Reading Room Collection

Reading Room of the Great Library at the British Museum seen from the Entrance, c1935. The circular Reading Room of the British Museum in central London was designed by Sydney Smirke (1798-1877)

London, British Museum, Reading Room (b / w photo)
733703 London, British Museum, Reading Room (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: London, British Museum)

Reading Room
circa 1925: The Reading Room at the British Museum where Karl Marx was a frequent visitor. (Photo by Herbert Felton/Herbert Felton/Getty Images)

La Revolution Russe; Des soldats en armes se sont introduits dans le cabinet de lecture... 1917. Creator: Unknown
La Revolution Russe; Des soldats en armes se sont introduits dans le cabinet de lecture de la Douma, 1917. The Russian Revolution: armed soldiers enter the reading room in the Duma

Fareham Institution Hall and Corn Exchange, 1860. Creator: Unknown
Fareham Institution Hall and Corn Exchange, 1860. This building, which has just been completed and opened to the public, forms a point of interest not only to the town to which it is an ornament

Library in clubhouse, New York City, between 1900 and 1910. Creator: William H. Jackson
Library in clubhouse, New York City, between 1900 and 1910

Buffet library car on a deluxe overland limited train, between 1910 and 1920. Creator: William H. Jackson
Buffet library car on a deluxe overland limited train, between 1910 and 1920

Alma Sanitarium, gentlemen's writing room, Alma, Mich. between 1900 and 1910. Creator: William H. Jackson
Alma Sanitarium, gentlemen's writing room, Alma, Mich. between 1900 and 1910

Soldiers Reading-Room, St. Mary's Barracks, Chatham, 1856. Creator: Unknown
Soldiers Reading-Room, St. Mary's Barracks, Chatham, 1856. The annual return of between three and four thousand soldiers from India and the British Colonies - who, either from impaired health

Main reading room, the New York Public Library, c.between 1910 and 1920. Creator: Unknown
Main reading room, the New York Public Library, c.between 1910 and 1920

Students in the Reading Room of the Library of Congress with the Librarian of Congress...(1899?)
Students in the Reading Room of the Library of Congress with the Librarian of Congress, Herbert Putnam, watching, (1899?)

New Reading-Room at the Bank of England, opened on Wednesday, 1850. Creator: Unknown
New Reading-Room at the Bank of England, opened on Wednesday, 1850....a handsome reading-room, which has just been formed for the Bank of England Library and Literary Association [in London]

The Free Russian Library and reading room, 15 Whitechapel Road, Stepney, London, c1901 (1901). The Free Russian Library was set up by Aleksei Teplov

8-oar shell race between Harvard and Cambridge. Cambridge, Mass. 1906, 1906. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston
8-oar shell race between Harvard and Cambridge. Cambridge, Mass. 1906, 1906. 2 crewmen reading in room

Reading Room in the British Museum, London (coloured engraving)
5197961 Reading Room in the British Museum, London (coloured engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Reading Room in the British Museum)

Reading-Room of Merchants Association in New York Life Building, Leonard Street and Broadway (b / w photo)
5215495 Reading-Room of Merchants Association in New York Life Building, Leonard Street and Broadway (b/w photo) by American Photographer

London Sketches, the Reading Room at the British Museum (engraving)
1053341 London Sketches, the Reading Room at the British Museum (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: London Sketches, the Reading Room at the British Museum)

The Hotel Great Central (litho)
1051911 The Hotel Great Central (litho) by Brewer, Henry William (fl.1858-d.1903); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Hotel Great Central)

The Davy-Faraday Research Laboratory of the Royal Institute, opened by the Prince of Wales (litho)
1051293 The Davy-Faraday Research Laboratory of the Royal Institute, opened by the Prince of Wales (litho) by English School

The New Municipal Buildings and Free Public Library at Leeds (engraving)
1061576 The New Municipal Buildings and Free Public Library at Leeds (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Fiftieth Anniversary of Marlborough College, 1843-1893 (engraving)
1062875 The Fiftieth Anniversary of Marlborough College, 1843-1893 (engraving) by Brewer, Henry William (fl.1858-d.1903); Private Collection; (add.info)

Reading Room, London Library (b / w photo)
3102043 Reading Room, London Library (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Reading Room, London Library)

New Reading-Room at the Bank of England, opened on Wednesday (engraving)
1612159 New Reading-Room at the Bank of England, opened on Wednesday (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: New Reading-Room at the Bank of England)

New Jubilee Lecture-Hall and Reading-Room, at Queensbury, near Bradford (engraving)
1602841 New Jubilee Lecture-Hall and Reading-Room, at Queensbury, near Bradford (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The New Reading-Room at the British Museum, in Course of Construction (engraving)
1602137 The New Reading-Room at the British Museum, in Course of Construction (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Sketches at a Free Library (engraving)
1595801 Sketches at a Free Library (engraving) by Groome, William Henry Charles (1881-1914); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sketches at a Free Library)

The Grosvenor Gallery Library, New Bond-Street (engraving)
1590315 The Grosvenor Gallery Library, New Bond-Street (engraving) by Watkins, Frank (fl.1859-94); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Grosvenor Gallery Library, New Bond-Street)

Leiden University Library, 1610 (engraving) (b / w photo)
CHT274933 Leiden University Library, 1610 (engraving) (b/w photo) by Woudanus, Jan Cornelis (c.1570-1615); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris

Philadelphia Library, 1875 (oil on canvas)
AKM205194 Philadelphia Library, 1875 (oil on canvas) by Wood, George Bacon (1832-1910); 56x41 cm; Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent; ePhiladelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent;

