Research Guides

Subject-oriented research guides
These research guides include citations for cataloged titles as well as articles and other published materials that are not included in the online catalog. Guides also provide information on materials found in other local depositories.

• Local Neighborhood History Resources Guide
  Includes sources on over 50 DC neighborhoods and is organized by neighborhood name.
• Family History/Genealogy Research Guide
  Organized by resource type and includes information on sources available from other local repositories.
• Building History Research Guide
  Organized primarily by resource type and includes information on sources available from other local repositories.
• African American History Research Guide
  Includes sources related to Washington’s African-American community organized by subject area and by resource type.
• Business History Resources
  Includes general information as well as articles and publications on specific businesses or types of business.
• Religious Institution History Resources
  Organized alphabetically by denomination with individual churches listed under their corresponding denomination.

Collections holdings guides
These guides describe various types of collections within the Society's holdings.

• Archives and Manuscript Collections Guide
  Organized primarily by subject with some collections listed by type. Photograph collections are not included.
• Biographical Vertical Files Guide
  Clipping files on persons of note; please note, this is a very large file and may take time to download.
• Subject Vertical Files. Clipping files on a variety of topics, including D.C. architecture, associations, biography, businesses, buildings, neighborhoods, schools, transportation and local government. Please ask a reference librarian for more information.

Quick reference guides
These guides describe resources relating to specific topics of research, often tied with the Society's scheduled programming.

• Baseball resources
  Ephemera, photographs, articles and other resources relating to the sport in Washington.
• Espionage resources
  Ephemera, photographs, articles and other resources relating to spying in Washington.
• March for Jobs and Freedom, August 1963 resources
  Ephemera, photographs, articles and other resources relating to the August 28, 1963 March on Washington.
• Visionaries in Black Education resources
  Ephemera, photographs, articles and other resources relating to Julius Rosenwald, Dr. E.B. Henderson, the 12th St Y, and basketball.