Recovery and Conservation of the Peabody Collection, Georgetown Neighborhood Library

FAIN: PZ-50123-07

District of Columbia Public Library (Washington, DC 20001)
Ginnie Cooper (Project Director: June 2007 to March 2010)

On April 30, 2007, a fire raged through the Georgetown Neighborhood Library destroying almost all of the circulating collection. However, firefighters soaked the special collection known as the Peabody Collection. Within 24 hours, the collection was removed and vacuum frozen. An estimated 90% of the collection was salvaged. The Peabody Collection is about the Georgetown--the people, churches, schools, businesses, streets, and old street cars. Maps, land plats, census records, real estate transactions, biographical information, photos, and ephemera are all part of a well-used collection considered to be a community treasure. The Library is requesting emergency support to assist with the recovery and conservation of the materials and to create a disaster plan for the Library and its special collections.