Archives preserve stories and collect objects so that history can be accessible to everyone. Your boxes, attics, and diaries contain memories about the District.

On Sunday, April 21st from 12-3pm in the Heurich House Museum’s garden, meet with experts from DC’s cultural institutions and become part of preserving our city’s history.

AOI and the Heurich House Museum are partnering with 11 of DC’s history archives to provide advice about how to donate and preserve your items and stories for future generations. Become part of preserving our city’s history - bring photos* of your treasures, objects, and heirlooms, to share.

Participating Collections:

Your DC history items* we would love to hear about:

* Please do not bring physical objects. For the safety of your items, bring Images only.

Letters
Reports
Memos
Photographs
Yearbooks
Scrapbooks
Diaries
Papers related to area civic, political, or community organizations
Artwork
Videos, film, audio recordings
Material related to DC events- parades, inaugurations, festivals, marches
Commemorative objects
Personal or family stories
Oral histories
And more…

Our partners are actively collecting on the local history of the following topics. This is not an exhaustive list.

Labor Movements, Workers Rights
Family History, Genealogy
Activism, Civil Rights, African-American Activism
Art, Poetry, and Music History
American Catholic ephemera, Latin American Catholicism, Catholic Studies
Jewish history, LGBTQ Jewish stories, Objects from protests, rallies, and vigils related to the Jewish response of October 7th and the war in Gaza.
Life in greater Washington (Suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia), Potomac Studies
LGBTQ history, LGBTQ ephemera
Local Government
University History, Academia, Sororities and Fraternities, Public Education History, School Memorabilia
Community Leaders, Community Based Organizations
Diplomats in DC
Heurich Family History, Heurich Breweriana, DC Immigrant History

Important Details:

Rain or Shine
RSVP Requested, not required
All ages welcome
Heurich House Museum and its biergarten will be closed
Enter through garden gate