District of Columbia Archives and Libraries

United States District of Columbia  Archives and Libraries

These repositories preserve sources, maintain indexes, and provide services to help genealogists document their ancestors who lived in the District of Columbia.

Wiki Articles on Major District of Columbia Repositories
National Archives I · National Archives II · National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) (St. Louis, MO)· Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Library· Library of Congress· National Genealogical Society (Arlington, VA)· Family History Library (Salt Lake City, UT)· Library of Virginia (Richmond, VA)· Maryland State Archives (Annapolis, MD)· New York Public Library NY

Online Records
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 * [[Image:National Archives and Records Administration.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Researchers' entrance at National Archives I in Washington, D.C.]]

National Archives I
Pennsylvania Avenue at 8th Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20408 Telephone: 202-501-5415 Fax: 301-713-6740 E-mail: Contact Us form Internet: National Archives
 * Archives I has nationwide censuses, pre-WWI military service and pensions, passenger lists, naturalizations, passports, federal bounty land, homesteads, bankruptcy, ethnic sources, prisons, and federal employees. The National Archives Building in Washington, DC (Archives I), houses textual and microfilm records relating to genealogy, American Indians, pre-World War II military and naval-maritime matters, the New Deal, the District of Columbia, the Federal courts, and Congress.
 * Microfilm copies of many of the records at the National Archives are available at the Family History Library, other major archives and libraries, and at regional branches of the National Archives. You may purchase microfilms from the National Archives or request photocopies of the records by using forms obtained from the Archives.


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 * Eales, Anne Bruner and Robert M. Kvasnicka, ed. Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives of the United States. Third Edition. Washington, DC: Nathional Archives and Records Administration, 2000. (Worldcat) Explains records collections used most by genealogical researchers: Census, Passenger Arrivals and Border Crossings, Naturalizations, Military, Land, Native Americans, African Americans, and more.
 * A National Archives (NARA) descriptive pamphlet (DP) provides helpful information about a microfilm set such as an explanation about the records on the film set, their origin, and a roll-by-roll descriptive list. Reviewing a DP prior to using a film set can increase a researcher's ability to use it successfully in a time-efficient manner. The Special Collections of the St. Louis County Libraryhas placed on their web site full-text or PDF versions of DPs for some of the NARA microfilm sets.
 * Digitized NARA Microfilm Publications
 * "US National Archives To Upload All Holdings To Wikimedia Commons"
 * The National Archives has a list of digitized records and links to access them through online databases. It includes pay sites such as Ancestry and Fold3.com that have partnered with the National Archives to digitize many of the archives' records. Read more about the digitization program at the National Archives.

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 * [[Image:US National Archives II.jpg|thumb|right|280px|National Archives II at College Park, Maryland]]

National Archives II
8601 Adelphi Road College Park, MD 20740-6001 Telephone: 866-272-6272 Fax: 301-837-0483 E-mail: I have a question form Internet: National Archives at College Park, Maryland
 * Archives II houses documents created after 1900 at the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Justice, Labor, State, Transportation, and Treasury, modern military records, passport applications, and District of Columbia records.


 * }[[File:Washington National Records Center Stack Area with Employee Servicing Records.jpg|thumb|right|246px|WNRC stack area in Suitland, Maryland]]

Washington National Records Center (WNRC)
4205 Suitland Road Suitland, MD 20746-8001 NARA telephone: 866-272-6272 NARA E-mail: Contact Us form Internet: Services for the Public
 * Older than 15-years federal criminal court, federal civil court, and federal bankruptcy court records, and the federal agency records from the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Regional Branches of the National Archives
Regional branches of the National Archives collect records of federal government offices and courts within the area they serve. Most have complete sets of federal census records, military records, and ship passenger lists. Each region also has specialized records, for example, the Chicago branch has records about the auto industry, Abraham Lincoln, and Al Capone. National Archives regional branches are located in or near:


 * style="width: 114pt;" | • Atlanta, GA
 * style="width: 128pt;" | • Denver, CO
 * style="width: 136pt;" | • New York City, NY
 * style="width: 118pt;" | • San Francisco, CA
 * • Boston, MA
 * • Fort Worth, TX
 * • Philadelphia, PA
 * • Seattle, WA
 * • Chicago, IL
 * • Kansas City, MO
 * • Riverside, CA
 * } [[Image:StLouisNationalArchives.jpg|thumb|right|280px|National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri]]
 * • Riverside, CA
 * } [[Image:StLouisNationalArchives.jpg|thumb|right|280px|National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri]]

National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)
1 Archives Drive St. Louis, MO 63138 Telephone: 314-801-0800 Fax:  314-801-9195 E-mail: [mailto:MPR.center@nara.gov MPR.center@nara.gov] Internet: National Personnel Records Center
 * The National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis is part of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). It is the central repository for both the military and civil services personnel-related records. It maintains military personnel records for servicemen and servicewomen discharged from 1912 to 1952* (*i.e. 62 years after discharge). Use Standard Form SF-180 to order files. Military records prior to WWI are at National Archives II in College Park, Maryland.

