Frequently Asked Questions
The Teaching Company
The Great Courses
Your Information
Purchase Policies
Shipping, Processing, and Lifetime Guarantee
International Orders
Credits
The Teaching Company
What does The Teaching Company do?
The Teaching Company brings engaging professors into your home or car through courses
on DVD, CD, audio, and other formats. Since 1990, great teachers from the Ivy League,
Stanford, Georgetown, and other leading colleges and universities have crafted 200
courses for lifelong learners. We provide the adventure of learning, without the
homework or exams.
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How long have you been in business?
We have been in business since 1990.
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How can I contact you?
You can reach us at the contact information provided below.
E-mail: custserv@teachco.com
Phone: 1-800-TEACH-12 (1-800-832-2412)
Office hours: 9 a.m. to 12 midnight eastern time Monday through Friday; and 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m. eastern time Saturday and Sunday. After hours, an automated voice mail system is
available.
Fax: 703-378-3819
Mail:
The Teaching Company
4840 Westfields Blvd., Suite 500
Chantilly, VA 20151
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The Great Courses
How are the professors chosen to make your courses?
Only the top 1 in 5,000 college professors is chosen to be on The Teaching Company's
faculty.
America has nearly 500,000 college professors. Since 1990, we have identified the
top 1% of professors based on teaching awards, published evaluations of professors,
newspaper write-ups of the best teachers on campus, and other sources.
Each year, our professional recruiters travel the country—from Harvard to Stanford,
UCLA to UNC—and listen to hundreds from the top 1%. Of these, about 1 in 20 is selected
to give an audition lecture for The Teaching Company. Each audition is then reviewed
by hundreds of our customers. Those professors who get a high score from our customers
are invited to craft new courses. More than 15,000 of our customers have voted on
audition lectures to select our faculty.
In the end, we and our customers select about 1 in 5,000 professors.
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How are the courses made?
We work closely with our customers and professors to create The Great Courses. Here
is how:
- Customers choose the professors. We begin with the best professors in the
country—literally, the top 1% of professors in America. In the end, only 1
in 5,000 professors meets the standards set by our customers, who vote on all professors
we retain.
- Customers choose the courses. We interview thousands of customers to find
out what titles they want and how they want us to make our courses.
- The professors carefully prepare each course. Months of preparation ensure
that a course will satisfy our customers. Long before a word is spoken on stage,
our professor outlines and prepares each lecture and writes the extensive guidebook.
Our own producers help to slate each image that will be included in the video version
of the course.
- We control the quality by recording courses in-house. Our professors come
to our in-house studio in Chantilly, Virginia (the Washington, D.C. area) to deliver
their lectures.
- The video of each lecture is recorded on broadcast-quality equipment and media.
- The audio for each lecture is recorded on CD-quality equipment and media.
- We then devote weeks to include all appropriate images and text in the videos and
to professionally master the sound for the audio and video versions of our courses.
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What media formats are available for the courses?
We offer courses in the following formats:
- Digital video disc (DVD)
- Audio compact disc (CD)
- Audiotape
- Transcript book
- Audio Download files in MP3 or MPEG4 format.
Digital media, including DVDs, CDs, and our download files provide the highest quality
for video and audio.
Transcript books are attractive, soft-bound books of 170-250 pages. They contain
the course guidebooks you receive with every course and lightly edited transcripts
of all course lectures.
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Should I buy audio or video?
The choice between audio and video depends on how you want to use the course and
on the content of the course.
Your preferences. The audio version is very flexible, allowing you to listen
to The Great Courses almost anywhere and at any time you like: while commuting,
jogging, gardening, even swimming.
The course content. The video version of a course contains all images that
our professor finds useful in teaching. Some visual elements (e.g., charts, graphs,
illustrations, physical experiments) enhance the video version. In many cases, these
visual elements are very helpful, greatly enhancing the professor's presentation. If
a course requires the student to see the visual elements to understand the material,
we issue the course only in video. In most cases, our professors are able to explain
the visual contents of a course to the "audio audience," and we issue the course
in audio and video.
