Curatorial Departments

Impression image of winged figure holding a bull with foot on its neck while a lion holds its other leg.
Ancient Western Asian Seals & Tablets
Graphite drawing of a seated male with hands clasped in front of him.
Drawings & Prints
Hand-written page of text dated at top.
Literary & Historical Manuscripts
Knights on horseback battling eacother with swords.
Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts
Modern & Contemporary Drawings
Music manuscript detail showing musical notes and N90 wirtten in top left corner.
Music Manuscripts & Printed Music
Paintings & Art Objects
Photography
Open book pages showing printed latin text in gothic letters with illuminations.
Printed Books & Bindings

Pierpont Morgan's immense holdings ranged from Egyptian art to Renaissance paintings to Chinese porcelains. For his library, Morgan acquired illuminated, literary, and historical manuscripts, early printed books, and old master drawings and prints. To this core collection, he added the earliest evidence of writing as manifested in ancient seals, tablets, and papyrus fragments from Egypt and the Western Asia. Morgan also collected manuscripts and printed materials significant to American history.

Over the years—through purchases and generous gifts—the Morgan has continued to actively acquire rare materials as well as important music manuscripts, a fine collection of early children's books and manuscripts, and materials from the twentieth century (as well as earlier periods). Nevertheless the focus on the written word, the history of the book, and master drawings has been maintained.