Archives

The Archives at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum are primarily devoted to preserving the papers and ephemera related to the history of Gadsby’s Tavern as a museum. Culled from the administrative and research files of the museum, the archives are filed separately from the museum’s object collection and working files. Archival research by appointment, contact Gadsby's Tavern Collections section.

Library

The Gadsby’s Tavern Museum Library consists of over 1,000 volumes including decorative arts, furnishings, clothing, social life and customs, Alexandria and Virginia history, museum studies, conservation, building preservation, and much, much more. It is a small but excellent research library for those interested in specific 18th and early 19th-century history topics.

Gadsby’s library also includes information on the preservation and history of the tavern buildings. Guiding documents for the interpretation and preservation of the tavern buildings include The Historic Furnishings Plan by Ellen Kirven Donald and Gretchen Sullivan Sorin (1978), The Master Interpretive Plan (1985), and Restoration "Gadsby’s Tavern" in Old Town at Alexandria, Virginia by J. Everett Fauber, Jr. FAIA (1976).

The museum continues to document its 20th-century history. The staff is presently collecting newspaper articles and 20th-century memorabilia that depicts Gadsby’s Tavern or mentions the name. We would welcome any clippings, old programs, invitations, or other information relating in any way to the history of Gadsby’s Tavern. Please contact the museum to discuss any donation.

Access Policies

This is a non-circulating library. Researchers are encouraged to make appointments for research during weekday museum hours. Please contact Gadsby's Tavern Collections section to make an appointment.