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Washington Community Video Center Collection

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Title: Washington Community Video Center Collection
Date Created: 1970-01-01
Abstract: The Washington Community Video Center (WCVC) was an experimental video collective operating in 1970s Washington D.C., located at 2414 18th Street NW, Adams Morgan. It was one of the first U.S. community-based portable video production and training centers and helped start the media decentralization movement through the growing portability and affordability of video recorded onto magnetic tape. The audiovisual materials consist mostly of ½” open reel video, but also includes ¾” U-matic video cassettes and 1” open reel masters. The WCVC was incorporated as a non-profit community video production and training facility, having origins as an unincorporated project of the Federal City College, presently the University of the District of Columbia. The original goal of the WCVC was to help community organizations and leaders to use the new portable video production capabilities as a tool for education and organizing, in preparation for the coming of public-access television channels, a form of non-commercial mass media where the general public created television programming aired through cable TV specialty channels. Public-access television was created in the United States between 1969 and 1971 by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Thus, an early goal of the WCVC was educating D.C. citizens about the importance of cable TV as a community development tool. In order to illustrate this, the WCVC began producing educational video programs with and for community organizations like Ayuda (Spanish-language group) and Adams Morgan Organization. Unfortunately, D.C.’s cable television franchising process was delayed repeatedly. Without cable as a distribution mechanism, the WCVC turned elsewhere, principally live audience screenings at its Adams Morgan storefront and in group settings with partner organizations. WCVC’s production and screening work with community groups led to the establishment of permanent monitors and video playback systems in city health clinics, enabling staff to screen WCVC-produced educational videos to patients.

Video topics include: 1971 May Day Demonstrations, Paris Peace Talks, Welfare Recipients speaking out, urban conditions, Kathleen Cleaver, a video made and directed by welfare mothers, housing in Adams Morgan, Allen Ginsberg at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, 1970 interviews with pro-war demonstrators at a rally called by Reverend Carl McIntire, and more.

Individuals involved with the creation, production, and distribution of WCVC content include: Ray Popkin, Nick DeMartino, Grady Watts, Victoria Costello, Gerardine Wurzburg, Eddie Becker, Vernard Gray, and several others from the D.C. area.

For further context about this collection, see Media Burn Archive Virtual Talks with Video Activists: Nick DeMartino.
City: Washington, D.C.
Subject: Public-access television
Audio-visual materials
Local identifier: dcpl_210_WCVC
Rights Information: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/
In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted
DC Public Library