Autry National Center

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

First opened to the research community in 1995, the Autry Library encourages study and research of the American West and its diverse peoples. The Library’s collections and resources provide a historical, social, and cultural context for the artifact and archival collections of the Museum of the American West. Additionally, the Autry Library serves as the research gateway to the collections of the Museum.

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.

Collection Highlights:

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.

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:

One of America’s Finest: Vallejo Guest Ranch With Polo, circa 1950s, 95.32.1

• 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

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

The Autry Library encourages the use of library and 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.

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 at the Museum of the American West in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California.

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

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone: 323-667-2000 ext. 349
Mail: Autry Library
4700 Western Heritage Way
Los Angeles, Ca. 90027-1462