The Reference Library of the Yale Center for British Art holds materials in a variety of formats that support the study of British and Irish art and related fields‚ including architecture‚ history‚ literature‚ and the performing arts. In addition to basic art reference works‚ journals‚ magazines‚ and books on individual artists‚ periods‚ and movements‚ the library contains British biography; town and county histories; genealogy; travel books; costume histories; a large collection of exhibition catalogues; print and microform sales and auction catalogues; videotapes on individual artists; styles‚ schools‚ and groups; and a collection of reference materials on the conservation of works of art. All Reference Library holdings are represented in ORBIS‚ Yale’s online catalog. The open-stack‚ noncirculating library is open to the public.


The Photograph Archive‚ located within the Reference Library‚ consists of more than 200‚000 black-and-white photographs of British art worldwide‚ with a special focus on holdings in the United States‚ Canada‚ and Australia. A searchable database containing textual descriptions of approximately 60‚000 of the images is available in the Reference Library. Additional image resources in the Reference Library include the Jennings Albums and microform publications of the Witt Library of the Courtauld Institute of Art‚ the British Museum‚ and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Please Note:
Requests for photographic reproductions of objects in the Center’s collections should be addressed to the Department of Rights and Reproductions.


Library & Photo Archive Hours, Contacts & Services Selected Sources for Research in British Art Yale University Library Recent Library Acquistions