Why save the DC Archives?
The District of Columbia Archives and Office of Public Records is the largest and deepest collection of DC’s history. Currently, it is scattered around the city, with key documents located in a converted stable on Naylor Court, in Shaw. A lack of funding and will has left it degrading and nearly unusable for 40 years, but things are about to change. Help save the DC Archives!
Wait, DC has its own archives?
Yes, since DC has its own government apart from what goes on in federal buildings downtown, it collects its own records. Some were transferred from the National Archives back in the 1980s, others were collected from district agencies since the beginning of Home Rule in 1973, while a third group are private collections of interest to the government.
What is the DC Archives Foundation?
We started as an informal group of archivists and users of archives who were tired of being unable to share the amazing history the archives holds with the people of DC, and we called ourselves the DC Archives Advocates. In 2024, we incorporated into the DC Archives Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides philanthropic support, public education, and advocacy for the District of Columbia’s historical and permanently valuable records, the DC Archives.
What can I do?
We regularly update this site and social media to let you know what you can do to help. Follow us on Bluesky, read this site, or sign up for our e-newsletters to join our community. With your participation, we have made a lot of progress in convincing the DC Government its history matters.
How can I learn more?
Check out the DC Archives Foundation website for more information.
