Objects
The Museum houses rich and diverse collections of art, artifacts, prints, rare books, technical archives, drawings, photographs and holograms dating from 7th century BCE to today. The collections reflect the diverse interests of the MIT Community from the founding in 1861, to current cutting edge research. The MIT Museum collections support research, publication, restoration, education, public programs and exhibitions. The MIT Museum is committed to continuously expanding online access to our collections.
Search advice
To locate collections now available, browse by major collection -- top of column to the left.
For background and contact information about the Museum collections, explore the links below. The MIT Museum collections are divided into five main departments: Architecture and Design, Hart Nautical, Holography, MIT General, and Science and Technology.
In Focus
The following objects have been selected for Focus to test our new online collections catalog and to represent the diversity of MIT Museum collections.
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Divers Holography Hologram Schinella, G. Robert; McDonnell Douglas Electronics Corporation 1971 | |
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Large, sharp, red image of an underwater scene with swimming fish, coral, and tall kelp/seaweed; in background, swimming among the stalks of seaweed, a diver with diving gear can be seen swimming towards the viewer; his arm is clearly visible, though rest of body blends into background; seemingly, work is one large sheet of holographic film, sandwiched by 2 large sheets of glass; the sheets are held together by thick red tape around the borders, forming a red frame. [More Info] | |
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Bounce juggler (W. C. Fields) Science & Technology Shannon, Claude Elwood Early 1980s | |
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W. C. Fields really was a juggler; this version can juggle three metal ball-bearings, bouncing them on the surface of the drum. [More Info] | |
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Atlantic Works 1928, Vol. 13 Hart Nautical Photo album Bethlehem Steel Fore River Shipyard Quincy, MA | |
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Black hard cover with leather covered corners and binding edge assembled with two screw type fastners. Title and volume written on front cover in longhand with white ink. Inside front cover is a typewritten label with following: Vice President's Office Quincy. Volume number is also written on binding. Title page inscription reads S. Wiley Wakeman, The Atlantic Works, July - 1928. [More Info] | |
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Aerial view, Santorini (Greece) - 1967 Science & Technology Color slide Edgerton, Harold Eugene USA 1967-11- | |
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Aerial view of the island of Santorini, Greece (ancient Minoan Thera) in 1967. (CC) [More Info] | |