Abstract: A portable overhead projector comprises a rectangular box-like housing having an open top and four side walls, a projecting lamp disposed in the housing and a planar fresnel lens. The fresnel lens is mounted in the housing for pivotal movement from a storage position wherein the fresnel lens is adjacent the open top of the housing to an operative position wherein the fresnel lens is spaced above the open top of the housing and the projecting lamp. A projecting head assembly is mounted to the housing when the fresnel lens is in the operative position to dispose the projecting head assembly thereabove and a cover is connectable to the housing for covering the fresnel lens when in the storage position.