Collection Summary
Frederick Douglass Memorial and Historical
Association Records 1900-1990
1950-1980
1900-1990
1950-1980
MSS56291
Frederick Douglass Memorial and Historical Association
6,500 items
20 containers
5.8 linear feet
English
Collection material in English
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Association dedicated to preserving
Douglass's home and to disseminating knowledge of African-American history.
Correspondence, minutes of meetings, reports, and other records relating to the
preservation of the Frederick Douglass Memorial Home, Cedar Hill, and to
African-American history. Also includes official files and personal papers of past
president Mary E. C. Gregory.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC
Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and
by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895.
Gregory, Mary E. C. Mary E.C. Gregory papers.
Organizations
Frederick Douglass Housing Corporation.
Frederick Douglass Memorial and Historical Association.
Frederick Douglass Memorial Home.
Subjects
African Americans--History.
African Americans--Societies, etc.
African Americans--Washington (D.C.)
Memorials--Washington (D.C.)
Places
Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)--History.
Acquisition Information
The records of the Frederick Douglass Memorial and Historical Association were given to
the Library by the association, by past president Mary E. C. Gregory, and by other
officers between 1975 and 1990. Other gifts were presented to the Library in 1975 by the
National Association of Colored Women's Clubs via Juanita Brown, president, and from the
National Park Service via Edward Fitzgerald.
Processing History
The records of the Frederick Douglass Memorial and Historical Association were arranged
and described by Allan J. Teichroew with the assistance of Rick Bickel, Paul D.
Ledvina, David Mathisen, John Monagle, and William Parham in 1994. The finding aid was revised in 2008.
Transfers
A wooden plaque with an inserted medal has been transferred to the Smithsonian
Institution.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of the records of the Frederick
Douglass Memorial and Historical Association is governed by the Copyright Law of the
United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The records of the Frederick Douglass Memorial and Historical Association are open to
research. Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to
visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve
these items for research use.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information:
Container number, Frederick Douglass Memorial and Historical Association Records,
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Scope and Content Note
The records of the Frederick Douglass Memorial and Historical Association (FDMHA) span
the years 1900-1990, with the bulk of the material concentrated in the period 1950-1980.
The collection is arranged in six series: [Correspondence](corr); [Corporate Records](corp); [Miscellany](misc); [Printed Matter](pm); [Clippings](clip); and [Additions](add).
Based in Washington, D.C., the FDMHA was first envisioned in the will of Helen Pitts
Douglass, Frederick Douglass's second wife, who bequeathed their home in Southeast
Washington (Anacostia) to the American people as a memorial to her husband. It became
the main function of the association to preserve the Frederick Douglass Memorial Home at
Cedar Hill and to reunite surrounding lands once part of the estate into the whole of
the memorial. The FDMHA also undertook to disseminate knowledge concerning Afro-American
history in Washington and throughout America.
The collection includes minutes of meetings, reports, and related material not only of
the FDMHA but also of the Frederick Douglass Housing Corporation, Inc. (FDHC), an
organization closely allied to the association. Interaction between the two
organizations, occasionally via the National Park Service, is documented throughout the
records.
Much material reflects the personal interests of FDMHA's past president Mary E. C.
Gregory, whose papers were intermingled among the association's records she gave to the
Library. Other organizations represented among her files include the Museum of African
Art (located first in a Douglass home on Capitol Hill and later a part of the
Smithsonian Institution), the Douglass Glenn Gardens apartment complex, National
Association of Colored Women, National Council of Negro Women, National Urban League,
Anacostia Neighborhood Museum, and the Phyllis Wheatley Young Women's Christian
Association in Washington, D.C.
Arrangement of the Records
This collection is arranged in six series:
-
[Correspondence, 1921-1985](corr)
-
[Corporate Records,
1922-1984](corp)
-
[Miscellany, 1952-1985](misc)
-
[Printed Matter, 1900-1985](pm)
-
[Clippings, undated](clip)
-
[Additions, 1900-1990](add)
Catalog Record: [https://lccn.loc.gov/mm82056291]
Container List
Container
Contents
1-3
Correspondence, 1921-1985
1921-1985
Originals and copies of letters sent and received.
Arranged chronologically.
1
1921, 1938-1969
1921,
1938-1969
(9 folders)
2
1970-1975
1970-1975
(6 folders)
3
1976-1985
1976-1985
(7 folders)
4-6
Corporate Records, 1922-1984
1922-1984
Record books, accounts, agreements, bylaws, deeds, fact sheets, incorporation
papers, minutes and agendas, reports, and miscellaneous records.
Arranged alphabetically by type of material.
