Rosenbach Museum - Revision history

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	'''The Rosenbach''' ~~is a museum and research library~~ at 2008-2010 Delancey Place near [[Rittenhouse Square]]~~, housing~~ one of the world's ~~great~~ collections of rare books, manuscripts, and literary treasures. ~~The collection includes nearly~~ 400,000 objects~~, with highlights including~~ the manuscript of James Joyce's ''Ulysses'', Lewis Carroll's own copy of ''Alice in Wonderland'', and Bram Stoker's notes for ''Dracula''.		'''The Rosenbach''' sits at 2008-2010 Delancey Place near [[Rittenhouse Square]] and houses one of the world's finest collections of rare books, manuscripts, and literary treasures. Nearly 400,000 objects fill its shelves. Among them: the handwritten manuscript of James Joyce's ''Ulysses'', Lewis Carroll's own copy of ''Alice in Wonderland'', and Bram Stoker's working notes for ''Dracula''. It's a museum and research library combined, built around one man's extraordinary eye for great literature.

	== History ==		== History ==

	The ~~Rosenbach Museum was founded~~ in 1954 from the personal collection of Dr. Abraham Simon Wolf Rosenbach (1876-1952) and his brother Philip (1863-1953). Dr. Rosenbach was ~~the~~ preeminent rare book dealer ~~of his era, known for acquiring~~ some of the most significant literary manuscripts ~~in existence~~.		The museum opened in 1954 from the personal collection of Dr. Abraham Simon Wolf Rosenbach (1876-1952) and his brother Philip (1863-1953). Dr. Rosenbach was his era's preeminent rare book dealer. He acquired some of the most significant literary manuscripts that existed. His reputation was built on an almost uncanny ability to spot what mattered.

	The ~~museum occupies a~~ 19th-century townhouse ~~near Rittenhouse Square,~~ where the Rosenbach brothers lived and ~~conducted~~ their rare book business. The ~~building itself is part of~~ the ~~collection~~, ~~preserved as an example~~ of how a prosperous Philadelphia family lived ~~in the early 20th century~~.		The building itself comes from the 19th century. It's the townhouse where the Rosenbach brothers lived and ran their rare book business, situated near Rittenhouse Square. The interior's preserved just as it was in the early 20th century, giving visitors a sense of how a prosperous Philadelphia family actually lived during that era.

	In 2013, ~~the~~ Rosenbach became affiliated with the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation, ~~uniting~~ two of the world's ~~preeminent~~ collections of rare books and manuscripts.		In 2013, things changed. The Rosenbach became affiliated with the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation, bringing together two of the world's most important collections of rare books and manuscripts under one organizational umbrella.

	== Collection Highlights ==		== Collection Highlights ==

	~~The Rosenbach holds more~~ than 130,000 manuscripts and 30,000 rare books~~, including:~~		More than 130,000 manuscripts and 30,000 rare books make up the core holdings. But certain pieces stand apart.

	=== Literary Manuscripts ===		=== Literary Manuscripts ===

	* '''James Joyce's ''Ulysses''''' — The handwritten manuscript ~~of one~~ of the 20th century~~'s most important novels, considered~~ a premier treasure. Dr. Rosenbach acquired a first edition in 1922, smuggled into the country when the book ~~was banned~~.		* '''James Joyce's ''Ulysses''''' — The handwritten manuscript itself, arguably the most important novel of the 20th century and a premier treasure of the collection. Dr. Rosenbach acquired a first edition in 1922. He smuggled it into the country when the book faced a ban.
	* '''Bram Stoker's notes for ''Dracula''''' — ~~The author's working~~ papers for the gothic classic		* '''Bram Stoker's notes for ''Dracula''''' — Working papers for the gothic classic, showing the author's creative process
	* '''Lewis Carroll's ''Alice in Wonderland''''' — Carroll's own copy of the first edition		* '''Lewis Carroll's ''Alice in Wonderland''''' — Carroll's own copy of the first edition

