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Center for Local History

Collect, Preserve, Share

CLH 2
The Center for Local History: Where Stories Live

The Center for Local History (CLH) collects, preserves, and shares historical documents that illustrate Arlington County’s history, diversity and communities.

Librarians and archivists develop collections of unique research material and make them available for use by residents, students, teachers, genealogists, scholars, authors, journalists and anyone interested in learning more about Arlington County.

Services

  • Research Consultations
  • Reference Services
  • Scans and Prints
  • Exhibitions
  • Programs and Events
  • Partnerships and Outreach

Research Consultations and the use of the Research Room are available by advance appointment.

Book An Appointment

Collections

Include a wide range of valuable print and digital materials from different perspectives, and all are available for public use by appointment:

  • Photographs
  • Local Newspapers
  • Online Databases
  • Maps
  • Subject Files
  • Property Atlases
  • Old County Directories
  • Genealogical Materials
  • Rare Books
  • Oral Histories
  • Archival Records

The Center for Local History operates a public Research Room at Central Library (open by appointment), and maintains the Arlington Community Archives, an off-site archival repository.

Location

Central Library, First Floor
1015 North Quincy Street
Arlington VA 22201

Contact

CLH Manager: Judith Knudsen
Email Staff
Phone: 703-228-5965

Hours

By Appointment

Archives boxes

Community Archives

Photo of female librarians standing in front of old Cherrydale library building

Digital Collections

GROUP PORTRAIT IN THE OLD MACEDONIA BAPTIST CHURCH

Online Exhibits

District of Columbia 1862 map

Virginiana Collection

CLH Seats

Ask the Center for Local History

CLH Materials

Donate Materials

Collecting Initiatives

Mask making supplies laid out on a table include fabric, scissors and pins. Overlay text reads, "The COVID-19 Archives Project: We Want Your Story"

COVID-19 Archives Project

READ Archives Project link to page.

REAL Archives Project: Re-Encuentro de Arlington Latinos

Center for Local History News

Firefighters stand in front of the burned and broken Pentagon.

Remembering September 11 with Photos of First Responders

September 9, 2021
Read More
Screenshot of a historic issue of the Arlington newspaper "The Sun."

Search Thousands of Historic Arlington Papers Online for Free

June 21, 2021
Read More
Photo of colored cloth face masks with a typographic logo of "2020 UnBoxed."

Center for Local History to Curate 2020 Time Capsule

February 23, 2021
Read More
191022-preservation-week-10-year-anniversary-logo

Preservation Week: Preserving Your Family’s Documents

April 29, 2020
Read More
People in line at Whole Foods in Clarendon

COVID-19 Archives Project: Call for Donations

April 28, 2020
Read More
Inspection of Barn at Dairy Farm, 1938

How to Research Local History from Home

April 27, 2020
Read More

Center for Local History Blog

Oral Histories, Local Stories, and People who have Helped to Shape Arlington

black and white photograph of 4 black students entering Stratford Junior High in 1959

Ronald (Ron) Deskins: A Quiet Pioneer for Civil Rights

June 23, 2022
Read More
deskins

Milton Rowe: Dedication to Country, Community and Family

June 2, 2022
Read More
Link to oral history blog post.

Oral History: Gertrude “Trudy” Ensign

May 12, 2022
Read More
MicrosoftTeams-image

The Henry Louis Holmes Library, 1940-1949

February 17, 2022
Read More
Screen Shot 2022-02-07 at 4.12.24 PM

Oral History: Rayfield Barber

February 10, 2022
Read More
MicrosoftTeams-image (3)

The Activists who Desegregated Arlington’s Movie Theaters

February 2, 2022
Read More
link to read Mary Cook Hackman story.

Oral History: Mary Cook Hackman

December 15, 2021
Read More
Screen Shot 2021-11-30 at 12.09.10 AM

Shirlington’s Cinematic Past

December 2, 2021
Read More

Read More →

CLH Entrance

Events at the Center for Local History

Local History Events on the Library Calendar

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Our Mission

We champion the power of stories, information and ideas.

We create space for culture and connection.

We embrace inclusion and diverse points of view.

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