4
Accounts
4
Cash book, 1953-1955
1953-1955
4
Insurance papers, 1947-1957
1947-1957
4
Investors Mutual, 1955-1957
1955-1957
4
Miscellaneous financial records,
1940-1984
1940-1984
4
Receipt books, 1947-1952
1947-1952
4
Agreements, 1946-1979
1946-1979
4
Bylaws
4
Frederick Douglass Housing Corp.,
1976-1982
1976-1982
4
Frederick Douglass Memorial and Historical
Association, 1979
1979
5
Corporate record books
5
Frederick Douglass Housing Corp.,
1975-1976
1975-1976
5
Frederick Douglass Memorial and Historical
Association, 1922-1962
1922-1962
(2 folders)
5
National Association of Colored Women
5
1948-1960
1948-1960
6
1961-1966
1961-1966
6
Deeds, 1953, 1964
1953,
1964
6
Fact sheets, undated
undated
6
Incorporation papers
6
Frederick Douglass Housing Corp.,
undated
undated
6
Frederick Douglass Memorial Corp.,
undated
undated
6
Douglass Glenn Gardens, undated
undated
6
Minutes and agendas, 1949-1981
1949-1981
(3 folders)
6
Miscellaneous records, 1954-1982
1954-1982
6
Reports, 1962-1982
1962-1982
7-10
Miscellany, 1952-1985
1952-1985
Biographical file, material relating to various aspects of Afro-American history,
speeches and statements, programs, invitations, menus, and other miscellany.
Arranged alphabetically by type of material.
7
Anacostia Neighborhood Museum, Washington,
D.C.
7
Bethune, Mary McLeod
7
Biographical file
(2 folders)
7
"Black Heritage 1984," festival
brochure
7
King, Martin Luther, Jr.
7
Lincoln Temple United Church of Christ, annual
reports, 1978
1978
8
National Association of Colored
Women
8
National Council of Negro Women
8
Notes
8
Photographs
8
Phyllis Wheatley YWCA, Washington,
D.C.
8
Play, film, and video scripts,
1952-1984
1952-1984
8
Press releases
8
Programs, invitations, menus, etc.
(2 folders)
9
(4 folders)
10
"Racial Inclusiveness--A Conscious Goal," by
Mrs. Henry Ingraham
10
Resumes
10
Speeches and statements
10
YMCAs and YWCAs
10
General
(2 folders)
11-16
Printed Matter, 1900-1985
1900-1985
Pamphlets, leaflets, magazines, books.
Arranged by type of material.
11
Afro-American history
11
Anacostia Neighborhood Museum, Washington, D.C.,
re Afro- American churches
(3 folders)
11
Bulletins and newsletter
11
Congressional acts, bills, and calendars,
1900-1978
1900-1978
12
Congressional Record
12
Extracts, 1964-1971
1964-1971
12
Vol. 110, No. 132, July 1, 1964
July 1,
1964
12
Vol. 110, No. 133, July 2, 1964
July 2,
1964
12
Vol. 115, No. 162, Oct. 6, 1969
Oct. 6,
1969
12
Vol. 115, No. 173, Oct. 23, 1969
Oct. 23,
1969
12
Vol. 125, No. 159, Nov. 13,
1979
Nov. 13,
1979
12
Vol. 129, No. 112, Aug. 2, 1983
Aug. 2,
1983
12
Vol. 129, No. 136, Oct. 18, 1983
Oct. 18,
1983
12
Vol. 129, No. 137, Oct. 19, 1983
Oct. 19,
1983
13
Delegate 1977-The First Year of the 3rd Century
, guide books on historic sites
13
Magazines
13
Africa Report
, 1961-1962
1961-1962
13
Crisis
, 1963-1983
1963-1983
13
Jet
, 1957-1964
1957-1964
13
Ebony
13
1965-1969
1965-1969
14
1980
1980
14
Historic Preservation
, 1976-1977
1976-1977
14
Life
, 1965
1965
14
Look
, 1961-1966
1961-1966
14
National Notes
, National Association of Colored Women's Clubs,
1954-1961
1954-1961
14
Time
, 1957-1964
1957-1964
14
YMCA Magazine
, 1958-1972
1958-1972
14
Museum of African Art
15
NAACP
15
National Association of Colored Women's
Clubs
15
National Council of Negro Women
15
National Urban League
15
General
(3 folders)
16
(5 folders)
17-18
Clippings, undated
undated
Newspaper and magazine clippings
17
Clippings
(3 folders)
18
(3 folders)
19-20
Additions, circa
1900-1990
circa 1900-1990
Photographs, printed matter, research material, and miscellany.
Arranged by addition.
19
Addition I, 1953-1986
1953-1986
19
Miscellany, 1965-1982, n.d
1965-1982,
n.d
19
Photographs, 1969-1986
1969-1986
19
Printed matter, 1953-1986
1953-1986
19
Addition II, circa 1900-1988
circa
1900-1988
19
Dissertation research notes and draft of
"Kelly Miller" by Mary E. C. Gregory, 1942
1942
19
Miscellany, 1934-1988
1934-1988
(3 folders)
19
Photographs, circa 1900-1985
circa
1900-1985
20
Addition III, 1964-1990
1964-1990
20
Miscellany, 1964-1990
1964-1990
(2 folders)