October 8, 2021
The REAL Archives Project, or el Re-Encuentro de Arlington Latinos, is designed to illustrate the rich, vibrant history of the Latino community in Arlington County.
The Center for Local History (CLH) is seeking donations of a variety of materials to document the impact of the Latino community which will inform how Arlington’s history is told and remembered in the future.
REAL is a multi-year collecting initiative with the goal to include more documentation of the Latino community’s history in the CLH’s Arlington Community Archives.
Between 1990 and 2000, the County’s Hispanic/Latino population increased by 52.7%. Today, that sector makes up 15.7% of the Arlington population, and the County is now home to generations of Hispanic/Latino residents.
“Arlington Public Library shares and preserves Arlington’s story through books and other media, programs, family histories and personal recollections. REAL is a concerted effort to collect and share the stories of our Latino neighbors and friends who have made significant contributions to our community,” said Library Director Diane Kresh.
The CLH collects, preserves and shares historical documents that tell the history of Arlington County, its citizens, organizations, businesses and social issues. The CLH operates the Research Room at Central Library and the Arlington Community Archives program.
