The Massachusetts Historical Society collects and makes accessible materials that foster historical knowledge. We strive to act as responsible stewards of the collections. Please find below MHS's takedown policies relating to copyright and privacy issues.
Copyright Takedown Policy
The Massachusetts Historical Society makes our digitized and born-digital collections available to the public for the purpose of education and research. We have indicated the copyright status of our materials when we are able to ascertain that information.
If you are the rights holder and have found material on any MHS maintained websites for which you have not granted permission (and is not covered by Fair Use), you may request the removal of the material. Please submit a notice that includes the following information to takedown@masshist.org.
- Your contact information (name, email address, telephone number)
- The URL where you found the material
- A description of the material (title, collection, number of items)
- A statement that you are the rights holder or authorized to act on behalf of the rights holder, and an explanation of any claims to the rights of the materials
Massachusetts Historical Society staff will review the request and the material in question will be temporarily removed from public view while we assess the issues identified in the request. Once the assessment is complete, we will make a decision about the material and communicate that decision to you.
Privacy Takedown Policy
The Massachusetts Historical Society makes our digitized and born-digital collections available to the public for the purpose of education and research. The MHS takes steps to identify and redact, remove, or restrict access to sensitive information (social security numbers, driver’s license or state issued ID card numbers, financial account numbers, credit or debit card numbers, passwords etc.) that could threaten the privacy and security of individuals and organizations represented in our collections.
Despite these efforts, private information may inadvertently be included in digital collections. In such cases, individuals (or an individual acting on behalf of a minor child or an incapacitated parent, spouse, domestic partner, or adult child) or organizations whose high-risk or sensitive information is exposed may submit a takedown request to takedown@masshist.org. Please include the following information in the request:
- Your contact information (name, email address, telephone number)
- The URL where you found the material
- A description of the material (title, collection, number of items) and high-risk/sensitive information
The MHS will address legal concerns and consider significant risks to privacy by redacting, restricting access, or removing material that contains high-risk information (personally identifiable information or protected information and/or sensitive information that falls under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) or the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) or Mass. 201 CMR 17.00. The MHS is committed to preserving the authenticity and integrity of the historical record. While the MHS cannot correct errors or inaccuracies within the original items, we will add notes to the administrative records about the collection and/or redact material if the errors or inaccuracies pose legal concerns and/or significant risks to privacy.
MHS staff will review the request and the material in question will be temporarily removed from public view while we assess the issues identified in the request. Once the assessment is complete, we will make a decision about the material and communicate that decision to you.
