The National Trust for Historic Preservation has awarded 11 grants to record and promote the historical significance of the southwest quadrant of Washington, D.C. Awarded from the Trust’s Monument Mitigation Grant Fund, a partnership of Monument Realty, the D.C. Preservation League, and the D.C. Historic Preservation Office, the funds will be used to educate residents about the history of this region of the city and mid-20th century architecture, and to improve public open space in Southwest D.C.

The winning projects were selected by a review committee based on the project’s relevance to the program, the likelihood of completion within six months, support from the community, an education outreach component, and the project’s potential to garner additional funding. The grants range from $3,000 to $23,200, and recipients include both individuals and nonprofit organizations.

Grant Recipients

Catherine Zipf, Salve Regina University ($7,500) for research on the papers and drawings of Chloethiel Woodard Smith, FAIA, one of America’s most successful female Modern architects. The culmination of the project will be a booklet documenting Smith’s work in southwest Washington that will be distributed to local archives, libraries, and neighborhood associations.

Brian Hamilton, Renaissance Development Corporation ($10,000) to create a community-based film that will feature youth interviews of elders and serve as a teaching tool for filmmaking, photography, and videography techniques.

Paul Williams ($9,000) to research, write, and illustrate a book on the history of Southwest D.C., from its founding through the mid-20th century.

Southwest Neighborhood Assembly ($22,000) to design and renovate the G Street, SW, park in conjunction with Green Spaces for D.C. and other community groups.

Southwest Neighborhood Assembly ($5,000) to update and convert the “Southwest: Then & Now” historical exhibit into a kiosk display at the local public library.

Capital Park II Condo Association ($23,200) to create a new garden setting for the Lionni Mural—the last surviving piece of the original pavilion and park designed by landscape architect Dan Kiley—and improve the H Street corridor and Southwest Courtyard.

Friends of Carollsburg/Half Street ($3,000) for the installation of a memorial garden on a vacant lot at the corner of South Capitol and M Streets by local community volunteers.

Marya McQuirter ($7,570) for a research paper on Southwest Washington in the 1960s that particularly focuses on the impact of the 1968 riots.

Vanessa Ruffin Colbert ($5,000) to research the history of Sanitary Housing in Southwest, with several articles to be published in the Southwester newspaper.

Bell Clement ($3,840) to research, write, and present the history of the relocation of Southwest residents in the 1950s.

Brian Kraft ($4,320) to research the history of Old Southwest from the late 1800s to the early 1900s, culminating in a paper that will be published in Washington History magazine and presented to the community.

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