Search Results

Names:

Carver Theater (Washington, DC)  Search this

Frederick Douglass Memorial Home  Search this

Sewing Council (Anacostia group)  Search this

Jones, Altman  Search this

Underdue, Sally  Search this

Collection Creator:

Anacostia Community Museum  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound cassette (original)

1 Sound cassette (copy)

Type:

Archival materials

Sound cassettes

Oral histories (document genres)

Place:

Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)

Date:

1992 May 6

Scope and Contents note:

Jim Banks discusses the purpose and impact of the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum). He describes its emphasis on community outreach, and how the neighborhood residents became involved with its construction, programs, sewing council and community meetings. He describes the scope of the museum broadening from a special focus on the Anacostia community to presenting African American history in a broader context. He also discusses the effect of the social and political climate on the museum, and the museum's relationship with the Smithsonian Institution over the years. 

The interview was recorded on May 6, 1992. The audio quality is clear throughout the recording with some background noise.

Biographical / Historical:

Jim Banks (1930-2005) earned a sociology degree from Howard University, and a Masters Degree in sociology from the University of Pittsburgh. He served in the Navy during World War II. In 1955 he was named Citizen of the Year by the DC League of Women Voters. He became the Assistant Director of tenant selection for the National Capital Housing Authority. In 1963 he began a four-year tenure as the first Executive Director of the United Planning Organization. From 1967-1969, he worked at the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. He later joined DC Mayor Walter E. Washington's cabinet as Director of Housing Programs. He then became the Executive Vice President of the Washington Board of Realtors. In 1988 he helped found the Anacostia/Congress Heights Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness. He also served as Senior Warden and Chairman of the Restoration Committee for the St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Washington. In 2004 he authored the book The Unintended Consequences: Family and Community, the Victims of Isolated Poverty with his son, Peter. 

Provenance:

Conducted as part of the ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, which includes approximately 100 interviews of residents and influential people of the Anacostia area of Washington, DC.

Restrictions:

Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.

Genre/Form:

Oral histories (document genres)

Collection Citation:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Identifier:

ACMA.09-034, Item AV001541, AV001667

See more items in:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project

Archival Repository:

Anacostia Community Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/qa73fb898e9-f0af-454c-8ea2-0233bdf1d7d0

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-acma-09-034-ref11

Interviewer:

Lowe, Gail Sylvia  Search this

Interviewee:

Nighbert, Esther  Search this

Names:

Anacostia Community Museum  Search this

Anacostia Museum  Search this

Anacostia Neighborhood Museum  Search this

Carver Theater (Washington, DC)  Search this

Cooper's Restaurant  Search this

Youth Advisory Council (Anacostia Museum)  Search this

Anderson, Stanley J.  Search this

Archer, Audrey  Search this

Blitzer, Charles  Search this

Bryant, Barbara  Search this

Dale, Almore M., 1911-1984  Search this

Gibson, Charles  Search this

Jessup, Georgia Mills, 1926-2016  Search this

Jones, Altman  Search this

Kinard, John, 1936-1989  Search this

Marsh, Caryl  Search this

Martin-Felton, Zora  Search this

Morris, Carol  Search this

Nighbert, Esther  Search this

Prue, Alvin Eugene  Search this

Tyler, Edgar (Tiny)  Search this

Collection Creator:

Anacostia Community Museum  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound cassette (original)

1 Sound cassette (copy)

Type:

Archival materials

Sound cassettes

Oral histories (document genres)

Place:

Adams Morgan (Washington, D.C.)

Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)

Date:

1992 September 1

Scope and Contents note:

Esther Nighbert discusses her involvement with the Anacostia Community Museum from its opening in 1967 through 1972. She describes her role and her work, including serving as a secretary for John Kinard, assisting him with editing and re-writing various publications, and the various ways she provided support to the museum. She discusses the museum's impact on the neighborhood, its relationship with the Smithsonian Institution, and its influence nationally and internationally. She recollects various exhibits, events, youth programs, and the many individuals involved in managing, developing, and advising the museum. The interview was conducted by Gail S. Lowe on September 1, 1992. Periodically, there is some minor background noise. The interviewee can be heard clearly throughout the recording.

Exhibitions mentioned: The Rat: Man's Invited Affliction, This Thing Called Jazz.

Biographical / Historical:

Esther Nighbert (1912-2004) was born in Hazelton, PA. She graduated from Emerson College in Boston and authored Handbook on Creative Dramatics. She lived in Washington DC for a time and served as a secretary to John Kinard at the Anacostia Museum from its opening in 1967 through 1972. She moved to Gainesville, FL in 1976. She was awarded the Eleanor Gordon Award for Lifetime Service to Unitarian Universalist Ideals and Humanist of the Year from the Florida Humanist Association. She was a member of Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, served on the national board for INFACT, and was a member of United Farm Workers Ministry and Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice. 

Provenance:

Conducted as part of the ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, which includes approximately 100 interviews of residents and influential people of the Anacostia area of Washington, DC.

Restrictions:

Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.

