Phillips Library

Welcome to Phillips Library, a cornerstone of historical exploration and scholarly research located at 306 Newburyport Turnpike, Rowley, Massachusetts. As one of the oldest libraries in the United States, Phillips Library is renowned for its rich collection of primary and secondary sources, including an extensive array of manuscripts, books, photographs, maps, and more.

Nestled within the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM), the Phillips Library offers a unique opportunity to dive into diverse collection areas and view works currently on display. Our light-filled reading room, located in the state-of-the-art James B. and Mary Lou Hawkes Collection Center, provides a comfortable and modern space for study and discovery. While appointments are currently required, we welcome readers of all ages to explore our resources.

Utilize Philcat, our online catalog, to search our collections, request materials for in-library use, access digitized items, and order reproductions. Our library provides free online access to a growing collection of digitized materials, including PEM publications, manuscripts, logbooks, broadsides, and photographs.

The Phillips Library is deeply committed to preserving and sharing its extraordinary collections, offering vital support and inspiration to curious minds locally, regionally, and globally. Our archives boast a wide variety of letters, account books, diaries, photographs, drawings, legal documents, and printed materials, with finding aids and research guides available to assist with your exploration.

We invite you to join our events, such as expert panels discussing the history of the Salem witch trials or virtual presentations and discussions that unlock stories from our collections. Whether you're conducting personal research or simply wish to learn more about our fascinating collections, the Phillips Library is here to support your journey.

For those unable to visit in person, we are happy to assist with quick requests via email or mail, although we cannot conduct research on your behalf. Please allow two weeks for an initial response to your inquiries.

Discover the legacy of the Phillips Library, a result of the integration of the James Duncan Phillips Library of the Essex Institute with the Stephen Phillips Library of the Peabody Museum of Salem in 1992. Our mission is to preserve and share our vast collection, which reflects the social, cultural, and economic values of one of the nation’s earliest settled regions.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Phillips Library, where history and discovery await.