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.
The Research Library is currently accessible by appointment only (linked below).
In-person research appointments are available on Fridays at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Beginning June 10th, we will also offer a 1:00 p.m. research appointment, on the second, third, and fourth Wednesdays of the month.
On the first Wednesday of each month (beginning June 3rd) the Library will offer open hours from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. for general inquiries and brief assistance (no appointment required).
For those conducting more in-depth research, dedicated appointments will be available every other Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. and on Fridays as referenced above and on the calendar below.
Library appointments are currently available to book through August. To support staff scheduling and ensure the best possible experience, appointments are released on a rolling basis and may not appear far in advance.
To schedule your visit, please use the booking link provided. We encourage you to review the research visit policies outlined on the booking page in advance of your appointment.
As part of The Buffalo History Museum’s multi-year Master Plan, we are excited to be welcoming new staff while the Research Library continues to operate by appointment as we prepare and organize the collection for greater public access in the future. This work reflects our commitment to both preserving and sharing our collections, and we appreciate your patience as our team continues to assist researchers along the way.
Research Library appointments are $15 per visit and complimentary for Museum members.
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
The Research Library is currently accessible by appointment only (linked below).
In-person research appointments are available on Fridays at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Beginning June 10th, we will also offer a 1:00 p.m. research appointment, on the second, third, and fourth Wednesdays of the month.
On the first Wednesday of each month (beginning June 3rd) the Library will offer open hours from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. for general inquiries and brief assistance (no appointment required).
For those conducting more in-depth research, dedicated appointments will be available every other Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. and on Fridays as referenced above and on the calendar below.
Library appointments are currently available to book through August. To support staff scheduling and ensure the best possible experience, appointments are released on a rolling basis and may not appear far in advance.
To schedule your visit, please use the booking link provided. We encourage you to review the research visit policies outlined on the booking page in advance of your appointment.
As part of The Buffalo History Museum’s multi-year Master Plan, we are excited to be welcoming new staff while the Research Library continues to operate by appointment as we prepare and organize the collection for greater public access in the future. This work reflects our commitment to both preserving and sharing our collections, and we appreciate your patience as our team continues to assist researchers along the way.
Research Library appointments are $15 per visit and complimentary for Museum members.
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.
