Research Library
The Research Library is responsible for all two-dimensional items in the Museum’s collection: books, pamphlets, letters, diaries, personal papers, organizational and business records, periodicals, newspapers, scrapbooks, photographs, postcards, prints, drawings, posters, maps, atlases, microfilms, and even some DVDs.
Update as of 1/16/26:
As part of The Buffalo History Museum’s multi-year Master Plan, the Research Library has been operating at a limited capacity as we carefully implement a staffing transition to strengthen collections care and future access.
However, our limited in-person library hours on select Fridays from 1:00-3:00pm are currently full through the end of March. We expect to reopen our booking calendar for April with expanded hours and greater access.
These temporary changes to our Research Library reflect the next steps in expanding access and strengthening collections care. Our team remains available to assist you during this period, at a limited capacity, and we appreciate your patience as we continue this process to enhance the collections for future generations.
We invite you to explore our online databases and digital collections—one of the resources below may provide the information you are looking for.
- I want to see what is online
- I want to find pictures
- I want to search the library collection
- I want to search newspapers
- I want to donate an object
Unable to find what you needed? Questions can be directed to library@buffalohistory.org
Your support means a great deal to us, and we will respond to inquiries as soon as possible. Thank you for your continued interest in The Buffalo History Museum!
Library digitization supported by:
Research Library FAQs
As part of The Buffalo History Museum’s multi-year Master Plan, the Research Library has been operating at a limited capacity as we carefully implement a staffing transition to strengthen collections care and future access.
However, our limited in-person library hours on select Fridays from 1:00-3:00pm are currently full through the end of March. We expect to reopen our booking calendar for April with expanded hours and greater access.
These temporary changes to our Research Library reflect the next steps in expanding access and strengthening collections care. Our team remains available to assist you during this period, at a limited capacity, and we appreciate your patience as we continue this process to enhance the collections for future generations.
The Research Library’s staff can help point individuals in the direction of resources available to conduct research or a helpful list of Researchers for Hire, but they cannot undertake individual research assignments.
Nearly all architectural records, plans, and drawings within the Research Library are for public buildings such as offices, schools, churches, and hospitals. Only a few large mansions are included.
Yes! Cotton gloves are required whenever handling photographs, plenty of which are available on site. Everything else, with a few exceptions, may be handled normally as long as hands are clean and items are handled gently.
Resource Center
The Resource Center serves as the collections storage facility for the Museum’s three-dimensional artifacts. Collecting since 1862, the Museum cares for a vast collection—only about 10% of which is on exhibit at one time. We continue to collect artifacts that document the social, economic, and political growth and development of Buffalo and Erie County.
To make an appointment please call 716.873.9644, ext. 403.
Resource Center FAQs
By appointment: Call 716.873.9644, ext. 403 for more details.
Guests can view artifacts not on exhibit that are in storage during our Behind the Scenes Tours, offered periodically throughout the year. Visit our events section for information on our next tour.
To request a special viewing of any artifacts not on exhibit, please contact Rebecca Justinger, Registrar and Grant Coordinator, at 716.873.9644, ext. 403.
The Resource Center was originally used as a trolley barn. The streetcars were stored in the building and you can observe the original tracks that are still visible in the floor.
The woman’s head was a replica of the entrance into Dreamland from the Pan-American Exposition, but was meant as a temporary fixture and is now removed.
