Religion Collections in Libraries and Archives: A Guide to Resources in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia Table of Contents - Preface/Acknowledgements - Abbreviations Lists of Entries: District of Columbia - Maryland - Virginia

Smithsonian Institution Libraries:
National Museum of American History Branch Library

Access Policies

Reference Policy:

Telephone, mail and email reference questions are accepted from scholarly researchers, colleagues at other research institutions and the general public with serious queries.

Borrowing Privileges:

Borrowing privileges are limited to members of the Smithsonian community holding valid Smithsonian Institution ID and Smithsonian Institution Libraries borrowing card. The public may borrow through interlibrary loan using their own public library or university library.

Networks/Consortia:

CIRLA, FEDLINK. Holdings are listed in OCLC.

Background Note:

The Branch Library opened in 1965.

Description of Collections

Books and monographs:

The collection holds approximately 350 volumes with publishing dates from the 1850s to the present. The focus of this collection is American religion, with an emphasis on churches, Southwestern missions (history and architectural history), some materials on American Jews and some materials on African American churches.

The computer catalog covers all holdings.

Microforms:

Approximately seven titles which focus on American history. Many include materials of relevance to the history of religion. Collections of interest are the Black Abolitionist Papers, Papers of the Pennsylvania Abolitionist Society, the Oral History Collection of Columbia University and Pamphlets in American History.

Subject Headings