conditions of use for images, media, and other cchs content

Permission is required for EVERY use of CCHS images or other media. To get started on your use request, please complete the contact form.

  1. Possession of images, footage, or other content duplicated from the Cook County Historical Society collections does not constitute permission to use it.

  2. Permission is for one-time, one-project use only. Cook County Historical Society retains all rights to images, footage or other content duplicated from its collections. The duplications may not be used for any purpose other than what is expressly defined in the use or license agreement.

  3. If a use fee applies, it must be paid in advance of receiving a permission form signed by authorized staff at the Cook County Historical Society.

  4. Credit must be given to the Cook County Historical Society and the creator of the original work, if known. Credit must appear on or below the image/footage/content, or in a designated credit section. For web uses, hover-view credits only are not acceptable.

  5. If copyright is still in effect and the copyright is not held by Cook County Historical Society, the requestor must seek permission from the creator of the original work or from the current copyright holder. CCHS will provide the creator's name, if known.

  6. Photographs may be cropped to suit design and layout, but they may not be altered, colorized or drawn upon without a letter of permission in addition to the standard permission form.

  7. Cook County Historical Society reserves the right to decline permission to requestors who have not complied with these conditions or whose use is deemed inappropriate.

  8. Cook County Historical Society assumes no responsibility for infraction of copyright laws, invasion of privacy or any other improper or illegal use that may arise from reproduction of any collection materials. Requestor assumes full and sole responsibility for the use of the duplication and shall pay and indemnify and hold CCHS and its agents harmless from and against all claims, damages, losses, costs, expenses, and liabilities of every kind (including attorneys' fees) arising out of the requestor's use, or out of the requestor's breach or alleged breach of the use or license agreement.

  9. In some cases, CCHS will request that a copy of the finished product be donated to CCHS. Please contact Annie Buresh, Collections Manager, at annie@cookcountyhistory.org for more information about providing copies of finished products.