Topic:

African Americans  Search this

Civil rights  Search this

Community museums  Search this

Genre/Form:

Oral histories (document genres)

Collection Citation:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Identifier:

ACMA.09-034, Item AV001518, AV001681

See more items in:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project

Archival Repository:

Anacostia Community Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/qa7831645d1-9f82-4683-a9ef-cb6f1842ee2c

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-acma-09-034-ref111

Interviewee:

Prue, Alvin Eugene  Search this

Names:

Carver Theater (Washington, DC)  Search this

Dale, Almore M., 1911-1984  Search this

Prue, Alvin Eugene  Search this

Collection Creator:

Anacostia Community Museum  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound cassette (original)

1 Sound cassette (copy)

Type:

Archival materials

Sound cassettes

Oral histories (document genres)

Place:

Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)

Date:

1991 June 27

Scope and Contents note:

Alvin Eugene Prue discusses how the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum) affected the surrounding neighborhood and became a source of pride for residents. He describes his involvement with the museum as a singer who performed matinees, and a visitor who took many arts and crafts classes. He explains how the museum staff and programs provided training for neighborhood youth to become young adults and community leaders. He also describes John Kinard and Zora Martin-Felton's many contributions to the museum and neighborhood. 

The interview was recorded on June 27, 1991. The audio quality is clear throughout the recording with some minor background static.

Biographical / Historical:

Alvin Eugene Prue (1930-) was a resident of the Anacostia neighborhood in Washington DC. He sang with a group called the Anacostia Neighborhood Singers and was an active participant in many classes and activities at the Anacostia Community Museum. 

Provenance:

Conducted as part of the ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, which includes approximately 100 interviews of residents and influential people of the Anacostia area of Washington, DC.

Restrictions:

Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.

Genre/Form:

Oral histories (document genres)

Collection Citation:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Identifier:

ACMA.09-034, Item AV001538, AV001671

See more items in:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project

Archival Repository:

Anacostia Community Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/qa7192fbe0f-3dc4-4d7e-b24f-92550dea859b

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-acma-09-034-ref116

Names:

Anacostia Satellites Athletic Club  Search this

Carver Theater (Washington, DC)  Search this

Anderson, Stanley J.  Search this

Dale, Almore M., 1911-1984  Search this

Collection Creator:

Anacostia Community Museum  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound cassette (original)

1 Sound cassette (copy)

Type:

Archival materials

Sound cassettes

Oral histories (document genres)

Place:

Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)

Date:

1991 July 16

Scope and Contents note:

Joe Ragland discusses how he came to be involved with the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum), when John Kinard recruited the Anacostia Satellites Athletic Club to participate in the opening of the museum in 1967. He describes the many projects he became involved with, including creating silk-screen paintings for exhibits. He recalls John Kinard's strong leadership, how he gathered support from community clubs and associations, and gathered information about Anacostia history from the neighborhood's oldest residents. He also describes the impact of the museum, which became a place of gathering and engagement for the neighborhood.

The interview was conducted on July 16, 1991. The audio quality is clear, with some minor background static.

Biographical / Historical:

Joe Ragland was a resident of the Anacostia neighborhood in Washington DC. He was a member of the Anacostia Satellites Athletic Club, and volunteered for many projects with the Anacostia Community Museum, including creating silk-screen paintings. 

Provenance:

Conducted as part of the ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, which includes approximately 100 interviews of residents and influential people of the Anacostia area of Washington, DC.

Restrictions:

Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.

Genre/Form:

Oral histories (document genres)

Collection Citation:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Identifier:

ACMA.09-034, Item AV001534, AV001682

See more items in:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project

Archival Repository:

Anacostia Community Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/qa73216a6cb-3bc2-40e4-8b49-5ec948b798f4

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-acma-09-034-ref121

Interviewer:

Fischer, Helene  Search this

Interviewee:

Saunders, Frederick  Search this

Names:

Anacostia Business and Professional Group  Search this

Anacostia Pharmacy  Search this

Carver Theater (Washington, DC)  Search this

District of Columbia Parks and Recreations Roving Leaders Program  Search this

Anderson, Stanley J.  Search this

Battle, Percy M., 1925-2008  Search this

Blitzer, Charles  Search this

Dale, Almore M., 1911-1984  Search this

Marsh, Caryl  Search this

Saunders, Frederick  Search this

Shackleton, Polly , 1910-1997  Search this

Collection Creator:

Anacostia Community Museum  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound cassette (copy)

1 Sound cassette (original)

Type:

Archival materials

Sound cassettes

Oral histories (document genres)

Place:

Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)

Date:

1991 July 5

Scope and Contents note:

Frederick Saunders, a former Roving Leader for the Washington DC Parks and Recreation Department in the Anacostia Neighborhood, discusses the conception and early development of the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum). He details the City Council members, and neighborhood leaders involved in the museum's formation, and the impact it had on the residents, neighborhood youth, and surrounding businesses. He recalls the hiring and tremendous impact of the museum's first director, John Kinard. He describes how the museum has evolved over time, and through the transition from the original site to the current location.

The interview was conducted by Helene Fisher on July 5, 1991. The audio quality is clear throughout the recording.

Biographical / Historical:

Frederick Saunders (1937-) served as an Assistant Director of the Washington DC Parks and Recreation Department's Roving Leader Program. He worked with young residents in the Anacostia neighborhood. 

Provenance:

Conducted as part of the ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, which includes approximately 100 interviews of residents and influential people of the Anacostia area of Washington, DC.

Restrictions:

Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.

