Georgetowners Challenged

DCPL Foundation Matching Fund Challenge for Peabody Room

The District of Columbia Public Library Foundation announces 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 have announced that it 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.

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.