Research Collections

The Kiplinger Library's extensive collections document over 200 years of Washington history. Many items in these collections may be searched through the library's online catalog. Holdings include:

• Photographs: The library's photograph collections contain approximately 100,000 prints, negatives and slides from the 1860s to the present, documenting local street scenes, events, businesses, and people. Many photographs are included in photograph series of archives and manuscript collections (see below). The library's catalog includes descriptions of many special photograph collections and over 12,000 individual photographs in the library's general photograph collection. Other photographs are accessible through hard-copy descriptions available in the reading room or through the library's research service.

• Archives:Historical materials described in the “Archives” section of the library’s online catalog include several hundred archives and manuscript collections. These collections range from early 18th century documents to the historic records of existing organizations. They cover many subjects of interest for Washington, D.C. research, including art, architecture, and the history of local families, organizations, and businesses. The “Archives” collection also includes over 400 maps dating from the late 18th century to the present, which include city planning maps, topographical maps, real estate atlases, and subdivision maps. To find maps in the online catalog, use the word “map” in the keyword field and fill in any other applicable fields, including date/s. The “Archives” collection also includes other special materials, such as broadsides and ephemera. As with maps, use the keyword field of the online catalog to find these special collections.

• Library: The “Library” section of the online catalog includes over 7,000 titles, including books, pamphlets, and periodicals. New titles continue to be added. Subject-oriented research guides include citations for cataloged titles as well as articles and other published materials that are not included in the online catalog. These guides are currently available for the history of local neighborhoods, the African-American community, businesses, religious institutions, families, and building history. In addition, the library maintains newspaper clipping files on a variety of topics, including D.C. architecture, associations, biography, businesses, buildings, neighborhoods, schools, transportation and local government. An inventory is available from reference staff.

• Objects: This growing collection of art and artifacts, ranging from fine art to toys and tools, is used for both research and exhibition. Art holdings include portraits, the Fastov collection of 19th century paintings and Lily Spandorf’s “Washington Never More” collection of 155 mid-20th century Washington scenes. The Thomas G. Machen Print Collection forms the core of the Library's extensive 19th century print collection, including over 530 engravings, lithographs and woodcuts. Other graphic arts collections include the Newton Collection of 19th century pencil sketches and the cartoons of Richard H. Mansfield and Clifford Berryman. Washington businesses are represented by artifacts from Woodward & Lothrop, Hechinger’s, the Heurich Brewery, old hotels and others. The Woodville collection consists of nearly a thousand objects from the household of an old Washington family. Local political memorabilia includes ribbons, buttons and other campaign items. This collection is not yet available for searching through the online catalog. Please see reference staff.

The Historical Society is seeking donations of all types of materials related to D.C. If you wish to make a donation to the collections, please contact the library at 202.383.1850, via email or fill out this online form.

Please take a look at our wish list for a selection of books and dissertations that we would like to have available in our library.

We welcome volunteers and interns to assist in organizing and preserving our collections, please contact the library at 202.383.1850 or via email.