George Peabody Library

Formerly the Library of the Peabody Institute of the City of Baltimore, the library’s collection dates from the founding of the Peabody Institute in 1857. In that year, George Peabody, a Massachusetts-born philanthropist, dedicated the Peabody Institute to the citizens of Baltimore in appreciation of their “kindness and hospitality.”

The library building opened in 1878 and was designed by Baltimore architect Edmund G. Lind, in collaboration with the Peabody Institute’s first provost, Dr. Nathaniel H. Morison. The stack room contains five tiers of ornamental cast-iron balconies, which rise dramatically to the skylight 61 feet above the floor.

The library contains 300,000 volumes, mainly from the 19th century, with strengths in religion, British art, architecture, topography and history; American history, biography, and literature; Romance languages and literature; history of science; and geography, exploration, and travel.

Peabody 360: Explore the Peabody Library

Check out the high-resolution 360-degree virtual tour of the stunning interior.

George Peabody Library General Rules

In support of its mission to provide access to materials and services in an environment that is conducive to learning, George Peabody Library requires all visitors to comply with the following general rules:

• Access is limited to the ground floor.
• Visitors who engage in conduct that disrupts or interferes with the scholarly environment may be asked to leave.

George Peabody Library Photography and Filming Policies

Casual, amateur photography and filming are permitted for personal, non-commercial use with the following conditions:

• Hand-held cameras
• No flash, lights, tripods or professional camera equipment.
• Disruptive photography or filming is not allowed.
• All subjects, including library users and staff, must give consent.
• Please share with us! @jhulibraries

Portrait photographs and photography and filming intended for commercial use must be prearranged with and approved by the Office of Private Events and may be subject to a fee.

• Portrait photographs are posed, professional or semi-professional photos taken with artistic direction and include family, engagement, wedding, maternity, prom, or other special occasion portraits. The photographer may be paid or unpaid. The Private Events Office reserves the right to define what classifies as portrait photography on a case-by-case basis.
• Portrait and commercial photo shoots can only take place on Fridays when the library is closed to the public.
• To inquire about portrait and commercial photography and filming, fill out the Office of Private Events contact form or email privateeventsoffice@jhu.edu and a staff member will contact you.
• For media requests related to the library’s mission, history, and collections, email the Office of Communications at lm-comms@jhu.edu