Still in the Fight: The DC Statehood Movement

Last fall, the Museum Studies Curatorial Research class began researching DC governance and local efforts for DC statehood. Students utilized the collections of the George Washington

University Special Collections Research Center, the People’s Archive at DC Public Libraries,

and the DC History Center to develop this exhibit. In the spring, the Museum Studies class

curated the show, while the Exhibition Design and Graphic Design students designed and

fabricated the physical environment.

The Museum Studies class dedicates this exhibit to the past and present-day activists, artists, and politicians who tirelessly advocate for equal civil rights for DC residents.

Bernard Demczuk, Ph.D., is a 50-year resident of Washington, DC, living in the historic Shaw

community. He is active in community, corporate, academic, labor, and government relations.

Bernard retired from DC Government in 1998 and again in 2017 from George Washington

University after 19 years of service as a vice president and professor. He is currently an African

American Cultural Historian at the University of District Columbia, the NMAAHC, the DC

Police Academy, and Ben’s Chili Bowl. Bernard holds a doctorate in American Studies and

African American history and culture from George Washington University (BS, University of

Maryland, MS, American University). He lectures widely on Black history and culture, labor

history, community relations, and governmental policy.

Tour 1: 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Tour 2: 3:00-4:00 p.m.

From 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Museum Studies student Emma Brown will host a discussion with

Bernard Demczuk on his experience advocating for DC Statehood. Following the discussion,

from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., guests are encouraged to join the reception after-party, where light refreshments will be served while viewing the exhibition.

Asha Abdul-Mujeeb Layton

Marie Althaus

Maddy Altobelli*

Ashton Arlt

Emma Brown

Lady Marie Bulilan

Clara Candalor

Jamie Carkenord

Kristen Datta

Elizabeth Day

Meredith Durand

Alejandra Garcia-Silva*

Lindsay Guarnieri

Julianne Haidusek*

Maggie Huggins

Jackie Huss

Emily Messner

Christopher Mullaney

Lillie Ortloff*

Rachael Price

Isabelle Samudio

Megan Sommerfeld

Fatima Vazquez

Carrie Welter

Anna White*

Megan Williams*

Zoe Zmurko*

*Contributed to curatorial research

Exhibition Design Students:

Led by Lecturer Melissa Van Ostenbridge

Shatha Abushaikha

Annie Hu

Jenni Sosa

Jordan Wu

Rachel Barglow

Konyae Bostic

Louisa Dub

Ibby Farooq

Madison Friar

Lauren Gillespie

Eve Harclerode

Daniel Lee

Ian Menkel

Emma Marsh

Ceri Matsuda

Martin Maynard

Sophia Noto

Host or Publisher The Corcoran School of the Arts & Design at The George Washington University