Earth Day in the Archive

This Earth Day, explore environmental justice and activism history in the People's Archive.

Celebrate Earth Day with The People's Archive by browsing collections that highlight nature environmental activism in Washington, DC. This is a self-guided activity, so browse at your own pace! People's Archive staff will be available to assist you. 

About the Collections

The Damu Smith Papers

Damu Smith (1951-2006), who moved to DC in 1974, was one of the first Black activists to target environmental racism. He worked with a number of organizations, including the National Alliance against Racial and Political Violence; the American Friends Service Committee; Greenpeace USA; National Black Independent Political Party; National Black Environmental Justice Network; and Black Voices for Peace, for which he was the founder and co-chair. The Damu Smith Papers document Smith's involvement in activism and community organizations.

The Josephine Butler Papers

Josephine Butler (1920-1997) was a community activist, organizer and political heavy-weight involved in almost every critical political movement that occurred in the greater Washington, DC area. Butler founded the first union that supported Black female laundry workers in the city. She co-founded the DC Statehood Movement with Julius Hobson. She was a staunch proponent of city parks and recreation places for families, children and communities throughout the city. Butler’s work led to the desegregation of city schools, establishment of safe spaces for children, and the development of health care reform. Butler founded the DC Chapter of the Paul Robeson Friendship Association and the Friends of Meridian Hill Association. The Josephine Butler Papers document Butler's career as a community activist and contain subject files on organizations she was involved with and causes she fought for. 

The Margaret Cooper Papers

Margaret Cooper (1900-2000) was known to the Shaw neighborhood as “Mother Cooper.” She worked as a Registered Nurse at George Washington University Hospital. Cooper was active as a member of the Third Baptist Church in Washington, DC at 1546 5th Street NW. She worked as an activist in the Shaw neighborhood on numerous projects with various organizations, such as the Shaw Project Area Committee, Junior Christian Endeavor, Boy Scouts of America, War on Rats, Federation of Civic Associations, and the United Planning Organization. Cooper also served on the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) and was one of the first ANC commissioners for the Shaw neighborhood. The Margaret Cooper Papers documents her professional, civic, and community activities and achievements.

Over the River and Through the Woods, Longtime Residents and Parklands of Ward 8, 2020

The forests in Ward 8 lack many of the features we expect of public parks and are sometimes seen as impassible. However, many older residents speak of how they once explored the woods, or of catching crayfish. Some even trapped small mammals. Some built fortresses or played tag among creaking tree trunks. Through this project, which is part of the larger DC Oral History Collaborative project, Garrett James White collected the memories of Ward 8's people, its wild spaces, and hiking trails.

The People's Archive at DC Public Library is home to the dynamic collections that preserve and share the stories, histories, and voices of Washington, DC’s diverse communities, as well as the Black experience in the Unites States. It features materials—such as photographs, oral histories, documents, and more—that highlight the vibrant local, national and international history of DMV residents, grassroots movements, and cultural milestones, making it a valuable resource for researchers, historians, and anyone interested in learning more about the city’s past and present.

Image: Black Church Environmental and Economic Justice Network registration card. The Damu Smith Papers, circa 1991.  

Upcoming events