Brooklyn Museum: Libraries and Archives

The Libraries and Archives are open to the public Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Additionally, we are open the first Saturday of every month from 1 to 4 p.m. with the exception of July through September. Visitors are encouraged to search the Library Online Catalogue and to e-mail citations for materials needed. Please contact us if you would like more information about these collections, or to reserve time for extensive research. The Libraries can be reached via e-mail at library@brooklynmuseum.org or phone (718) 501-6307.

Goodyear Archival Collection

William Henry Goodyear (1846–1923) was the Brooklyn Museum's first curator of fine arts. A finding aid to the collection and an extensive selection of his photographs, either taken or collected by him, are now available online.

Lantern Slide Collection

The Brooklyn Museum's lantern slide collection was started by the Museum's curator of fine arts, William Henry Goodyear, in the late nineteenth century. The Museum's Libraries and Archives now holds 11,710 glass lantern slides, and selections can be seen here.

Brooklyn Museum Building

Photographic images of the development of the Brooklyn Museum's building. McKim, Mead & White created the original design plan. Images range from the first section of the building to its latest redesign.

Views of Beach Haven

The Libraries and Archives hold a full range of documentary photographs of people and places around the world. Included are these photographs, in addition to many others, documenting historic American architecture.

1872 American Painting Exhibition Catalogue

A rare exhibition catalogue documenting the first historical survey of American painting in the United States. The exhibition was held on Montague Street in Brooklyn, New York, in 1872.

Maudslay Photographs

Documentary photographs of archaeological sites in Mexico and Central America taken by Alfred P. Maudslay (1850–1931).

Sintich Brothers Photographs

Photographs of an archaeological site in Tiahuanaco, Bolivia, taken by the Sintich Brothers in 1903.

Selected images from books and archival collections

Sample the visual riches of the Libraries and Archives collections with images from a variety of books, historical records, and special collections.

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We get a lot of comments, so before you post yours, check to see if your issue is addressed by one of the questions below. Click on a question to see our answer:

Why are some objects not on view?

The Museum’s permanent collections are very large and only a fraction of these can be on exhibition at any given time. Sometimes works are lent to other museums for special exhibitions; sometimes they are in the conservation laboratory for study or maintenance. Certain types of objects, such as watercolors, textiles, and photographs, are sensitive to light and begin to fade if they are exposed for too long, so their exhibition time is limited. Finally, as large as the Museum is, there is not enough room to display everything in the collections. In order to present our best works, collections are rotated periodically.

How do I find out how much an object in the Brooklyn Museum collections is worth?

The Museum does not disclose the monetary values of objects in its collections.

Can you tell me the value of an artwork that I own?

The Museum does not provide monetary appraisals. To determine the value of an object or to find an appraiser, you may contact the Art Dealers Association of America or the American Society of Appraisers.

I own a similar object. Can you tell me more about it?

Please submit via e-mail a photograph of the object you own and as much information about it as you can, and we will provide any additional information we are able to find. Please note that research in our files is a lengthy process, and you may not have a response for some time.

How would I go about lending or gifting a work to the Museum or seeing if the Museum is interested in purchasing a work that I own?

Please submit via e-mail a photograph of the object you would like us to consider, as well as all of the information you have about it, and your offer will be forwarded to the appropriate curator. The Brooklyn Museum collections are very rich, and we have many works that are not currently on exhibition; because of this, and because storage space is limited, we are very selective about adding works. However, the collection has become what it is today through the generosity of the public, and we continue to be grateful for this generosity, which can still lead to exciting new acquisitions.

How can I get a reproduction of a work in your collection?

Please see the Museum’s information on Image Services.

How can I show my work to someone at the Museum or be considered for an exhibition?

Please see the Museum’s Artist Submission Guidelines.

Why do many objects not have photographs and/or complete descriptions?

The Museum's collection is very large, and we are constantly in the process of adding photographs and descriptions to works that do not currently have them, or replacing photographs that have deteriorated beyond use and descriptions that are minimal or out of date. This is a long and expensive process that takes time.

How can I find a conservator or get advice on how to treat my artwork?

Please visit the American Institute for Conservation, which has a feature on how to find a conservator.

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