Autry Library

Carte-de-visite of Henry Ossian Flipper (1856-1940), the first African American graduate of West Point. Museum of the American West, Autry National Center; 93.227.1

The Autry Library collects books, serials, sound recordings, and printed materials related to the history, geography, fine arts, and material, popular and consumer culture of the American West. Areas of strength include personal accounts of pioneer and cowboy life, ranching, tourism, women in the West, cowboy dress and equipment, literature, Western music, radio, television and film history, and popular Western imagery. Library resources provide a historical, social and cultural context for the artifact and archival collections of the Museum of the American West.

Resources available to researchers include:

Fred Rosenstock Collection of Western Americana:

• The Rosenstock Collection of Western Americana consists of more than 21,000 works on paper, and includes books, manuscripts, diaries, and visual material.

The colored cadet at West Point: Autobiography of Lieut. Henry Ossian Flipper, U.S.A., first graduate of color from the U.S. Military Academy, by Henry Ossian Flipper (1856-1940). New York: : Homer Lee & Co., 65 Liberty Street., 1878. Autry Library, Autry National Center; 93.144.1

Women of the West Museum Collection:

• More than 900 volumes relating to Western women’s history

Dime Novel Collection:

• Dime novels dating from the 1880s to the 1920s

Saddle and Western Wear Trade Catalogs:

• Catalogs dating from the 1880s to the 1960s

Gene Autry Archive:

• Comprehensive collection documenting the career and business interests of the Western star, media phenomenon, and founder of the Museum of the American West

Western TV Script and Photographic Stills:

• More than 1200 scripts, most annotated by producers, editors, cinematographers or actors
• Extensive stills collection documenting Western TV series 1949 to the 1990s

Dude Ranch Brochures:

• Dating from the 1920s to the 1960s

First opened to the research community in 1995, the Autry Library continues to encourage use of the library and the museum collections by both visiting and remote researchers. Research fellowships are available by application. Librarians will answer questions for remote users via email, telephone, and letter.

You may search the library and museum collections online via the Autry National Center Collections Online Digital Database and our Library Catalog.

Access to the Autry Library is by appointment only. Appointments for research are available Mondays – Fridays, 9 AM–5 PM (holidays excluded). Please see the research rules and application for more details.

The library is located in the Museum of the American West in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California. Click here for location and directions.

Contact Us
You may contact a librarian to ask a question or get more information about the collections:

E-mail: rroom@autrynationalcenter.org
Phone: 323-667-2000 ext. 349
Mail: Autry Library
4700 Western Heritage Way
Los Angeles, Ca. 90027-1462 

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