Special Collections
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Pages from Henry Cole’s journal of 1858 with photographic insert. Henry Cole journal, Special Collections.
Pages from Henry Cole’s journal of 1858 with photographic insert. Henry Cole journal, Special Collections.
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ARK: The Journal of the Royal College of Art. Issue 7 (1953)
ARK: The Journal of the Royal College of Art. Issue 7 (1953)
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Painting students in the Mural Room, c.1936. Margery Dennis Hall collection., c.1936
Photographer: unknownPainting students in the Mural Room, c.1936. Margery Dennis Hall collection., c.1936
Photographer: unknown -
Entry for Ebb Tide, Putney Bridge (n.d.), from Plate Book of Frank Short, 1883-1908. Palfrey collection of Frank Short papers, Special Collections.
Entry for Ebb Tide, Putney Bridge (n.d.), from Plate Book of Frank Short, 1883-1908. Palfrey collection of Frank Short papers, Special Collections.
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Peter Phillips - Composition (1959) (detail)
Peter Phillips - Composition (1959) (detail)
The Royal College of Art holds over 30 separate special collections of distinctive, rare and unique material, including archives, photographic collections, artworks and rare books.
The special collections housed within the RCA’s Library include the Royal College of Art Archive itself (prospectuses, catalogues, etc.), including a Photographic Record of Student Work; together with Special Collection Books and rare manuscripts in our Other archives and manuscripts.
The department also contains the Colour Reference Library: a collection of printed materials devoted to all aspects of colour, from colour psychology to interior design. Containing over 3,000 volumes (including 1,600 books), it is one of the largest collections on this subject in the world.
RCA Special Collections are located on the top floor of the Library in the Common Room Block of the Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2EU. Access is by appointment only.
For more information on the collections and archives, and for access and visitor information, click here.
CONTACT
+44 (0)20 7590 4234
Please note, access to the collections is by appointment only.