"In the 19 years I’ve been teaching DC history to high school students, my scholars have used Washington History to investigate their neighborhoods, compete in National History Day, write and produce plays based on real-life historical characters. They’ve grappled with concepts such as compensated emancipation, the 1919 riots, school integration, and the evolution of the built environment of Washington, DC. I could not teach courses on Washington, DC history without Washington History."
—Bill Stevens, a DC public charter school teacher
In the Fall 2022 issue of Washington History, left, the Southwest neighborhood is explored through an oral history with Clarice Smith.
Washington History is the only scholarly publication devoted exclusively to the history of our nation’s capital. First published in 1989, the magazine replaced the Records of the Columbia Historical Society (1897-1989). Washington History is filled with scholarly articles edited for the general reader. It is written and edited by distinguished historians and journalists, offering a rich array of images as well as reviews and short features.
The full run of Washington History is cataloged in the Library catalog. Full-text access to Washington History is accessible through JSTOR, the online service that preserves the scholarly record and that is accessible via a free registration. (Members: see our guide to accessing Washington History). The current and past issues are available for purchase in the DC History Center Store and at area book stores. The magazine is mailed to members as a benefit of Membership Plus level membership in the DC History Center.
The full run of Washington History is cataloged by issue and article title in the Kiplinger Research Library catalog. The catalog records do not currently include more robust search or subject terms. This means that a general search of the catalog for an author's name or a word included in an article title or subtitle will show relevant Washington History articles in search results. The catalog record will then provide a link to access the full-text of the article via JSTOR (see JSTOR Database).
Full-text access to Washington History is accessible through JSTOR, the online service that preserves the scholarly record and that is accessible via a free registration. JSTOR is also available with a DC Public Library card as well as via many local schools, colleges and universities.
It is also a benefit of membership with the DC History Center. Members: see our guide to accessing Washington History online.