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Images: Home

Find images from web sources, specialized databases, and digital collections for research and educational use with guidance on usage rights and academic standards.

Find millions of photographs, artworks, maps, and historical documents through both free web collections and specialized academic databases. Understanding different types of sources and their usage rights helps you find exactly what you need while avoiding copyright problems.

Free Web Collections

Museums, libraries, and archives worldwide have digitized millions of items from their collections, making them freely available for research and education. These cultural institutions provide authoritative historical documentation and artistic works that support academic research and classroom instruction.

Cultural Institution Collections

Open Access Resources

  • Unsplash - High-quality photographs available under open license
  • Wikimedia Commons - Freely usable media files including historical images, artwork, and photographs

General Image Search Tools

Licensed Academic Collections

Through library subscriptions, you have access to high-quality art and photography databases with scholarly-grade images and detailed metadata.

These collections offer superior image resolution, academic cataloging, and clear educational use permissions.

Art & Cultural Heritage

News & Historical Photography

Loyola Digital Collections

Our digital collections include unique visual materials documenting Loyola history, Chicago area history, and specialized research collections. All materials are freely available online with detailed metadata for academic citation.

Featured visual collections include:

  • University Archives Photography - Campus life, events, and institutional history
  • Chicago Area Historical Images - Regional history and cultural documentation
  • Mundelein College Collections - Women’s education and activism history
  • Special Collections Photography - Rare books, manuscripts, and cultural artifacts

Explore all digital collections

Different image sources have different usage permissions:

Educational use (generally permitted):

  • Classroom instruction and course materials
  • Academic research and presentations
  • Student assignments and projects

Commercial or public use (may require special permission):

  • Publications for sale
  • Public exhibitions
  • Marketing materials

Always check licensing information provided with each image and contact the source institution for questions about usage rights.  See our main Copyright Guide for more information.

Getting Help

For help with image research, database access, or copyright questions:

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