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	* '''[https://biography.wiki/g/George_Washington George Washington]'s earliest extant letter''' — The first surviving letter written by the future president		* '''[https://biography.wiki/g/George_Washington George Washington]'s earliest extant letter''' — The first surviving letter written by the future president
	* '''[https://biography.wiki/b/Benjamin_Franklin Benjamin Franklin]'s first ''Poor Richard's Almanack''''' — The only surviving copy		* '''[https://biography.wiki/b/Benjamin_Franklin Benjamin Franklin]'s first ''Poor Richard's Almanack''''' — The only surviving copy exists here
	* '''Milton's ''Paradise Lost''''' — Tonson's assignment copy		* '''Milton's ''Paradise Lost''''' — Tonson's assignment copy
	* '''First edition of ''Don Quixote''''' — One of the earliest printings		* '''First edition of ''Don Quixote''''' — One of the earliest printings
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	=== Poetry Collections ===		=== Poetry Collections ===

	* The most extensive collection of Robert Burns manuscripts ~~in existence~~		The museum holds the most extensive collection of Robert Burns manuscripts anywhere. Wordsworth, Shelley, and Keats are well represented. There's a celebrated love letter from Keats to Fanny Brawne, plus Thomas Gray's correspondence.
	* Manuscripts of William Wordsworth, ~~Percy Bysshe~~ Shelley, and ~~John~~ Keats
	* A celebrated love letter from Keats to Fanny Brawne
	* Thomas Gray's ~~letters~~

	=== Marianne Moore Collection ===		=== Marianne Moore Collection ===

	~~The Rosenbach has a special relationship with modernist~~ poet Marianne Moore (1887-1972). The ~~museum~~ acquired virtually all of her manuscripts and correspondence~~, and when~~ she bequeathed her belongings to the institution, her Greenwich Village apartment living room was recreated as a permanent installation. ~~This collection~~ earned the Rosenbach designation as a National Literary Landmark.		Modernist poet Marianne Moore (1887-1972) has a special place here. The Rosenbach acquired virtually all of her manuscripts and correspondence. When she bequeathed her belongings to the institution, her Greenwich Village apartment living room was recreated as a permanent installation inside the museum. That gift earned the Rosenbach its designation as a National Literary Landmark.

	== Visiting ==		== Visiting ==

	~~The Rosenbach operates as a museum rather than~~ a lending library. ~~All~~ visits require guided tours and advance tickets.		This isn't a lending library. It's a museum, which means all visits require guided tours and advance tickets. You can't just drop by and browse the stacks.

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	~~The Rosenbach~~ is ~~located on the~~ quiet, tree-lined ~~Delancey Place~~, one block south of [[Rittenhouse Square]]:		Delancey Place is quiet and tree-lined, situated one block south of [[Rittenhouse Square]]. It's between 20th and 21st Streets. Getting there takes just a few minutes from Center City:

	* '''Walking''' — ~~Between 20th and 21st Streets~~ on Delancey Place		* '''Walking''' — Just find the address on Delancey Place
	* '''SEPTA Subway''' — Walnut-Locust Station (Broad Street Line)		* '''SEPTA Subway''' — Walnut-Locust Station on the Broad Street Line
	* '''SEPTA Bus''' — Routes 9, 12, 21, 42		* '''SEPTA Bus''' — Routes 9, 12, 21, and 42 all serve the area

	== See Also ==		== See Also ==

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	=== Historic Documents ===		=== Historic Documents ===

	* '''George Washington's earliest extant letter''' — The first surviving letter written by the future president		* '''[https://biography.wiki/g/George_Washington George Washington]'s earliest extant letter''' — The first surviving letter written by the future president
	* '''Benjamin Franklin's first ''Poor Richard's Almanack''''' — The only surviving copy		* '''[https://biography.wiki/b/Benjamin_Franklin Benjamin Franklin]'s first ''Poor Richard's Almanack''''' — The only surviving copy
	* '''Milton's ''Paradise Lost''''' — Tonson's assignment copy		* '''Milton's ''Paradise Lost''''' — Tonson's assignment copy
	* '''First edition of ''Don Quixote''''' — One of the earliest printings		* '''First edition of ''Don Quixote''''' — One of the earliest printings

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{{Infobox Museum
| name = The Rosenbach
| type = Rare books and manuscripts museum
| address = 2008-2010 Delancey Place
| neighborhood = Rittenhouse Square
| phone = (215) 732-1600
| website = https://www.rosenbach.org
| established = 1954
| collection_size = 400,000 objects
| admission = Guided tours required; check website for pricing
| hours = Thu-Sat 10:30am-6pm, Sun 10:30am-4:30pm
}}

'''The Rosenbach''' is a museum and research library at 2008-2010 Delancey Place near [[Rittenhouse Square]], housing one of the world's great collections of rare books, manuscripts, and literary treasures. The collection includes nearly 400,000 objects, with highlights including the manuscript of James Joyce's ''Ulysses'', Lewis Carroll's own copy of ''Alice in Wonderland'', and Bram Stoker's notes for ''Dracula''.

