The Peabody Room and the Georgetown Branch Public Library re-opened on Monday, October 18, 2010!!!
On April 30, 2007 a devastating fire destroyed the historic Peabody Room and its Georgetown Branch Public Library. The Peabody Room has, for years, served as the repository for historic documents, biographies, photographs and portraits documenting Georgetown's history and that of its residents. Supporters of the restoration effort have until November 1, 2010 to have their donations matched by the True Foundation.
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Please read the press release below about this generous challenge and either click on the appropriate links to learn more about the reconstruction effort, view designs and donate on-line OR use the information provided to make your direct donation to the D.C. Public Library Foundation for exclusive support of this important effort. In all cases be sure to note "Peabody" in the memo line or remarks section.
Click on these links to learn more:
Georgetown Library Recovery
Construction Up-date and be sure to view the...
View Photos & Designs
Donate Now
Peabody Room Fire 2007
Peabody Room & Georgetown Library Re-opening
DCPL Foundation Matching Fund Challenge for Peabody Room
The District of Columbia Public Library Foundation has announced a matching fund challenge to benefit the Peabody Room, the Georgetown history special collections housed in the Georgetown Neighborhood Library. The Alice and Russell True Foundation will match every dollar up to $50,000 of donations received by the DCPL Foundation to benefit conservation of the Peabody Room’s collections by November 1, 2010. To kick of the fundraising effort, the True Foundation has already made a donation of $10,000.
As part of the DC Public Library’s Special Collections, the Peabody Room contains books, documents, photographs, and artwork spanning three centuries of Georgetown history – one of the most significant collections of neighborhood history in the nation. Many of the archival materials in the collection were water damaged from the April 30, 2007 fire that heavily damaged the library.
A portion of the True Foundation donation will go towards the conservation of two books: The Spirit of Laws by Charles Louise de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu (Aberdeen: 1756), owned by Samuel Chase (1741-1811), one of four Maryland signers of the Declaration of Independence and A Treatise of Captures in War by Richard Lee (London: 1759), owned by Samuel Chase, Jr. (1775-1841). Both men are ancestors of the Foundation president.
To participate in this challenge, please make donations payable to the “DC Public Library Foundation” and note “Peabody” in the memo section of your check. Checks may be mailed to DCPL Foundation, 901 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001. You can also donate online at www.dcplfoundation.org and click “yes” when asked if you’d like your donation to go to the Georgetown Fund.
The DCPL Foundation is most grateful for this significant opportunity and hope that many will give to ensure that the full match is obtained. For further information, please contact Anna Velazco, Executive Director of the DC Public Library Foundation at: 202-727-4943, email avelazco.dcplfoundation.org or online at www.dcplfoundation.org.