Radcliffe Square
LLM462407 Radcliffe Square by Matthison, William (1854-1926); Private Collection; (add.info.: Radcliffe Square. Illustration for Oxford (Alden, c 1910). Postcard-size images.); © Look and Learn

The Reading Room and Library at the British Museum, from
931651 The Reading Room and Library at the British Museum, from London Interiors with their Costumes and Ceremonies pub. Joseph Mead, London, c.1843 (steel engraving) by Shepherd

The Library, 1441 (photo)
BEN133952 The Library, 1441 (photo) by Michelozzo di Bartolommeo (1396-1472); Church of San Marco, Florence, Italy; Photo eRaffaello Bencini; Italian, out of copyright

The interior of the Logan Library Philadelphia, with the librarian LLoyd Pearsall Smith
OJ451926 The interior of the Logan Library Philadelphia, with the librarian LLoyd Pearsall Smith at his desk, 1880 (oil on canvas) by Wood

The Mitchell Library, Glasgow, The Reading Room (b / w photo)
3650761 The Mitchell Library, Glasgow, The Reading Room (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Mitchell Library, Glasgow, The Reading Room)

The New Reading-Room at the British Museum (engraving)
2772704 The New Reading-Room at the British Museum (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The New Reading-Room at the British Museum)

The Reading-Room of the British Museum (engraving)
3636814 The Reading-Room of the British Museum (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Reading-Room of the British Museum)

Reading Room, Chetham College, Manchester, England (colour litho)
3092923 Reading Room, Chetham College, Manchester, England (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Reading Room, Chetham College, Manchester, England)

Lake in Yosemite Valley and a reading room on a ship (chromolitho)
973979 Lake in Yosemite Valley and a reading room on a ship (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Lake in Yosemite Valley and a reading room on a ship)

The New Union Castle Liner (b / w photo)
1629495 The New Union Castle Liner (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The New Union Castle Liner)

The Soldiers Institute, Portsmouth, established by Miss Sarah Robinson (engraving)
1596417 The Soldiers Institute, Portsmouth, established by Miss Sarah Robinson (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Soldiers Institute, Portsmouth)

The Reconstruction of the Grosvenor Hotel, the Reading Room (b / w photo)
1600453 The Reconstruction of the Grosvenor Hotel, the Reading Room (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Reconstruction of the Grosvenor Hotel)

Melbourne Illustrated, Interior of the Reading Room (engraving)
1060358 Melbourne Illustrated, Interior of the Reading Room (engraving) by Villiers, Frederic (1851-1922) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Melbourne Illustrated, Interior of the Reading Room)

Our Artists Notes at Brighton, during the Meeting of the British Association (engraving)
1058017 Our Artists Notes at Brighton, during the Meeting of the British Association (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Our Artists Notes at Brighton)

The new reading room at the British Museum (engraving)
605393 The new reading room at the British Museum (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The new reading room at the British Museum, London)

Interior of the Salle des Imprimes, 1868 (photo)
XIR179369 Interior of the Salle des Imprimes, 1868 (photo) by Labrouste, Henri (1801-75); Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France; French, out of copyright

Reading Room of the library of the British Museum, London (b / w photo)
6015575 Reading Room of the library of the British Museum, London (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Sketches in the "Sailors Rest, "at Portsmouth (engraving)
1596660 Sketches in the " Sailors Rest, " at Portsmouth (engraving) by Wright, Henry Charles Seppings (1850-1937); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sketches in the " Sailors Rest)

Le British Museum, illustration from La Rue a Londres, pub. by G
621458 Le British Museum, illustration from La Rue a Londres, pub. by G. Charpentier et Cie, 1884 (litho) by Lancon, Auguste Andre (1836-87); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; French

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Step into the tranquil world of a reading room, where knowledge and imagination intertwine. In the heart of London, amidst the grandeur of the British Museum, lies a sanctuary for book lovers, haven that transcends time, inviting visitors to embark on intellectual journeys. A black and white photograph captures the essence of this hallowed space in 1935. From its entrance, one can glimpse the vast expanse within - shelves upon shelves adorned with literary treasures beckoning curious minds. This image evokes nostalgia for an era when books were revered as gateways to enlightenment. Another snapshot takes us even further back in time, before 1900. The Reading Room stands proudly as a testament to knowledge-seeking souls who came before us. Its walls witnessed countless scholars delving into ancient texts and manuscripts, their thirst for understanding fueling their every word. Venturing beyond London's borders, we discover another gem nestled in Manchester - John Rylands Library. Here too lies a captivating reading room that echoes with whispers from centuries past. It serves as a reminder that these spaces are not confined to one location but exist across Europe. Across the Atlantic Ocean in New York City, yet another reading room awaits discovery within the Merchants Association building on Leonard Street and Broadway. A monochromatic photograph transports us there; it captures patrons engrossed in books while surrounded by towering shelves filled with wisdom waiting to be unraveled. Returning once more to London's vibrant streetscape through an engraving sketch titled "London Sketches, " we find ourselves immersed in yet another rendition of the British Museum's Reading Room. The artist skillfully portrays its architectural splendor against bustling city life - a juxtaposition between tranquility and urban energy. Leeds unveils its own literary oasis within its New Municipal Buildings and Free Public Library depicted through an enchanting engraving from yesteryears. This depiction showcases how reading rooms have become integral parts of communities, offering solace and enlightenment to all who seek it.