"MO" is the Rosenbach's Manuscripts Online, a growing database containing images and transcriptions of manuscripts from the Rosenbach's American historical collections.
This database is named after Moses Polock (1817-1903), or Uncle Mo, maternal uncle of museum founders Philip (1863- 1953) and A.S.W. (1876 - 1953) Rosenbach. It was Uncle Mo in whose book shop young Abie learned what would become his life's passion and it was Uncle Mo who said to his nephew, "My boy...Americana! That's the stuff to collect!" (A.S.W. Rosenbach, Books and Bidders, 1927, p. 265). It is fitting that MO documents the highly significant collection that grew from Uncle Mo's words of advice to young A.S.W. Rosenbach.
"Phil" is the Rosenbach’s object catalog. It contains at least a basic record for each item in the fine and decorative arts collection, which encompasses paintings, portrait miniatures, drawings, prints, sculpture, furniture, ceramics, glass, silver, jewelry, vertu, and textiles. It also includes the museum’s large collection of photographs. The catalog is a work in progress; the records were compiled from various sources, including historic Rosenbach Company records and previous museum catalog cards, and they may not always be complete or accurate. We are constantly working to improve the information in the catalog.
This database is named after Philip Rosenbach (1863-1953), one of the two museum founders. Philip managed the fine and decorative arts side of the Rosenbach Company and was responsible for acquiring many of the items contained in this catalog.
"Rosy," the library catalog, will eventually contain records for all the Rosenbach’s book and manuscript materials. To date, nearly all of the manuscripts are included, though for some of the larger collections like the Marianne Moore Papers and the Rosenbach Company Archives there are only summary records. More detailed records describing the contents of each folder in these collections will be loaded next. The only books currently in Rosy are from Marianne Moore’s library. Information about the rest of the books is available through the card catalog on site; please contact the library staff for further information or an appointment.
Rosy is the name by which A.S.W. Rosenbach was known to his friends.
If you would like to order photographs of objects in these catalogs, please contact Karen Schoenewaldt, Registrar. Please note that an application to order photographs does not constitute permission to publish or reproduce them in any way; researchers must apply separately for publication permissions, both to the Rosenbach Museum & Library and to any applicable copyright holders. Images from these catalogs are not to be reproduced without permission from the Rosenbach.
The Rosenbach has received grants from the Pennsylvania Historical
and Museum Commission and the Dolfinger McMahon Foundation to support
a long-term initiative to catalog the over 350,000 objects in our collections
and make them available to researchers throughout the world via our
website. Researchers
are welcome to contact our Library staff with inquiries or to make appointments for on-site visits.
