The Libraries of Colonial Williamsburg: John D Rockefeller JR Library : The official site of Colonial Williamsburg

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John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
313 First Street, Williamsburg, VA

The opening of the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library in April 1997 represented the culmination of a forty-year-old dream at Colonial Williamsburg: to collect at a single location all of the foundation's various information resources on the history and culture of colonial British America, the American Revolution, and the early United States. Through its specialized collections of books, journals, manuscripts, visual resources, and online services, together with its fellowships and conference programs, the Library supports and encourages research in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century colonial British America, the revolutionary era and early republic, colonial Chesapeake, African American studies, the decorative arts and material culture through 1830, archaeology, architectural history, and historical preservation. The Library serves scholars, advanced students, the Foundation's staff, and the public.

The John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library is part of the Bruton Heights School Education Center, a 30.6-acre complex of research departments and collection storage facilities that serves as a physical testament to Colonial Williamsburg's continuing commitment to education and research.

Quick Database Links include links to subscription databases that are available to Colonial Williamsburg users only. If you have questions about these links, you will find more details in the Research Resources page.

Multimedia and related links

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Smallpox and the Covenant

America's smallpox eradication has its roots in 18th-century Boston. July 13, 2009

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In Their Own Words

Old sources give fresh voice to slavery's story. Manager of African American programs Tricia Brooks explains how we know what we know. May 18, 2009

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Swordmaking in the 18th Century

Colonial tradesmen learned the swordmaking craft as Virginia armed itself for war. Journeyman brass founder Suzie Dye describes the process. March 2, 2009

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African American Programs at 30

African American programming adapts through the decades. Harvey Bakari outlines the goals of interpreting Williamsburg's enslaved population. February 2, 2009

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The Native Tongue

Native tribes and colonizers began a dialogue without a word in common. Buck Woodard describes the early exchanges. January 19, 2009

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The Chiefdom of Powhatan

Stratified social organization, strategic alliance, and lineage leadership were hallmarks of Powhatan's rule over southeastern tribes. Buck Woodard describes the society that existed before first contact. January 12, 2009

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