The RIHS does not restrict the use of images of items in the public domain. For items under copyright not held by the RIHS, it is the sole responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission to publish from the rights holder.
You may freely download and use any of the existing still images on our online catalog, The Cabinet, for your own research, for teaching and presentations, or for non-commercial projects.
All published images of RIHS collection items should be accompanied by the credit line:
“Courtesy of the Rhode Island Historical Society”
Reproduction and Access Fees
Existing Digital Files
Any existing digital images available on The Cabinet include a watermark and are available for use at no charge. These images may be freely downloaded for research, teaching, presentations, and/or non-commercial projects.
Images without the watermark are $45 per JPEG (300dpi). Photographic prints are $45 for 8” x 10” prints and $60 for 11” x 14” prints.
Copies of existing full-resolution digital files from the Moving Image and Audio Collections are $60 per file.
New Digital Files
The creation of a new digital image from our Manuscript and Graphics collections is $60 per JPEG (300 dpi). New digital photography of items from our Museum Collections is $70 per hour with a 1-hour minimum.
RIHS staff may also determine a request for new digital images is a special project. Special projects include items that need to be retrieved from storage or exhibition, items that are three-dimensional and require a mount to be made or items that are especially fragile and require special handling. Costs for special projects are $70 per hour with a 1 hour minimum.
New full-resolution digitization fees for materials from our Moving Image and Audio Collections are provided on a case-by-case basis. Digitization is arranged by the RIHS with an outside lab, with fees based on the length of the original film or audio. Outside lab fees can change at any time. RIHS staff will provide a quote for the associated lab fees and shipping costs upon request.
Ordering Reproductions
To request still images, please complete our Rights & Reproductions Application Form and email the completed form or any related questions to reproductions@rihs.org. You will receive a quote within 7 business days.
To request material from the Moving Images & Audio Collection, please contact us at miac@rihs.org.
Please note that rush service is not available at this time. Payment must be made in full before images are provided. Payment can be made via check or credit card.
Licensing & Image Use
Licensing of Moving Image & Audio Collections
For material for which the RIHS holds the copyright, fees include:
Commercial use: $900 for the first 15 seconds of digital films and audio for all media, worldwide in perpetuity and $60 per additional second of digital film and audio for all media, worldwide in perpetuity.
Non-profit use: $450 for the first 15 seconds of digital films and audio for all media, worldwide in perpetuity and $30 per additional second of digital film and audio for all media, worldwide in perpetuity.
Your Copyright Responsibilities
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.If you have concerns or questions about copyright, please review the summary compiled by the Cornell University Copyright Information Center.