Step into the captivating world of The Rosenbach Museum & Library. Imagine the hushed whispers of centuries-old manuscripts. Feel the weight of history in your hands. The Rosenbach Museum & Library isn’t just a museum. It’s a portal to the past. It’s a treasure trove of literary and historical artifacts. It’s located in two elegant 19th-century townhouses.
Established in 1954 the Rosenbach is a testament to the Rosenbach brothers. Dr Abraham Simon Wolf Rosenbach and his brother Philip were renowned collectors. Their passion for rare books and manuscripts shaped this incredible institution. The brothers owned the Rosenbach Company. It was a prominent dealer in rare books manuscripts and decorative arts. Dr Rosenbach was a key figure in the rare book world. He helped build major libraries like Harvard’s Widener Library.
The Rosenbach’s Americana collection is breathtaking. It starts with accounts of early voyages and explorations. A copy of Antonio Pigafetta’s account of Magellan’s circumnavigation is here. Rare tracts detailing the settlement of Virginia are also on display. The collection is rich with manuscript materials. These include letters from Cortés Pizarro and de Soto. There are even Cortés’s 1532 letters requesting permission to explore California. The American Revolution is vividly documented. Over one hundred George Washington letters are here. The original manuscript resolution of the Continental Congress is another highlight. You can even see Commodore Barry’s ship papers outlining the beginnings of the American navy. The museum possesses the only known surviving copy of the 1733 first edition of Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Almanack.
The Rosenbach’s collection extends far beyond Americana. It houses a remarkable collection of British and Irish literature. This includes manuscripts from the 15th century such as Thomas Hoccleve’s poems. A major manuscript of The Canterbury Tales is also here. The collection boasts first editions from major 18th-century British authors. These include a Tonson’s assignment copy of Milton’s Paradise Lost. It also includes a group of Thomas Gray’s letters and the most extensive collection of Robert Burns manuscripts in the world. The 19th and 20th centuries are equally represented. There are manuscripts from Walter Scott William Wordsworth Charles Lamb Shelley and Keats. A celebrated love letter from Keats to Fanny Brawne is here. The Rosenbach also holds the only surviving fragment of Fitzgerald’s Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. The museum has a superb Dickens collection. It includes his manuscripts of Nicholas Nickleby and the Pickwick Papers. There’s even a carte-de-viste photograph signed the day before his death. Lewis Carroll is represented by over six hundred letters early drawings and presentation books. The museum’s crown jewel is the handwritten manuscript of James Joyce’s Ulysses. Every year the Rosenbach celebrates Bloomsday with readings from the book. The Rosenbach also features a recreation of Marianne Moore’s living room. It’s complete with her personal library and correspondence.
The Rosenbach is more than a museum. It is a living testament to the power of collecting. It’s a celebration of literature history and art. Come explore its treasures. Let the Rosenbach Museum & Library transport you through time.