From 1889 until 1926 the Society acquired 225 books, which were kept by the Secretary General or Registrar General.  On March 1, 1926 the Society established a Washington, DC Registrar's General office at 609 Hill Building on 17th and I Street, N.W.  This office contained the "permanent records of the Society membership and genealogical records and reference library."   The 1927 Congress in Richmond, Virginia approved plans to purchase the Sixteenth Street Headquarters Building.  With that came the creation of the first Library Committee and by 1933 the collection was up to 914 books.   The collection continued to grow over the next few decades.

In 1978 the SAR purchased the current Headquarters building in Louisville, Kentucky.   Over the next year the second floor of the building was redesigned to accommodate a fully functional Library.  It officially opened its doors to the public on January 17, 1979 and included a professional staff.  In 1988 a 544 square foot book vault was added to the floor space of the Library and the collection had grown to approximately 25,000 items.  During this time the microfiche and microfilm holdings also grew.

To date the collection has grown to 58,000 items and includes family histories, state genealogy materials, federal census, Revolutionary War pension applications and CD collections.  The primary focal point of the collections are the Revolutionary War period but the collection does include other materials of a genealogical nature.  The online catalog allows you to see what is available.

Note:  The SAR Library does not sell any of the books listed in its catalog, nor does it loan them out.  The Library is reference facility only.  Researchers are welcome to visit.  Persons who cannot visit the facility may wish to contact some local Contract Researchers.   The Library Staff can not respond to Genealogical queries.

Approaching Louisville via I-65 South toward DOWNTOWN / LOUISVILLE / NASHVILLE, take the ST CATHERINE WEST exit- EXIT 135.  Take the ST CATHERINE WEST exit - EXIT 135.  At the bottom of the ramp merge into the center lane of ST CATHERINE.  Drive down ST CATHERINE through four intersections (with lights).  Continue on ST CATHERINE to 5th Street, which does not have a light.  Turn Right or North on 5th Street.  The NSSAR Headquarters parking lot is located on the right hand side of the street just before the next light (5th and Kentucky Street).

Approaching Louisville via I-65 North toward DOWNTOWN / LOUISVILLE / INDIANAPOLIS, take the ST CATHERINE WEST exit- EXIT 135.  Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto E ST CATHERINE ST.  At the bottom of the ramp merge into the center lane of ST CATHERINE.  Drive down ST CATHERINE through six intersections (with lights).  Continue on ST CATHERINE to 5th Street, which does not have a light.  Turn Right or North on 5th Street.  The NSSAR Headquarters parking lot is located on the right hand side of the street just before the next light (5th and Kentucky Street).

Approaching Louisville via I-71 South or I-64 West, merge onto I-65 South via EXIT 5A-B on the LEFT toward NASHVILLE.  Take the ST CATHERINE WEST exit - EXIT 135.  At the bottom of the ramp merge into the center lane of ST CATHERINE.  Drive down ST CATHERINE through four intersections (with lights).  Continue on ST CATHERINE to 5th Street, which does not have a light.  Turn Right or North on 5th Street.  The NSSAR Headquarters parking lot is located on the right hand side of the street just before the next light (5th and Kentucky Street).

Cross into Kentucky on I-64 East, merge onto I-65 South via EXIT 5A-B on the LEFT toward NASHVILLE.  Take the ST CATHERINE WEST exit - EXIT 135.   At the bottom of the ramp merge into the center lane of ST CATHERINE.   Drive down ST CATHERINE through four intersections (with lights).   Continue on ST CATHERINE to 5th Street, which does not have a light.   Turn Right or North on 5th Street.  The NSSAR Headquarters parking lot is located on the right hand side of the street just before the next light (5th and Kentucky Street).

The DAR Genealogical Library has a magnificent collection of family histories, Bible records, cemetery records, etc., based on decades of devoted work by members across the nation.  Their catalog may be viewed on-line now.

The U.S. Army Center of Military History has several bibliographies on the War of American Independence.