Bureau of Land Management Eastern States Office
20 M Street SE, Suite 950 Washington, D.C. 20003 Telephone: 202-912-7700 Fax: 202-912-7710 E-mail: [mailto:director@blm.gov director@blm.gov] Internet: BLM Eastern States
 * Original land records for all transfers of U.S. federal land to individuals in those states touching, or east of the Mississippi River. This includes land sales (cash or credit), homesteads, bounty land for military service, mineral and timberland rights transfers. See the Wiki article Land Patent Search for an explanation and link to the index. The BLM also has plat maps, tract books, and the original patents. With a patent description a researcher can access the land entry papers at the National Archives I.

City of Fairfax Regional Library
Virginia Room (on 2nd floor) 10360 North Street Fairfax, VA 22030-2514 Telephone: 703-293-6227 and press 6 TTY: 711 E-mail: Comments and Suggestions form Internet: Virginia Room
 * Regional history and genealogy, Confederate Civil War military history, maps, photos, manuscripts, local newspapers, and city directories.

Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Library
76 “D” Street N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006-5392 Telephone: 202-879-3229 Fax: 202-879-3227 Internet address: Daughters of the American Revolution.
 * The DAR Library houses one of the largest genealogical collections in the United States. Its book collection includes more than 150,000 volumes concerning people and places throughout the nation. The collection focuses primarily on the generation of the American Revolution, but also includes substantial resources for studying people from the colonial period and the nineteenth century. "Through the efforts of local DAR members and chapters nationwide approximately 15,000 volumes of Genealogical Records Committee Reports have entered the Library and constitute a unique source for family histories, cemetery record transcriptions, and Bible records."

District of Columbia Archives
1300 Naylor Court, NW Street Address 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 419  Mailing Address Washington, DC 20004 Telephone: 202-671-1105 Fax: 202-727-6076 E-mail: [mailto:archives@dc.gov archives@dc.gov] Internet: District of Columbia Archives
 * Research must be scheduled ahead of time. Birth certificates 1874-1916 (after 1916 not yet open), death certificates 1874-1932, marriage certificates 1870-1965 (after 1965 not yet open), wills and probate records 1801-1999, probate administration cases 1879-1958, apprenticeship indentures 1812-1893, guardianships and administrative bonds1862-1939, Recorder of Deeds land records 1797-1930, and DC jail committals 1850-1934.



District of Columbia Marriage Bureau
Moulrie Courthouse, Room JM-690 500 Indiana Ave. N.W. Washington, D.C. Telephone: 202-879-4840 Internet: Marriage Bureau
 * Marriage records 1990-present. Obtain copies in person, or by mail. You must provide the full names, maiden names, and the date of the marriage for both parties.

District of Columbia Public Library
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library 901 "G" Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20001-4599 Telephone: 202-727-0321 E-mail: Contact Us form Internet: Genealogy Resources
 * City directories, marriages and deaths in MD DC and VA, obituaries, DC area newspapers, church and cemetery record indexes, censuses, naturalizations, emancipations, free Negros, runaways, fugitive slave cases, guardianship index, indentures and apprenticeship, and biographies. The library's Special Collections include Washingtoniana, The Peabody Room (Georgetown historical resources), and the Black Studies Center.

District of Columbia Vital Records
825 North Capitol St. N.E. 1st Floor Washington, D.C. 20002 Telephone: 202-671-5000 E-mail: [mailto:doh@dc.gov doh@dc.gov] Internet: Department of Health - Vital Records
 * Birth and death records 1874-present. Persons entitled to purchase a vital record include: the registrant, an immediate nuclear family member, a legal guardian, or a legal representative. Birth and death records become public after 100 years have elapsed from the date of birth and 50 years have elapsed from the date of death.

