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Citizens for New Columbia collection

 Collection
Identifier: MS2383

Scope and Contents

This collection contains promotional fliers, mock-ups of fliers, planning documents, organizing materials (chant sheets, notes about legal/media strategies, demonstration handbook) political cartoons, news releases, correspondence, drafts of editorials, magazines, buttons, branded plastic bags, policy documentation, and reports related to the working of the organization Citizens for New Columbia as they worked to promote D.C. Statehood. The records date from 1982-1994, but most of the records date from 1993-1994.

Dates

  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1993-1994
  • Creation: 1930, 1982 - 1994

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Materials in this collection may be governed by copyright. For activities that the researcher determines fall under fair use as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission to cite or publish is required. Researchers are responsible for determining who may hold materials' copyrights, determining if the intended re-use falls under fair use, and obtaining approval from the copyright holder if the intended use does not fall under fair use. Please contact Special Collections if the copyright status of the materials you wish to reuse is unclear. Staff will provide additional information.

Historical note

Citizens for New Columbia was a statehood advocacy group active in the early 1990s that actively supported statehood for D.C. The group was a pro-statehood grass-roots group working to promote citizen participation using civil disobedience and congressional lobbying in advance of the initial House vote.

Prominent members of the group included former mayors of Washington D.C. Sharon Pratt and Walter Washington, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Senator Jesse L. Jackson, and Senator Florence Pendleton.

Community engagement was a core part of their strategy. They encouraged community members to contribute as volunteers and donors and tied the issue of self-determination to other social issues D.C. residents were facing. They hosted walks for independence, organized summits and award ceremonies, circulated newsletters, and corresponded with other grassroots groups to strategize. Their belief in self-determination, full citizenship, and congressional representation

Extent

2.5 Linear Feet (3 document boxes, 1 flat box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Citizens for New Columbia was a statehood advocacy group active in the early 1990s that actively supported statehood for D.C. The group was a pro-statehood grass-roots group working to promote citizen participation using civil disobedience and congressional lobbying in advance of the initial House vote. Prominent members of the group included former mayors of Washington D.C. Sharon Pratt and Walter Washington, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Senator Jesse L. Jackson, and Senator Florence Pendleton.

This collection contains planning documents, fliers, posters, buttons, memorabilia, cartoons, editorials, correspondence, editorials, and handwritten materials for the Citizens for New Columbia, an organization that worked towards D.C. Statehood. The records date from 1982-1994, but most of the records date from 1993-1994.

Arrangement

Organized into 3 series: Organizations, direct action, proposed legal measures, Promotional materials, event planning, publicity, and Governance.

Physical Location

Materials are stored off-site, and will require additional retrieval time. Please contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Transferred by Division of External Relations, 2018 December 04 (2018.049)

Title
Guide to the Citizens for New Columbia collection, 1982-1994
Status
Completed
Author
Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University
Date
2018
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University Repository

Contact:
George Washington University Gelman Library
2130 H Street NW
Washington DC 20052 United States of America