Peggy Ann Brown, Ph.D., Your Washington, D.C. Researcher

Research Clients

Since 1993 I have conducted archival/library research for a variety of corporate, academic, and private clients.  Here is a sampling of clients and their projects. I have respected the wishes of some clients who have asked me to conduct research for them on a confidential basis and have not listed their projects.  For more information on my background and education, see my resume.  Read what my clients are saying about my work here.


  • Examined the Thomas C. Corcoran Papers at the Library of Congress for Miami University Professor James Tobin, for insights on this lawyer's views on disability for forthcoming book on Franklin Delano Roosevelt and disability. (2012)
  • Located and scanned classified real estate ads in 17 U.S. newspapers in the 1940s at the Library of Congress for analysis of home prices by economist Daniel S. Fetter (2012)

  • Research on the 1850s military career of John Mullan in military post records and Adjutant General correspondence at National Archives, Washington, D.C. for forthcoming biography by Idaho state historian Keith Petersen (2011-2012)
  • Examined the Jo Davidson Papers at the Library of Congress for Acadia University Professor Mike Dennis, for insights into the sculptor's 1930s-1940s political activities. (2011)
  • Researched Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge at National Archives for Kansas State University Professor M.J. Morgan (2011)
  • Located correspondence and records at National Archives on the invention and trials of the nineteenth century Sharps rifle for historian Ed Marron. (2010, 2011)
  • Provided background research at the Library of Congress for Ritsumeikan University Professor Yoshiko Ikeda's project on images of Japanese businessmen in American films.  Assisted with editing article on research. (2011, 2012)
  • Assisted Hervey A. Priddy, Ph.D. candidate at The University of Texas at Austin in American History, with research on the U.S. Synthetic Fuels Corporation.  Shepherded Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for unprocessed record group at National Archives; photocopied items of interest; and located additional materials in Library of Congress collections. (2008-2011)

  • Researched in Customs Case files at National Archives, College Park to locate information on the importation of Edna Gertrude Beasley's banned memoir for historian Alison Tartt (2011)
  • Located information on  Sweets Company of America and other local companies for Hoboken Historical Museum, Hoboken, New Jersey in the 1930s-1940s records of the National Labor Relations Board records at National Archives. (2011)
  • Research on British geographer Richard Francis Burton's 1860 visit to the United States for Neil Thomas Proto.  Included discovery of letter of introduction in War Department Papers at National Archives and research at Library of Congress (2010)
  • Assisted family of the late journalist Irving R. Levine in preparing private papers for inclusion in his existing Library of Congress Manuscript Collection (2010)
  • Database, Library of Congress, National Archives,  George Mason University Transportation Special Collections research on the history of Shirley Highway/I-395 for Schnader Attorneys at Law (2010)

  • Photographed Civil War era newspaper articles for historian Charles Poland at the Library of Congress (2010)

  • Located photographs and background information at the Library of Congress and National Archives for Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historical Site for exhibit on Percheron Horses at the site in the 1920s (2010)
  • Research on Charles Eames's multiscreen projection films in the Charles and Ray Eames Papers at the Library of Congress for Lauritz Lipp, Bergische Universität Wuppertal, Germany (2010)

  • Located articles on Civil War Zouave unit in 1861 newspapers for Jeff Patrick, National Park Service, at the Library of Congress. (2009)

  • Research for Art Schultz, family genealogist, on location and photos of St. James Hotel, Washington, D.C., 1903, at the Library of Congress. (2009)

  • Research for Gemini Research at National Archives on a Minnesota Works Progress Administration Project in preparation for their National Register of Historic Places application. (2009)

  • Research for University of Illinois Professor Inger Stole for her upcoming book on the (War) Advertising Council during World War II. Research has included records of the Office of Price Administration; Office of War Information; Federal Trade Commission; and the Temporary National Economic Committee at National Archives. (2009, 2011)

  • Research for historian Anthony Arthur in National Archives and Library of Congress Manuscript Division for his upcoming book, To Mexico and Back: The Epic Journey by Confederate General Jo Shelby and His Men  (2009)

  • Located correspondence and records dealing with Herman Matson and Hoboken [N.J.] Workers Defense League in unredacted ca. 1930s FBI files, Department of Justice documents, and WPA-related materials at National Archives for historian Holly Metz. (2009)

  • Photographed diary entries and correspondence in Library of  Congress Manuscript Division for Lincoln Memorial University Professor Earl Hess for his research on the Stones River, Kennesaw Mountain, and Knoxville Campaign, ca. 1863 (2009, 2010)

  • Research on Triumph Industries (Triumph Explosives and the "Triumph Girls"), a former fireworks factory in Elkton, Maryland, which became an ordnance plant during World War II, for University of Delaware Professor Guy Alchon. Research conducted at National Archives I and II and Library of Congress. (2008-2009)

  • Research on South Carolina Ku Klux Klan rallies in the 1960s for writer John Lawson. Included research in period newspapers, FBI Counterintelligence Program records, and NAACP manuscript collection and first-person interviews. (2008, 2009)

  • Research at National Archives on Jesse Mosely, African-American physician active in Mexican Revolution, for historian Jan Jones.  (2008)

  • Located U.S. State Department records on French North Africa from 1949 to 1961 at National Archives for Theresa Romahn, Wilfrid Laurier University. (2008)

  • Located U.S. immigration records of EakTai Ahn, composer of the Korean national anthem, at National Archives for YoungHan Hur, Korea National University of Arts (2008)

  • Researcher for Seth Kaller, Inc. at National Archives, Library of Congress, and other Washington, D.C.sites.  Projects have researched the provenance of a circa 1820s copy of the Declaration of Independence engraved by William J. Stone and focused on a Civil War era suspension of a writ of habeas corpus; the Proclamation of the Ratification of the Definitive Articles of Peace and Friendship, 1784; and an 1861 Virginia Convention broadside, among other topics.(2006-ongoing)

  • Researched Hawaiian Queen Liliuokalani’s 1910 U.S. Court of Claims Case; 1850 Hawaiian princes’ tour of the United States; 1976 takeover of  Kaho’-olawe at National Archives, Library of Congress, and Hawaii State Archives for books by Neil Thomas Proto, lawyer and Affiliated Professor, Georgetown Public Policy Institute.  (2006-2009)

  • Investigated War of 1812 privateer records and disappearance of Theodosia Burr Alston for Mercedes Bujans using sources at National Archives and Library of Congress (2006-2008)

  • Provided background from National Archives and Naval Historical Center Operational Archives Branch POW reports on American POWs who served with POW/Olympian Louis Sylvie Zamperini for Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand  (2005, 2007, 2009)

  •  Located correspondence and government documents related to forthcoming book on Jefferson County, West Virginia in the papers of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1873, National Archives for Professor Paul Anderson, Clemson University (2005-2006) 

  • Located correspondence and photos at National Archives related to the work of artist Ernest L. Blumenschein for exhibit catalog for Albuquerque Museum. (2007)

  • Located War of 1812 pension records at National Archives for urban archeologist in Burlington, Vermont.  (2007, 2009, 2010)

  • Researched and wrote trivia questions for new board game, Wits and Wagers, produced by North Star Games, Greenbelt, Md. (2005)

  • Provided research assistance to Irving R. Levine, former NBC news correspondent, in his manuscript collection at the Library of Congress and personal collections.  Conducted background research on his forty years of reporting and wrote synopses of events and broadcasts for possible autobiography. (2001-2005)