In her proposal for the fiscal year 2026 budget, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has initiated a shift in funding priorities that is causing significant unrest among residents and history advocates.
The mayor’s latest budget features a notable reduction in the planned move of the District of Columbia Archives from its downtown location to the main campus of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) in Northwest.
Instead of pursuing plans for a new archives building, Bowser stated that she intends to allocate the $50 million initially designated for this purpose towards creating student housing at UDC.
This change in direction has prompted strong reactions, particularly from those invested in the preservation of the District’s historical records.
Trudy Huskamp Peterson, a former acting archivist of the U.S. and chair of the D.C. Archives Advisory Group, expressed her outrage upon learning about the mayor’s proposal to cut funding for the archives project.
“The way a city treats its archives shows how it values the public’s right to know what the government did, as shown by its records,” Peterson emphasized, highlighting the importance of historical accessibility for both District inhabitants and citizens across the nation.
The District Archives, which operates under the Office of the Secretary, is responsible for housing historical and permanent records of the District government, including significant documents such as birth and death records, marriage records, and land records.
Also included in the archives are notable historic records, including the original wills of prominent figures like Alexander Graham Bell, Francis Scott Key, James Madison, Dolly Madison, and Frederick Douglass, along with Duke Ellington’s birth certificate.
Currently based in Northwest D.C. at Naylor Court, the archives also store many materials at the National Archive and Records Administration in Suitland, Maryland.
Activists for over two decades have advocated for a modern, permanent building that would consolidate all District public archival materials under one roof on the UDC campus, which is the only public university in the city.
Bender further conveyed her concerns, stating, “This decision puts the most important collection of D.C. history at significant risk.”
She criticized Bowser’s budget priorities, questioning the decision to fund a new stadium for the Washington Commanders at a public cost while eliminating critical resources for the archive.
“To fund a half-billion-dollar stadium and at the same time eliminate this project as being too expensive is a sad reflection of our city’s values,” Bender pointed out.
Moreover, Bender emphasized that an archive is distinctly different from a warehouse, asserting that a suitable facility is necessary to safeguard irreplaceable historical documents, which require specific security, HVAC systems, and public access needs.
The D.C. Council is currently deliberating Bowser’s archives proposal, with an initial reading and vote on the fiscal year 2026 budget scheduled for July 11.
Councilmember Anita Bonds, chair of the Committee on Executive Administration and Labor, has indicated that the committee recommends further action on this matter.
The committee advises the Office of the Secretary to conduct a feasibility study for the Sumner School or any alternative locations proposed, rather than investing further in the Naylor Court facility unless it will undergo improvements for archival use.
The report encourages ongoing engagement with stakeholders to keep them informed about construction timelines, records transfer processes, and budget adjustments.
Additionally, Ward 3 resident Barbara Bates, a historian, weighed in on the debate with a letter addressed to Diane Bonds, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, and other council members.
Bates strongly advocated for funding the UDC site, noting its accessibility to the public due to its proximity to the subway and bus stops, thereby serving students and residents alike.
“Its placement at the University of D.C. Van Ness campus makes it more accessible to all as it is conveniently located near a subway and a bus stop,” Bates wrote, emphasizing the educational impact it could have.
As the D.C. Council approaches its vote, the fate of the District’s archives and its future remains uncertain, igniting a spirited discussion on the values of historical preservation in the nation’s capital.
image source from：washingtoninformer
