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ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY

In September 1973, a joint act of the Montgomery County Council and Executive created the Montgomery County Bicentennial Commission with the mandate to plan activities for the County's bicentennial celebration in 1976. Under chairman Achilles Tuchtan, the Commission was directed to develop recommendations regarding the celebration of the County's anniversary and the coordination of this celebration with the bicentennial of the American Revolution.

The Commission pursued financial support from two sources. The American Bicentennial Administration, acknowledged Montgomery County as a "Bicentennial Community," and with the Maryland Bicentennial Commission agreed to provide funding. The Montgomery County Bicentennial Commission made recommendations regarding the use of these funds in its "Plan for Celebration, and Report" to the County Council. After approval of this report in September of 1974, the Council placed the Montgomery County Bicentennial Commission in the Chief Administrative Office and authorized the Commission to coordinate all requests for County bicentennial services and to coordinate tourism.

The Commission's "Plan for Celebration, and Report" established three thematic areas closely modelled after those established by the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission. These themes were Heritage `76, with a focus on historical events; Festival, a celebration of contemporary society; and Horizons `76, the promise of the future. Although the Commission was designated to work into mid 1977, it ceased operations in December of 1976 due to waning local interest and a lack of funding.

PROCESSING PROCEDURES

General processing procedures consisted of discarding duplicates, unnecessary binders, and routine transmittals. Oversized documents and photographs were removed from the original location in their assigned series and placed in separate containers. Separation sheets were inserted in the original location within the folder to indicate the new location of any records placed elsewhere.

Preservation copying of newspaper clippings was performed whenever feasible. Records in folders were arranged, unless otherwise indicated, in forward chronological order, with undated records appearing at the end of the folder.

PROVENANCE

N/A

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The 1.75 cubic feet of the Montgomery County Bicentennial Commission records, dating from 1973 to 1976, consist of correspondence, memoranda, reports, brochures, questionnaires, minutes, and press releases which document the Commission's activities.

The collection is arranged as five series:

Series I: Administration

Series II: General

Series III: Photographs

Series IV: Programs Subseries 1: Festival

Subseries 2: Heritage

Subseries 3: Horizons

Subseries 4: General

Subseries 5: Tourism

Series V: Publicity

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Series I: Administration, 1973-1976 (0.25 cu.ft.)

This series contains materials dealing with the Commission's creation, function, and administration. Included in the records are correspondence with the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration and the Maryland Bicentennial Commission. The series also includes minutes of Commissioners' meetings, the Commission's report to the County Council, and documents relating to the private and public funding of the Commission.

Folders are arranged alphabetically.

Series II: General, 1973-1976 (0.1 cu.ft.)

This series reflects the membership of the Bicentennial Commission in the Montgomery County Local History Consortium. The series contains correspondence and some of the Commission's publications. Correspondents include the Commission's Executive Director, Carey C. Roberts, County residents, and officials and representatives of a wide range of County organizations, businesses, and the press.

Folders are arranged alphabetically.

Series III: Photographs, 1974-1976 (0.1 cu.ft.)

This series consists of black and white photographs, collected for inclusion in the Commission's publications and pamphlets, and used to publicize County-sponsored programs. Photographs depict models of the Bicentennial exhibit and document the dedication of the Red Brick Courthouse in 1975. Also included are portraits of nominees for the Outstanding Senior Citizen Award, as well as portraits of other, unidentified individuals.

Folders are arranged alphabetically.

Series IV: Programs, 1973-1976 (0.75 cu.ft.)

This series documents the Commission's primary function of coordinating celebrations for the County bicentennial and the bicentennial of the American Revolution. Records in this series have been arranged into five groups. The Festival, Heritage, and Horizon groups document the planning, implementation, and conclusion of events and programs pertaining to each of these bicentennial themes.

Records categorized as general include calendars of events and a questionnaire for program suggestions. Documents filed under Tourism deal with the Commission's interaction with the Washington Area Council of Governments in the course of developing tourist programs for Montgomery County.

Folders are arranged alphabetically.

Series V: Publicity, 1974-1976 (0.2 cu.ft.)

This series consists of the Commission's newsletters and press releases which publicized the events and programs planned by the Commission for the bicentennial celebrations.

Arrangement is alphabetical.

BOX INVENTORY

Box 1

Series I: Administration

American Revolution Bicentennial Administration, 1974-1975

Bicentennial Commission Archives, 1976

Bicentennial Commission: Establishment, Authority, 1973-1976

Bicentennial Communities, 1974-1976

Budget, 1974-1976

Commission Members, 1973-1976

Commission Reports, 1976

Community Reports, 1976

Community Resources Questionnaire, 1973-1974

Funding: Federal and Private Sources, 1973-1976

Gift Shop, 1975-1976

Maryland Bicentennial Commission, 1973-1975

Minutes: Commission and Committees, 1974-1976

Minutes: Department Heads, 1974-1976

Public Information Subcommittee, 1974

Testimony before Subcommittee on Bicentennial Affairs, 1975-1976

Volunteers, 1974-1976

Series II: General

Bicentennial Consortium for Local History, 1973-1975

Correspondence, General, 1973-1975

Correspondence, General, 1976

Publications, n.d.

Series III: Photographs

Armed Forces Bicentennial Exhibit, ca. 1975

Courthouse Dedication, 1975

Outstanding Senior Citizen Award Nominees, ca. 1975

Unidentified, ca. 1976

Series IV: Programs

Festival

Art Contest, 1975-1976

Celebration '75, 1975

Children's Bicentennial: Modeling Moppets, 1975-1976

County Birthday, 1974

County Entertainers, 1974-1976

Exhibits, 1975-1976

Flag Day and Bell Ringing, 1976

"Great American Scene", 1975-1976

Hospitality Center, 1974-1976

Irish Celebration, 1975-1976

Opera: "Joshua", 1975-1976

Parade of September 6, 1976, 1976

Pen and Ink Contest, 1974-1976

Seminar on Beautification, 1974-1975

Richard Montgomery Day, 1975

Theater League, 1974-1975

Washington Post Promotional for Celebration '75, 1975

"Wave a Flag with Flowers", 1974-1975

"Youth Bicentennial Committee", 1975-1976

General

Calendars of Events, 1975-1976

Program Suggestions and Recommendations, 1973-1975

Heritage

Almanac 1976

Armed Forces Bicentennial Exhibit, 1974-1975

Bicentennial Tree Plaques, 1976

Black Education History, 1975-1976

Braddock Trail, 1974-1975

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, 1974

Commemorative Book-Portraits In Time, 1976

Cookbook, 1975

Box 2

County Film, 1975-1976

General, 1973-1975

Magruder House, 1974-1975

Map of Montgomery County Historic Sites, 1974-1975

Outstanding Senior Citizens Awards, 1975-1976

Seneca Quarry, 1975

Young People's Handbook, 1975

Horizons

American Issues Forum, 1975-1976

"First Day of the 3rd Century" Celebration, 1976

Focus on Future, 1976

General, 1973-1976

Box 3

Johnny Horizon '76, 1976

International Women's Year, 1974-1976

Tourism

Council of Governments, 1974-1976

County, 1973-1976 (2 folders)

Information Task Force, 1974-1976

Series V: Publicity

"Bicentennial News" - County Newsletter, 1975-1976

Certificates of Appreciation, 1976

Commission Press Releases, 1974-1976

Logo Competition, 1974

Radio Spots for WINX, 1976

Speeches: Carey C. Roberts, Achilles M.

Tuchton, James P. Gleason, 1975-1976