Special Collections at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

The Division holds over 29,000 linear feet of archival material in over 3,000 collections. The strengths of the Division are the papers and records of individuals, families, and organizations, primarily from the New York region. These collections, dating from the 18th through the 20th centuries, support research in the political, economic, social, and cultural history of New York and the United States. Keep up with activity in the Manuscripts and Archives Division by following our facebook and twitter pages.

Please use our application form to ask a reference question, or request archival material. 

Initial requests for material should be placed at least one week in advance of your intended visit.  Any additional requests are to be submitted in the Reading Room.

The George Arents Collection on Tobacco is a comprehensive collection on the history, literature, and lore of tobacco. The Arents Collection of Books in Parts is one of the most important collections assembled of serialized publications that remain in their original paper wrappers.

Please register in advance to apply for access to materials in the George Arents Collection.

If you have questions about the collection, please email rarebook@nypl.org.

The Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature was assembled and presented to The New York Public Library in 1940 by Dr. Albert A. Berg, a famous New York surgeon and trustee of the Library, in memory of his brother, Dr. Henry W. Berg.

The Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection of Shelley and His Circle is one of the world's leading repositories for the study of English Romanticism. Its holdings consist of some 25,000 books, manuscripts, letters, and other objects, chiefly from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

The Photography Collection of the New York Public Library comprises approximately 500,000 photographs, including examples of almost every photographic process from the earliest daguerreotypes to contemporary digital images. To explore our holdings, please consult our online catalog.

Materials are available through the Prints and Photographs Study Room (308) by appointment only. In addition, you can follow us on Facebook, Flickr and Tumblr.

The most accessible print room in New York City, the Print Collection of The New York Public Library encompasses over 200,000 prints along with a specialized reference collection of over 15,000 volumes on the history of prints and printmakers. To explore our holdings, please consult our online catalog.

Materials are available through the Prints and Photographs Study Room (308) with a card of admission, during the hours above. In addition, you can follow us on Facebook, Flickr and Tumblr.

If you have questions about the collection, please email prnref@nypl.org.

The Rare Book Division houses approximately 130,000 titles, covering five centuries of printing—from the 1450s to the present—and representing Continental Europe, England, and the Americas.

Please register in advance to apply for access to materials in the Rare Book Division.

If you have questions about the collection, please email rarebook@nypl.org.

The Spencer Collection surveys the illustrated word and book bindings of all periods and all countries and cultures, from medieval manuscripts, Japanese scrolls, and Indian miniatures to monuments in Renaissance printing, illustration and binding to contemporary livres d'artistes. Materials are available through the Prints and Photographs Study Room (308) by appointment only and with a card of admission, during the hours above.