William James House Library, Looking Southeast

What it is

This black-and-white photograph shows the library of the former home of William James. It was taken in October 1967 as part of the Historic American Buildings Survey. The image shows a wood-paneled room with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, a fireplace with a carved mantel and framed pictures, leather armchairs, a long bench, a sofa and tall windows with curtains. The photograph was credited to William R. Emerson in the collection record.

Why it matters

The library is the room where James worked, so this photograph connects his professional life to a real place. Survey photographs such as this one preserve the appearance of historic rooms for later study. Because it was made in 1967, it shows the room as it looked then, not necessarily as it looked when James used it.

Look closer

• Which objects in the room suggest that it was used for study and reading?
• How might the arrangement of furniture and books affect how a scholar worked here?
• What can this photograph not show, such as the papers, habits or conversations of the people who used the room?