The Peabody Room is a special collection dedicated to Georgetown neighborhood history and is part of The People’s Archive, the D.C. Public Library’s local history center focused on Washington, D.C. and African American history and culture. Among its resources is a house history file covering many Georgetown home
Peabody Room, Georgetown Library
This local branch dates back to 1875, when the first library in Georgetown was funded by George Peabody (1795–1869), an American financier and philanthropist.
Peabody was born into a poor family in Massachusetts. He began in the dry goods trade and later moved into banking. In 1837, he relocated to London—then the capital of world finance—where he became the most noted American banker and helped to establish the young nation’s international credit.
Having no son of his own, Peabody took on Junius Spencer Morgan as a partner in 1854. Their joint business would evolve into the global financial services firm J.P. Morgan & Co. after Peabody’s 1864 retirement.### George Peabody’s Legacy
Peabody is often considered the father of modern philanthropy. His charitable initiatives included:
- The Peabody Trust in Britain
- The Peabody Institute
- The George Peabody Library i in Baltimore
For his generosity, he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal and named a Freeman of the City of London.
Fire and Renewal
In 2007, a large fire broke out at the Georgetown Library, severely damaging much of the building and causing the roof to collapse. The blaze irreparably damaged parts of the library’s holdings and artwork, including items in the Peabody collection.
Repairs and a major renovation were completed in 2010, restoring the library and ensuring the Peabody Room’s continued role as a steward of Georgetown’s history.
Sources: Georgetown Library | Wikipedia | Georgetown Property Listings | The Hoya | Have You Visited the Peabody Room? | Mapping Georgetown: Meet the Real McCoy of the Peabody Room