Nathan Marsh Pusey Library

Nathan Marsh Pusey Library is an underground research facility at Harvard University that holds millions of manuscripts, rare books, and historical documents in climate-controlled storage. It connects to the broader library system and serves as a major repository for the university's scholarly collections.

The facility opened in 1976 and was named after Nathan Marsh Pusey, who led Harvard University as president from 1953 to 1971. Its construction marked a major effort to safeguard the university's expanding scholarly collections for future generations.

The Harvard University Archives, housed within Pusey Library, maintains and preserves significant institutional records documenting the university's historical development.

Access is through the left side of Widener Library's main entrance, where stairs lead down into the underground facility. Keep in mind that only authorized researchers and affiliates can enter the interior reading areas.

The facility was the world's first library to use a halon-gas fire-suppression system, an innovative solution designed to protect valuable historical materials from fire damage. This technology allowed fires to be extinguished without harming delicate documents and manuscripts.

Location: Cambridge

GPS coordinates: 42.37363,-71.11588

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:04