Find Research Reports

Exciting News! On March 17th, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Research Reports will move to the Rockefeller Library's new Digital Collections platform. In addition to the content available here, the Digital Collections site will include newly digitized reports, expanding access to the Foundation's extensive research.

A wide array of research reports from throughout the Foundation's history are available through this webpage. All Colonial Williamsburg research reports, whether in digital or hardcopy format, are discoverable through the Library's online catalog. Many of the digitized reports are keyword searchable by using the "Word or phrase" search below. Their contents reflect the evolution of scholarship over the decades. Given the long period over which these reports have been written, reports sometimes contradict or correct previous thinking due to the discovery of new evidence. Researchers should consult the full range of reports on a particular topic to ensure a thorough understanding of the most current interpretation.

Find research reports:

Types of Reports

• Archaeological reports describe archaeological excavations. Reports predating 1960 share only the results of cross-trenching, rather than comprehensive excavation results.
• Architectural reports discuss restored and reconstructed buildings.
• Historical reports (house histories) incorporate primary and secondary sources into the discussion of individual properties and structures.
• Interpretive reports clarify the way in which key buildings should be presented to visitors by Colonial Williamsburg's historical interpreters.
• Topical reports outline specific areas of interest in 18th-century research.