Notes from the Reading Room: Research with a Bite
by David Rhys Owen, Director of Collections & Research Services
We make our rare books, manuscripts, and fine and decorative arts available for study by anyone, from traditional scholars to artists, writers, and others with inquiring minds.
It’s been a record-breaking year for research at the Rosenbach. Onsite research visitation has returned to pre-pandemic levels, exceeding the average for the pre-COVID years 1996-2019, and reaching nearly twice the average annual visitation recorded in the years since reopening after the pandemic. From July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, we welcomed 205 visits by 114 individuals. Just over a quarter of those researchers reside in or are affiliated with institutions in other countries; nearly half are from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware; and the rest come from other parts of the United States.
In May 2026, playwright Asha Bagal Kelly visited the Rosenbach to study our newly-acquired copy of J. Sheridan Le Fanu’s In a Glass Darkly [EL3 .L488i 872]. The collection of short stories includes Carmilla, a foundational work of English-language vampire literature. The novella brings the genre’s queer subtext to the surface with a charged relationship between the vampire Carmilla and the young woman she pursues. Read Edward G. Pettit’s recent blogpost to learn more.
While onsite, Kelly also examined Bram Stoker’s notes for Dracula [EL3 .S874d MS], and a selection of works related to the persecution of supposed witches in late-17th-century New England. The actor and playwright was conducting research for My Carmilla, a theater piece co-written with Sabrina Caruso that reimagines Le Fanu’s novella through a queer, feminist and postcolonial lens. The play debuted with four performances at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival in September.
Kelly notes that while research can profoundly shape creative works like My Carmilla, independent artists often do not have access to these primary sources: "One of the things I appreciated most about the Rosenbach is that you don't need to be an academic or part of a larger institution to access these extraordinary materials." Our librarians simply ask that researchers schedule an appointment in advance, produce photo identification on their first visit, and complete a form indicating the topic of and goals for their research. Review our research policies for more information.
After you have submitted an appointment request, staff will confirm the visit and, as far as possible, finalize your object list in advance of the date. If you’re not sure what material you’ll need, staff will work with you to make a list. Kelly remarks: “the most valuable part of my visit was actually working with librarian Elizabeth E. Fuller. [...] When I requested my appointment, I simply listed a few areas I wanted to explore, including the New England vampire panic and witch trials. Elizabeth introduced me to primary sources I wouldn't have known existed, let alone thought to request.”
In response to Kelly’s interest in the New England contexts, we shared a 1693 pamphlet, generally attributed to the prominent Puritan minister Cotton Mather [A 693t], as well as Robert Calef’s More wonders of the invisible world [A 700m], an important critique of the Salem witch trials that condemns prominent clergy members, including Mather, for fueling the mass hysteria and subsequent injustices.
The Rosenbach is constantly adding and updating records in our online library catalog, Rosy, as we work to improve access to information about our collections and reach our international community of researchers. At the same time, our librarians are well positioned to delve deeper into the collections and support your research by making these unexpected connections and discoveries. Kelly adds: “That's what I'd encourage other people to take advantage of. Whether you're writing a play, researching your family history, or simply following your curiosity, the Rosenbach staff can help you discover materials that open entirely new paths of inquiry.”
Notes from the Reading Room is a monthly segment on the Rosenblog. Learn about our efforts to manage and care for some of the best-known literary and historical objects in the world, and to make our collections available to researchers and other audiences around the globe. Book a research appointment to make your own discoveries and enjoy a personalized experience with our collections.