Delta State University Archives and Museums
The Delta State University Archives Department supports the teaching, research, and public service activities of the University by collecting, preserving, and making accessible historical manuscript collections that document the history and culture of Mississippi in general, and the Mississippi Delta region, in particular. The collections are open to faculty, staff, students, visiting researchers, and the general public.The Archives is located in the Charles W. Capps, Jr. Archives and Museum Building, which was completed in November 1997.
Use of the Collection
Patrons who wish to use the collections will be required to complete a registration form and show a photo I.D. For the protection of the materials, no pens are allowed in the reading room. Items in the collection do not circulate. In order to provide better assistance, we prefer that you let us know you are coming (662-846-4780) or e-mail at archives@deltastate.edu. The Archives provides a number of services to patrons on and off campus.
Commercial Use
The minimum fee for commercial use of photographs or slides is $25 per image used, in addition to the costs associated with providing the commercial user with a digital reproduction of the image. Digital copies are provided for a one-time use only. Any subsequent reproduction of the print supplied will be subject to additional use fees to be determined by the Archives. Later or different use, including the production of subsequent editions or printings of a work, constitute re-use and requires renegotiation and payment of commercial use fees.
The Archives reserves the right to decline to provide copies/images of photographs if, in the judgment of the Archives, the proposed copies would be a violation of copyright law, or would offend, invade the privacy of, or raise objections of persons pictured in the photographs, their relatives, the community, the photographer, or the donor of the photographs. Regarding copyright law, please consult the above tab labeled “Copyright Information.”
Photographic Services
Photographs are made available in digital format and reproduction prints. All scanning will be done by DSU archival staff. No personal scanners/cameras are allowed. A limited number of photographs may be scanned and emailed to an address by staff at no charge. DSU archival staff will determine the appropriate image dpi and size. Patrons may choose to have their images printed at one of our local photo centers and prices for those requests would be determined by each business.
Contact the University Archives for more details on reproduction images.
Photocopies
No more than 10% of a book may be copied. Copies are made by staff for patrons at the cost of 10 cents per page. In some instances photocopies may not be made if material is too fragile. Archives staff will make this decision. Other restrictions, according to copyright law, may apply. Please see the copyright statement under the above tab labeled “Copyright Information.”
A/V Materials
Duplication of Audio Recordings: $5.00 per tape. This includes postage.
Commercial Use Fee: $25 per minute of actual recording time used.
Duplication of Video Recordings: $6.00 per tape. This includes postage.
Commercial Use Fee: $25 per minute of actual footage used.
What is Copyright?
Copyright is a form of legal protection that provides authors of original creative works with limited control over the reproduction and distribution of their work. It gives copyright holders a set of exclusive rights to reproduce the work, in whole or in part, distribute copies of the work, publicly perform the work, publicly display the work, and prepare derivative works based on the original, such as translations or adaptations. These rights are subject to exceptions and limitations, such as “fair use,” which allow limited uses of works without the permission of the copyright holder. A person could be held liable for copyright infringement if they use copyrighted materials when exceptions do no apply and without the permission of the copyright holder.
Many of the items in our archives and in our museums are protected by copyright law, and are subject to all applicable laws protecting the authors of copyrighted materials. The copyrights for all of our materials are either owned by Delta State University, the authors of the material, institutions that own the copyright on the material, or have now passed into public domain.
17 U.S. Code § 102 – Subject matter of copyright: In general
102. Subject matter of copyright: In general28
(a) Copyright protection subsists, in accordance with this title, in original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression, now known or later developed, from which they can be perceived, reproduced, or otherwise communicated, either directly or with the aid of a machine or device. Works of authorship include the following categories:
(1) literary works;
(2) musical works, including any accompanying words;
(3) dramatic works, including any accompanying music;
(4) pantomimes and choreographic works;
(5) pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works;
(6) motion pictures and other audiovisual works;
(7) sound recordings; and
(8) architectural works.
(b) In no case does copyright protection for an original work of authorship extend to any idea, procedure, process, system, method of operation, concept, principle, or discovery, regardless of the form in which it is described, explained, illustrated, or embodied in such work.
For more information, please visit Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17), which can be found at the U.S. Copyright Office.
Online Copyright Law Resources
Federal Government Resources
History Hub: as described on the website, the resource is “a research community for everyone, including genealogists, historians, and citizen archivists.”
- Are records from your catalog copyrighted?: NARA discussion board on Copyright within Archives.
U.S. Copyright Office: This site is a clearinghouse for information about U.S. copyright law. This site expalins what copyright is, along with providing services to register a copyright, determine Fair Use, file copyright claims, and more.
- What is Copyright?: This page from the U.S. Copyright Office is a layperson’s introduction to the basics of copyright
U.S. Government Works: Learn how copyright applies to U.S. government works.
Other Online Resources
Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute: This free resource from the Cornell Law School publishes the laws and regulations of the federal government and the United States. The provided link will take you directly to the text of the U.S. copyright law.
Frequently Asked Questions| Society of American Archivists: This FAQ, published by the Society of American Archivists, is an excellent resource explaining how U.S. copyright law protects the items in a collection. It also anwers several copyright questions.
Selected Copyright Resources| Society of American Archivists: If you would like more information on copyright, its laws, and how it impacts archives and museums, please check out this list of information sources created by the Society of American Archivists.