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Copy Request (folders from boxes)

Copy Request (folders from boxes)



Important
Please place one distance copy request at a time. When you've received your order, then you may enter another request. While one request is active, any additional orders will be canceled.

If you would like a large quantity of materials scanned -- multiple bound items, more than twenty folders from one box, etc. -- please email copy.services@mnhs.org with a list of the materials, and staff will get back to you with more information.



If you do not know the exact folder(s) you would like scanned, please see our Distance Copy Request service page for information about searching the library catalog and collections finding aids. For additional assistance, please contact the library by email at reference@mnhs.org

Do not use this service to order copies from more than three folders.

Please request three folders at a time. When you've received scans of the the first set of folders, then you'll be able to order the next set of three.

Use the discount code when checking out to get $5 off of one total order of copies from folders. The code goes into the box marked "Discount code or gift card" on the checkout screen:

  • NOV25COPY (11/1 - 11/30)
  • DEC25COPY (12/1 - 12/31)
  • JAN26COPY (1/1/2026 - 1/31/2026)
  • FEB26OPY (2/1/-2/28)

Notice Warning Concerning Copyright Restrictions

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 specified 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.



MNHS Image and Duplication Support for Community Projects

The Minnesota Historical Society offers some financial assistance to reduce the cost of reproduction orders placed by and for the use of some community groups. For more information and to see if you qualify, please see the MNHS Image and Duplication Support for Community Projects info page before placing this order.

Please be aware that Community Digitization requests can take quite a while to process and are much slower than standard requests.

The Copy Request (folders from boxes) service can be used to request PDF scans of folders from archival boxes for personal or research use. This service is compliant with U.S. Copyright Law.

Up to three folders can be requested per order and each customer can have one active request at a time. Additional orders will be canceled, as will orders for more than three folders. 

Price
$5 per standard folder, up to three total. Folders must be from the same box. 
See below for more information on prices for non-standard folders/materials.
MNHS Members receive 10% discount at checkout.

Use the discount code to get $5 off one order of copies of folders for boxes):
  • NOV25COPY (11/1 - 11/30)
  • DEC25COPY (12/1 - 12/31)
  • JAN26COPY (1/1 - 1/31)
  • FEB26COPY (2/1 - 2/28)

Turnaround 
Orders are usually completed and sent within three to four weeks. In some circumstances, it may take up to twelve weeks to complete work.

About this service
The following materials can be copied using this service

  • Folders from manuscript collections
  • Folders from county and state archives

This service provides research quality (300 dpi) PDF scans of the original item. It is designed to be a similar quality to black-and-white or color photocopies. To order high-resolution scans, please use our Image Order services.

For more information--including instructions on how to determine location numbers-- please see the Copy Request Service page.

Non-standard folders/materials include materials that are fragile or that require extra care, like onion skin documents, oversized items, unusually large folders (over 100 pages), and fragile materials that require special handling and/or equipment.  If your order includes non-standard items, staff will contact you with next steps and a price quote.  

Please note that library staff cannot perform research through this service. This includes locating individual documents within a box or folder. 

The following materials cannot be copied through this service

Copyright Information
Notice Warning Concerning Copyright Restrictions 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 specified 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.

Disclaimer
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 or would damage collection items.

 

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