This guide will provide you with an overview of available resources for researching artists and other individuals. Each page of this guide has two sections, listing remote access resources versus resources only available on-site at the library.
General information, all of our research guides, and useful links are available via the Library & Archives LibGuides page, and remote access to many databases is available for museum staff through OpenAthens. (If you are not already an OpenAthens user, please email library@philamuseum.org and we will set up your account as soon as possible.)
A focused list of easy-to-use and reliable online resources. You will notice that some of these resources mention name authorities, which are simply vocabularies developed for consistently recording a person's name. Authority records may be helpful for identifying alternative names and correct biographical details of an individual.
These resources are available to search online, but in order to access the material you will need to make an appointment with the library or archives. Library staff may also be able to recommend other avenues for your research at that time. Please contact library@philamuseum.org to make an appointment.
