Programs & Events

Historic Takoma Archives

    Supported by a grant from Montgomery County Historic Preservation Commission, Historic Takoma is processing and cataloging its growing collection of materials about Takoma Park Maryland and Takoma DC.  The Archives of Historic Takoma Park contains materials donated by local individuals, organizations and governments.  Donations are accepted and encouraged.  Materials that are currently available for researchers are indexed in the searchable database on this website.

     Historic Takoma Archives was established in 1985 by the Board of Directors, Historic Takoma Inc.

     The purpose of Historic Takoma Archives is to identify, collect and preserve archival materials relating to the history of the communities of Takoma Park, Maryland and Takoma, DC The Archive will make these materials accessible to the general public, unless access is restricted by legal requirements or written agreement with the donor. The Archive will also offer educational and outreach programs to increase public awareness and appreciation of, Takoma Park, Maryland and Takoma DC's history and development.

Collections

     The Archive holds a variety of materials, including documents, records, correspondence, scrapbooks, newspapers and clippings, maps, broadsides, club activity books, programs, photographs, plans, oral histories and small historical artifacts. Much of the collection material was created and then accumulated by a person, a family or an organization in the course of the normal conduct of affairs and preserved because of continuing value. The bulk of the material is from the 1880's to the 1950's, although there is some from later periods in the communities history.

     The Archive also stores all non-current records generated by Historic Takoma, Inc., such as Board minutes, newsletters, committee report minutes and financial records.

     The collection includes partial organizational records of the City of Takoma Park, Washington City Mission, the Takoma Park Citizens' Association, The Takoma Club, Washington Adventist Hospital, American Legion Post 28 and Montgomery College. Individuals or social clubs who have deposited papers include: Thomas and Maggie Delany, Delta Phi Sigma Sorority, Ruth Rhodes and Etta Mae Davis, Horace Siegler, the Boy Scouts, and numerous others.