In preparation for the September 19th, 2017 re-opening of research services at our interim home at the Newseum, here’s a behind-the-scenes look at some of the steps that went into preparing the collection for a temporary move. The relocation would not have been possible without the dedication of a strong corps of volunteers and interns.
With staff guidance, the volunteers spent July preparing to move a collection that spans more than 1.25 miles and represents 123 years of collecting material relating to the history of Washington, D.C. Our thanks are due to Ann Kessler, Elizabeth Ratigan, Anne Rollins, and David Wood (volunteers) and Ben Durren, Cait Kennedy, and Avital Smotrich-Barr (summer interns).
Labels, labels, and more labels. While the moving company used many labels with their tracking system, in-house color coding identifies the destination and the processing needed in the future.
Many collections were identified with handwritten labels that while legible were sometimes difficult to read, particularly on dark brown and gray boxes.Labels created for the move make retrieving materials at the new location a lot more legible.Some collections will be in offsite storage during the renovation so requests for outgoing loans were processed seperately before the packing began.Additional information about collections on loan will come in an upcoming blog post.Many hours among the collections were required to prep for the move.
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As a private, nonprofit organization, the DC History Center relies on generous gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations to support our mission. In times of upheaval and uncertainty, we rely on history to guide us.
At the DC History Center, we tell the diverse stories of our nation’s capital to a broad community of learners. We seek to bring people together to satisfy their curiosity, learn each other’s stories, and develop respect for the larger community in which we live.
In preparation for the September 19th, 2017 re-opening of research services at our interim home at the Newseum, here’s a behind-the-scenes look at some of the steps that went into preparing the collection for a temporary move. The relocation would not have been possible without the dedication of a strong corps of volunteers and interns.
