Many of the treasures Dr. A.S.W. Rosenbach purchased for his own library and to sell to wealthy clients once belonged to aristocratic British families. Dr. Rosenbach paid many visits to the United Kingdom, purchasing volumes from book-rich, cash-poor landed families. This heritage, documented in the archives of the Rosenbach Company held at the Rosenbach Museum & Library today, raises an important question. What role did (and do) country house libraries play in preserving England’s books, manuscripts, and other literary and historical treasures? 

In this transatlantic episode of The Rosenbach Podcast, Dr. Alexander Lawrence Ames interviews Fran Baker, Archivist and Librarian at Chatsworth House Trust in beautiful Derbyshire, England, about the role of country house libraries in preserving some of Great Britain’s most spectacular bookish treasures. 

Would you like to explore the treasures of the Rosenbach’s British literature collections? Reserve a Rosenbach introductory tour ticket today! Or, visit us during open hours and purchase a gallery and garden ticket, with which you can access the Treasures gallery. Learn more at https://rosenbach.org/visit/.  

Note: Following the recording of this episode, Fran Baker’s professional title changed to Head of Archive & Library at Chatsworth House Trust. Congratulations Fran!