In addition to the records of the Cleveland Park Historical Society (CPHS), the collections of the Historical Society of Washington, D..C. include numerous resources relating to the Cleveland Park neighborhood. This image is from the Kathleen Sinclair Wood Photograph Collection (SP 112).
In addition to the Cleveland Park Historical Society records (MS 0747), the collections of the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. include numerous resources relating to the Cleveland Park neighborhood. This image, seen through a handheld slide viewer, is from the Kathleen Sinclair Wood Photograph Collection (SP 0112).

It was a meeting of the Societies: Recently members of the Cleveland Park Historical Society (CPHS) spent a morning exploring the library and exhibits of the Historical Society of Washington, D.C.

While group visits allow for hands-on time with the collections as well as serve as an introduction to the Historical Society as a whole, they’re also an opportunity to gather additional information about our collections straight from those in the know. Who better, for example, to help identify the addresses and residents of a stretch of houses along Ashley Terrace – depicted in a circa 1920s panoramic image from the Capitol Photo Service Collection (SP 0114) – than folks who live on the block? By the end of the session, we had more information about the street scene for us to add to our catalog, and CPHS members got a glimpse of their neighborhood way back when.

In addition to images from the Capitol Photo Service collection and material relating to house history research, the group visit allowed CPHS members to check in on their own association’s collection. The Cleveland Park Historical Society records (MS 0747), donated in 2004, includes oral history tapes and other material relating to a history of the John Eaton school; paper models; records of community meetings; drafts of a mid-1990s Guide to Cleveland Park Merchants; documentation relating to the nomination for historic district status; and myriad additional resources. At nearly 28 cubic ft., the collection is rather sizable; while still being processed, the collection is available for research.

The next orientation for the Cleveland Park Historical Society will be held in the Fall. But there’s no need to wait until then to dive into the holdings relating to Cleveland Park: All those interested may contact the library for a research appointment.

Are you part of a community group interested in a custom orientation to the collections and programs of the Historical Society of Washington, D.C? If so,  for more information on arranging group visits, please visit the Library Orientations page on DCHistory.org. Welcome!

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Cleveland Park is addressed – got to love real estate puns – in Volume 3 of the Baist real estate atlases, which are easily accessible in the Kiplinger Research Library.  The Wymer Photograph collection, perused here by CPHS members, provides a visual trip down memory lane to Washington of the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Neighborhood residents are a wonderful resources for updating our catalog information: These Capitol Photo Service Collection images now have addresses to go with the buildings!
Current neighborhood residents are a wonderful resource for updating our catalog information: One of these circa 1920s Capitol Photo Service Collection images now has addresses and other information to go with the buildings!
Group visits include time in the Small-Alper Gallery, featuring the "Window to Washington" exhibit, as well as the newly opened "For the Record" exhibit, seen here in the Roosevelt Studio.
Group visits include time in the Small-Alper Gallery, featuring the “Window to Washington” exhibit, as well as the newly opened “For the Record” exhibit, seen here in the Roosevelt Studio.

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