Research Resources

picture of Ernst Herzfeld sitting at his desk in his home

Dedicated to furthering the study of Asian and Middle Eastern art and culture, as well as turn-of-the century American art, the National Museum of Asian Art offers numerous resources for researchers of all levels. Our library, regarded as one of the finest libraries of Asian art, contains more than 86,000 volumes, including thousands in Chinese, Japanese, and other non-Western languages. The Archives, as a manuscript and photography repository, makes available primary materials regarding the collections and the museums’ research activities. Researchers can study objects not on view in the galleries by arranging research visits. They can also request images of objects to aid in their research pursuits.

Tehran, Ernst Herzfeld in his home, circa 1929. Negative no. 976. Ernst Herzfeld papers, Freer Gallery of Art | National Museum of Asian Art Archives