Genre/Form:

Oral histories (document genres)

Collection Citation:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Identifier:

ACMA.09-034, Item AV001523, AV001658

See more items in:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project

Archival Repository:

Anacostia Community Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/qa7dcdc03c7-0830-4df7-a77a-484e16603bae

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-acma-09-034-ref126

Interviewee:

Smith, Lillian  Search this

Names:

Carver Theater (Washington, DC)  Search this

Davis, Ben  Search this

Smith, Lillian  Search this

Collection Creator:

Anacostia Community Museum  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound cassette (original)

1 Sound cassette (copy)

Type:

Archival materials

Sound cassettes

Oral histories (document genres)

Place:

Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)

Date:

1991 July 24

Scope and Contents note:

Lillian Smith, a resident of the Anacostia neighborhood, recalls the opening of the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum), its impact and presence in the community, and the effect it had on the neighborhood youth. She discusses how the social and political environment in the 1960s and 1970s affected neighborhood residents, and the important role the museum played as an exhibition space, and community center. She also describes the effect of the relocation from the Carver Theater to the current location near Fort Stanton, and how the Anacostia neighborhood has changed over time. 

The interview was conducted on July 24, 1991. The audio quality is clear throughout the recording.

Biographical / Historical:

Lillian Smith was a resident of the Anacostia neighborhood in Washington DC. 

Provenance:

Conducted as part of the ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, which includes approximately 100 interviews of residents and influential people of the Anacostia area of Washington, DC.

Restrictions:

Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.

Genre/Form:

Oral histories (document genres)

Collection Citation:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Identifier:

ACMA.09-034, Item AV001524, AV001677

See more items in:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project

Archival Repository:

Anacostia Community Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/qa7a38a6d6d-4b9b-4503-8315-e4c28e453a10

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-acma-09-034-ref131

Interviewer:

Fischer, Helene  Search this

Interviewee:

Stanton, Robert George, 1940-  Search this

Names:

Carver Theater (Washington, DC)  Search this

Frederick Douglass Memorial Home  Search this

Frederick Douglass National Historic Site (Agency : U.S.)  Search this

Anderson, Stanley J.  Search this

Dale, Almore M., 1911-1984  Search this

Ripley, S. Dillon (Sidney Dillon), 1913-2001  Search this

Spade, Jim  Search this

Stanton, Robert George, 1940-  Search this

Collection Creator:

Anacostia Community Museum  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound cassette (original)

1 Sound cassette (copy)

Type:

Archival materials

Sound cassettes

Oral histories (document genres)

Place:

Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)

Date:

1991 August 15

Scope and Contents note:

Robert Stanton, former Director of the National Park Service, discusses how he came to be involved in the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum), his relationship with the museum's Founding Director, John Kinard, how the Anacostia neighborhood received and engaged with the museum, and how it has evolved over time. He describes the process of converting Carver Theater site into the original museum, and his service as the Chairman of the Exhibit Planning Committee, which established the first exhibits and programming. Robert also describes his involvement in relocating the museum to Fort Stanton Park, after having been appointed Superintendent of the National Capital Parks East. The interview was conducted by Helene Fisher on August 15, 1991. The audio quality is clear throughout the recording.

Exhibition mentioned: The Rat: Man's Invited Affliction.

Biographical / Historical:

Robert Stanton (1940-), was born in Fort Worth, Texas. He earned a B.S. in 1963 from Huston-Tillotson University and completed graduate work at Boston University and George Washington University. In 1966, he relocated to Washington DC, and became involved in the emerging Anacostia Community Museum, eventually serving as Chairman of the Exhibit Planning Committee. He worked in progressively more responsible positions in the National Park Service, starting as a personnel management and public information specialist, then serving as a management assistant for National Capital Parks-Central, and later as superintendent of National Capital Parks-East. In 1976, he became Assistant Director for Park Operations, and was then selected as Deputy Regional Director of the National Capital Region. In 1988, he advanced to Regional Director of the National Capital Region, where he remained until his retirement in 1997. Shortly thereafter, he was called out of retirement, and appointed as the 15th National Park Service Director by President Bill Clinton, where he served until January, 2001. He was the first African American to serve as Director of the National Park Service. During his distinguished career, he worked to improve the agency's public programs to better serve minority populations, and completed numerous programs in conservation, management, and executive leadership. Mr. Stanton also received three honorary doctorate degrees and numerous awards, including the Department of the Interior's highest award, the Distinguished Service Award. He also served as a professor in the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences at Texas A&M University. 

Provenance:

Conducted as part of the ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, which includes approximately 100 interviews of residents and influential people of the Anacostia area of Washington, DC.

Restrictions:

Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.

Genre/Form:

Oral histories (document genres)

Collection Citation:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Identifier:

ACMA.09-034, Item AV001525, AV001674

See more items in:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project

Archival Repository:

Anacostia Community Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/qa73a4de3aa-6526-4e46-85d3-e20d5d42c731

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-acma-09-034-ref136

Interviewer:

Lowe, Gail Sylvia  Search this

Names:

African American Museum in Philadelphia  Search this

African American Museums Association  Search this

African Meetinghouse (Boston, Mass.)  Search this

Anacostia Community Museum  Search this

Anacostia Museum  Search this

Anacostia Neighborhood Museum  Search this

Carver Theater (Washington, DC)  Search this

National Center of Afro-American Artists. Museum  Search this

Parting Ways, the Museum of Afro-American Ethnohistory (Plymouth, Mass.)  Search this

Rhode Island Black Heritage Society  Search this

The Boston Group  Search this

Hutchinson, Louise Daniel  Search this

Kinard, John, 1936-1989  Search this

Martin-Felton, Zora  Search this

Ripley, S. Dillon (Sidney Dillon), 1913-2001  Search this

Stewart, Rowena, 1932-  Search this

Collection Creator:

Anacostia Community Museum  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound cassette (original)

1 Sound cassette (copy)

Culture:

African Americans  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Sound cassettes

Oral histories (document genres)

Place:

Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)

Date:

1992 May 11

Scope and Contents note:

Rowena Stewart, former Director of the African American Museum in Philadelphia, The Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, the African American Historical and Cultural Museum, and the Motown Historical Museum and the American Jazz Museum, discusses the influence the Anacostia Community Museum had in introducing African American heritage in a museum setting, in serving the Anacostia neighborhood, and in supporting other emerging African American cultural institutions in the 1960s and 1970s. She discusses meeting John Kinard, and the guidance he provided in presenting history through exhibitions and educational programs. She shares her memories of the early days of the Anacostia Museum, the effects of its move from the Carver Theater to the current location, and its ongoing influence.

