Photographs: Use Permissions & Licensing

Please use the information below to determine what type of use to indicate on your order.   Regardless of your user type, it is important to note:

• The Conditions of Use apply to all types of use.
• Regardless of type of image use, all permissions are granted on a one-time, one-project basis. 
• There are no limitations on the language(s) of the final product and, with the exception of advertising, there are no limitations on the territory for the permission. 
• Use fees are listed in the chart below.  These fees are waived for personal, nonprofit, and government users, but these users must still complete the permissions process to publicly use images.  

If you are still not sure what category to select when ordering or submitting paperwork, please contact us at library.permissions@mnhs.org for more information and assistance. 

• Publication: The image(s) will be used in a print and/or electronic publication such as a book, journal/magazine article, pamphlet, calendar, newspaper, newsletter, etc. 
  • Image(s) can be used for internal illustration, endpaper illustration, and/or cover image. 
  • Includes advertising for the publication project
  • For cover images only: textual cover information (title, author, etc.) can be printed over image without an additional letter of permission. For non-cover illustrations, non-cropping alterations to the image require a letter of permission in addition to the standard permission form.
     
• Publication Electronic Bundle: The publication electronic bundle level of permissions is designed for projects where use goes beyond a basic publication and its advertising.  Often these are digital products like websites, apps, resource/curriculum packages, or interactive components that are designed to complement the publication. 
  • Includes advertising for the publication project
  • Neither specifies nor limits the type(s) of media used to disseminate the publication project
     
• Exhibit/Public Display: The image(s) will be displayed in a physical environment (such as a restaurant, museum, sales office, or reception area) or in a virtual environment (like a website, blog, social media, or mobile medium) that is available to the public or used in a commercial way.  
  • Includes advertising for the exhibit/display
  • Does not include selling the image(s) or using the image(s) to advertise anything else  
     
• Broadcast Media Bundle: The image(s) will be used in a moving-image project like a television broadcast, film, or online/streaming broadcast.  
  • Includes advertising and selling copies of the program/film
  • Neither specifies nor limits the type(s) of media used to disseminate the moving-image project
     
• Merchandise: Creation and sale of merchandise items (examples include: notecards, t-shirts, etc.)
  • Does not include re-selling prints of image(s)
  • Includes advertising for the merchandise items
  • Does not include using the image(s) to advertise any other product or service 
    ​
• Advertising: The image(s) will be used in print, online, or in a broadcast for the purposes of advertising a product, service, event, etc. that does not otherwise use the image. 
  • Regional market: Advertising that targets a relatively small, defined, and contiguous geographic area within the United States (examples include: a metropolitan area, a single state, a tri-state area)
  • National or World market: Advertising that targets multiple regions in the United States, most or all of a single nation, or multiple nations
     
• Website Only: The image(s) will be used on a website for a purpose that is not a publication, advertising, or  media presentation.

Depending on who is using the image or what they are using it for, use fees may apply.  Generally, we do not charge fees for personal uses, or for uses by non-profits, government entities, or Minnesota media/publishers.   

The standard use fees for other uses are: 

There are no MN Historical Society Member discounts on use fees.  If you have any questions about use fees, please contact the Permissions Team via email: library.permissions@mnhs.org

Gale Family Library
Minnesota Historical Society Library

Located on the Second Floor of the Minnesota History Center
345 West Kellogg Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55102

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Sunday to Wednesday: Closed
 

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