The CHS Library collection focuses upon and supports research in all areas of Ancient Hellenic Civilization. Subject coverage includes literature (archaic, classical, Hellenistic and early imperial), history, philosophy, religion, art, archaeology, architecture, epigraphy, papyrology, medicine, mathematics, science, and numismatics. Collections in Latin Literature and Roman Studies are much less complete, but useful for comparative purposes and interdisciplinary projects.
In its early years the Library was fortunate to acquire the private library of Werner Jaeger, Professor of Harvard University 1939-1961, and large portions of the libraries of Arthur Darby Nock, Professor of Harvard University 1930-1963, and Arthur Stanley Pease, Professor at Harvard University 1942-1964 (Professor Emeritus 1950-1964). James H. Oliver, Professor of Johns Hopkins University 1946-1970, also bequeathed materials to the Center. Because of these gifts, the collection contains many older editions of texts and rare copies of dissertations. More recently, books from the library of Sterling Dow, Professor of Harvard University 1946-1979 (Professor Emeritus until his death in 1995) have enriched the archaeology section. The papers of American journalist I.F. Stone (1907-1989) were also donated to the Center. Most recently, thirty-two rare books, primarily early editions (including editiones principes) of works by Aristotle and Callimachus, were donated by John Van Sickle, CHS Senior Fellow 1974–75.
The Center’s Library contains more than 75,000 printed volumes; approximately one-third of these are periodicals. Currently about 1,000 books, excluding series acquired through subscription, are added each year. The purchasing program allows for the acquisition of classics titles published by university presses in the United States, as well as titles published in other countries, including England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the Scandinavian countries. However, printed items dealing with ancient Greece are acquired in any language, including Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, etc. The CHS library users also have access to the e-resources of Harvard.
The Center’s collection can be searched through the Harvard Library Catalog HOLLIS; new titles are listed as soon as they are catalogued. Like most academic research libraries in the United States, the Center adheres to the classification system of the Library of Congress. The CHS is a private institution. Its Library serves the research needs of a number of residential fellows selected through a competitive application process, but also eligible external readers, see Accessing the Library.