Category Archives: Public Domain Sources

Smithsonian Libraries

Name: Smithsonian Digital Library

URL: https://library.si.edu/digital-library/art-and-design

URL to the site’s rights statement

The Smithsonian’s Open Access policy allows users to download, share, and reuse over 4.9 million digital items from its collections without needing permission. This includes 2D and 3D images as well as data from the Smithsonian’s museums, research centers, libraries, archives, and the National Zoo. This website encourages creative use of these resources, offering tools and platforms to facilitate access and engagement.

PD_Smithsonian

Prelinger Archives

Name: Prelinger Archives

URL: https://archive.org/details/prelinger

URL to the site’s rights statement

The Prelinger Archives offers free access to many films through the Internet Archive, often under the Public Domain Dedication. The majority of the archive is free to use and distribute as you please, however, there are still some footage and images that may have copyright. In this case, the archive recommends the user get in contact with them to ask about possible chances of reuse and distribution.

PD_Prelinger

J Paul Getty Museum

Name: The J Paul Getty Museum

URL: https://www.getty.edu/museum/

URL of the site’s rights statement

The J. Paul Getty Museum adheres to a progressive open-domain policy aimed at making art and cultural heritage widely accessible. The museum provides high-resolution images of its public domain pieces through the Getty Open Content Program, allowing users to freely download, modify, and distribute these images without restriction.

PD_Getty