Robert Goldwater Library, Research library at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan, United States.
The Robert Goldwater Library is a research library housed within The Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan that specializes in visual arts from non-Western regions. It holds approximately 20,000 books and 10,000 periodical volumes covering artistic traditions from Africa, the Pacific Islands, and the Americas.
The library was established in 1957 as part of the Museum of Primitive Art and moved to The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1978. This transfer allowed the collection to grow and become integrated into one of the world's leading art institutions.
The collection focuses on artistic traditions and material culture from West Africa, Papua New Guinea, and pre-Columbian regions of Mexico and Peru, representing perspectives often excluded from mainstream art history. Visitors can experience how these works challenge conventional views of what art means across different societies.
Materials are accessible through the Watson Online catalog and can be requested for on-site consultation. Advance planning is recommended since access to specific items requires consultation at designated times.
The Visual Resource Archive holds around 200,000 images including glass plate negatives, albumen prints, and digital files documenting indigenous artistic expressions. This extensive visual collection provides researchers with rare access to historical and contemporary documentation of creative traditions.
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