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Jean Outland Chrysler Library

Hours: Wednesday – Friday 10:00 a.m. -4:45 p.m. Wednesday evening hours are available by appointment.

For more information or to make an appointment, please call (757) 965-2035 or e-mail lchristiansen@chrysler.org.

The Jean Outland Chrysler Library is the art research library of the Chrysler Museum of Art. With an extensive collection of over 106,000 rare and unique volumes relating to the history of art, the Jean Outland Chrysler Library is one of the most significant art libraries in the South. The Library is open to researchers and museum visitors during regular hours. The Library’s collections are closed-stack and non-circulating. Visitors to the Library reading room will find a helpful reference librarian and extensive reference sources. The online library catalogue enables users to browse titles in the closed stacks, and materials are retrieved by the Library staff. Photocopying and scanning services are available.

Limited reference service is available for researchers who are unable to visit the Library in person. Research requests may be submitted by email using the link below.

SEARCH THE LIBRARY CATALOG
Submit a Reference Question

Interested in knowing about Library programs and new acquisitions? The Jean Outland Chrysler Library Blog is regularly updated with new information. You can find it at http://chryslermuseumlibrary.blogspot.com/

 

Resources
The Jean Outland Chrysler Library’s collection reflects the permanent collections of the Chrysler Museum of Art, with strong holdings in the areas of European and American Painting, Glass, and Photography.  Resources within the Library’s collection also embrace the full scope of the history of art. Along with an extensive collection of more than 50,000 monographs, exhibition catalogues from art museums worldwide, extensive vertical files on artists and art-related topics, subscriptions to several hundred art-related journals, and auction catalogues from all major auction houses contribute to the Library's help to broaden the range of information available to Library researchers. Highlights of the collection include:

Auction Catalogs
The auction catalog collection of the Jean Outland Chrysler library is known nationally as a source of rare, historic, and otherwise unobtainable auction catalogs. Due in part to the acquisition of the M. Knoedler & Co. Ltd. library as well as to the collecting efforts of Jean and Walter Chrysler and other donors, the library hold several thousand catalogs dating from the early 19th century to the present. Included are catalogs from well know auction houses such as Christie’s (1827 – present) and Sotheby’s (1891 – present) as well as less well known and extinct firms.

Audio Visual Collections
The A. Kempton d'Ossche Art Video Collection of VHS tapes and DVDs covers a variety of artists and art topics. Videos may be viewed in the Library and Museum members may check out tapes for up to one week.

Electronic Resources
Visitors to the Library may access a number of electronic resources including ARTSTOR, JSTOR, Grove Art Online, and several electronic auction indexes.

 Exhibition Catalogs
Also growing out of the acquisition of the M. Knoedler & Co. Ltd. library and through publication exchanges with more than 550 art museums and libraries the Chrysler has built an impressive record of catalogs past and present.

Periodicals
The library holds current subscriptions to more than 200 art related journals in a variety of specialized areas in the fine and decorative arts.

Vertical Files
The library holds thousands of topical files on both artists and a wide variety of subjects relevant to art, museums, and art history. These files contain clippings from newspapers, flyers announcing exhibitions, letters and resumes from artists and various other ephemera.

Rare books
The rare book collection consists of a variety of books, pamphlets, trade catalogs and other volumes set aside because of their unique qualities which range from age to value.

Archives
The Library also serves as the repository for several archival collections. Included are institutional archives such as the records of the Chrysler Museum, its precursor the Norfolk Museum of Arts and Sciences and associated organizations such as the Irene Leache Memorial Foundation and the Norfolk Society for the Arts. The Library also houses the Moses Myers family papers, a collection of family correspondence and business papers dating from the 18th century into the late 20th century.

Who the Collection Serves
The Library is a unique resource among the Chrysler collections which offers scholarly support to curators, educators, docents, students, dealers and the public at large throughout the Hampton Roads community. Along with serving the regional community, the Library’s collections are also patronized by a wider audience through participation in Interlibrary loan.

Support the Library
The Friends of the Jean Outland Chrysler Library support and promote the Library through engaging programs and also raises funds for special Library projects. Learn more about the Friends of the Library.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Jean Outland Chrysler Library:

What are your Hours?

Wednesday – Friday  10:00 – 4:45, and Wednesday evenings by Appointment

Does everyone need and appointment?

No – only people who want to research outside of regular hours or on Wed. Evenings.

Do you have to be a museum member?

No – everyone can use the Library regardless of Museum membership. You must be a member or employee to check out videos however.

Can books ever be checked out?

Only museum employees may check out books. Docents, volunteers, and museum members may not.  All Circulation of library collections is at the discretion of Library staff. 

What types of Questions can we answer?

• Information about Objects and Artists in the collection
• Information about ANY artist
• Information about decorative arts
• Information about symbolism
• Information about the history of the Museum
• Information about the history of Norfolk
• Information about recent auction values for artists
• Information about contemporary artists
• Information about preserving books, art, or anything

What types of Questions can’t we answer?

• We can’t look at pieces of art in person [but we can look at photographs!!]
• We can’t authenticate value or appraise anything.
• If we can’t answer it, we can find someone who can.