The Adyar Library and Research Centre was founded in 1886 by theosophist Henry Steel Olcott.
During his travels in Asia, Olcott acquired more and often rare books for the library.
The Adyar library is also used by post-graduate students in Sanskrit and Indology of the University of Madras.
In 1990, a bequest by the Australian philanthropist Elliston Campbell (1891 – 1990) further funded the Adyar Library and founded the Campbell Theosophical Research Library, in Sydney, Australia.
[1] The University of Chicago is trying to preserve the old works in the Adyar library with modern techniques.