If you have questions about a particular course, you'll find that each detailed
course description includes a section at the end to help you choose the right format.
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When and why do courses go on sale?
Every course we make goes on sale at least once a year. This revolving sales approach
allows us to provide you with great value and great service.
Producing large quantities of only the sale courses keeps our manufacturing and
inventory costs down, and we pass the savings on to you. This approach also enables
us to fill your order immediately: 99% of all orders placed by 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Time ship that same day.
To find out which courses are on sale, please check our catalogs, newsletters, or
website. The catalogs and newsletters clearly identify the courses currently on
sale. On the website, visit the "On Sale" section, or visit the "Your Account" section
and try our Sale Notifier, which will keep you informed when specific courses of
interest to you go on sale.
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Are the courses guaranteed?
Yes. If a course is ever less than completely satisfying, you may exchange it for
another or we will refund your money promptly. Or, if a tape or disc ever breaks,
warps, or gets damaged, we'll replace it, as long as the course is in print, free.
Most publishers do not guarantee that you will be satisfied with their books or
recordings. But we do. We guarantee your satisfaction for a lifetime because we
want you to be our customer for a lifetime of learning.
This guarantee, which we have honored every day since we opened our doors in 1990,
not only protects your investment in learning, the guarantee also compels
us to produce great courses and nothing less; otherwise, we'd go out of business.
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Can I earn a degree or college credits by taking your courses?
The Teaching Company does not offer degrees or credits.
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Are all of the courses college level?
The vast majority of our courses are college level. However, The Teaching Company
publishes several courses taught by outstanding teachers on subjects traditionally
covered in high school. The teachers for these courses were chosen in a national
competition judged by The Teaching Company. Many adults also find these courses
very rewarding.
These courses include:
- Basic Math
- Algebra I
- Algebra II
- Geometry
- Chemistry
- Early American History: Native Americans Through the Forty-Niners
- World History: The Fertile Crescent to the American Revolution
- How to Become a SuperStar Student.
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What are workbooks?
All high-school-level courses except "How to Become a SuperStar Student" come with
workbooks in addition to the course guidebooks you receive with all Teaching Company
courses. These workbooks are designed as valuable supplements to courses and textbooks
you are already using. The workbooks provide 10 questions per lecture plus an answer
key.
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What types of players can I use for the audio CDs and DVDs?
The audio CDs will work in CD players installed in your home stereo or in your car,
as well as in portable CD players. The CDs will also work in CD-ROM drives in computers
and laptops, MP3 players marked with CD playing capabilities, and some DVD players
that are marked certified to play CDs as well as DVDs. Note: Unless
the DVD and MP3 players are marked that they play CDs, your audio CDs will not work
on those players.
Your DVDs will work in DVD players and in DVD-ROM drives in computers and laptops.
If viewing on a computer, you may need to download additional software for the DVDs
to work properly.
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Can I play DVDs in a CD player?
No. DVDs will not work in equipment that plays CDs only. This is true of all DVDs,
not just ours.
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Your Information
What is your privacy policy?
Please see our Privacy Policy page for
details.
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What do you do with my e-mail address and other personal information?
We use your name and address to send you order confirmation, course starter materials
for courses that you order, free articles, requests for feedback on courses and
professors, and special offers.
We will not sell or rent your name, address, e-mail address, or purchase history
to any other person or company. Period. That has been our policy since we opened
in 1990.
Please see our Privacy Policy for more
information.
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Purchase Policies
Do you accept Purchase Orders?
Yes. Our Accounts Receivable Department requires completion of a credit reference
form on all new accounts, along with the purchase order. Please contact a representative
at 1-800-858-3224 to receive the credit reference form.
We will bill businesses and institutions if a copy of a purchase order is mailed
or faxed to us, after a credit form is completed. In lieu of a purchase order, we
will also accept a letter on your organization's letterhead stating the items you
would like and their prices.
Institutions have 30 days in which to either submit payment for the purchase order
or return the items.
