Emma B King Shaker Library NY

Holdings Bibliography Hours & Fees Contact Library

The core of the Library's Shaker manuscript, imprint, and photographic collection was acquired by the Museum's founder, John S. Williams, Sr., directly from the Shakers at Mount Lebanon, New York, Hancock, Massachusetts, and Canterbury, New Hampshire during the 1940s and 1950s. In 1961, the Shakers' Central Ministry, through the offices of Eldress Emma B. King, for whom the Library is named, designated the Shaker Museum and Library the official repository for the records of discontinued Shaker Societies. The following year in anticipation of receiving such records and with King's encouragement, the Museum constructed a 950 square foot fireproof library building. That same year, King presented the Museum with the official library and archives that were in the care of the Shaker Ministry. Following her first visit to the new Library she wrote, "I feel very grateful to you on behalf of our organization for the work you have done to preserve and perpetuate our Shaker History and traditions, our religion and our ideals. As time passes, I am sincerely hoping that recent records and writings we have not been able to trace may find their way to you for safe keeping, information and unified preservation."

Some records have continued to "find their way" to the Library. Since 1990, an additional five linear feet of manuscripts and photographs have been added to the collection through purchase and gift.

Elder Henry Blinn among the bees, Canterbury, N.H.
(circa 1890).
From the collection of the Shaker Museum and Library, Old Chatham, New York.

Hours:

The Emma B. King Library may be used by anyone interested in learning more about the Shakers. Generally open all year long, Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM until 4:30 PM, the Library has access by appointment only.

Policies and Fees:

Library users must read and agree to abide by the policies governing the use of the Library collections. As a private, not for profit, educational institution, the Shaker Museum and Library assesses fees for the use of the Library. The income generated is used to assist in the preservation and conservation of the Library's collections. The fees are assessed at $10 per day, $35 per quarter, or $125 per year. Members of the Shaker Museum and Library are allowed two days of research in the Library without charge.

Services and Restrictions:

The Emma B. King Library is not a lending institution and does not participate in Interlibrary Loans. If possible to reproduce materials without risk of damage, photocopies, electronic texts, photographs, or digital scans of items in the collection may be provided at the discretion of the Director of Research and for an individually negotiated fee. The reproduction of materials from the Library for publication requires the permission of the Director of Research and usually requires the payment of fees.

The Director of Research, Library staff, and volunteers, makes every attempt to answer research questions arriving by mail, email, telephone, and fax.

Please make requests by mail to:

Director of Research
Shaker Museum and Library
88 Shaker Museum Road
Old Chatham, NY 12136

By telephone to:

518-794-9100 x211

By fax to:

518-794-8621

Brother Delmar Wilson in his shop (circa 1903).
From the collection of the Shaker Museum and Library, Old Chatham, New York.

Feeding the hogs, Mt. Lebanon, New York (circa 1915).
From the collection of the Shaker Museum and Library, Old Chatham, New York.

SHAKER MUSEUM AND LIBRARY