The interview was conducted by Gail S. Lowe on May 11, 1992. There is background static throughout the recording, but the interview can be heard clearly.

Exhibition mentioned: The Rat: Man's Invited Affliction.

Biographical / Historical:

Rowena Stewart (1932-2015) served as director for four major African American historical museum societies between 1975 and 2002. She was the first director of the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society in Providence. Then she served as the Director and Curator of the Afro-American Historical and Cultural Museum in Philadelphia. In 1992, she moved to Detroit to be the Director for the Motown Historical Museum. She later moved to Kansas City, Missouri, to oversee the development of the American Jazz Museum, becoming its executive director upon its completion in 1997. She retired and moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 2002. During this time, she served as President of the A.L. Lewis Historical Society Board, Coordinator of the American Beach Community Center and Museum, and worked as a consultant to museums. 

Provenance:

Conducted as part of the ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, which includes approximately 100 interviews of residents and influential people of the Anacostia area of Washington, DC.

Restrictions:

Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.

Topic:

Social responsibility of business  Search this

Civil rights  Search this

Community museums  Search this

Genre/Form:

Oral histories (document genres)

Collection Citation:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Identifier:

ACMA.09-034, Item AV001519, AV001627

See more items in:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project

Archival Repository:

Anacostia Community Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/qa7e4506e5d-6821-47bc-a08c-6b2eec8e9996

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-acma-09-034-ref141

Names:

Carver Theater (Washington, DC)  Search this

Hutchinson, Louise Daniel  Search this

Ripley, S. Dillon (Sidney Dillon), 1913-2001  Search this

Vann, Riddick  Search this

Collection Creator:

Anacostia Community Museum  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound cassette (original)

1 Sound cassette (copy)

Type:

Archival materials

Sound cassettes

Oral histories (document genres)

Place:

Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)

Date:

1991 July 16

Scope and Contents note:

Riddick Vann, a former Exhibit Designer for the National American History Museum, discusses how he came to serve on a committee to develop the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum). He describes how the committee came to select the Carver Theater as the site, John Kinard as the director, and the many other topics they considered. He recalls how the museum affected and impacted the Anacostia neighborhood upon opening. In remembering people who influenced the museum's development, he highlights the tremendous work of Louise Hutchinson, the historian who researched and presented the exhibits, and John Kinard, the first director. He comments on the experimental nature of the museum, and how its success influenced museums around the country. 

The interview was conducted on July 16, 1991. There is background noise throughout the record, but the interviewee can be heard clearly throughout.

Biographical / Historical:

Riddick Vann (1930-2022) graduated from the Howard University School of Architecture. He worked as an Assistant Professor for the School of Architecture and Planning, teaching Museum Design and Architectural Photography. He designed the University Museum for the Moorland Spingarn Research Center, and was a tennis coach at the University of the District of Columbia. He worked at the Smithsonian Institution National Portrait Gallery, National Museum of American History`, the Anacostia Museum, and the National Museum of Natural History, with over 30 years of service. He also served as the Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for Ward 4A04 (Brightwood, DC) November 1992-2002. 

Provenance:

Conducted as part of the ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, which includes approximately 100 interviews of residents and influential people of the Anacostia area of Washington, DC.

Restrictions:

Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.

Genre/Form:

Oral histories (document genres)

Collection Citation:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Identifier:

ACMA.09-034, Item AV001531, AV001663

See more items in:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project

Archival Repository:

Anacostia Community Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/qa74dfa59ac-6483-40a1-bc8d-da0f709dee54

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-acma-09-034-ref146

Interviewer:

Martin-Felton, Zora  Search this

Interviewee:

Zelle, Ann  Search this

Names:

American Association of Museums  Search this

American Association of Museums. Meeting  Search this

Conservative Vice Lords, Inc  Search this

Museum of Contemporary Art (Chicago, Ill.)  Search this

Freire, Paulo (Paulo Reglus Neves), 1921-1997  Search this

Varine, Hugues de, 1935-  Search this

Wardwell, Allen  Search this

Zelle, Ann  Search this

Collection Creator:

Anacostia Community Museum  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound cassette (original)

1 Sound cassette (copy)

Type:

Archival materials

Sound cassettes

Oral histories (document genres)

Place:

Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)

Date:

1992 July 14

Scope and Contents note:

Ann Zelle discusses how she came to meet John Kinard at the 1969 annual meeting of the American Association of Museums (AAM) in San Francisco. She describes John's impact on the AAM and on the International Council of Museums (ICOM) where his work with the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum) gained international attention. She describes her first impressions of the museum, recalling that it was a joyful, exuberant, hands-on museum that integrated into the neighborhood. She also describes John Kinard's many contributions, paying tribute to his charisma, his patience, and his ability to maintain great relationships with both the Smithsonian Institution leadership and the Anacostia community.

