New York Public Library Releases Treasure Trove of Copyright-free Media

The New York Public Library has released over 180,000 out-of-copyright pictures and other digital media online.

The searchable trove of material contains historic maps, botanical illustrations, unique manuscripts, photographs, ancient religious texts, and more, according to NYPL.

Among the collection are manuscripts from Walt Whitman and Henry David Thoreau; papers and correspondence from Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison; sheet music for popular American songs from the early 20th century; handscrolls of the Tale of Genji, created in 1554; Medieval and Renaissance illuminated manuscripts from Western Europe; over 20,000 maps and atlases documenting New York City, North America, and the world and more than 40,000 stereoscopic views from various regions of the U.S.

Native American from Klondike, Alaska are shown in this stereoscopic image released by the New York Public Library.

The digital material is posted here and can be used freely by anyone, including for commercial use, without permission.