Collections by topic

Download a PDF of the collections by topic. (815 KB)

Select a topic African-American Studies American Studies Anthropology Architecture & Architectural History Asian Studies Classical Studies Design & Decorative Studies Foreign Languages and Literature History Literary Studies Maps, Charts & Graphs Medieval Studies Middle Eastern Studies Music History Native American Studies Photography Religious Studies Renaissance Studies Theater & Dance Women's Studies

AFRICAN - AMERICAN STUDIES

The experiences, traditions, and dynamics of African Americans are richly documented in photographs of important events and personalities, representations of black people in Western art from pre-history to the present, portraits of key figures, and works by African-American artists.
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AMERICAN STUDIES

A wide selection of painting, sculpture, architecture, decorative arts, graphic design, and photography, ranging from colonial times to the present, depicts the people and places that have shaped the history and culture of the United States.
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ANTHROPOLOGY

The study of human behavior, societies, and cultures is represented through images of traditional and contemporary material culture, such as ceremonial masks and objects, as well as through photographs, drawings, and paintings of gesture and ritual.
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ARCHITECTURE & ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY

The study of the built environment is enriched by images of monuments, buildings, and details from antiquity to the present; drawings and models; excavation photos, maps, and plans of important sites; and QuickTime Virtual Reality (QTVR) panoramas of major works of architecture.
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ASIAN STUDIES

The history and culture of Asia is illustrated through a vast range of images that includes ceramics, sculptures, scrolls, calligraphy, screens, costumes, watercolors, paintings, shrines, buildings, and photographs, from traditional forms to contemporary works. Of note, the Library contains unparalleled images of Buddhist cave shrines in Dunhuang, China, located in the Gobi Desert along the ancient Silk Route.
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CLASSICAL STUDIES

The study of the ancient Mediterranean world is richly illustrated by images of iconic sculptures and monuments including figurines, vases, marble sculptures, and temples, as well as an array of iconographic subjects depicted within the corpus of ancient art and in later works of art in the Classical tradition.
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DESIGN & DECORATIVE STUDIES

Images of drawings, models, and graphic design, including posters and advertisements; as well as representations of three-dimensional objects such as appliances, furniture, tableware, tools, textiles, ceramics, silver, jewelry, and cars, are represented.
Learn more (PDF: 588 KB)

FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE

The study of various literary and modern languages is enriched by images of scenes of daily life and everyday objects from a wide variety of cultures around the globe. Images of major landmarks and artistic works illustrate the material culture of various countries.
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HISTORY

Images representing global history include painted and photographic portraits of important figures; scenes of monumental events and everyday life; and a vast array of primary source materials such as letters, postcards, posters, maps, plans, political cartoons, and caricatures. Historians working with evidence derived from material and visual culture will find the ARTstor collections especially valuable.
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LITERARY STUDIES

Painted portraits and photographs depict authors from all times and places, and illustrations of countless literary themes and characters, as well as images of manuscripts, frontispieces, first edition covers, enhance the study of texts and written works.
Learn more (PDF: 600 KB)

MAPS, GRAPHS & CHARTS

Depictions of the physical terrain of particular geographic regions — past and present, real and imagined — augment research and instruction in a variety of fields by providing spatial context to specific subjects or historical periods.
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MEDIEVAL STUDIES

Images of mosaics, stained glass, tapestries, illuminated manuscripts, decorative and religious ivories, churches, cathedrals, and pilgrimage routes richly document the Carolingian, Ottonian, Romanesque, and Gothic periods.
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MIDDLE EASTERN STUDIES

The study of the politics, economics, history, and culture of the region from Morocco and North Africa to Turkey and Iran is represented by photographs and paintings of important sites and ruins including mosques, tombs, pyramids, and palaces, as well as images of decorative and functional tiled murals, ceramics, textiles, glass, and metalwork.
Learn more (PDF: 5.5 MB)

MUSIC HISTORY

Images of musical scores, manuscripts, composers, performers, instruments, set designs, and venues such as concert halls and opera houses, as well as plentiful examples of musical iconography, represent music through the ages.
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NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES

Historic photographs, including ceremonial scenes and studio portraits of individuals and tribal delegations, as well as ledger drawings and artifacts of material culture such as baskets, textiles, tools, masks, and costumes, support the study of the experiences and cultural traditions of Native Americans.
learn more (PDF: 1.2 MB)

PHOTOGRAPHY

The Library includes works by significant photographers from the late 19th century to the present, chronicling people, events, and places of our time. In addition, images document the development of landmark processes and technologies, from early daguerreotypes to contemporary prints.
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RELIGIOUS STUDIES

The cross-cultural, secular study of Western and Eastern religious beliefs and traditions is richly represented by images of sites, including temples, cathedrals, synagogues, churches, and mosques; iconographic subjects and figures; and ceremonial objects such as sacred texts, chalices, prayer books, robes, and candelabra. Of note, the Library contains unparalleled images of Buddhist cave shrines in Dunhuang, China, located in the Gobi Desert along the ancient Silk Route.
Learn more (PDF: 520 KB)

RENAISSANCE STUDIES

Images of the art and architecture of Renaissance Europe abound, including prints and Old Master drawings; paintings, sculptures, and buildings by key European artists; fresco cycles and other forms of architectural decoration; illuminated manuscripts; tapestries; and even Vesalius' famed anatomical illustrations of the human body. Of note, the Library contains unparalleled images of the recently restored bronze panels and frieze elements created by Lorenzo Ghiberti for the East doors of the Florentine Baptistery ("The Gates of Paradise").
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THEATER & DANCE

Students and scholars of theater and dance, as well as practitioners in these fields, will derive value from images of paintings, photographs, and drawings of costumes, venues, and staged performances — ancient to contemporary — as well as posed portraits and performance shots of notable figures, including playwrights, theater directors, choreographers, set and costume designers, actors, and dancers.
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WOMAN'S STUDIES

Photographs and paintings document the history of women across all world cultures, with images showing women in popular culture, in the domestic realm, and in a variety of professional roles; women's suffrage; women's rights; and numerous representations of famous female figures. Also richly represented are examples of women's costume and jewelry from a range of periods, as well as female characters depicted in world literature.
Learn more (PDF: 712 KB)

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