1953 anti-desegration letter

A Record of Protest

Today’s post is written by M Marie Maxwell, an archives specialist who works at Archives I.   Recently, as a citizen, I attended a local community meeting regarding a contentious proposal, hosted by a city government department. Besides the subject being contentious, attendees against the proposal and the city representatives did not agree on how to voice … Continue reading A Record of Protest

Rosslyn Skyline

By Marie Maxwell Recently, the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), a federal agency charged with planning for the Washington, DC area, released a draft study regarding the height of buildings inside the District of Columbia. The city of Washington, DC does not have skyscrapers like New York or Chicago, because of a law limiting tall buildings. … Continue reading Rosslyn Skyline

Washington DC in 1950

By M. Marie Maxwell Recently I processed two accretions for Record Group 66, Records of the Commission of Fine Arts. The first was for entry 18B, for the Shipstead-Luce Act Numbered Case Files (ARC 559476), and the other entry 23, the Old Georgetown Act Numbered Case Files (ARC 559486 ). They both contain files about … Continue reading Washington DC in 1950

The 1968 Riots in Washington, DC

By M. Marie Maxwell Recent events in London, of riots being reported in various parts of the metropolitan area, reminded me of a series in the Archives I holdings documenting a similar event in the American capital in 1968. Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, upon hearing of the civil rights … Continue reading The 1968 Riots in Washington, DC

Longtime Coming: Regional Development in the DC Metro Area

Today’s post is written by M Marie Maxwell, an archives specialist who works at Archives I.  Due to the unique relationship between the Federal government and the District of Columbia the National Archives holds a number of records relating to the development of the city of Washington. This not only useful for local historians but also … Continue reading Longtime Coming: Regional Development in the DC Metro Area