The Textile Museum

Arthur D. Jenkins Library of Textile Arts

An internationally known resource for textile information, the Arthur D. Jenkins Library was established in 1925 by collector George Hewitt Myers, founder of The Textile Museum, and Arthur D. Jenkins, also a collector of rugs and textiles.

Please note: the Arthur D. Jenkins Library is currently closed for reorganization. It will reopen in September 2009. We apologize for any inconvenience.

SEARCH THE LIBRARY'S COLLECTION

The Library's collection of nearly 20,000 volumes is now accessible via TextileMuse, a searchable online catalogue. Click on the banner below to search the database.

LIBRARY HOURS

Please note: the Arthur D. Jenkins Library is currently closed for reorganization. It will reopen in September 2009. We apologize for any inconvenience.

ABOUT THE LIBRARY'S HOLDINGS

The Library's collection of monographs, serials, pamphlets, auction catalogs, slides and videotapes encompasses the history of textiles, rugs and costume, as well as material on contemporary fiber art, textile structures and techniques, and textile conservation.

The Library's holdings include beautifully illustrated monographs, rare out-of-print books and current scholarly studies on the art and cultural history of the cultures that produce these textiles. Children's books about textile materials and techniques as well as stories about children in various cultures are available for browsing.

It is the only library in the United States to index journals and periodicals in the field of textiles, a service which identifies for the researcher the most current textile scholarship.

LIBRARY RESOURCES

The Library has an extensive collection of textile glossaries and bibliographies to assist researchers. These bibliographic resources are of significant value in the discipline of textiles where bibliographic references are often scattered and difficult to locate.

Textiles Bibliography
The Librarian compiles an annual bibliography of current textile literature, co-published by The Textile Museum and the Textile Society of America, which has an international distribution to textile scholars, museums, and cultural institutions. Click here to download the 2005 bibliography.

Education Directory
The Library staff has assembled a directory of educational programs in textile history, conservation, museum studies, textile science, textile and apparel design, and fiber arts. Click here to download the Education Directory.

International Directory of Textile Collections
The Library staff has created an international directory of textile collections. Click here to download this directory.