D.C. Statehood Movement Leaders Oral History Project
Scope and Contents
Between 1997 and 1999 the D.C. Public Library and Councilmember Hilda Mason's office jointly sponsored a program to conduct oral histories of D.C. Statehood movement leaders. The project was funded by a grant from the D.C. Humanities Council and documents the experiences of 10 important Statehood movement leaders. The interviews cover such topics as memories of activist Julius Hobson, the early founding of the Statehood Party, local politics and referendums, constitutional convention, and the defeat of the statehood legislation. After the completion of the project the Library held a Statehood Forum at the Library and an audio recording of that event is also included with this collection.
Dates
- Creation: 1997 - 1999
Creator
- District of Columbia. Public Library (Organization)
Conditions Governing Use
The Library holds copyright for items in this collection with a signed release. There are no restrictions on the use of these collection materials. Reproduction of an oral history without a signed release is not permitted.
Biographical / Historical
The D.C. Public Library was founded in 1896 by an act of Congress "to furnish books and other printed matter and information service convenient to the homes and offices of all residents of the District."
Extent
2 Linear feet
2 Boxes
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
Series 1: Transcripts
Materials in this series include transcripts for all interviews. There are no transcripts for the "Statehood Forum."
Series 2: Interviews
Materials in this series include master copies of the oral histories on audio cassette. There are duplicate copies of all audio recordings except two tapes of 20-07 and all of 20-11.
Custodial History
The DC Public Library conducted these interviews and panel discussion between 1997 and 1999. Tapes and transcripts were officially transferred to the Washingtoniana Division shortly after their completion. There is no transfer documentation between Library departments.
Processing Information
After the initial donation to the Library, the transcripts were placed in folders and stored them in a filing cabinet with other oral histories. Tapes were duplicated by the Library with use copies being placed a cabinet, while the originals were placed into off-site cold storage. In 2014, the tapes and transcripts were digitized and in 2017 the collection was reprocessed. Transcripts were placed into folders and boxed. Audio recordings were organized and boxed for long term storage. All administrative documents, including releases, were placed into the control file.
- Title
- D.C. Statehood Movement Leaders Oral History Project
- Subtitle
- An inventory of D.C. Statehood Movement Leaders Oral History Project at DC Public Library
- Author
- DC Public Library, Special Collections
- Date
- 2020-08-27
- 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