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What does the "Priority Code" mean?
The priority code is a five-digit number that appears above your name and address
on the mailing label of your most current mail piece or catalog. This code enables
us to ensure that you get the sale prices that appear in your current mail piece
or catalog. Priority codes, which are good through the mailing's expiration
date, also allow our marketing department to see which mailing pieces our customers
enjoy and find most helpful.
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How do I order a gift certificate?
You can order a gift certificate in any amount in the Gift Certificates section of our site. You may redeem
the gift certificate in one purchase, or over several purchases until the full amount
is used.
You can also order gift certificates by phone at 1-800-TEACH-12 during business
hours (M-F 9:00 a.m.-12 midnight eastern time, Sat. and Sun. 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. eastern
time).
If I want a refund, what should I do?
Every course comes with our full Lifetime Satisfaction Guarantee: If you are not
completely satisfied with your order for any reason, simply return it with a note
describing why, and we will issue a full refund or credit your charge card.
You may return your order to:
The Teaching Company Returns Processing Center
4151 Lafayette Center Drive, Ste 100
Chantilly, VA 20151
Can I make copies of courses I have purchased from The Teaching
Company?
Copyrights: Our Courses are the intellectual property of The Teaching Company. They
are sold for private, noncommercial use only. All copying and all public performance
of the courses is a violation of federal law. If you or your organization wish to
exhibit the lectures publicly, please send a request for permission for such use
to the attention of Brandon Hidalgo detailing the use you intend for the course
and the estimated number of persons to whom the courses would be exhibited.
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Shipping, Processing, and Guarantee
What costs does the "shipping, processing, and guarantee" include?
Your shipping, processing, and guarantee payment includes a lifetime satisfaction
guarantee for your courses, allowing you to return a course at any time if you are
dissatisfied with it for an exchange or a prompt refund of your money. The charge
also includes our free replacement policy: if you ever damage a tape or disc, we
will replace it for free, as long as the course is in print.
No other publisher offers a free replacement policy as we do, and no other publisher
we've found offers a lifetime satisfaction guarantee.
We do not make a profit on your shipping, processing and guarantee payment. We charge
only what is necessary to cover the following expenses:
- processing of credit cards and checks
- delivering your courses to you via FedEx
- direct labor and warehousing costs for shipping packages and processing returns
and replacements
- costs for packaging materials.
Ninety-nine percent or more of the orders we receive by 2:00 eastern time ship that same day.
Every course comes with our full Lifetime Satisfaction Guarantee: If you are not completely satisfied
with your order for any reason, simply return it with a note describing why, and we will issue a
full refund or credit your charge card. You may return your order to:
The Teaching Company Returns Processing Center
4151 Lafayette Center Drive, Ste 100
Chantilly, VA 20151
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How do I calculate my shipping, processing, and guarantee charge?
Please see chart below for our shipping rates:
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Order Total
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Shipping
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$0.00 - $69.99
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|
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$10.00
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|
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$70.00 - $99.99
|
|
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$15.00
|
|
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$100.00 - $149.99
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|
|
$20.00
|
|
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$150.00 - $199.99
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|
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$25.00
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|
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$200.00 - or More
|
|
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$30.00
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|
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International Shipping
How do you ship international orders?
All international packages are shipped via Federal Express International. This is
the most reliable method of shipping because it allows us to track and confirm receipt
of packages. Also, because it is express shipping, you will not have to wait long
for your courses.
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How long will it take to receive my courses internationally?
Normally, you will receive your package within 10 business days from the time you
place your order. However, each country has a different customs policy, so we cannot
guarantee an exact delivery time. Please check with your local customs office for
more information.
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How much does it cost to ship internationally?
