Libraries at SAM

The Museum Libraries

The Seattle Art Museum has two research libraries and a lending library for educators. Although primarily geared to support the museum staff, docents and educators, the libraries are open to members and the general public. The libraries offer a number of resources to aid you in your research or educational endeavors.

Visit one of our Libraries

• The Dorothy Stimson Bullitt Library is located on the Fifth Floor of the Seattle Art Museum downtown.
• The McCaw Foundation Library is located on the Lower Level of the Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park.

• The Wyckoff Teacher Resource Center is located on the Lower Level of the Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park.
  

Search Online

The SAM Libraries have thousands of books, folios, videos and other materials on a variety of art topics.

• Search the online catalogue of our research libraries.
• Browse the list of journals in our research libraries.
• Search the online catalogue of the Wyckoff Teacher Resource Center.
  
  

History of the SAM Libraries

Richard E. Fuller founded the Seattle Art Museum in 1933. The original museum was located at the crest of Capitol Hill in Volunteer Park. The museum library was located on the Lower Level of the building. Carl Gould designed the library in the same Art Deco style as the rest of the building. In 1991, the museum expanded to include a second location at First Avenue and University Street in downtown Seattle. Included in this new museum was the Dorothy Stimson Bullitt Library.

In 1994, the original museum was reopened as the Seattle Asian Art Museum. The asian art library was named the McCaw Foundation Library in honor of generous funding the McCaw Foundation provided for library improvements.

The Wyckoff Teacher Resource Center, located in the former Board of Trustees Room at the Seattle Asian Art Museum, was created in 1997 to help educators teach art, art history and culture effectively. Support was provided by a National Endowment for the Humanities challenge grant and the generous contributions of matching donors, especially the Ann P. Wyckoff Education Endowment. Ongoing support for the Wyckoff Teacher Resource Center is provided by the Leona M. Geyer Charitable Trust.

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