The Franklin Furnace Artists’ Books Collection is now housed on the campus of Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. This research resource is made available to the faculty and students of Pratt as well as artists, curators, and the general public for study, enjoyment, and exhibition.

Franklin Furnace actively seeks Artists’ Books to be donated to its collection.

We request that you send one copy of your work, the completed biographic information form and bibliographic information form, and a resume. Also, if you can include other documentation of your work, scholars and other users of the collection will have the opportunity to use it for research purposes. Be advised that all information and materials you send will become the property of Franklin Furnace Archive, Inc. and may be used in exhibitions and publications.

Check out our 2022 exhibition through its online portal: Artists’ Books from Franklin Furnace Archive, 1976-2022

*Due to a large backlog, as of August 22, 2023, donations of artists’ books for MoMA are not currently being accepted. Please stay posted for revised guidelines.

It is important that all types of artists are represented by Franklin Furnace Archive.

Franklin Furnace has a liberal collections policy – if an artist says their publication is an artists’ book, we usually take them at their word and accession it into our collection. Franklin Furnace does not collect  one-of-a-kind books; book sculptures; print portfolios; art catalogs; monographs; or still image excerpts from video works. 

Finally, bigger is not necessarily better. Franklin Furnace is a small nonprofit organization with storage limitations. We are set up for ordinary size artists’ books and book-like works, not oversize objects. If size is vital to the content, we may be able to accommodate an oversize artists’ book but please inquire ahead of time before you send it. Thank you very much for considering making a donation of artists’ books to Franklin Furnace Archive, Inc.

Franklin Furnace began as an artists’ bookstore. When Printed Matter opened up a few blocks away, through a mutual agreement, Printed Matter became an artists’ bookstore and Franklin Furnace became an artists’ book archives and exhibition center.

Years later, the Franklin Furnace collection of artists’ books became the largest in this country. In 1993 the collection was acquired by the Museum of Modern Art Library’s collection, forming the world’s premier repository, and entitled the Museum of Modern Art / Franklin Furnace / Artists’ Books Collection. To this day, Franklin Furnace maintains its own collection on the campus of Pratt Institute in Brooklyn.