Located at 600 South Central Avenue, Glendale, the Sons of the Revolution Library is supported by the generous donations of patriotic Americans who value our nation’s heritage. The Library specializes in genealogical and early American history resources with emphasis on the Colonial and Revolutionary War period. It also has a fine collection of 18th and 19th century vital records, family histories, American military history and English genealogy.
The Sons of the Revolution Library, in Glendale, California, has been provided as a public service to the public since 1893, its purpose being to act as a repository for books and reference materials relating to the American Revolution; early American, California and local history; and genealogy. For over 110 years it has been operated and maintained as a service to the community by the Sons of the Revolution in the State of California, a IRC 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Use of the Library is free to anyone in keeping with the purpose of the Society "to encourage interest in the early history of the United States . . . to perpetuate the memory of the brave men who fought in the Revolutionary War, and to collect and preserve the manuscripts, records and documents relating to our past."
By the turn of the twentieth century, the Library's collection consisted of 5,000 volumes, an impressive size for the time. Growth of the collection, through direct acquisition and gifts, has been steady over the past 100 years, and has included by gift several major private collections. Today, the Library comprises over 25,000 titles and is well known as one of the largest collections relating to the American Revolution and Colonial America in the western United States. An ongoing fund, supplemented by gifts from the community, facilitates an aggressive books and acquisition program to maintain, broaden and update the collection. The Sons of the Revolution owns the building and collections outright.
During 2002 the Library began the process of creating a computerized catalog of its holdings. When completed in late 2003 the catalog will be searchable on-line at this web site. Watch for details, and the Library Catalog link in this web site's menu.
In addition to a fine collection of books, periodicals and manuscripts, many of which are rare out-of-print first editions, the
Library is blessed with a magnificent collection of artifacts, many of which are on
display.
A portrait of Gen. John Charles Fremont, hero of the Mexican War of 1847 and early
California settler, done from life in 1855 by T. Buchanan Read. Painted
from life, this portrait hung in the Fremont residence until the 1880s. It is complete with an
authentic bullet hole received during the famous New York Draft Riots.
JOHN C. FREMONT
PAINTED FROM LIFE
Ventura Fwy (134) east to Central Avenue (Glendale),
south two
blocks past Americana at Brand and the Glendale Galleria.
600 South Central
Avenue
Glendale, California 91204
818-240-1775
Contributions and donations of books are encouraged. The Library receives no financial support from the city, state or Federal government, and depends on donor generosity to provide the means of continuing, improving and expanding service to the community.