The Kenan Research Center preserves extensive primary source holdings for the study of Atlanta, the surrounding region, and the nation during the Civil War. The military history library holdings also include publications on the American Revolution, World War I, and World War II.

 Comprehensive in Georgia family and county histories, the Sons of the American Revolution library at the Kenan Research Center contains 4,000 volumes regarding genealogy and family history of the American Southeast. The library also contains substantial holdings pertaining to North and South Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama genealogy.

With more than 3,300 contemporary and rare book volumes as well as manuscripts, photography, and graphic collections, the Kenan Research Center offers extensive research opportunities in the areas of architecture, decorative arts and design.  The collection also features two rare book libraries assembled individually by Philip Trammell Shutze and Harvey M. Smith Jr.

 Founded in 1975 by the Cherokee Garden Club under the leadership of Anne C. Carr, the Cherokee Garden Library servesas an educational resource center for those interested in gardening, landscape design, garden history, horticulture, floral design, botanical art, and ecology.