Ιστορία της Ωνασείου Βιβλιοθήκης

History of the Onassis Library

The initial core of the Onassis Library comprised approximately 1,300 titles dating from the 16th to 20th centuries, originally part of Aristotle Onassis’ personal collection.

These books were initially housed in his office in Monte Carlo and on his yacht, “Christina.” Following his death, they were moved to Athens, along with his furniture and other personal belongings.

In 2010, the Onassis Library’s course took a new turn when the Onassis Foundation’s Board of Directors, under the presidency of Anthony S. Papadimitriou, acquired the Hellenic Library, a collection of books belonging to Konstantinos Sp. Staikos, an architect and scholar of book history.

In 2012, several collections were added, including the Travel Accounts Book Collection, the Historical & Literary Archive, and the Cavafy Archive. Later, Aristotle Onassis’ Business Archive was retrieved, classified, and integrated into the library.

History of the Onassis Library 1

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© Margarita Yoko Nikitaki

Today, the Onassis Library collections total over 10,000 volumes, enhanced with vast archival material, and constantly expand. Its mission remains to preserve, conserve, and provide open access to knowledge and cultural heritage.