Powell Library Collections
Collections Overview
The Powell Library collection of more than 12,000 volumes devoted to American art and decorative arts of the 17th through 19th century contains not only books and periodicals, but also an array of online resources, auction catalogs, and museum collection catalogs. For those interested in learning about objects in the Bayou Bend Collection or about antiques in general, the library’s reference collection includes invaluable resources, such as dictionaries of silver and china marks, biographies of artists and craftspeople, and scholarly articles and books on the creation and production of American decorative arts.
Rare Book Collection
Through the years, generous donors have added depth to the library’s collection with gifts of rare 18th- and 19th-century publications. Some of these rare volumes include English design guides, such as those by Thomas Chippendale and Thomas Sheraton, which inspired the work of American cabinetmakers. Highlights of the collection also include early books printed in America for cabinetmakers and architects. Insights into the culture and society of the 19th century can be found through early popular periodicals in the library, including Ackermann’s Repository.
Hogg Family Collection
The Powell Library also houses the Hogg family’s own collection of books related to Texas history, reflecting the family’s pivotal role in the state’s history and their strong interest in its development and growth. Rare items include publications from the 1830s and 1840s encouraging settlers to come to Texas, and copies of the first books to chronicle the history of the Texas Revolution.
Digital Resources
The Hirsch Library and Powell Library provide free access to a broad selection of subscriptions as well as free databases devoted to art research. These resources are available to all in the reading rooms of both libraries.
Access Selected Online Resources
Please note some sources may be accessed on-site only.