PMA Library and Archives

As one of the major art reference libraries in the United States, the Museum Library houses approximately 200,000 books, auction catalogues, and periodicals dating from the sixteenth century to the present. Reflecting the museum's rich and distinctive collections, the Library's holdings focus on European, American, and Asian painting and sculpture; furniture and decorative arts; arms and armor; costume and textiles; prints, drawings, and photographs; and modern and contemporary art. The Library also subscribes to a growing collection of electronic resources, available on workstations in the Reading Room. Appointments to conduct research are recommended to ensure the availability of relevant materials, but they are not required. Archives of the Philadelphia Museum of Art

The mission of the Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives is to collect, preserve, and make available non-current records of enduring value for the institution. It is the primary source of information relating to the museum’s history, including past exhibitions, activities, events, and interactions with significant figures and organizations in the world of art. http://www.philamuseum.org/archives/