About the Carriage Museum Library

The Carriage Museum of America is a Library to serve as a source of historically accurate technical information on animal-drawn vehicles and related subjects. It is the only full time library dedicated exclusively to the Carriage Industry. Incorporated in 1978 as a non-profit educational institution, the Carriage Museum of America was headquartered in Salem, New Jersey at the offices of The Carriage Journal.

The library collection of Thomas Ryder, a leading international expert on driving and carriages, was purchased by the Carriage Museum of America. Major contributions have been made to the collection from the Paul Downing Collection, Richard Harrington, Ken Sowles, Jack Pemberton and others.

The library's collections have earned an international reputation attracting researchers from all over the world. It houses approximately 1200 books and trade catalogs on the subjects of carriages and wagons. The collection includes books on stables and carriage houses, horse training, management, diseases, breeds and breeding as well as those on proper driving etiquette, whip and harness making, bridles, bits and horse shoeing. A number of early travel histories and travel guides are also available.

Now located at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, the library maintains collections of prints, photographs and blueprints of carriages. An industrial-sized tufting machine with accessories and a factory Singer Sewing Machine, used for dash sewing, are some of the artifacts on view. Also owned is a large collection of books and carriages given to the Carriage Museum by Ken Sowles, former president and a founder of the Carriage Museum of America. A collection of carriage making tools, donated in memory of Walter Leach, a former trustee, can also be found among the historic pieces. The Carriage Museum of America is a research library open by appointment weekdays. There are no vehicles on display.

Hours and Fee Information
The library is open by appointment. It is the Library's policy to provide the first fifteen minutes of research without cost.

FEE SCHEDULE
Individual $25/hr
Commercial $45/hr
Rush Fee $65/hr
Includes up to 10 photocopies. All requests subject to additional photocopy fees. When submitting a research request, please be sure to include all known "clues". Also, include a mailing address and telephone number where you can be reached.

Directors
Cy Gerde, President
Stewart Morris, Jr., Chairman
Stewart Morris Sr., Chairman Emeritus
John Greenall, Vice President
Horace Davis, Treasurer
Mary Stokes Waller, Secretary
Kenneth Wheeling
Harvey Waller
Gloria Austin
Jerry Rider
John Sowles

Advisors
Jack Day
William S. Morris III
Holly Pulsifer
Roma Renfro
Harry Tucci
Merle Ware
Mike Zaetta

Honorary Directors
Dinwiddie Lampton, Jr.
Owen Best
Dr. William Cook
Robert Fletcher

Contact Information
To contact the museum by letter, please write:

Carriage Museum of America
At the Kentucky Horse Park
4089 Iron Works Parkway
Lexington, KY 40511
USA

To contact the museum by email:

cmalibrary@windstream.net

To contact the museum by phone or fax:

Phone: (859) 259-2933
Fax: 859-231-0973