Historical Society of Washington, D.C.

The Historical Society of Washington, D.C. (named The Columbia Historical Society until 1988) is an educational foundation and museum dedicated to preserving and displaying the history of Washington, D.C. The society provides lectures, exhibits, classes, community events, and other educational programs as part of its mission. In addition, the society's Kiplinger Research Library houses a collection of books, maps, photographs, and other materials relevant to the history of the city.

Located in the center of Mount Vernon Square in Washington, the society occupies a Beaux-Arts building funded by Andrew Carnegie in 1902 (one of his many Carnegie libraries), originally used as the District of Columbia Public Library. The former library building is open to the public from Monday through Sunday 10am to 5pm. Visitors are welcome to tour current exhibits and use the society's library.

The Columbia Historical Society, as it was called until 1988, was founded in 1894 by a group of 36 men and women, with the following mission: "Its objects shall be the collection, preservation, and diffusion of knowledge respecting the history and topography of the District of Columbia and national history and biography." The organization had as its goal "collecting the scattered and rapidly disappearing records of events and individuals prominent in the history of the city and District." The main role of the early Society was to serve as a forum for members to present historical research, which was then published in the Records of the Columbia Historical Society. It was also a collecting organization, amassing library and manuscript collections.

By 1899 the new organization had 108 members, all but 13 of whom were men, and all but seven of whom were residents of Northwest Washington. Although African Americans constituted one-third of the then-racially segregated city's population, the membership of the Columbia Historical Society was all white. Membership dues went largely to support the publication of the Records. These hard-bound volumes appeared every year until 1922, and thereafter every two or three years.

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