Historical Society of Washington, D.C. facts for kids
The Historical Society of Washington, D.C. is also known as the DC History Center. It's a special group that works to save and share the amazing history of Washington, D.C.. They offer fun talks, cool exhibits, and classes. They also host community events. The society has a museum and a library. They also publish a journal called Washington History. This group was first called The Columbia Historical Society from 1894 until 1988.
The society's home is the beautiful Carnegie Library of Washington D.C.. This building is in the Beaux-Arts style. It sits in the middle of Mount Vernon Square in Washington. It was built in 1902. It was meant to be the main District of Columbia Public Library. It was one of many Carnegie libraries built with money from Andrew Carnegie. The building is open every day from 10 AM to 5 PM. You can see the exhibits there. You can also use the society's Kiplinger Research Library. This library has books, maps, photos, and other items. All these things help tell the story of Washington, D.C.
About Washington History
The Historical Society publishes an academic journal. It is called Washington History. This journal usually comes out twice a year. It shares important historical research.
Before this, the society published Records of the Columbia Historical Society. This was printed from 1894 to 1989. In the early days, money from members helped pay for these books. These hard-bound books came out every year until 1922. After that, they were published every two or three years.
History of the Society
The Columbia Historical Society started in 1894. A group of 36 men and women created it. Their goal was to collect, save, and share knowledge. This knowledge was about the history of Washington, D.C. They wanted to gather old records. These records told about important events and people in the city. The society's main job was to be a place for members. They could share their history research. This research was then put into the Records journal. The group also started collecting books and old papers.
By 1899, the group had 108 members. Most of them lived in Northwest Washington. At that time, Washington, D.C., had segregated neighborhoods. About one-third of the city's people were African American. However, all the members of the Columbia Historical Society were white.
Over time, the society's collections grew very large. For more than 50 years, the society rented rooms. They also used rooms that were given to them. These rooms held their offices and library. Volunteers worked as librarians and curators. In the late 1940s, a plan was made. It was to rebuild Francis Scott Key's home. Then it would be given to the society. Congress approved this plan. But President Harry Truman stopped it. He said it cost too much money. In 1947, a professional was hired. They made rules for collecting items. They also created the first catalog.
In 1954, the District of Columbia Public Library stored the society's collections. But the library needed more space. So, they said they might have to move the collections out. The society's board of trustees asked members for help. They needed a new home. In 1955, Amelia Keyser Heurich helped them. She was the wife of a famous Washington brewer, Christian Heurich. She gave the society her family's four-story mansion. It was near Dupont Circle. This mansion became the society's main office. The society moved into the mansion in 1956. This was after Mrs. Heurich passed away.
The society hired its first director in 1959. But much of the work was still done by the president of the board of trustees. This was Ulysses S. Grant III. He served from 1952 to 1968. For many years, the person in charge of the house lived on the third floor. They also rented offices in the building. Other history groups used these offices. The mansion had space for a library. It held books, old papers, photos, and other collections.
In 1975, the society sold some property. This gave them a lot of money. They used this money to hire their first full-time historian. His name was Perry Fisher. He was the executive director. The U.S. Bicentennial was coming up. This made people more interested in the nation's past. Fisher used this interest. He made the society's programs bigger. He also got more members to join.
In 1989, the society changed its name. It became the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. They also relaunched their magazine. It was now called Washington History.
In 1998, Monica Scott Beckham spoke to a committee in Congress. She was a vice president on the society's board. She asked for money from the government. This money was for a City Museum of Washington, D.C. In 1999, Congress gave $2 million. They said the District of Columbia must lease the Carnegie Library at Mount Vernon Square to the society. It would be for 99 years at $1 per year. On July 14, 1999, Mayor Anthony A. Williams announced the new museum. The City Museum of Washington, D.C., opened in the Carnegie Library in May 2003. But it closed in November 2004. This was because it did not have enough money or visitors.
In 2006, the society made an agreement with the National Music Center. The Music Center could use a large part of the Carnegie Library for three years.
Today, the Carnegie Library holds the society's research library. It also has changing exhibits and offices. Most of the society's historical items are stored there. These include artworks, documents, maps, objects, and over 100,000 photos. There is a permanent exhibit called Window to Washington. It shows how the city's buildings and areas grew over time. It also introduces visitors to the society's collections. The society also offers research workshops. These are for students and community groups. This includes D.C. Public Charter Schools and universities.
In 2017, the Historical Society moved to a temporary place. This was so the Carnegie Library Building could be renovated. The newly fixed building reopened on May 11, 2019. The Historical Society now shares the building with an Apple Store.
Notable People
- Mary Stevens Beall (1854–1917), librarian and secretary of the Columbia Historical Society
See also
In Spanish: Sociedad histórica de Washington, D.C. para niños
