Collections Rights & Reproduction
Ordering Photocopies/PDF Scans for Research
Filson staff continue to accommodate those who are unable to work with our collections in person. Please email us at gro.l1730810556aciro1730810556tsihn1730810556oslif1730810556@hcra1730810556eser1730810556 to submit a research request or question. The research account is monitored daily on weekdays; please expect a response in no more than 7 business days.
- Please use our online research tools to learn more about our holdings.
- Staff can spend about half an hour looking into your request at no charge.
- Staff can conduct up to 2 additional hours of research, and can also make PDF scans for remote patrons. We are charging a flat hourly rate for these services: $35/hour for members* and $50/hour for nonmembers. *E-members and Filson For All members get their first hour of research free.
Ordering High Quality Digital Reproductions
In support of research, education, and publication, the Filson Historical Society (FHS) provides digital reproductions of items in the collections upon request for a flat fee. The Filson reserves the right to withhold permission for the reproduction of any materials. The Filson requests one gratis copy of any publication that includes a reproduction from the FHS collections when applicable.
- FHS does not provide printed reproductions.
- All requests are processed in the order in which they are received.
- Average turnaround time is 3 to 4 weeks to fully process an order after paperwork and payment have been received. Large and more complex requests may be subject to an additional hourly service fee.
- Rush orders, reproductions needed sooner than 3 to 4 weeks, are available for an extra fee.
Fees listed below apply to high resolution (300-600 dpi/TIFF/JPEG), publication quality digital files. All fees listed are subject to change.
Filson members receive a 10% discount on all image reproduction orders.
Fee Schedule
To provide more accessibility to our collection, the Filson has adjusted its fees to a flat rate and will no longer charge extra based on project type.
Use Type | Fee Per Item | Notes |
Classroom Use, Theses, Dissertations | FREE* | Covers K-12, undergraduate, and graduate students. Includes use for in-person and virtual classroom use, school projects, and dissertations & theses. *Must use digital files already available online or self-taken images of FHS materials. Requests for high-quality files will incur a Reproduction Fee based on the fees below. See below for A/V rates. |
Social Media | FREE* | Must credit the Filson Historical Society, cite specific item information, and include a hyperlink to the original online item record, if available. *Must use digital images already available online or self-taken images of FHS materials. |
Research Purposes Only, Theses & Dissertations | $25 | Publication quality files for research purposes only and materials that need to be reproduced for theses and dissertations. Permission paperwork required. See below for A/V rates. |
Non-Profit Use | $45 | Publication quality files for use in various projects: Publications (books, magazines, journals, brochures, film, television), Presentations, Display/Exhibition, Websites. See below for A/V rates.
Purchase Exemption Certificate Required |
Commercial Use | $65 | Publication quality files for use in various projects: Publications (books, magazines, journals, brochures, film, television), Presentations, Display/Exhibition, Websites. See below for A/V rates. |
Museum Objects | Quote upon Request | Fees are determined based on the original format and if photography of object needs to be outsourced for reproduction.
Non-Profit / Commercial Use Fees apply when digital file is available. |
Service Fee | $35 Non-Profit & FHS Members / $50 Commercial per an hour | Large and more complex requests that take additional time may be subject to an additional hourly service fee to aid in covering staff time. |
RUSH Fee | $75 per order | Rush orders may take up to 10 business days to process after payment is received. |
Audiovisual Format | Personal Research, Dissertation, Theses Fee | Non-Profit Fee | Commercial Fee | Notes |
Audio and Video Cassette Digitization | $35 | $45 | $65 | Fees are determined based on the original format and if materials need to be outsourced for reproduction. Rush fee not available.
Purchase Exemption Certificate Required for non-profit use. |
Moving Picture, Home Movie, Films Digitization | $300 | $350 | $450 | Fees are determined based on the original format; films need to be outsourced for reproduction. Rush fee not available; expect several month turnaround time.
Purchase Exemption Certificate Required for non-profit use. |
Service Fee | $35/hour | $35/hour | $50/hour | Large and more complex requests that take additional time may be subject to an additional hourly service fee to aid in covering staff time. |
RUSH fee | N/A | N/A | N/A | Not available for most A/V formats due to outsource requirements. |
Sales Tax
All fees listed above are subject to a 6% Kentucky state sales tax, which will be added to your total. Sales tax will be added to non-profit orders unless a copy of the Purchase Exemption Certificate is provided at the time of the order.
Place an Order
To request a high quality digital reproduction of an item in the FHS Collection, please use the Collections Reproduction Request form.
A Filson staff member will be in contact with you regarding your order. If you are only interested in low resolution PDF images of a file for research, please email gro.l1730810556aciro1730810556tsihn1730810556oslif1730810556@hcra1730810556eser1730810556.
For more information about our Collections Rights and Reproductions please contact Assistant Curator of Photographs & Prints, Hailey Brangers.