The Carriage Association of America’s research library and archives are dedicated to preserving the history of the carriage era. The CAA Library maintains a collection of approximately 2,500 books and trade catalogs, in addition to a large collection of prints, photographs, carriage blueprints, trade journals, and other resources. The CAA collection is the largest public library in the world dedicated to carriages, and exists to preserve the history of the carriage era and serve the carriage community.
Search the CAA Collection
Explore the CAA’s online database of books, catalogs, photographs, prints, and other materials by clicking below. If you want further research assistance send us a research request.
We strive to be a source of knowledge for anyone interested in learning more about carriages or the carriage trade. Located at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, the CAA library maintains a collection of approximately 2,500 books and trade catalogs, in addition to a large collection of prints, photographs, carriage blueprints, trade journals, and other resources. The library is non-circulating, but visitors are welcome.
The library collection of Thomas Ryder, a leading international expert on driving and carriages, is incorporated into the collection. Major contributions have also been made to the collection from the Paul Downing Collection, the Matthey Collection (UK), Richard Harrington, Ken Sowles, Jack Pemberton and others.
There are no carriages on display in our current location.
CAA Library Collections
Featuring 2,500 books, trade journals, carriage catalogs, auction catalogs, trade journals, blueprints, and other works on carriage history and carriage building, it is the largest public library dedicated to carriages worldwide.
Kenneth Wheeling Archives
In 2017 the CAA Board of Directors honored lifetime CAA Director Ken Wheeling by dedicating the Archives in honor of his decades of contribution to the preservation of the history of the carriage era.
The archives contain many thousands of photographs, prints, articles, clippings, blueprints, records, business ledgers, periodicals, journals, etc. all relating to the history of the carriage and driving.
Like all of our collections, they are open for research. Although many of our archive collections are searchable through our online database, not everything is digitized. Reach out to the CAA with a research request and we can help in your search for more information on a specific manufacturer, vehicle, person, etc.
Search the CAA Collection
Explore the CAA’s online database of books, catalogs, photographs, prints, and other materials by clicking below. If you want further research assistance send us a research request.
Send us a Research Request:
The CAA receives questions every day about carriages, history, manufacturers, and the carriage trade. We field questions such as “I found this vehicle in my grandmothers barn, what can you tell me about it?” or “My great-grandfather made carriages in Decatur, IL, do you have any record of his company?” Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us to have your questions answered by our panel of experts and research librarian.
Current Holdings
Find below a listing of our current library holdings sorted by section. Note that these titles are not comprehensive of our holdings. For a more specific search of the collection, browse our online database or submit a research request.
History of the Library & Archives
In the late 1970’s, the Board of Directors of the CAA wished to have their Library and Archive collection which was growing through donations by CAA members and through purposeful acquisition formalized. The directors incorporated a separate organization, called the Carriage Museum of America in 1978, to serve as the library and archive repository for the carriage community. The library programs of the CMA were incorporated into the CAA following a unanimous decision of both Boards in 2023. The assets of the former Carriage Museum of America were transferred into the new Carriage Association of America Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)3, with the research programs and librarian now managed directly by the CAA.
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