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Researching Magazines at The New York Public Library: Magazine Collection

This guide covers current and historical magazines at the 42nd Street Library, as well as resources for locating and conducting research on magazine titles and their histories.

Welcome to the Magazine Collection!

The Research Catalog is your gateway to requesting titles at NYPL and our Shared Collection partners Columbia, Princeton, and Harvard University. On-site items are delivered in 40 minutes, and off-site items are ready within two business days. Below is a list of subjects showcasing a variety of magazines in the Library's collection and instructions on how to request and view magazines.

Note: This guide only covers a selection of magazines available at the 42nd Street Library, one of the research libraries within The New York Public Library system. This guide does not provide an exhaustive list of all the magazines available in the collection. The collection boasts a vast array of magazines, numbering in the thousands and counting.

How can I view a list of magazines in this guide?

Subject Side Tab

Look for the Subject side tab displayed on the left. Click on one of these tabs to explore the collection based on the magazine's subject.

How do I request a magazine?

Check Format and Location

Each magazine entry lists a link to the Research Catalog and indicates the available format.

Print: Select Request for On-site Use in the Research Catalog or in person with a call slip in the Rose Main Reading Room.

Microfilm: Select Request for On-site Use in the Research Catalog or with a call slip in the Rose Main Reading Room, where microfilm readers are located.

  • Microfilm readers are a first come, first served.
  • Scans on the microfilm readers can be sent to an email or saved on a USB drive.

Digital Resource: Readers can view it online either from home or on-site at any NYPL Branch.

Each Magazine Entry

  • Many entries contain gaps not included here but are listed in the Research Catalog.
  • Date ranges are for Library holdings, not magazine publishing dates.

Glossary

Print: Magazines are traditional publications in physical, paper format.

Microfilm: Magazines on microfilm are archived using reduced-size reproductions on film to aid in long-term preservation, space efficiency, and durability. They require a microfilm reader in the Rose Main Reading Room for viewing.

Incomplete: An "incomplete" periodical does not contain all the expected content. This could refer to missing issues or volumes.

Lacking: If a periodical is described as "lacking," it means it is incomplete or deficient. This could refer to missing issues or volumes.

Missing: If a periodical is "missing," a particular issue or volume is unavailable or cannot be located.