== History ==

The Rosenbach Museum was founded in 1954 from the personal collection of Dr. Abraham Simon Wolf Rosenbach (1876-1952) and his brother Philip (1863-1953). Dr. Rosenbach was the preeminent rare book dealer of his era, known for acquiring some of the most significant literary manuscripts in existence.

The museum occupies a 19th-century townhouse near Rittenhouse Square, where the Rosenbach brothers lived and conducted their rare book business. The building itself is part of the collection, preserved as an example of how a prosperous Philadelphia family lived in the early 20th century.

In 2013, the Rosenbach became affiliated with the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation, uniting two of the world's preeminent collections of rare books and manuscripts.

== Collection Highlights ==

The Rosenbach holds more than 130,000 manuscripts and 30,000 rare books, including:

=== Literary Manuscripts ===

* '''James Joyce's ''Ulysses''''' — The handwritten manuscript of one of the 20th century's most important novels, considered a premier treasure. Dr. Rosenbach acquired a first edition in 1922, smuggled into the country when the book was banned.
* '''Bram Stoker's notes for ''Dracula''''' — The author's working papers for the gothic classic
* '''Lewis Carroll's ''Alice in Wonderland''''' — Carroll's own copy of the first edition

=== Historic Documents ===

* '''George Washington's earliest extant letter''' — The first surviving letter written by the future president
* '''Benjamin Franklin's first ''Poor Richard's Almanack''''' — The only surviving copy
* '''Milton's ''Paradise Lost''''' — Tonson's assignment copy
* '''First edition of ''Don Quixote''''' — One of the earliest printings

=== Poetry Collections ===

* The most extensive collection of Robert Burns manuscripts in existence
* Manuscripts of William Wordsworth, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and John Keats
* A celebrated love letter from Keats to Fanny Brawne
* Thomas Gray's letters

=== Marianne Moore Collection ===

The Rosenbach has a special relationship with modernist poet Marianne Moore (1887-1972). The museum acquired virtually all of her manuscripts and correspondence, and when she bequeathed her belongings to the institution, her Greenwich Village apartment living room was recreated as a permanent installation. This collection earned the Rosenbach designation as a National Literary Landmark.

== Visiting ==

The Rosenbach operates as a museum rather than a lending library. All visits require guided tours and advance tickets.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Detail !! Information
|-
| '''Hours''' || Thu-Sat 10:30am-6pm, Sun 10:30am-4:30pm
|-
| '''Admission''' || Ticketed guided tours; check website for current pricing
|-
| '''Address''' || 2008-2010 Delancey Place, Philadelphia, PA 19103
|-
| '''Accessibility''' || Limited; historic townhouse with stairs
|}

== Getting There ==

{{Location map
| address = 2008-2010 Delancey Place, Philadelphia, PA 19103
}}

The Rosenbach is located on the quiet, tree-lined Delancey Place, one block south of [[Rittenhouse Square]]:

* '''Walking''' — Between 20th and 21st Streets on Delancey Place
* '''SEPTA Subway''' — Walnut-Locust Station (Broad Street Line)
* '''SEPTA Bus''' — Routes 9, 12, 21, 42

== See Also ==

* [[Rittenhouse Square]]
* [[Free Library of Philadelphia]]
* [[Literary Landmarks of Philadelphia]]

== References ==
<references />

== External Links ==

* [https://www.rosenbach.org Official Website]
* [https://www.rosenbach.org/collections/ Collection Highlights]
* [https://www.rosenbach.org/visit/ Plan Your Visit]

{{#seo:
|title=The Rosenbach - Rare Books and Manuscripts Museum in Philadelphia
|description=The Rosenbach museum near Rittenhouse Square houses 400,000 rare books and manuscripts including James Joyce's Ulysses manuscript, Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, and Bram Stoker's Dracula notes.
|keywords=Rosenbach Museum, rare books Philadelphia, James Joyce Ulysses manuscript, literary museum Philadelphia, Rittenhouse Square museums
|type=Article
}}

[[Category:Museums]]
[[Category:Libraries]]
[[Category:Rittenhouse Square]]
[[Category:Center City]]
[[Category:Literary Landmarks]]