Listed below are the International Shipping charges. See below for information on
customs fees.
|
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Canada/Mexico
|
Europe/Far East*
|
Others
|
|
Under $100.00
|
$25.00
|
$30.00
|
$40.00
|
|
$100.00 - $299.99
|
$35.00
|
$45.00
|
$60.00
|
|
$300.00 or More
|
$45.00
|
$60.00
|
$80.00
|
*This includes: This includes: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Channel Islands (UK),
Cyprus, Denmark, England (UK), Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Hong
Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, Monaco,
Netherlands (Holland), Norway, Northern Ireland (UK), Portugal, Republic of Ireland,
San Marino, Scotland (UK), Singapore, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan,
Vatican City, Wales (UK).
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Will there be customs fees and taxes?
Orders shipping to Canada:
Applicable taxes are calculated during checkout.
The Teaching Company collects applicable GST, HST, PST and QST at the time the order is placed and
remits the proper amount to Revenue Canada. By placing your order, you authorize The Teaching Company to
use our FedEx customs broker to obtain customs clearance for your merchandise.
The Great Courses® are manufactured in the US and are not assessed duty.
Orders shipping to other countries:
Policies and customs fees are different for every country. However, you will
be responsible for customs fees that may be charged. Please refer to your local
customs office for more information.
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Do you ship to PO boxes in other countries?
Unfortunately, we cannot ship to PO boxes because we ship via Federal Express International.
Most express packages are turned over to a courier service once they cross the border.
Often, courier services will not deliver to PO boxes. In order to send you a package
from The Teaching Company, we will need a physical address.
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Are there countries to which you do not ship?
We will not ship to China or Cuba because they are not signatories to important
International Copyright Treaties. Except in special circumstances, we will not ship
to Colombia because of the unreliable mail system.
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Credits
Who supplies the images on this site?
Below are credit lines for all of the images on our website.
- © 2000-2010 Digitalvision/Inmagine.
- © 2000-2010 Inmagine/Photodisc.
- © 2010 by Dover Publications, Inc.
- © 2010 JupiterImages Corporation.
- © 2010, Frans Lanting/www.lanting.com.
- © Adam Woolfitt/CORBIS.
- © Alinari/Art Resource, NY.
- © Andy Kingsbury/Corbis.
- © Anthony Bannister: Gallo Images/CORBIS.
- © Araldo de Luca/CORBIS.
- © Archivo Iconografico, S.A./CORBIS.
- © Art Resource, NY.
- © Artville.
- © Barry Lewis/CORBIS.
- © Benjamin Mercer, 2010. Used under license from Shutterstock, Inc.
- © Bettmann/CORBIS.
- © Bildarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz/Art Resource, NY.
- © Bridgeman-Giraudon/Art Resource, NY.
- © Burstein Collection/CORBIS.
- © CAREY ALAN/CORBIS SYGMA.
- © carolyn clarke/Alamy.
- © Chad Baker/Photodisc/Getty Images.
- © Charles O'Rear/CORBIS.
- © Chris Butler/Science Photo Library/Photo Researchers.
- © Chris Carroll/CORBIS.
- © Chris Thomaidis/Photographer's Choice/Getty Images.
- © Comstock/Corbis.
- © Con Tanasiuk/Design Pics/Corbis.
- © Cone 6 Productions/Brand X/Corbis.
- © Corbis.
- © Corel Stock Photo Library.
- © Dave Bartruff/CORBIS.
- © David Rubinger/CORBIS.
- © DCD, 2010. Used under license from Shutterstock, Inc.
- © Digital Art/CORBIS.
- © Digital Stock.
- © Don Carstens/Brand X/Corbis.
- © Ed Freeman/Stone/Getty Images.
- © Edward Bock/Corbis
- © English School/The Bridgeman Art Library/Getty Images.
- © Erich Lessing/Art Resource, NY.
- © Evan Sklar/Getty Images.
- © Eyewire.
- © Fesus Robert, 2010. Used under license from Shutterstock, Inc.
- © Fine Art Photographic Library/Corbis.
- © Fry Design Ltd/Getty Images.
- © Geoffrey Clements/CORBIS.
- © Gianni Dagli Orti/CORBIS.
- © Grant Faint/Photographer's Choice RF/Getty Images.
- © Hemera Technologies/Photos.com/Thinkstock.
- © HIP/Art Resource, NY.
