Pallant House Gallery Library and Archive
The Library collection is broadly in line with the Gallery's art collections and is particularly strong in its representation of Modern British Art of the 20th Century. The library's comprehensive collection of books and catalogues covers painting, sculpture, drawing, prints, photography, architecture, design, performance and emerging art forms.
In addition to the library holdings of books, catalogues and periodicals we aim to provide a complementary resource of study materials to the art collections in the form of information files containing ephemera and minor publications that relate to individual artists, designers, craftspeople, art movements and periods of development that have significance to the Gallery's core subjects. These are kept as accessible, archival files and are available as a resource for independent study.
The Library Collection
- Over 7,000 exhibition and permanent collection catalogues
- Over 6,000 books
- A Special Collection included artist's books and rarities
- A wide range of journals and periodicals
- Artist Files comprising press cuttings, minor publications and ephemera.
The Archive Collection
- Documentary manuscripts such as notebooks, inventories, individual letters, small collections of correspondence considered relevant to art collections, represented artists or Pallant House Gallery history
- Pallant House Gallery archives documenting both the historic house and new wing, and including exhibition files, press cuttings, posters and photographs
- Artist's Letters Archive including R.B. Kitaj's correspondence with Chris Prater for the Kelpra Prints; and individual letters from artists such as Colin Self, Frank Auerbach, Peter Blake and Howard Hodgkin
- The Hans Feibusch Studio Archive.
Access to the library and archive collections is through library staff who manage the catalogue database and process requests. Users require a Friends Membership Card or valid ID to make a request for books. The Reading Room is open to all and provides a quiet area in which visitors can work and browse a selection of books and periodicals. Photocopying and photography can be accommodated subject to copyright and conservation restrictions. There is limited access to online information, and visitors may use their own laptops.
If making a special journey you are strongly advised to telephone or email in advance to make an appointment.
Librarian
Gillian Birtchnell
01243 770824
Documentation Assistant
Sarah Norris
01243 770824