The interview was conducted on July 14, 1992 by Zora Martin-Felton. There is background static which makes it difficult to hear the interviewer in some parts, but the interviewee can be heard clearly throughout the recording.

Biographical / Historical:

Ann Zelle (1943-) taught at Northern Virginia Community College and worked at the Smithsonian Institution. She served as an administrator and educator from 1963-1973 at the Illinois State Museum, Newark Museum, the International Council of Museums, the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, and helped establish Art & Soul, which was a collaboration between the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Conservative Vice Lords. She also served as Associate Professor Emerita and as Head of Photography at the American University School of Communication from 1982 to 2002. She retired in 2007, moving to Western North Carolina, and continuing her creative work as a sculptor and photographer. 

Provenance:

Conducted as part of the ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, which includes approximately 100 interviews of residents and influential people of the Anacostia area of Washington, DC.

Restrictions:

Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.

Genre/Form:

Oral histories (document genres)

Collection Citation:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Identifier:

ACMA.09-034, Item AV001536, AV001683

See more items in:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project

Archival Repository:

Anacostia Community Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/qa75dc444b6-de69-4187-b243-345291571d8d

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-acma-09-034-ref151

Interviewer:

Miller, Erin  Search this

Interviewee:

Ahlborn, Richard E., 1933-2015  Search this

Names:

Carver Theater (Washington, DC)  Search this

Ahlborn, Richard E., 1933-2015  Search this

Hutchinson, Louise Daniel  Search this

Molotov, Bob  Search this

Ripley, S. Dillon (Sidney Dillon), 1913-2001  Search this

Watkins, C. Malcolm  Search this

Collection Creator:

Anacostia Community Museum  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound cassette (original)

1 Sound cassette (copy)

Type:

Archival materials

Sound cassettes

Oral histories (document genres)

Place:

Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)

Date:

1991 November 5

Scope and Contents note:

Richard Ahlborn discusses his involvement in the founding of the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum), where he assisted with planning, examining the Carver Theater site, and working on early exhibits. He describes how the relationship between the museum and the Smithsonian Institution has evolved over time, and the impact the museum had on his life, and on the Anacostia neighborhood. 

The interview was conducted by Erin Miller on November 5, 1991. The audio quality is clear with some background static throughout the recording.

Exhibition mentioned: Blacks in the Westward Movement.

Biographical / Historical:

Richard Ahlborn (1933-2015) earned a BA in Studio and Art History from the University of Colorado, graduating with honors and Phi Beta Kappa. He won a Henri DuPont Wintearthur Museum Fellowship at the University of Delaware, where he earned an MA in American Studies. He wrote more than fifty books and monographs and specialized in Spanish American history and arts research. He served as Curator at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska. He worked for the Smithsonian National Museum of American History from 1964 to 2002 and retired as Curator Emeritus.

Provenance:

Conducted as part of the ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, which includes approximately 100 interviews of residents and influential people of the Anacostia area of Washington, DC.

Restrictions:

Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.

Genre/Form:

Oral histories (document genres)

Collection Citation:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Identifier:

ACMA.09-034, Item AV001547, AV001639

See more items in:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project

Archival Repository:

Anacostia Community Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/qa7d07694f3-9209-418e-8f37-e5b3aa0c6071

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-acma-09-034-ref156

Interviewer:

Miller, Erin  Search this

Names:

Carver Theater (Washington, DC)  Search this

Thomas, Larry Erskine  Search this

Collection Creator:

Anacostia Community Museum  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound cassette (original)

1 Sound cassette (copy)

1 Sound cassette (original)

Type:

Archival materials

Sound cassettes

Oral histories (document genres)

Place:

Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)

Date:

1991 November 19

Scope and Contents note:

Jim Daniels discusses his experience as an exhibit specialist at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum) from 1973-1979. He describes the training program the museum provided, and how it helped some trainees move into employment. He talks about the museum's outreach efforts, including touring some exhibits to other parts of the country. He also describes the improvements he feels happened when the museum moved from the Carver Theater to the Fort Stanton Park site. 

The interview was conducted by Erin Miller on November 19, 1991. There is background static and music, but the interview can be heard clearly throughout the recording.

Exhibitions mentioned: Black women: achievements against the odds, The Frederick Douglass years: a cultural history, Blacks in the Westward Movement.

Provenance:

Conducted as part of the ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, which includes approximately 100 interviews of residents and influential people of the Anacostia area of Washington, DC.

Restrictions:

Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.

Genre/Form:

Oral histories (document genres)

Collection Citation:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution

See more items in:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project

Archival Repository:

Anacostia Community Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/qa77f25f593-88e5-4971-b5d2-ebc7a3ba3fa1

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-acma-09-034-ref16

Names:

Mayo, James E.  Search this

Collection Creator:

Anacostia Community Museum  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound cassette (original )

1 Sound cassette (copy)

Type:

Archival materials

Sound cassettes

Oral histories (document genres)

Place:

Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)

Date:

1991 July 24

Scope and Contents note:

Carolyn J. Bingham discusses her involvement with the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum), beginning in 1970 when she was invited to research the history of the Anacostia neighborhood and worked to establish a library for the museum. She describes how the museum supported neighborhood youth by hosting school visits, teaching classes, and helping to develop their talents. She recalls how the museum provided opportunities for artists who might not otherwise have had an outlet. She also talks about the community's involvement through the advisory committee and through volunteering. The interview was recorded on July 24, 1991. There is background noise which makes the interview difficult to hear at some points, but the interview can generally be heard clearly throughout the recording.

