The Center for Craft owns the physical materials in this collection. Copyright and other intellectual property rights in these materials are more complex:

• Some materials were created by third parties who may hold exclusive commercial licensing rights.
• Many materials were created by artists, organizations, and other third parties who retain their copyrights.
• For some materials, copyright ownership is unknown or unclear.

The Center for Craft does not claim copyright ownership in materials created by third parties. Copyright law protects creative works regardless of who owns the physical object. Owning a letter, photograph, catalog, or recording does not transfer the copyright in that work.

The Center for Craft can generally grant permission to use materials from this collection for noncommercial educational and research purposes, subject to the specific terms governing each collection. This includes:

• Scholarly publications and academic research
• Educational use in classrooms and workshops
• Nonprofit exhibitions and programs
• Personal study and research

The Center charges reasonable fees to cover staff time and reproduction costs when processing permission requests. Fees do not grant copyright licenses beyond noncommercial educational and research use.

Commercial use includes:

• For-profit publications
• Advertising and marketing materials
• Merchandise and product design
• Commercial film, television, or media production
• Any use primarily intended for commercial advantage or monetary compensation

For commercial use of materials, contact the Program Director – Archives and Special Collections. The Center will assess whether we have authority to grant commercial permissions for the specific materials requested.

For materials created by third parties (artists, designers, organizations), you must obtain permission directly from the copyright holder regardless of whether your use is commercial or noncommercial. The Center for Craft cannot grant permissions we do not hold.

U.S. copyright law (17 U.S.C. § 107) permits certain uses of copyrighted materials without permission under the doctrine of fair use. Whether a use qualifies as fair use depends on the specific circumstances and is determined on a case-by-case basis. The Center for Craft cannot provide legal advice about whether your proposed use qualifies as fair use.

To request permission for noncommercial educational or research use of materials:

1. Identify the specific materials you wish to use (include collection name, item description, and any available catalog numbers)
2. Describe your proposed use in detail
3. Specify the format and distribution method
4. Email your request

The Center will review your request and respond with permission terms and applicable fees. Permission is required even for materials available in our digital collections.

All reproductions of materials must include the attributions advised in the collections. If you are unsure how to attribute a material, contact the Program Director – Archives and Special Collections.

The Center for Craft makes this collection available to support research, education, and the study of craft history. Making materials accessible does not constitute permission to use them or transfer copyright ownership. Users are responsible for determining copyright status, obtaining necessary permissions, and complying with applicable laws.

For questions about image use, permissions, or copyright, contact the Program Director – Archives and Special Collections.