John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library
Research with Us
Hours
Monday - Friday
9:00a.m. - 5:00p.m.
Location
313 First Street
Williamsburg, VA 23185
Contact Us
The Research Center of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
The Research Center of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Inspiring Educational Experiences
The John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library is the research hub of Colonial Williamsburg. Together, the collections and community of the library advance knowledge of early America set within the context of the larger Atlantic world, the 20th-century origins and ongoing story of Colonial Williamsburg, and the American decorative arts and folk art movements.
Here to Help
The library houses five main collections: The Reference and Circulating Collections, Corporate Archives, Media Collections, Special Collections, and the Visual Resources Collection. Whether you are a historian, a student, a museum professional, an independent scholar, an artist, an interpreter, or simply interested in learning more about history, we welcome you to use our growing collection of resources.
Research at Colonial Williamsburg
The stories we bring to life are grounded in research and reflect our commitment to an honest and all-encompassing portrayal of our nation’s history. Historian Kelly Brennan, Ph.D. details the importance of research and the care of our expansive materials to ensure the accuracy that drives all that we do here.
Stay in Touch
The John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library Newsletter features recent acquisitions and highlight exhibitions, publications, websites, and educational programming related to the Library's collections.
Library Collections By the Numbers
Explore Our Resources
These items support research regarding the political and economic life of the thirteen colonies and the new republic, African American studies, the decorative arts and material culture, archaeology, architectural history, and historical preservation.
Library Collections
The Rockefeller Library houses a specialized collection of books, journals, manuscripts, images, and databases
Library Exhibits
The digital exhibits showcase selected items to allow those who cannot visit in person the opportunity to enjoy a virtual visit.
Catalog & Online Resources
Our digital resources include a wide variety of materials from manuscript transcriptions to digitized manuscripts and photographs to online databases and digital journal subscriptions.
Ask a Librarian
Use this tool to submit your questions to our librarians and review answers to previously submitted questions.
Your annual membership of $1,000 or more is tax deductible and will be used solely to acquire, digitize, and conserve library collections.
