“All Politics Is Local” Documenting Local DC Politics in Records in the DC Public Library’s Washingtoniana Division Derek Gray 38 th Annual Conference on DC Historical Studies Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library November 5, 2011

 Established in 1905 as a local center for collecting, preserving, and researching the history of Washington, DC.  DC Community Archives established within the Washingtoniana Division in  Over 2,000 linear feet and 150 processed and unprocessed archival collections. Overview of Washingtoniana Division and DC Community Archives

 Established in 1905 as a local center for collecting, preserving, and researching the history of Washington, DC.  DC Community Archives established within the Washingtoniana Division in  Over 2,000 linear feet and 150 processed and unprocessed archival collections. Overview of Washingtoniana Division and DC Community Archives

 Consists of miscellaneous items pulled from the Vertical Files Collection  Dates from the 1700s  Includes City Council, Mayor, gov’t agency, and some U.S. presidential records “Artificial” Collection (#60)

 Consists of material from DC Mayor and City Council election campaigns.  Campaign literature, flyers, buttons, signs, banners, etc. Political Memorabilia Collection

 Established by influential DC residents in  Members testified in Congress, wrote letters, and lobbied support for Home Rule. Home Rule Committee Collection (#55)

 Immigration attorney, founder of the DC chapter of the ACLU  Driving force behind securing Home Rule for Washington, DC  Represented clients against Virginia’s anti-miscegenation laws and fought against its poll tax system. David Carliner Papers

 Practicing attorney who was involved in voting rights for DC residents from the 1930s – 1960s  Member of local organizations including the DC Suffrage Association and Home Rule Committee Harry S. Wender Papers ( #9)

 Editorial cartoonist for the Washington Evening Star  Covers many local Washington, DC issues as opposed to national news  Date range is Clifford Berryman Cartoon Collection (P8)

 Member of DC Board of Education, 1972 – 1977  Known as “the grandmother of the world”  Served on the DC City Council; chaired Committee on Education and Libraries Hilda Mason Papers (#29)

 Formed in 1921 after the ratification of the 19 th Amendment in 1920  Famous members included U.S. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt  Focused on better race relations/civil rights in 1940s; suffrage and Home Rule in 1950s and 1960s League of Women Voters of DC Records (#33)

DC Statehood Commission Records (#48)

 Political career grew out of grassroots activism in the 1950s  Chair, DC chapter of CORE (Congress of Racial Equality)  Founder, DC Statehood Party Julius Hobson Papers (#1)

Other Local Politics Resources in Washingtoniana BooksVertical Files ThesesNewspapers Gov’t PublicationsAbstracts

 Research in the DC Community Archives is by appointment ONLY.  Monday and Tuesday: 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm Wednesday through Friday: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm  Available on Saturdays (advanced notice required)  Researchers must complete an Archives Registration Form and comply with ALL rules and regulations regarding usage of archival materials. Show Me The Collections!

Derek Gray Archivist Washingtoniana Division DC Public Library 901 G Street, NW Washington, DC Phone: (202) Fax: (202) Contact Information

THANK YOU!