Research

Library

The Library holds over 11,000 books and periodicals that relate to the Museum collections.

The Library also holds institutional information about the American Museum, its foundation, early employees, the John Judkyn Memorial, and Freshford Manor. It also holds some personal papers and photographs of the founders Dallas Pratt and John Judkyn and the Museum’s first restorer and craftsman, Nick Bell-Knight.

The Library is open to anyone interested in studying American history and culture by prior appointment only.

Opening hours

The library is open to the public by appointment only. Please contact our Collections Assistant ([email protected]) to confirm opening hours and to make an appointment.

Access

The Library is located on the lower ground floor of the Exhibition Gallery and, unfortunately, is not accessible by a lift. For researchers unable to manage stairs, the Librarian will be happy to bring books and periodicals up to a more accessible area of the Museum. Please mention when coordinating an appointment so the necessary arrangements can be made.

Enquiries

We will attempt to answer all enquiries received, but we can only accept enquiries by post or email. Please include your postal address in all correspondence. Enquiries about the collection should be directed to the Chief Curator.

Borrowing books

This is not a lending library, but if you are a Museum member and live in the Bath area, you may borrow up to 4 books for a month at a time. Magazines and periodicals and some fragile or rare books are excluded.

Donations

The Library has a strict collection’s policy, but if you think you have some items, books, or journals that you believe would be of interest, please write or email the Librarian with the details. We are unable to accept unsolicited items left with non-library colleagues or sent to the Museum. Find out how to donate an object to the Museum here