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:
Anacostia Museum Branch Library

Access Policies

Reference Policy:

Telephone, mail, and e-mail reference questions are accepted from scholarly researchers, colleagues at other research institutions, and from the general public if they have serious queries.

Borrowing Privileges:

Limited to members of the Smithsonian community holding valid Smithsonian Institution identification and Smithsonian Institution Libraries borrowing card. The general public may borrow through Interlibrary loan channels using their local public library or their university library.

Networks/Consortia:

CIRLA, FEDLINK. Holdings are listed in OCLC. OCLC or RLIN searches may be done for researchers when time and staff resources permit.

Background Note:

The Anacostia Museum was founded in 1967. The Library existed initially as a small, informal resource center. The Smithsonian Institution Libraries Anacostia Museum Branch Library was organized in 1991.

Description of Collections

Books and monographs:

The collection holds approximately 80 volumes which date from 1933 to present. Highlights include African American religion with an emphasis on African American churches, some materials on African American sacred music and some on the African American Islamic community.

The computer catalog covers all holdings.

Periodicals and newspapers:

One subscription, seven journal titles from 1834 to the present. These journals cover African American churches, the anti-slavery movement, and the civil rights movement. Please see the microform entry for newspapers.

The computer catalog covers all holdings.

Microforms:

40-50 titles of African American newspapers from the 19th century. Some have short runs. Much of what is written in these will touch in some way on abolition and social and religious issues. Nine titles, primarily dissertations on African American religious topics, especially relating to the eastern seaboard to the United States.

The computer catalog covers all holdings.

Films and Video Recordings:

Three sets of videotapes with dates from 1989 to present. Highlights include Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasting Tape Library, a collection of u-matic videotapes (part of the Museum's collection) of individual interviews with church figures, journalists, civil rights movement figures and others. There are also church services that were made for an African American history project during 1989-1994.

Vertical files:

15 vertical file folders with dates from ca. 1960 to present. The focus of this collection is African American religion.

An index is in process.

Subject Headings