Gallaudet University Library
800 Florida Ave. N.E. Washington, DC 20002 Telephone: 202-250-2604 TTY 202-651-5209 Fax: 202-651-5213 E-mail: Library help request form Internet: Gallaudet University Library Deaf Collections and Archives
 * Library collections include 19 indexes of birth, marriage, and death records from Deaf publications, Gallaudet alumni cards, Gallaudet faculty/staff cards, Pennsylvania School for the Deaf applications, manuscripts, photographs, biographies, and other genealogical resources. E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse, DC.jpg

Historical Society of the District of Columbia Circuit
E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse, Room 4714 333 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20001-2866 Telephone: 202-216-7346 E-mail: [mailto:dcchs.org dcchs.org] Internet: Historical Society of the District of Columbia Circuit
 * Covers the U.S. District Court (a federal trial court) and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Washington DC only, but historically has had an outsized influence as a frequent forum for litigation involving federal agencies. Collection includes oral histories, biographies, and papers.

Historical Society of Washington, D.C.
Kiplinger Research Library Carnegie Library 2nd floor 801 K St NW Washington, DC 20001 Telephone: 202-249-3955 E-mail: [mailto:info@dchistory.org info@dchistory.org] Internet: Historical Society of Washington, D.C.
 * Think of this as the state archives for the District of Columbia because of the 200 years of local history documents for genealogists. This includes families and notable individuals, organizations, businesses, neighborhoods, religious institutions, local houses of worship, funeral homes, diaries and personal papers, and early 18th century land records. Researchers are welcomed in the Kiplinger Research Library by prior appointment only Tuesday through Friday. Access to the library and collections is free of charge.

Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave. SE Thomas Jefferson Building, LJ G4 Washington, D.C. 20540-4660 Telephone: Reading Room: 202-707-5537 Fax:  202-707-1957 E-mail:  Ask a Librarian Internet: http://www.loc.gov/rr/genealogy/
 * Use this library for its outstanding genealogical guides and indexes. They are part of the world's largest library including 50,000 genealogies, 100,000 local histories, and collections of manuscripts, microfilms, maps, newspapers, photographs, and published material, strong in North American, British Isles, and German sources. The "Local History and Genealogy Reading Room" has moved to the main reading room, but services are unchanged.
 * The Library of Congress site has a wonderful American Memory page that links to more 60 collections, searchable by keyword or time period in a variety of media.

National Genealogical Society
3108 Columbia Pike, Suite 300 Arlington, Virginia 22204-4370 USA Telephone: 703-525-0050 or  800-473-0060 Fax 703-525-0052 E-mail: [mailto:ngs@ngsgenealogy.org ngs@ngsgenealogy.org] Internet: National Genealogical Society
 * Provides genealogical education opportunities, publications and videos, conferences, and research references. Their collection is now housed at the St. Louis County Library in Missouri.

Prince George's County Genealogical Society
12219 Tulip Grove Drive Bowie, MD Telephone: 301-262-2063 E-mail: [mailto:pgcgs@juno.com pgcgs@juno.com] Internet: Library information
 * 5,500 volumes, surname files, family group sheets, Bible records and microfilms. Focused primarily on Prince George's County, Maryland, and the eastern states.

Recorder of Deeds
District of Columbia Recorder of Deeds 1101 4th Street, SW, 5th Floor Washington, DC 20024 Telephone: 202-727-5374 Fax: 202-442-6890 Internet: OTC Recorder of Deeds
 * Resources for locating property owners including buyers of the first DC land auction sales.  See also: District of Columbia Archives.

Register of Wills
Attention: Probate Systems Office Probate Division 515 5th Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 DC Courts telephone: 202-879-1010 Internet: Request Record Searches and Copies
 * Closed cases more than ten years old are sent to storage either at the Suitland Records Center or at the D.C. Archives. To retrieve a will that is in storage, complete section 1 of the Case Information - Archive Case Request Form. Mail in the completed form. The register's office will contact you when the document has been retrieved and is available for viewing for about two weeks.   See also: District of Columbia Archives.

Family History Library
35 North West Temple Street Salt Lake City, UT 84150 Telephone: 801-240-2331 Fax: 801-240-1584 E-Mail: [mailto:fhl@ldschurch.org fhl@ldschurch.org] Internet: FamilySearch Family Tree pedigrees, Memories photos, Search historical records, Genealogies, FamilySearch Catalog, and FamilySearch Wiki
 * 450 computers, 3,400 databases, 3.1 million microforms, 4,500 periodicals, 310,000 books of worldwide family and local histories, civil, church, immigration, ethnic, military, and Mormon records. Includes a good District of Columbia collection. Many microfilms are also at branch FamilySearch Centers in local LDS churches, and described in their online FamilySearch Catalog.
 * The following guide book will help in using the library. It gives suggestions on preparing to visit the library, genealogy research tips, and helps in using the library.
 * Parker, J. Carlyle. Going to Salt Lake City to Do Family History Research. 3rd ed. Turlock, California: Marietta Publishing, 1996. ;

