Anacostia Community Museum Archives

Anacostia Historical Society records, 1974-1992, bulk 1977-1980

Summary

Collection ID:
ACMA.M04-001
Creators:
Anacostia Historical Society
Dates:
1974-1992
bulk 1977-1980
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
1.65 Linear feet
2 boxes
Repository:
The Anacostia Historical Society records, which date from 1974 to 1992, document the history and activities of the Anacostia Historical Society. The records are comprised of correspondence, financial records, museum catalogs, newsletters, clippings and slides.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This collection documents the activities of the Anacostia Historical Society between 1974 and 1992. It contains material related to the Society's administration, events, and membership. Included in the collection are administrative and financial records, correspondence, mailing lists, membership records, and printed materials.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The records are organized into six series. The Administration, Printed Materials, and Special Events series have been further arranged into subseries. The Printed Materials series is arranged chronologically; otherwise the content of each series and subseries is arranged alphabetically. The series are arranged as follows:
Series I: Administration, 1974-1992, contains materials related to the management and organization of the Anacostia Historical Society (AHS). The documents in this series include dues statements, meeting agendas and minutes, and membership lists. The meeting agendas and minutes present a comprehensive view of the scope of the Socety's political and social efforts on ehalf of the Anacostia community.
Series II: Anacostia Neighborhood Museum, 1975-1990, contains information on the Anacostia Neighborbood Museum's administration, events, and exhibits. The materials include administrative papers, event calendars, fliers, and membership documents. There are extensive records on the planning for the Museum's 10th Anniversary celebration and on the Anacostia Story 1608/1930 exhibit, which was developed in collaboration with the Anacostia Historical Society.
Series III: Correspondence, 1975-1985, is comprised of the Society's correspondence with its members, political representatives, and the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum. Also included in this series is correspondence generated by Alice Bell Finlayson in her effort to prevent the demolition of Birney School, where she served as principal for fourteen years.
Series IV: Printed Materials, 1975-1992, contains newspaper clipping, newsletters, and museum materials, which provide information on Anacostia's history and culture The materials include the Anacostia Historical Society's newsletters.
Series V: Slides, 1970-1974, contain color slides. Some of the images are from the San Francisco region and include pictures of the Market Street area of the city.
Series VI: Special Events, 1977-1987, contains materials related to enrchment events sponsored by the Society. Included are curriculum vitae and speeches from the lecture series, and general information on excursions to historical sites.

Biographical/Historical note

Biographical/Historical note
The Anacostia Historical Society ws established in 1974 to serve as "an organization of Anacostia residents and a committee of the Board of the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum...dedicated to the collection, preservation and understanding of its community's rich history and heritage." To this end, the coalition developed programs that provided opportunities for the entire city to learn more about the area. In 1977, this collaboration produced The Anacostia Story: 1608-1930, an exhibit which presented an expansive chronicle of life in the Anacostia area. The same year, with funding from the Smithsonian Institution and a grant from the D.C. Commmunity Humanities Council, the Society established a lecture series that addressed important issues in the community. Speakers included academicians, politicians, activists and community leaders. The Society continued its work through the 1990s; however, its records show a drop in participation and program events in the early 1980s. The latest indication of organizational activity is a meeting attendance sheet dated April 8, 1922, which indicates 6 members attended.

Administration

Author
Vuyana T. Cyrus
Processing Information
The records were processed in December 2009 by Vuyana T. Cyrus. Finding aid encoded by Jennifer Morris, 2015.
Custodial History note
Donated by the Anacostia Historical Society.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access note
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist at acmarchives@si.edu.
Conditions Governing Use note
Copyright restrictions may exist. Please contact the archivist for further information.
Preferred Citation note
Anacostia Historical Society records, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution, gift of Anacostia Historical Society.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Exhibition catalogs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Correspondence Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Financial records Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Slides (photographs) Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
African American neighborhoods Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
History -- societies, etc Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Newsletters Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clippings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Anacostia (Washington, D.C.) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Anacostia Historical Society Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Anacostia Neighborhood Museum Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Douglass, Frederick, 1817?-1895 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Anacostia Community Museum Archives
1901 Fort Place, SE
Washington, D.C. 20020
ACMArchives@si.edu