About the Library and Archives

	The Georgia Historical Society's library and archives is a preeminent research center for American and Georgia history.   The library and archives house the oldest and one of the most outstanding collections of manuscripts, books, maps, photographs, architectural drawings, portraits, and artifacts related to Georgia and its role in American history.
The Georgia Historical Society's reading room

Each year thousands of researchers from around the world travel to the Georgia Historical Society to discover our state's and nation's past. Please see our list of  examples of published works using the Georgia Historical Society's collection.

Within the library and archives is preserved an unparalleled collection of Georgia history, including more than 4 million manuscripts, 100,000 photographs, 30,000 architectural drawings, 15,000 rare and non-rare books, and thousands of maps, portraits, and artifacts.  The Georgia Historical Society's vast collection includes such treasures as an original draft of the U.S. Constitution, one of only a handful in existence; a compass and snuff box belonging to Georgia founder James Oglethorpe; records related to the Cherokee Removal and Trail of Tears of 1836; and the correspondence of national figures such as U.S. presidents Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson, Confederate General Robert E. Lee, and Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low.

The manuscript collection includes family papers, military records of every Georgia war, the papers of Georgia's major political leaders, colonial account books, diaries, plantation records, papers of social and cultural organizations, and business records ranging from the 18th through the 20th century.
The periodical collection dates from the 18th and 19th centuries, and the visual material collection is made up of an impressive collection of photographs and other images including portraits of many of Georgia's most prominent leaders.	A cased image from the Georgia Historical Society Photograph collection
The Georgia Historical Society also serves as the branch repository for the Secretary of State's Office.

General Information

• Visiting the Library and Archives: hours of operation and contact information
• Rules and Regulations for the Library and Archives: procedures and policies
• Library and Archives Collection Development Policy: what we collect and why
• Donating Collections to the Georgia Historical Society: how to add your historical materials to the story of Georgia's past

Collections

• Online Catalog: search our special collections and archives holdings
  
• ImageCatalog (beta) : search digital images of our photograph and print collections
• Finding Aids to Archival Collections: browse an alphabetical listing of finding aids 
• Collections of the Georgia Historical Society : read online, keyword search, or download digitized copies of all 21 volumes
• Savannah Jewish Archives: discover a unique collection housed at GHS documenting the history of the Jewish community in Savannah
• Educational Exhibits: explore Georgia history through online educational exhibits 
• Savannah Historic Preservation Oral History Project: listen to oral histories about the preservation movement in Savannah

Services

• Research Services: assistance for both on- and off-site researchers 
• Image and Document Reproduction Services: information on ordering and using reproductions of GHS materials
• Discounts are also provided exclusively to Georgia Historical Society (GHS) book and merchandise resellers and to current GHS members. Click here to see the full Discount Policy.

Support for the Georgia Historical Society's Reclaiming the Past: Creating Access to Hidden Collections project comes from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. Please search our online catalog to discover newly available collections.

This website is made possible in part by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services.  Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this site do not necessarily represent those of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.