Harvard Library removes binding made of dead woman's skin from 1800s book

In a statement released Wednesday, the university said that it decided to do so due to the ethically fraught nature of the books origins and subsequent history..

Harvard University removes binding made of dead woman's skin from a copy of Des Destines de lAme, held at Houghton Library Harvard removes human remains from 19-century book in its library..

Recalling the nature of the decade-old post, the university said in the statement, Following the scientific analysis that confirmed the book to be bound in human skin, the library published posts on the Houghton blog that utilized a sensationalistic, morbid, and humorous tone that fueled similar international media coverage..

Harvard Library's statement also adds that the removal of human skin binding follows a review by Houghton Library of the books stewardship, prompted by the recommendations of the Report of the Harvard University Steering Committee on Human Remains in University Museum Collections issued in fall 2022..

The statement concludes with an apology from the university that reads, Harvard Library acknowledges past failures in its stewardship of the book that further objectified and compromised the dignity of the human being whose remains were used for its binding..

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