Biographical / Historical:

Carolyn J. Bingham (1960-) was a resident of the Anacostia neighborhood in Washington DC. She worked on exhibit research and design for the Anacostia Community Museum.

Provenance:

Conducted as part of the ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, which includes approximately 100 interviews of residents and influential people of the Anacostia area of Washington, DC.

Restrictions:

Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.

Genre/Form:

Oral histories (document genres)

Collection Citation:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Identifier:

ACMA.09-034, Item AV001548, AV001616

See more items in:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project

Archival Repository:

Anacostia Community Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/qa710448c99-7e4a-40eb-b164-d0f1d5daf43f

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-acma-09-034-ref161

Interviewer:

Sparks, Dan  Search this

Interviewee:

Dale, Dianne  Search this

Names:

Anacostia Historical Society  Search this

Carver Theater (Washington, DC)  Search this

Anderson, Stanley J.  Search this

Dale, Almore M., 1911-1984  Search this

Jones, Altman  Search this

Newsome, Steven C., 1952-2012  Search this

Collection Creator:

Anacostia Community Museum  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound cassette (original)

1 Sound cassette (copy)

1 Sound cassette (copy)

Type:

Archival materials

Sound cassettes

Oral histories (document genres)

Place:

Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)

Date:

1991 December 5

Scope and Contents note:

Dianne Dale describes how she became involved with the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum) by following in the footsteps of her father, the president of the Anacostia Historical Society. She recalls that the museum was the first of its kind and helped to maintain the community's sense of continuity by preserving the neighborhood's history and telling its stories. She discusses how the Carver Theater was selected as the original site because of its central location and its significance to the community residents. She describes how community members became involved as staff, volunteers, and members of the advisory board, how the social and political environment affected the museum, and how it has evolved over time. The interview was recorded by Dan Sparks on December 5, 1991. There is minor background noise throughout the recording, but the interview can be heard clearly.

Exhibition mentioned: The Rat: Man's Invited Affliction.

Biographical / Historical:

Dianne Dale (1942-) is a fourth generation Anacostian and a local historian for the Anacostia neighborhood in Washington DC. She graduated from Howard University, earning a BA and two master's degrees. She is a founding member of the Organization for Anacostia Rowing and Sculling (OARS), and helped develop a rowing program for at-risk teens. She served as Program Coordinator for the "I Have a Dream" Johnson Dreamers scholarship program at Johnson Jr. High School. She is also a founding member of the Anacostia Garden Club. She was an early member of the Anacostia Historical Society, and a board member of the Anacostia Community Museum. In 2011, she published The Village that Shaped Us, an illustrated history of Anacostia. In 2014, she was appointed to serve on the Washington, DC Commission on African American Affairs. 

Provenance:

Conducted as part of the ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, which includes approximately 100 interviews of residents and influential people of the Anacostia area of Washington, DC.

Restrictions:

Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.

Genre/Form:

Oral histories (document genres)

Collection Citation:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution

See more items in:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project

Archival Repository:

Anacostia Community Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/qa7143ff302-40b9-4008-86de-04efe88c1f47

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-acma-09-034-ref166

Names:

Carver Theater (Washington, DC)  Search this

Mayo, James E.  Search this

Ripley, S. Dillon (Sidney Dillon), 1913-2001  Search this

Collection Creator:

Anacostia Community Museum  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound cassette (original)

1 Sound cassette (copy)

Type:

Archival materials

Sound cassettes

Oral histories (document genres)

Place:

Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)

Date:

1991 December 5-6

Scope and Contents note:

Rhawn Anderson describes his experience as a trainee in the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum) Exhibit Design and Production Lab's training program, where he learned how to produce exhibits, and took classes on graphics, silk-screening, exhibit construction, photography, and conservation. He talks about how these experiences led to other opportunities, including work as a photographer for the Washington Post, and the Evening Star. He describes the positive impact the museum had on the Anacostia neighborhood, and the way the exhibits reflected realism and related to the residents' lives and history. He also details how the Smithsonian Institution supported the ACM by helping with film development, graphics, matte work, and sometimes loaning people or materials. The interview was recorded on December 6, 1991. There is static throughout the recording which makes it difficult to hear in parts, but the interview can generally be heard clearly.

Exhibitions mentioned: Black Wings: The American Black in Aviation.

Biographical / Historical:

Rhawn Anderson (1947-) was a photographer and exhibit designer who lived in Washington DC, and worked for the Anacostia Community Museum, the Washington Post, and the Evening Star.

Provenance:

Conducted as part of the ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, which includes approximately 100 interviews of residents and influential people of the Anacostia area of Washington, DC.

Restrictions:

Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.

