The collection is built through targeted collecting led by the museum’s researchers, as well as generous donations from community members with an interest in preserving local history and culture.
Currently, we are collecting materials that document community building efforts in the Washington, DC metropolitan region, whether it is the work of teachers, coaches, and pastors; the shared interests of sports leagues and craft guilds; or the galvanizing force of neighborhood associations and nonprofit associations. If you have objects, papers, or photographs related to community building, we would love to hear from you!
The form below requests specific information, because the museum takes seriously its role as a steward of local heritage. We invest considerable time and resources into cataloguing, documenting and preserving collection holdings, and for this reason, we must be selective about what enters our collection. Some reasons we refuse donations include: the material does not have sufficient documentation; the material is outside the scope of the museum’s collection; the material is similar to something already in the collection. If we are unable to accept your donation, we will suggest other institutions that may have an interest. The Anacostia Community Museum does not accept unsolicited donations either by mail or delivered in person. Unsolicited donations may be disposed of, returned, or retained at the sole discretion of the Museum.