Anacostia Community Museum Archives

Dorn C. McGrath, Jr. Slides and Other Material, circa 1969-2000

Summary

Collection ID:
ACMA.06-059
Creators:
McGrath, Dorn C., Jr.
Dates:
1965-2006
bulk 1975-1998
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
5.67 Linear feet
(1 box, 6 binders)
Repository:
The collection, which dates from circa 1965 to 2006 and measures 5.67 linear feet, documents the built and natural environment of the Anacostia neighborhood, as well as the activities of the Anacostia Coordinating Council, which sponsored the Historic Anacostia Revitalization Project, a survey of all buildings in the Anacostia Historic District. The collection consists of slides, photographs, negatives, correspondence, newsletters, reports, printed material and ephemera.

Scope and Contents note

Scope and Contents note
The collection documents the built and natural environment of the Anacostia neighborhood, as well as the activities of the Anacostia Coordinating Council, between1965-2006. The collection is organized into two series: Slides and Project Files.
Slides: This series contains 1889, 35mm, mounted transparencies. The oldest images depict 1940 and 1950s Anacostia scenes, reproduced in slide format during the 1990s. The earliest slide is of Cafritz Hospital, it was created in 1965, with the latest slides having been created of various Anacostia scenes in 2006. This series documents both built and natural environments in the Anacostia Neighborhood through images of buildings, streets, landmarks, neighborhoods, people and special events.
Project files: This series contains correspondence, memoranda, statements, maps, newsletters, administrative documents, printed ephemera, photographs and negatives. Materials housed in this series place a particular emphasis on Anacostia planning. This includes research materials collated for a survey of buildings along Good Hope Road. This survey was undertaken by Prof. McGrath and his second year George Washington Students, and sponsored by the Anacostia Coordinating Council, whose activities also feature in the series. The material dates from 1984 until 1994 and has been housed into 29 folders, categorized as donated.

Arrangement note

Arrangement note
The materials have been arranged into two series, Slides and Project Files.
The slides were originally received in five metallic boxes labeled "A-E", one box labeled "Untitled", and nine small plastic boxes. The slides have been re-housed from these boxes into archival binders. The slides in each binder are arranged in their original order and preserve the following catagories as they appeared at the time of donation: "Streets", "Subjects", and "Miscellaneous".
The Project Files were originally received in one binder, this binder has been rehoused into 29 folders, categorized as donated.

Biographical/Historical note

Biographical/Historical note
Dorn C. McGrath, Jr., FAICP, is Professor Emeritus of Urban and Regional Planning and Geography. He retired from the George Washington University in 2003 after serving on its faculty for 33 years. He was founder of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Director of the Institute for Urban Development Research, Chairman of the Department of Geography and Regional Science, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, and was one of the founders of the University's Graduate Program in Historic Preservation. Prof. McGrath also served as member of the adjunct faculty at the Johns Hopkins University, School for Advanced International Studies. From 1987-1996, he served as Chairman of the Committee of 100 on the Federal City.
Professpr McGrath became involved with Anacostia as a direct consequence of his long standing friendship with Mr. John Kinard. McGrath met Mr. Kinard at George Washington University. Mr. Kinard, who was involved in an ongoing effort to revitalize the Anacostia Community as Chairman of the Anacostia Coordinating Council and first director of the Anacostia Community Museum, encouraged McGrath to apply his planning expertise to the cause. Seeing this opportunity as a valuable way to assist both the community and a means to practically apply information he taught to students at George Washington University, McGrath worked with his students to undertake a survey of the area.

Administration

Author
Salem Tsegaye
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
The Dorn C. McGrath, Jr. slides and other material were donated to the Anacostia Community Museum in 2007 by Dorn C. McGrath, Jr.
Custodial History note
The Dorn C. McGrath, Jr. slides and other material were donated to the Anacostia Community Museum in 2007 by Dorn C. McGrath, Jr.
Processing Information note
Correspondence and printed materials were processed in June 2012 by volunteer Salem Tsegaye, with the assistance of archivist Jennifer Morris. The Slides series were processed in August 2013 by intern Kiri Griffin with the assistance of archivist Jennifer Morris.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Use note
The Dorn C. McGrath, Jr. slides and other material are the physical property of the Anacostia Community Museum. Literary and copyright belong to the author/creator or their legal heirs and assigns. Rights to work produced during the normal course of Museum business resides with the Anacostia Community Museum. For further information, and to obtain permission to publish or reproduce, contact the Museum Archives.
Conditions Governing Access note
The collection is open for unrestricted research. Use requires an appointment.
Preferred Citation note
Dorn C. McGrath, Jr. slides and other material, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution, gift of Dorn C. McGrath, Jr.

Related Archival Materials note
Publications and articles authored by Prof McGrath are listed in Prof McGrath's Curriculum Vitae. A copy of this was supplied to the Anacostia Community Museum via email by Prof McGrath on the 27 August 2013. An audio interview was also conducted with Prof McGrath on the 13 August 2013. The audio and transcript pertaining to this interview are housed by the Anacostia Community Museum and are currently accessible on a shared drive.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Slides (35mm transparencies) Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
George Washington University Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Anacostia Coordinating Council Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Urban Development Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Historic Anacostia Revitalization Project Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
City planning Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Anacostia (Washington, D.C.) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Negatives Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Correspondence Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Newsletters Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
clippings (information artifacts) Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Awards Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Maps Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Reports Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Administrative records Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Printed ephemera Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
McGrath, Dorn C., Jr. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Anacostia Community Museum Archives
1901 Fort Place, SE
Washington, D.C. 20020
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-4853
ACMArchives@si.edu