Family History Centers

 * Family History Centers (FHCs) are branches of the Family History Library and are located all over the world. Their goal is to provide resources to assist you in the research and study of your genealogy. You may search your address for a center near you on the FamilySearch site. These local centers are staffed by volunteers and have varying hours and resources so call to verify their hours in advance.
 * Washington DC Family History Center 10000 Stoneybrook Drive Kensington, Maryland Telephone: 301-587-0042
 * This FHC has digitized and microfilm records, books, genealogical websites, special interest groups, and family history classes. They answer questions and provide limited research guidance.

Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219-8000 Telephone: 804-692-3500 Fax: 804-692-3556 E-mail: Contact Us Select department to open dialog box Website: Library of Virginia
 * Includes information about the Virginia residents who once were part of the District of Columbia. Their large genealogical collection has family Bibles, birth, marriages, deaths, divorces, histories, biographies, and newspapers. Many of their manuscripts are now online. The General Library contains printed materials, while the Research and Information Services Division consists of government records and other historical documents. Many collections are available online, such as Confederate pensions, veterans and widows, an index to wills and administrations, Revolutionary War bounty land, and Virginia Land Office patents and grants.

Maryland State Archives
Hall of Records Building 350 Rowe Boulevard Annapolis, MD 21401 Telephone: 410-260-6400 Fax: 410-974-2525 E-mail: [mailto:ref@mdsa.net ref@mdsa.net] Internet: Maryland State Archives
 * This is the premier facility for locating Maryland and District of Columbia ancestors. The Maryland State Archives online has nearly all available public records from 1634 to 1789; most original state and county records through the mid-twentieth century; microfilm copies of land, probate, and vital records to the present; and over 130 major card indexes to Maryland land records and early settlers, newspapers, county records, church records, family, and business records. This is the most complete collection of any of the 13 colonies. It can take up the three days just to check the indexes. For more information about the state archives, see the following references.
 * Maryland. Hall of Records. A Guide to the Index Holdings at the Hall of Records. Rev., Bulletin, [Maryland. Hall of Records] No. 17. (Annapolis, Maryland: Hall of Records, 1972.) This is a county-by-county list of indexes and years covered.
 * Papenfuse, Edward C., et al. A Guide to Government Records at the Maryland State Archives: A Comprehensive List by Agency and Record Series. (Annapolis, Maryland: Maryland State Archives, 1992.) This guide lists record types, years covered, and series number.
 * Papenfuse, Edward C., et. al. A Guide to the Maryland Hall of Records: Local, Judicial and Administrative Records on Microfilm. Volume 1. (Annapolis, Maryland: Hall of Records Commission, 1978.) Volume one is a detailed list of many records on microfilm for Allegany County, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, and Baltimore City, Maryland. These include court, probate, and land records. The archives has additional computer printout lists for all counties. You can write to them for information about records of specific localities and time periods.
 * Radoff, Morris Leon, et al. The County Courthouses and Records of Maryland, Part Two: The Records. (Annapolis, Maryland: Hall of Records Commission, 1963.) This is a county-by-county list of record types, years covered, and series number.



New York Public Library
U.S. History, Local History Genealogy Division Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, Room 315S New York, NY 10018-2788 Telephone: 212-930-0829 E-mail: Ask a librarian Internet: http://www.nypl.org/
 * This is one of the largest research libraries in the world including excellent genealogical resources for the District of Columbia. The library has city and telephone directories, vital records indexes, local histories, genealogies, federal and state censuses, passenger lists, genealogical collections (including DAR transcripts), and church records. For maps, write to the Map Division at the same address.

Repository Guides

 * Benton, Mildred, ed. Library and Reference Facilities in the Area of the District of Columbia. 12th edition. American Society for Information Science, 1986.
 * Eales, Anne Bruner and Robert M. Kvasnicka. Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives of the United States. Washington, District of Columbia: National Archives and Records Administration, 2000.
 * Neagles, James C. and Mark C. Neagles. The Library of Congress: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research. Salt Lake City, Utah: Ancestry Pub., 1990.
 * Provine, Dorothy S. Preliminary Inventory of the Records of the Government of the District of Columbia. Record Group 351. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Service, 1976.
 * Schaefer, Christina K. The Center: a Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Capitol Area. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1996.