Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, Buffalo

The Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum in Buffalo is part of a nationwide network of museums housing one of the world’s largest private collections of historic manuscripts and documents. Founded in 1983 by David and Marsha Karpeles, the collection is designed to inspire learning-especially among children-and make rare historical documents accessible to the public, all free of charge.

Buffalo was home to two Karpeles locations: North Hall and Porter Hall. Porter Hall, located on Porter Avenue, was formerly the Plymouth Methodist Church. It later consolidated with North Hall following David Karpeles' passing in 2022.

The main site, North Hall, stands on North Street at Elmwood Avenue. Originally constructed in 1911 as the First Church of Christ, Scientist, the building’s design evokes a medieval European church. Its rough stone exterior, red-tiled roof and large 25-foot windows make for a striking presence, while the interior features a soaring layout with multiple wings, bays, and a vast central divider. Its unusual asymmetry complements the triangular shape of the lot, giving the museum a distinctive architectural identity. The building even made a cinematic appearance in Guillermo del Toro’s Nightmare Alley.

Exhibits at the Karpeles rotate quarterly and range from general historical themes to focused special collections. Materials span topics as diverse as science, literature, music, religion, and political history. By distributing its holdings among museums in historic buildings across the U.S., and even in mini-installations in schools and office buildings, the Karpeles Manuscript Library brings the past to life in deeply local, community-rooted ways.