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Coverage dated March 27, 2024 to March 30, 2024

Harvard says it's removed human skin from binding of 19th century book

Headline from KTVB Boise

It comes after a review found ethical concerns with the book’s origin and history.

KTVB Boise's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Read the reports

Reports & sources

25 articles, oldest first.

  1. NBC New York

    Harvard removes human skin from binding of old book (opens NBC New York)

    Published

    NBC New York's feed description

    Harvard Library said it pulled the human skin binding from its copy of "Des destinées de l’âme," written by Arsène Houssaye in the 1880s.

  2. The Guardian

    Harvard will remove binding made of human skin from 1800s book (opens The Guardian)

    Published

    The Guardian's feed description

    University says first owner of book by French novelist took the skin from a deceased female patient without consent

  3. The Boston Globe

    Harvard University removes human skin used in binding of 19th-century book (opens The Boston Globe)

    Published

    The Boston Globe's feed description

    The original owner, who died in 1933, took the skin from a deceased female psychiatric patient at a hospital where he worked, Harvard officials said.

  4. The Daily Caller

    Harvard Library Removes Human Skin Cover From Book, Citing Issue With ‘Consent’ (opens The Daily Caller)

    Published

    The Daily Caller's feed description

    Harvard Library removed a special copy of a book Wednesday that has been in their collection since 1934 whose binding was made out of human skin.

  5. New York Post

    Harvard removes cover made of human skin from 1800s book stored in library (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    Harvard University announced it would remove a binding made of the skin of a deceased woman from the 19th-century book “Des Destinées de l’Ame,” which they house in their library.

  6. New York Times

    Harvard Removes Binding of Human Skin From Book in Its Library (opens New York Times)

    Published

    New York Times's feed description

    The decision to find a “respectful final disposition” for human remains used for a 19th-century book comes amid growing scrutiny of their presence in museum collections.

  7. NBC News

    Harvard library removes human skin from book binding (opens NBC News)

    Published

    NBC News's feed description

    Harvard University removed human skin from the binding of "Des destinées de l'âme" in Houghton Library Wednesday after a review found ethical concerns with the book's origin and history.

  8. Washington Examiner

    Harvard removes human skin binding from rare book in library (opens Washington Examiner)

    Published

    Washington Examiner's feed description

    Harvard University officials announced the removal of the human skin binding from a rare book in the school's Houghton Library.

  9. Fox News

    Harvard apologizes for, removes creepy book binding made of human skin: 'Past failures' (opens Fox News)

    Published

    Fox News's feed description

    Harvard University removed a book binding made of human skin from a 19th century book in its libraries, citing ethical concerns and "past failures."

  10. WHDH Boston

    Harvard says it’s removed human skin from binding of 19th century book - Boston News, Weather, Sports (opens WHDH Boston)

    Published

    WHDH Boston's feed description

    CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Harvard University said it has removed human skin from the binding of a 19th century book about the afterlife that has

  11. KTVB Boise

    Harvard says it's removed human skin from binding of 19th century book (opens KTVB Boise)

    Published

    KTVB Boise's feed description

    It comes after a review found ethical concerns with the book’s origin and history.

  12. Honolulu Star-Advertiser

    Harvard removes human skin from binding of 19th century book (opens Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

    Published

    Honolulu Star-Advertiser's feed description

    In its statement, Harvard said the library noted several ways in which its stewardship practices failed to meet its ethical standards.

  13. New Hampshire Union Leader

    Harvard removes human skin from the binding of 19th-century book (opens New Hampshire Union Leader)

    Published

    New Hampshire Union Leader's feed description

    The book, bound in human flesh and housed in Houghton Library for almost a century, was so popular that it had inspired hazing rituals at Harvard University.

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.

Harvard says it's removed human skin from binding of 19th century book | Since Then