Skip to main content

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Collection

 Collection
Identifier: P016

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of 25 8”x10” and 5”x7” black and white photographic prints. The majority of the images illustrate the construction of various subway stations and tunnels throughout the city. A few images show finished stations and the operation of Metro train cars. One image shows a Metrobus.

Dates

  • Creation: 1971-1997

Creator

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Use

There are no restrictions on viewing this collection and all photographs are in the public domain, therefore there are no restrictions on reproduction. Reproductions should appear with the proper attribution indicating that the photograph is housed in the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Collection and indicate that they appear “courtesy of the DC Public Library, Special Collections.”

Biographical / Historical

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) was formed on November 6, 1966 when President Lyndon Johnson signed the bill creating the authority. Ground was broken on the construction of the first station, Judiciary Square, on December 9, 1969 with 4.2 mile Phase 1 opening to the public on March 27, 1976.

Extent

1 Boxes

Arrangement

Processed without series.

Custodial History

There is no deed of gift and it is uncertain as to how the library acquired these photographs. There is a handwritten note on the original housing, which indicates that they were a gift from WMATA, but no date or any other information could be found.

Processing Information

Basic archival procedures were used at the time of this processing. The images were removed from their original housing. Each image was assigned a number and placed in an individual polypropylene sleeve. The images were then placed in an acid-free folder and stored in an archival storage box. The box was then placed in the Library for long-term storage.

Title
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Collection
Subtitle
An inventory of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Collection at DC Public Library
Author
Finding aid prepared by Mark S. Greek.
Date
2006-05
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the The People's Archive, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library Repository

Contact:
901 G Street NW
4th Floor East
Washington DC 20001
(202)727-1213