Genre/Form:

Oral histories (document genres)

Collection Citation:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Identifier:

ACMA.09-034, Item AV001550, AV001684, AV001646

See more items in:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project

Archival Repository:

Anacostia Community Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/qa7ea31d2a9-53e6-4e99-aed9-a6cc2cfa01be

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-acma-09-034-ref171

Interviewee:

Battle, Michael  Search this

Names:

Carver Theater (Washington, DC)  Search this

Operation Crossroads Africa  Search this

Sergio and the Free Souls (Band)  Search this

Southeast Neighborhood House (Washington, D.C.)  Search this

Battle, Michael  Search this

Ripley, S. Dillon (Sidney Dillon), 1913-2001  Search this

Robinson, James H., 1907-1972  Search this

Collection Creator:

Anacostia Community Museum  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound cassette (original)

Type:

Archival materials

Sound cassettes

Oral histories (document genres)

Place:

Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)

Date:

1991 July 24

Scope and Contents note:

Michael Battle discusses his experience as a youth in the Anacostia neighborhood and describes how he became a member of the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum's (now Anacostia Community Museum) Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) in 1968. He describes the many youth activities that became available through the museum, like photography, pottery, arts and crafts. He talks about how the YAC helped shape exhibits, and how it led to other opportunities for him, like joining Operation Crossroads, which allowed him to travel to Zambia and Botswana to help build a kitchen and an amphitheater. He explains that the museum was different because it was hands-on, interactive, and focused on African American history and experience. He also describes the impact of the museum on the neighborhood, particularly on young people who now had a communal place to gather and more opportunities to learn about art and history. 

The interview was recorded on July 24, 1991 and begins at the 17:04 mark. The audio quality is clear throughout the recording, with some minor background noise.

Exhibitions mentioned: The Rat: Man's Invited Affliction, This Thing Called Jazz.

Biographical / Historical:

Michael Battle (1952-) was a resident of the Anacostia neighborhood in Washington DC. He participated in the Youth Advisory Committee for the Anacostia Community Museum and traveled to Africa with Operation Crossroads. He became a lawyer and served as Legislative Council of the District of Columbia

Provenance:

Conducted as part of the ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, which includes approximately 100 interviews of residents and influential people of the Anacostia area of Washington, DC.

Restrictions:

Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.

Genre/Form:

Oral histories (document genres)

Collection Citation:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Identifier:

ACMA.09-034, Item AV001618

See more items in:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project

Archival Repository:

Anacostia Community Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/qa77992a5b9-5a08-4b79-859b-fdf9923d7fa4

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-acma-09-034-ref176

Interviewee:

Jessup, Georgia Mills, 1926-2016  Search this

Names:

Carver Theater (Washington, DC)  Search this

Dale, Almore M., 1911-1984  Search this

Jessup, Georgia Mills, 1926-2016  Search this

Mayo, James E.  Search this

Prue, Alvin Eugene  Search this

Thomas, Larry Erskine  Search this

Collection Creator:

Anacostia Community Museum  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound cassette

Type:

Archival materials

Sound cassettes

Oral histories (document genres)

Place:

Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)

Date:

1991 July 24

Scope and Contents note:

Georgia Mills Jessup discusses how she came to serve as an artist-in-residence for the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum). She recalls how the museum became a central gathering point and source of pride for Anacostia neighborhood residents, how it provided historical exhibits and education that were locally relevant, and how it generally brought positive attention to the area. She describes John Kinard's leadership, devotion, and engagement with the neighborhood and the museum. She also describes how many of her artist friends appreciated the exhibition space and designers, and how many wanted to become involved in supporting or exhibiting artwork at the museum. The interview was recorded on July 17, 1991. There is background noise which muffles the audio at some points, but the interview can generally be heard clearly throughout the recording.

Exhibitions mentioned: The Rat: Man's Invited Affliction, Blacks in the Westward Movement.

Biographical / Historical:

Georgia Mills Jessup (1926-2016) was born in Washington DC. She earned a BA in art from Howard University in 1959, and an MFA from Catholic University of America in 1969. She became an art teacher and art administrator in DC public schools, and taught at Eliot Junior High School, Eastern and Western High Schools, and Sidwell Friends School. She held a solo show at The Potter's House in 1964 and became the first artist-in-residence for the Anacostia Community Museum in 1968. In the 1970s, she became Supervisor of Art for the DC public schools. She received awards from the Research Club of Washington, DC, the Urban League, and the American Red Cross. She passed away in Columbia, Maryland on December 24, 2016. 

Provenance:

Conducted as part of the ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, which includes approximately 100 interviews of residents and influential people of the Anacostia area of Washington, DC.

Restrictions:

Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.

Genre/Form:

Oral histories (document genres)

Collection Citation:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Identifier:

ACMA.09-034, Item AV001619

See more items in:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project

Archival Repository:

Anacostia Community Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/qa78632c26b-ad6e-41d3-8444-22402eafb005

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-acma-09-034-ref181

Interviewee:

Gaither, Edmund Barry, 1944 -  Search this

Names:

Association of African American Museums  Search this

Carver Theater (Washington, DC)  Search this

National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center (U.S.)  Search this

Austin, Joy Ford  Search this

Gaither, Edmund Barry, 1944 -  Search this

Hezekiah, Lloyd  Search this

Martin, Jeanine  Search this

Perrot, Paul N.  Search this

Rushing, Byron  Search this

Thomas, Betty  Search this

Collection Creator:

Anacostia Community Museum  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound cassette (original)

Type:

Archival materials

Sound cassettes

Oral histories (document genres)

Place:

Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site (Washington, D.C.)

Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)

Date:

1992 May 14

Scope and Contents note:

Edmund Barry Gaither discusses how genuinely pioneering the original Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum) was because the community was the empowering agency and subject for the museum. As the first director of the African American Museums Assocation, he describes John Kinard's influence, and how he introduced or helped shape every important issue that organization addressed. He also describes Kinard's relationship with the Smithsonian Institution, and how he tried to give voice to what he felt the Anacostia community wanted. He talks about how the museum's programs and exhibits reflected issues relevant to the Anacostia community, and how the museum has changed over time yet has continued to generate exhibitions that are of national importance.

The interview was recorded on May 13, 1992. The audio quality is faint with some background noise, but the interview can generally be heard clearly throughout the recording.

