff immediately.
  9. Any permissions granted by the Dedham Historical Society & Museum are for a one-time use only. All reproductions copyright Dedham Historical Society & Museum unless otherwise noted in writing. Dedham Historical Society & Museum should receive a credit line in all publications. Use of preferred citation for each collection is expected.

Copyright Statement

Any permissions granted by the Dedham Museum & Archive are for a one-time use only. Copies are for personal use, and are not to be duplicated or transferred to another individual or institution. If the information is to be used in a publication, the user needs to obtain prior written permission from the Dedham Museum & Archive.

Archival Research & Reproduction Fees

For Members

Research privileges for the archives are extended to Dedham Historical Society & Museum (DHSM) members at no charge.
 
DHSM staff will conduct 30 minutes of free research time to members and then bill research requests at $25/hour, for a maximum of 2 hours.

For Non-members

For non-members, researchers may utilize the archives for a $10 research fee; or they can become a member of the DHSM. Please click here to learn more.
 
For non-members, researchers will receive up to 15 minutes of free research time and then bill at $50/hour, for a maximum of 2 hours.

Please allow for two to four weeks on all research requests.

Fees for Image Reproductions from Archives

For personal or individual use:

  • High Resolution (300 dpi or greater) Digital Scan — $5 per image, up to 10
  • High Resolution (300 dpi or greater) Digital Scan — $8 per image, 11-15
  • High Resolution (300 dpi or greater) Digital Scan — $10 per image, 16+

For commercial use (please see attached request form)*:

  • High Resolution Digital Scan — $65 per image, under 2,000 Print run
  • High Resolution Digital Scan — $85 per image, over 2,000 Print run

For use or non-commercial publication by a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization:

  • High Resolution Digital Scan — $25 per image, under 2,000 Print run
  • High Resolution Digital Scan — $50 per image, over 2,000 Print run

Any permissions granted by the DHSM are for a one-time use only. All reproductions copyright Dedham Historical Society & Museum unless otherwise noted in writing. Dedham Historical Society & Museum should receive a credit line in all publications. Use of preferred citation for each
collection is expected.

Fees for Photocopies of Documents

Photocopies of documents — $.25 per page BW, $.50 per page color

Services

Available research materials are in the archive and reference library. Both are open to the public; all materials are brought to each researcher. It is important to either call or email ahead with requests and make an appointment. If you are unable to visit the museum there is a research fee of $25/hour for a maximum of two hours; additional time will need to be scheduled.

FAQ

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 10:00-2:00 p.m.

Yes, photography is permitted for personal use only. See “Archival Research & Reproduction Fees” for image photography related to publication.

Both are in the museum. Please be aware that they are on the lower level and are not handicapped accessible.

The archivist can conduct a general search; please reach out to [email protected]

Please reach out to the archivist to determine what is in the collection relative to your topic and research fees. [email protected]