- © Historical Picture Archive/CORBIS.
- © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS.
- © Image Source/Corbis.
- © Image Source/Getty Images.
- © Israel images / Alamy
- © James Davis; Eye Ubiquitous/CORBIS.
- © Jose Luis Pelaez, Inc./CORBIS.
- © Joseph Sohm; ChromoSohm Inc./CORBIS.
- © Justin Guariglia/Corbis
- © Keren Su/China Span/Alamy.
- © Kevin A. Somerville/PhototakeUSA.com.
- © Kevin Schafer
- © Krause, Johansen/Archivo Iconografico, SA/Corbis.
- © Lawrence Lawry/Digital Vision/Getty Images.
- © Marc Romanelli/Getty Images.
- © Marko Shark/CORBIS.
- © Masterfile.
- © Matt Trommer, 2010. Used under license from Shutterstock, Inc.
- © Matthias Kulka/zefa/Corbis.
- © Michael Boys/CORBIS.
- © Michael Freeman/CORBIS.
- © Michael Monahan, 2010. Used under license from Shutterstock, Inc.
- © Mike Finn-Kelcey/Reuters/Corbis
- © ML Sinibaldi/CORBIS.
- © Momatiuk - Eastcott/Corbis.
- © moodboard/Corbis.
- © Murat Taner/zefa/Corbis.
- © Nimatallah/Art Resource, NY.
- © Oswald Eckstein/zefa/Corbis.
- © P.Uzunova, 2010. Used under license from Shutterstock.com.
- © Pascal Deloche/Godong/Corbis.
- © PASIEKA/SPL/Science Photo Library/Getty Images.
- © Peter Saloutos/CORBIS
- © Phase4Photography, 2010. Used under license from Shutterstock, Inc
- © Phil Schermeister/CORBIS.
- © Photo Disc.
- © photobank.kiev.ua, 2010 Used under license from Shutterstock, Inc.
- © Photodisc Red/Getty Images.
- © Photodisc/Getty Images.
- © Photos.com/Thinkstock.
- © Planet Art.
- © Reed Kaestner/Corbis.
- © Réunion des Musées Nationaux/Art Resource, NY.
- © Reuters/Corbis
- © Richard T. Nowitz/CORBIS.
- © Roger Ressmeyer/CORBIS.
- © Ron Watts/CORBIS.
- © Roy Morsch/CORBIS.
- © Royalty-Free/CORBIS.
- © Sam Kleinman/CORBIS
- © Sandro Vannini/CORBIS.
- © Scala/Art Resource, NY.
- © Scott Speakes/Corbis.
- © Sebastian Kaulitzki/Shutterstock.
- © Sébastien Désarmaux/Godong/Corbis.
- © sgame, 2010. Used under license from Shutterstock, Inc.
- © Sharna Balfour; Gallo Images/CORBIS.
- © Shawn Zhang/Shutterstock.com
- © Sotheby's/akg-images.
- © St. Charles Borromeo (1538-84) (oil on canvas) by Champaigne, Philippe de (1602-74) Musee des Beaux-Arts, Orleans, France/ Lauros / Giraudon/ The Bridgeman Art Library.
- © Stapleton Collection/CORBIS.
- © Steve Allen/Brand X/Corbis.
- © Stockbyte/Getty Images
- © SuperStock, Inc.
- © Tate Gallery, London/Art Resource, NY.
- © Taxi/ Getty Images.
- © Tetra Images/Getty Images.
- © The Art Archive/Corbis.
- © The Gallery Collection/Corbis
- © The Granger Collection, New York
- © ThinkStock/Corbis
- © Thomas Schmidt/Getty Images.
- © Vanni/Art Resource, NY.
- © Visual Syntax/ Iconica/Getty Images
- © Wally McNamee/CORBIS.
- © West Semitic Research/Dead Sea Scrolls Foundation/Corbis
- © Will & Deni McIntyre/Corbis.
- © Wood River Gallery.
- © Yang Liu/Corbis
- © Robert Harding World Imagery/Getty Images.
