Collecting DC History

Archives preserve stories and collect objects so that history can be accessible to everyone. Your boxes, attics, and diaries contain memories about the District. 

On Sunday, April 21st from 12-3pm in the Heurich House Museum’s garden, meet with experts from DC’s cultural institutions and become part of preserving our city’s history. 

AOI and the Heurich House Museum are partnering with 11 of DC’s history archives to provide advice about how to donate and preserve your items and stories for future generations. Become part of preserving our city’s history - bring photos* of your treasures, objects, and heirlooms, to share.

Participating Collections: 

• The Catholic University of America Special Collections
• Charles Sumner School Museum and Archives
• District of Columbia Office of Public Records and Archives
• DC Office of Historic Preservation
• DC Public Library People’s Archive
• George Washington University, Special Collections Research Center
• Georgetown University, Booth Family Center for Special Collections
• Heurich House Museum
• Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum
• Rainbow History Project
• Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum
• University of the District of Columbia

Your DC history items* we would love to hear about:

* Please do not bring physical objects. For the safety of your items, bring Images only.

• Letters
• Reports
• Memos
• Photographs
• Yearbooks
• Scrapbooks
• Diaries
• Papers related to area civic, political, or community organizations
• Artwork
• Videos, film, audio recordings
• Material related to DC events- parades, inaugurations, festivals, marches
• Commemorative objects
• Personal or family stories
• Oral histories
• And more…

Our partners are actively collecting on the local history of the following topics. This is not an exhaustive list.

• Labor Movements, Workers Rights
• Family History, Genealogy  
• Activism, Civil Rights, African-American Activism
• Art, Poetry, and Music History
• American Catholic ephemera, Latin American Catholicism, Catholic Studies
• Jewish history, LGBTQ Jewish stories, Objects from protests, rallies, and vigils related to the Jewish response of October 7th and the war in Gaza. 
• Life in greater Washington (Suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia), Potomac Studies
• LGBTQ history, LGBTQ ephemera
• Local Government
• University History, Academia, Sororities and Fraternities, Public Education History, School Memorabilia
• Community Leaders, Community Based Organizations
• Diplomats in DC
• Heurich Family History, Heurich Breweriana, DC Immigrant History 

Important Details:

• Rain or Shine 
• RSVP Requested, not required
• All ages welcome
• Heurich House Museum and its biergarten will be closed 
• Enter through garden gate

RSVP HERE