Statement on Harmful Content
The MCPHS Libraries’ collections in this Institutional Repository (IR) aim to showcase, preserve and make available materials relating to the scholarly work done at the school, as well as the history and student life of the institution throughout the ages. We recognize that MCPHS, both as an academic and historic institution, has historically produced or published content that our current community will find offensive, racist, and harmful. Historical materials contain language, imagery, and content that illustrates harmful, offensive, and stereotypical depictions of marginalized communities, people of color, those who identify as LGBTQIA+, religion, and people with disabilities. Some items can be difficult or traumatic to view because they contain racist, sexist, ableist, homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, colonialist, classist, or otherwise discriminatory or offensive views and opinions.
The MCPHS Libraries does not condone any harmful, racist, or offensive content that may be found within these digitally accessible collections. We oppose all forms of discrimination and systematic oppression. We are committed to DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility) efforts, to informing users of the presence of harmful content, and to fostering access to these collections in a responsible way. Our aim is only to make these materials available for research and educational purposes, and to preserve these materials as historical records. Preserving and making this material available is important so that we can provide a transparent account of the past.
We aim to flag harmful, offensive, and racist materials on a collection level, indicating where this content is most likely to be encountered. We recognize that this will be an ongoing process. We encourage users to bring questions and concerns about material and description to our attention by emailing us at [email protected].
This statement was adapted from Simmons University’s Statement on Harmful Content In Digitized Archival Collections. It was last updated on October 4, 2024.