- akg-images.
- akg-images/Jonathan Barry.
- Copyright © 2000-2010 Photodisc/Inmagine.
- Courtesy National Archives.
- Courtesy of Wolfgang Beyer (www.wolfgangbeyer.de).
- Courtesy Ronald Reagan Library.
- Frederic Edwin Church (1826–1900). Our Banner in the Sky, 1861. Oil paint, over photomechanically produced lithograph, on paper, laid down on cardboard. Image: 7 1/2 x 11 3/8 in. (19.0 x 28.9 cm), Frame 13 1/16 x 16 7/8 in. (33.2 x 42.9 cm). Terra Foundation for American Art, Daniel J. Terra Collection. 1992.27.© Terra Foundation for American Art, Chicago / Art Resource, NY.
- INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMIC GROWTH, 2ND EDITION by Charles I. Jones. Copyright© 2002, 1998 by W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. Used by permission of W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
- Library of Congress, Music Division.
- Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, LC-B817-7929; LC-DIG-ppmsc-09229; LC-DIG-ppmsc-09876; LC-USZ61-2237; LC-USZ61-279;LC-USZ62-13040; LC-USZ62-100747; LC-USZ62-101877; LC-USZ62-10191; LC-USZ62-110616; LC-USZ62-112065; LC-USZ62-115917; LC-USZ62-117121; LC-USZ62-122699; LC-USZ62-123826; LC-USZ62-13016; LC-USZ62-1861; LC-USZ62-29499; LC-USZ62-4208; LC-USZ62-56548; LC-USZ62-64419; LC-USZ62-8240; LC-USZ62-83024; LC-USZ62-87246; LC-USZ62-97986; LC-USZ6-878; LC-USZC4-11310; LC-USZC4-5016; LC-USZC4-5017; LC-USZC4-6155; LC-USZC4-738; LC-USZC4-947; LC-USZ62-122955; LC-DIG-ppmsca-05936.
- Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections Division.
- Mary Evans Picture Library.
- Molnia, Bruce F. 2004. Muir Glacier: From the Online glacier photograph database. Boulder, Colorado USA:
- NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/STScI).
- NASA, ESA and R. Massey (California Institute of Technology).
- NASA, ESA, S. Beckwith (STScI), and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA).
- NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA-GSFC).
- NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center.
- NASA, The Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/STScI), NSSDC.
- NASA.
- National Snow and Ice Data Center/World Data Center for Glaciology. Digital media.
- Perry-Castañeda Library, University of Texas at Austin.
- Photo© Ken Howard
- Photograph by Richard Bushrod, A Perfect Image Photography.
- Photograph by William R. Cook, Ph.D.
- Robyn S. Hannaman, courtesy of The Edwin W. Brown Collection, Taylor University.
- Sennedjem and his wife in the fields sowing and tilling, from the Tomb of Sennedjem, The Workers' Village, New Kingdom (wall painting), Egyptian 19th Dynasty (c.1297-1185 BC)/Deir el-Medina, Thebes, Egypt/The Bridgeman Art Library.
- The Art Archive/Beethoven House Bonn/Alfredo Dagli Orti.
- The Art Archive/Bodleian Library Oxford.
- The Art Archive/Musée du Château de Versailles/Gianni Dagli Orti.
- The Art Archive/Museo del Duomo Milan/Gianni Dagli Orti.
- The Art Archive/Society Of The Friends Of Music Vienna/Alfredo Dagli Orti
- The Granger Collection, New York.
- The Teaching Company Collection.
- The Temple of Dendur. Ca. 15 B.C.E. Sandstone, L. from gate to rear of temple 82 ft. (24 m 60 cm). Given to the United States by Egypt in 1965, awarded to The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1967, and installed in The Sackler Wing in 1978 (68.154). Image copyright© The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Art Resource, NY.
- VEER David Jordan Williams.
- Vincent Van Gogh, Sunflowers © The National Gallery, London.
- Visual Language Library, Antique Maps of the World: 1531-1680.
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