diff --git a/doc/conf.py b/doc/conf.py
@@ -174,10 +174,10 @@
 
 # Additional stuff for the LaTeX preamble.
 latex_preamble = """
-   \usepackage{amsmath}
-   \usepackage{amsfonts}
-   \usepackage{amssymb}
-   \usepackage{txfonts}
+   \\usepackage{amsmath}
+   \\usepackage{amsfonts}
+   \\usepackage{amssymb}
+   \\usepackage{txfonts}
 """
 
 # Documents to append as an appendix to all manuals.

diff --git a/doc/make.py b/doc/make.py
@@ -89,20 +89,20 @@ def copytree(src, dst, symlinks=False, ignore=None):
                 copy2(srcname, dstname)
         # catch the Error from the recursive copytree so that we can
         # continue with other files
-        except Error, err:
+        except Error as err:
             errors.extend(err.args[0])
-        except EnvironmentError, why:
+        except EnvironmentError as why:
             errors.append((srcname, dstname, str(why)))
     try:
         copystat(src, dst)
-    except OSError, why:
+    except OSError as why:
         if WindowsError is not None and isinstance(why, WindowsError):
             # Copying file access times may fail on Windows
             pass
         else:
             errors.extend((src, dst, str(why)))
     if errors:
-        raise Error, errors
+        raise Error(errors)
 
 ### End compatibility block for pre-v2.6 ###
 

diff --git a/doc/sphinxext/gen_gallery.py b/doc/sphinxext/gen_gallery.py
@@ -121,18 +121,18 @@ def gen_gallery(app, doctree):
 
     gallery_path = os.path.join(app.builder.srcdir, '_templates', 'gallery.html')
     if os.path.exists(gallery_path):
-        fh = file(gallery_path, 'r')
+        fh = open(gallery_path, 'r')
         regenerate = fh.read() != content
         fh.close()
     else:
         regenerate = True
     if regenerate:
-        fh = file(gallery_path, 'w')
+        fh = open(gallery_path, 'w')
         fh.write(content)
         fh.close()
 
     for key in app.builder.status_iterator(
-        thumbnails.iterkeys(), "generating thumbnails... ",
+        iter(thumbnails.keys()), "generating thumbnails... ",
         length=len(thumbnails)):
         image.thumbnail(key, thumbnails[key], 0.3)
 

diff --git a/doc/sphinxext/gen_rst.py b/doc/sphinxext/gen_rst.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 generate the rst files for the examples by iterating over the pylab examples
 """
 from __future__ import print_function
+import io
 import os, glob
 
 import os
@@ -37,15 +38,18 @@ def generate_example_rst(app):
                 continue
 
             fullpath = os.path.join(root,fname)
-            contents = file(fullpath).read()
+            if sys.version_info[0] >= 3:
+                contents = io.open(fullpath, encoding='utf8').read()
+            else:
+                contents = io.open(fullpath).read()
             # indent
             relpath = os.path.split(root)[-1]
             datad.setdefault(relpath, []).append((fullpath, fname, contents))
 
-    subdirs = datad.keys()
+    subdirs = list(datad.keys())
     subdirs.sort()
 
-    fhindex = file(os.path.join(exampledir, 'index.rst'), 'w')
+    fhindex = open(os.path.join(exampledir, 'index.rst'), 'w')
     fhindex.write("""\
 .. _examples-index:
 
@@ -77,7 +81,7 @@ def generate_example_rst(app):
             os.makedirs(outputdir)
 
         subdirIndexFile = os.path.join(rstdir, 'index.rst')
-        fhsubdirIndex = file(subdirIndexFile, 'w')
+        fhsubdirIndex = open(subdirIndexFile, 'w')
         fhindex.write('    %s/index.rst\n\n'%subdir)
 
         fhsubdirIndex.write("""\
@@ -122,14 +126,17 @@ def generate_example_rst(app):
                                   ) and
                        not noplot_regex.search(contents))
             if not do_plot:
-                fhstatic = file(outputfile, 'w')
+                fhstatic = open(outputfile, 'w')
                 fhstatic.write(contents)
                 fhstatic.close()
 
             if not out_of_date(fullpath, outrstfile):
                 continue
 
-            fh = file(outrstfile, 'w')
+            if sys.version_info[0] >= 3:
+                fh = io.open(outrstfile, 'w', encoding='utf8')
+            else:
+                fh = io.open(outrstfile, 'w')
             fh.write('.. _%s-%s:\n\n'%(subdir, basename))
             title = '%s example code: %s'%(subdir, fname)
             #title = '<img src=%s> %s example code: %s'%(thumbfile, subdir, fname)

diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/sphinxext/mathmpl.py b/lib/matplotlib/sphinxext/mathmpl.py
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ def latex2png(latex, filename, fontset='cm'):
 def latex2html(node, source):
     inline = isinstance(node.parent, nodes.TextElement)
     latex = node['latex']
-    name = 'math-%s' % md5(latex).hexdigest()[-10:]
+    name = 'math-%s' % md5(latex.encode()).hexdigest()[-10:]
 
     destdir = os.path.join(setup.app.builder.outdir, '_images', 'mathmpl')
     if not os.path.exists(destdir):

diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/sphinxext/plot_directive.py b/lib/matplotlib/sphinxext/plot_directive.py
@@ -125,8 +125,8 @@
 """
 from __future__ import print_function
 
-import sys, os, glob, shutil, imp, warnings, cStringIO, re, textwrap, \
-       traceback, exceptions
+import sys, os, glob, shutil, imp, warnings, cStringIO, re, textwrap
+import traceback
 
 from docutils.parsers.rst import directives
 from docutils import nodes