Local Resources: Sons of the Revolution Library

By Beverly Mateer Taylor

Sons of the Revolution Library
600 South Central Avenue
Glendale, CA 91204
Phone: (818) 240-1775

Hours: Wednesday, 12noon to 8 pm
Thursday through Saturday, 10am to 4pm
Closed on three-day weekends and during Decemeber

The Sons of the Revolution Library is a specialized repository of books, periodicals, and manuscripts relating to the American Revolution; early American, California and local history; and genealogy. It has been provided as a public service since 1893 by the Sons of the Revolution in the State of California, and is a non-profit corporation.

Use of the library is free to anyone interested in the early history of the United States. The library has over 35,000 volumes and claims to be one of the largest collections relating to the American Revolution and Colonial America in the western United States. In addition to print materials, an interesting collection of artifacts is on display. Research assistance is provided by volunteers such as Anne Coe, who introduced me to the library's resources.

Among the titles available are the following.

• Index to Indian Wars Pension Files 1892-1926
• New England Historical & Genealogical Register Index
• Daughters of the American Revolution Patriot Index Centennial edition
• Index to the Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey
• Jacobus' Index to Genealogical Periodicals
• Sons of the Revolution in the State of California Centennial Register 1893-1993
• Society of Colonial Wars Index of Ancestors, 1922 Honor Roll series
• Munsell's Index to American Genealogies
• Passenger and Immigration Lists Index
• Index to the War of 1812 Pension Files
• Index to Old Wars Pension Files 1815-1926
• Virginia Historical Index in two volumes
• DAR Lineage books, beginning with volume 1 1890
• Township Atlas of the United States 1987

In 2003, a reorganization of the library classification and cata­log was under way. The current book arrangement is prima­rily geographical, except for histories of individual fami­lies, which are alphabetized by family name. A manuscript file of family histories, trees, and related documents is alphabetized by family name, and there is a small file of information about individual states. The strength of the library is in its book collection.

Appointments are not required. All materials must be used in the library. Coin operated copy machines are available.

© Beverly Mateer Taylor. Used with permission.