Exhibitions mentioned: Black women: achievements against the odds, The Rat: Man's Invited Affliction.

Biographical / Historical:

Edmund Barry Gaither (1944-) was born in Great Falls, South Carolina. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Morehouse College, and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Brown University in 1968. In 1969, he became curator of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. He founded the National Center of Afro-American Artists in Roxbury, Massachusetts, taught courses in African American studies at Boston University, and lectured about African American art at various colleges, including Spelman College, Massachusetts College of Art, Harvard College, and Wellesley College. He served on the Commission on Museums for a New Century, the American Alliance of Museums, and on President George W. Bush's Advisory Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He was also the first president of the Association of African American Museums.

Provenance:

Conducted as part of the ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, which includes approximately 100 interviews of residents and influential people of the Anacostia area of Washington, DC.

Restrictions:

Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.

Genre/Form:

Oral histories (document genres)

Collection Citation:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Identifier:

ACMA.09-034, Item AV001620

See more items in:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project

Archival Repository:

Anacostia Community Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/qa753e28e31-3830-4d69-8866-e66711e16242

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-acma-09-034-ref186

Interviewer:

Martin-Felton, Zora  Search this

Interviewee:

Nagelgast, E. Blanche  Search this

Names:

MuseuMAfricA (Johannesburg, South Africa)  Search this

Nagelgast, E. Blanche  Search this

Collection Creator:

Anacostia Community Museum  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound cassette

Type:

Archival materials

Sound cassettes

Oral histories (document genres)

Place:

South Africa

Date:

1992 May 6

Scope and Contents note:

E. Blanche Nagelgast, the former curator of the Africana Museum in Johannesburg, describes hearing Dr. John Kinard's speech at the Conference of the South African Museums Association in 1987, how he described the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum) with great pride, and the impact it had on her and her colleagues. She describes how the Africana Museum began to build a non-Eurocentric museum, and began collecting things from the indigenous population, like artwork, bead work, headdresses, and bridal veils. She talks at length about animal toys that children in rural areas had made from wire, which are now collected by museums, including a museum in Washington.

The interview was conducted by Zora Martin-Felton. There is some minor background noise, but the interview can be heard clearly throughout the recording.

Biographical / Historical:

E. Blanche Nagelgast (1931-) worked as a cataloguer for the Johannesburg Public Library, in South Africa, in 1962 and became a librarian in 1975. She joined the staff of the Africana Museum in Johannesburg in 1976, and became chief curator in 1980. She retired in 1993.

Provenance:

Conducted as part of the ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, which includes approximately 100 interviews of residents and influential people of the Anacostia area of Washington, DC.

Restrictions:

Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.

Topic:

Indigenous art  Search this

Genre/Form:

Oral histories (document genres)

Collection Citation:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Identifier:

ACMA.09-034, Item AV001621

See more items in:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project

Archival Repository:

Anacostia Community Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/qa7e755e1ac-174a-42cc-a351-20e4fc885706

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-acma-09-034-ref191

Interviewee:

Shackleton, Polly , 1910-1997  Search this

Names:

Carver Theater (Washington, DC)  Search this

Frederick Douglass Memorial Home  Search this

Ladybird Johnson's Beautification Committee  Search this

Anderson, Stanley J.  Search this

Hutchinson, Louise Daniel  Search this

Marsh, Caryl  Search this

Ripley, S. Dillon (Sidney Dillon), 1913-2001  Search this

Shackleton, Polly , 1910-1997  Search this

Collection Creator:

Anacostia Community Museum  Search this

Extent:

1 Sound cassette

Type:

Archival materials

Sound cassettes

Oral histories (document genres)

Place:

Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)

Date:

1991 August 2

Scope and Contents note:

Polly Schackleton describes being a part of Ladybird Johnson's Beautification Committee and working with a group of young people in the Anacostia area, which led to her involvement with the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum). She discusses the positive effect the museum had on the neighborhood by providing opportunities for residents and by focusing on local history. She talks about how the museum changed after relocating, by having a much better facility, but also being less accessible to the neighborhood. She also describes the important contributions of John Kinard, Stanley Anderson, Louise Hutchinson, and Zora Martin-Felton.

The interview was recorded on August 2, 1991. The audio quality is clear throughout the recording with some minor background noise.

Biographical / Historical:

Polly Shackleton (1910-1997) was born in Brookline, Massachusetts. She attended Garland Junior College and Simmons College's School for Social Work. She also studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the New School for Social Research. She moved to Washington DC in 1939 and worked on Franklin Delano Roosevelt's presidential campaign. She served as editor for Who's Who in American Art, and American Art Annual. During World War II, she worked as an information specialist and researcher for the Office of War Information. From 1951 to 1962, she worked for the American Institute of Architects. In 1956, she became a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, serving on the platform committee. In 1967, President Johnson appointed her to the newly created unelected DC Council. In 1974, she won the first election for Ward Three, and served from 1975 to 1987. Her efforts helped in the passing of 60 pieces of legislation that became DC law.

Provenance:

Conducted as part of the ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, which includes approximately 100 interviews of residents and influential people of the Anacostia area of Washington, DC.

Restrictions:

Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.

Genre/Form:

Oral histories (document genres)

Collection Citation:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Identifier:

ACMA.09-034, Item AV001622

See more items in:

ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project

Archival Repository:

Anacostia Community Museum Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/qa77c3c76c5-c010-4611-b464-f49d086b8526

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-acma-09-034-ref196