Historic Takoma has received a major grant from theMiller History Fund, administered by the Maryland Center for History and Culture. We were among 11 grantees from around the state for projects to expand capacity to steward and share state history. The announcement can be foundhere.
The grant is for $20,000 over two years, beginning in April 2022. Our application focused on two major facets: (1) Collections Care and Preservation and (2) Collections Access. Read More
Storage & housing capacity needed!
In Collections Care and Preservation we will be able expand our storage capability, properly house collections materials in acid-free and other appropriate boxes, folders, and sleeves; perform preservation reformatting of tapes and other magnetic media; and begin digitizing selected fragile and high value/interest materials to allow public use/access without the need for physical handling of the materials.
Historic photographs to digitize
In Collections Access we will create the capability to digitize collections, and begin digitizing high priority items, thereby increasing the capacity to make collections readily available both online and on premises.
The Archives and History Committee is responsible for implementing this grant. In the coming months they will be identifying specific tasks and activities. Anyone with an interest or expertise in working on this project as a volunteer should write to archives@historictakoma.org.
About the Archives
The Historic Takoma Archives consists of 350 linear feet ofphotographs and archival materials including correspondence, photographs, documents, maps, clippings, scrapbooks, Takoma Park government records, records of civic organizations, local newspapers, and other materials related to the history and culture of Takoma Park, MD and Takoma, DC. Included are the records of many community and civic organizations. Many of these items are unique and invaluable.
Family papers to be cataloged
The Archives also include over 60 cassette tapes of oral history interviews conducted over 20 years ago. The collections also contain hundreds of photographs and negatives from the 19th century to present day; local newspaper collections from the 1960s to date, correspondence, scrapbooks, financial records, and over 150 boxes of paper records.
Over the last year Archives Committee has been updating policies and procedures for the archives and cataloging the contents to make them available for public use. General reference collections are currently available through the regular Reading Room hours or by appointment. Anyone with an interest in using the archival materials may request an appointment by writing to archives@historictakoma.org. The Miller Fund grant will allow us to open the archives to regular public use in the future as well as making various items available online.
Watch the website for more details on this project.
