From maps to tickets to letters to photographs – if it's two dimensional, you'll find it in our Archives. We have some of the materials you'd find in a library, and much more; while libraries concentrate on books and periodicals, archives store original documents such as journals, diaries, scrapbooks and business records. The History Center Archives has thousands of items related to the history of Richmond. The Collection is divided into four sections: Books and Manuscripts, Ephemera, Prints and Photographs.

• Researching Buildings
  Whether you're researching a business, a church or a home, the History Center is a good resource. The Archives holds the papers of Mary Wingfield Scott which includes information on buildings built before 1860. Richmond City directories provide helpful information on businesses, churches, houses, residents, African Americans, occupations and early telephone numbers. Architectural drawings can shed light on the construction of a building. Photographs show Richmond building and landscapes and how they have changed over time.
• Researching Genealogy
  The Archives has personal papers, newspaper clippings and photographs that relate to Richmond families. City Directories are useful resources for tracing a person's residence and occupation. Business records and personal papers may link individuals with organizations and businesses. Diaries and personal recollections can also provide information on Richmond families.
• The Civil War
  The Archives has much material on the subject of America’s Civil War. Prints and photographs show soldiers, key leaders, battlefields and buildings that played a major role in this conflict.   The collection includes maps, papers, newspaper accounts and one young woman’s diary. Books about the Civil War and Richmond’s involvement are also helpful resources.

Book and Manuscript Collection
The book collection includes art, reference works, rare books, atlases and city directories. The Manuscript Collection includes personal papers, ledgers, business records, architectural drawings and diaries. There are approximately 150 maps of Richmond and Henrico County as well as newspaper articles and periodicals and serials published in Richmond.

Ephemera Collection
The Ephemera Collection includes a wide variety of printed materials that show the material culture of Richmond.  These documents include programs, postcards, holiday cards, invitations, theater playbills, broadsides, menus and scrapbooks.

Photograph Collection
Index of the General Photo Collection

The Archives holds one million photographs that document people, places, businesses, churches and neighborhoods. Chances are you've seen one of our photos in a publication or documentary; our collection is known worldwide and our photographs have appeared in many publications.

The photographs are arranged by subject. Individual collections include:  the photographs of George and Huestis Cook, and those in the Robert Lancaster Jr., Mary Wingfield Scott, and Colonial Dementi Studios. These cover a wide variety of subjects including Richmond city streets, neighborhoods and architecture, as well as family groups, individuals, businesses and activities.  The History Center also has over 400 daguerrotypes, ambrotypes and tintypes.

Print Collection
The print collection consists of engravings, lithographs, and examples of other printing methods and includes well-known pieces such as “The Fall of Richmond” by Currier and Ives, Edward Beyer’s “Album of Virginia” and William H. Bennett’s “Richmond from Hollywood.”

Accessing the Collection
Accessing the Archives is by appointment only.  For hours, fees and available services, see Research.