RISD Library Picture Collection

Now here's a bathroom design that never caught on. Formica ad, 1957.

I can't believe it's been two years since the great Covid shut-down of 2020. Today, let's enjoy the lighter side with a few vintage St. Patricks' Day postcards.

The Picture Collection has a large collection of Magazine Covers from various decades. These are all in the circulating collection, soon to be available digitally.

Students & staff with campus access can make an appointment to access the Materials & Picture Collections. Hours are between 9 and 4pm Monday - Friday. Can't plan ahead? We can take walk-ins as space allows.

Seat Availability - Appointments - RISD Library To use this platform, the system writes one or more cookies in your browser. These cookies are not shared with any third parties. In addition, your IP address and browser information is stored in server logs and used to generate anonymized usage statistics. Your institution uses these statistics to....

Though the Picture Collection is currently closed due to COVID-19, we are working behind the scenes to digitize some of our hidden collections, such as these Victorian novelty and trade cards.

Need some fearful faces for Halloween frights?

The Picture Collection went through a big move this summer, merging with the Material Collection in a new combined space. All of the files are still here, just in a new location. Still on the 2nd floor of the Fleet Library at 15 Westminster. New hours are 8:30 - 7pm Monday through Thursday, and 8:30 - 4:30 Friday.

Wanted: Magazine donations! We get a lot of requests for material that students can cut up for collage projects, inspiration boards, etc...and we take any and all donations of magazines, catalogs, calendars, etc...that have pictorial content. Donations can be dropped off any time during open hours, either in the Picture Collection, or at the Library circulation desk. No donation is too small.