The DAR Library is a specialized collection of American genealogical and historical manuscripts and publications, as well as on-site databases. The DAR Library collection contains over 225,000 books, 10,000 research files, thousands of manuscript items, and special collections of African American, Native American, and women’s history, genealogy and culture. Nearly 40,000 family histories and genealogies comprise a major portion of the book collection.

The Historical Society of Washington, D.C. helps make this local history readily available to the public to promote a sense of identity, place, and pride in Washington and to preserve this heritage for future generations.

Dig DC is your portal to selected digital collections from DC Public Library Special Collections. Find photos, maps, oral histories and more documenting the history of Washington D.C.

Washingtoniana is a special collection that houses an array of resources and materials from the late 18th Century to the present, with a primary focus on local D.C. history. It is a reference collection, meaning the materials are not available for check out.

The GW Libraries are a part of the larger GW Libraries and Academic Innovation, which combines the university's key areas in support of teaching, learning, and research into one, integrated organization led by Dean Geneva Henry.

Capitalizing on Washington, DC’s diverse communities and its role as the nation’s capital, the Washingtoniana Collection of the GW Special Collections Research Center (SCRC) documents the city’s political, economic, social, and cultural history. This history of the District of Columbia covers the beginning plans for a federal city (1791) to the present day work to achieve DC Statehood. n addition to primary source documents such as letters, diaries, video and audio recordings, journals, maps, ledgers, newsletters, meeting minutes, the collection houses more than 20,000 books related to various topics for DC history.

The Archives serves as the institutional memory of Georgetown University. As such, it acquires, preserves and makes available records of enduring value that document University activities, functions, decisions, policies and programs. The Archives aims to support research, aid teaching and promote understanding of Georgetown’s rich heritage. Use by all members of the University community is encouraged.

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the nation's record keeper. Of all documents and materials created in the course of business conducted by the United States Federal government, only 1%-3% are so important for legal or historical reasons that they are kept by us forever.

The Smithsonian Libraries serve Smithsonian researchers, curators, and staff as well as scholars and the general public with collections in 21 locations in Washington, DC, Maryland, New York, and Panama. The Libraries have collections and staff in most of the museums and research centers at the Smithsonian.

The Smithsonian's digital collections include over 35,000 digitized books and manuscripts (available in either our Digital Library or as part of the Biodiversity Heritage Library) as well as digitized photo collections, ephemera, and seed catalogs.