2020 UnBoxed
The Center for Local History (CLH) will curate a time capsule, “2020 UnBoxed,” which will contain objects and material representing the major events and themes of 2020 in Arlington County.
“The time capsule is a snapshot of today as well as a gift for the future, preserving an account of a particular period in time,” said Library Director Diane Kresh.
Themes for the collection will include:
- The 2020 Census
- The COVID-19 pandemic
- Racial justice and civic unrest
- Arlington County’s naming centennial
- The 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage
The CLH, whose mission is to preserve and share the history of Arlington County, its citizens, organizations, businesses and social issues, will reach out to community organizations and leaders over the next 9 months to obtain items that represent the major events of 2020.
The time capsule will also draw from items donated to the COVID-19 Archives project. Residents are encouraged to continue to submit donations that illustrate how Arlington life has been affected and altered by the pandemic.
The time capsule collection will be exhibited online in October during American Archives Month, which celebrates and raises awareness about the value of archives and archivists. The items will then be sealed and deposited in the Arlington Community Archives for preservation and future research.
Oct. 21, 2017 News Release
Design features include new meeting rooms, a multi-purpose maker lab and updated ‘Tech-Central’ area.- County Board awarded contract to TMG Construction Corporation for Central Library upgrades.
- Construction is set to begin this fall.
- Library to remain open throughout year-long project.
Arlington Public Library will launch a new digital collection of Arlington women and their achievements in March 2018.
The Center for Local History’s (CLH) Community Archives contains many collections pertaining to women’s history and consequently the history of Arlington County.
“Many of these women were not well known, however their contributions to education, civil rights, conservation and healthcare aided in the development of this community from a rural to suburban county, and Arlington would not be the same today without their achievements,” said Library Director Diane Kresh.
The CLH will follow their journey over the next two years by examining documents, photographs, scrapbooks and oral histories culled from the archival collections, all of which will be digitized and made available online as a celebration of the accomplishments of these women.
This new digital collection will be introduced during Women’s History Month in March 2018 with a second and final installment in March 2019.
A related author event will be held at Central Library on October 26, 2017. Author Liza Mundy will talk about her new book: “Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II”. In conjunction with this event the CLH will present an exhibit of material from the community archives including historic photos of Arlington Hall, the former girls’ school which became the headquarters of the U.S. Army’s Signal Intelligence Service.
The CLH continually seeks community donations and oral histories, particularly as they relate to Arlington’s past through the achievements of its women. Contact the CLH at 703-228-5966 or localhistory@arlingtonva.us.
This digital access project will be completed using FY2018 funding in the Department of Libraries budget dedicated to increasing public access to government records and archival materials.
The Center for Local History at Arlington Public Library is committed to collecting, preserving, and sharing the history of Arlington County. To learn more about the Center for Local History, visit http://library.arlingtonva.us/center-for-local-history.
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Media Contacts
Anneliesa Alprin
Communications Manager
aalprin@arlingtonva.us
703-228-6329 (o)
Henrik Sundqvist
Communications Officer
nsundqvist@arlingtonva.us
703-228-0590 (o) / 571-970-8608 (c)
Annual Reports
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2021
Penguin Random House Library Award for Innovation
2017
Urban Libraries Council Top Innovator Award
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments – Climate and Energy Leadership Award
Virginia Association of Counties Achievement Award
2015
Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Business Award
2012
Sustainable Libraries Award
2011
Outstanding Public Program Award
Outstanding Achievement in Local Government Innovation Award
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Center for Local History to Curate 2020 Time Capsule
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