As the first library of its kind in Houston and one of the few African American libraries in the country, the Gregory School serves as a resource to preserve, promote, and celebrate the rich history and culture of African Americans in Houston, the surrounding region, and the African Diaspora.
This historic building is housed in the Edgar M. Gregory School built in 1926, which served as the first public school for African Americans in Houston.
- At this time, we remain closed to the public at large but are offering remote assistance and limited in person reference appointments. Appointments are for the express purpose of utilizing specific materials in our collection that must be selected ahead of time through conversation with reference staff. Please contact the Gregory School for information via hpl.gregoryschool@houstontx.gov.
- The streets in our area are one-way. Be mindful when using your GPS.
- The parking lot and entrance are at 1300 Cleveland Street.
- USB flash drive is required for digital copies of microfilmed materials.
- We are unable to provide change, so bring small bills or coins for photocopiers.
Originally established in 1968 in the former home of Houston businessman and statesman William Lockhart Clayton, the Clayton Library has grown to become one of the nation’s top genealogical research collections.
As a Houston Public Library special collection, Clayton Library houses genealogy research materials covering all U.S. states and sources for international family history research. Staffed by experts who work individually with researchers, they invite you to share your research questions with us.
- The library is now open at limited capacity to walk-in customers who are researching family history only. The hours of operation are: Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-4 pm. We also continue to offer remote assistance by telephone and email. Please contact Clayton Library for more information at 832-393-2600.
- Clayton Library at 5300 Caroline Street has free parking for library visitors.
- The Main Building is on the left, and the historic buildings (Clayton House, Carriage House, and Guest House) are on the right.
- Coin-activated lockers are available for storage of items.
- Food and drinks are not permitted in the library.
- Public computers are available for genealogical research.
The Houston Metropolitan Research Center (HMRC) is a research library and archives that houses materials such as photographs, documents, maps, building plans, journals, oral histories, and books for the study of Houston’s history.
We also have a collection of children’s literature from the 1800s to the 1970s, many valuable and rare books, and books on the history of printing.
Given how unique many of our materials are, they may not be checked out. The HMRC is located in the historic Julia Ideson Building in downtown Houston.
Consider contacting us with your research inquiry before you visit. Some of our materials, especially architectural drawings, photographs, and rare books require an appointment. Call 832-393-1662 or email at txr.reference@houstontx.gov.
- The Texas Room is open to researchers using our materials, the rest of the building remains closed.
- The parking garage under the Central Library is closed. This document shows some parking options available in the area.
- Enter the building on the McKinney Street side.
- Customers must adhere to all COVID-19 safety guidelines put in place by the City of Houston: Masks, Temperature screening, and Social distance protocols.
- The overhead scanner is not available for use.
- If you would like to register in advance of your visit, please complete this form.
- Please check in with your ID at the reference desk when you arrive.
Our photographic collections contain over four million images which highlight day-to-day activity in Houston and Texas, primarily from the 1860s to the 1980s. 
Our architectural collections reflect a range of the region's architectural history. The principal focus of the collections is architectural drawings but also includes correspondence, office records, job logs, specifications, photographs, shop drawings, and oral history interviews. 
Our Hispanic collections represent contributions and experiences of Houston's Hispanic community throughout the 20th century. 
Part of our collecting scope is to capture stories and interviews of Houstonians by way of oral history. 
We have over 500 recordings spanning several decades of Houston's history. Materials encompass a variety of formats from cassette to CD and film reel to DVD. 
