In 1992, The Anacostia Cmmunity Museum celebrated its 25th anniversary. In the year leading up to that event, oral history interviews with individuals engaged in the community and museum activities were gathered to document the workings of the Museum and help prepare for the 25th anniversary exhibition. All interviews were recorded on audiocassettes, which are currently stored at ACMA.
Related Archival Materials note:
The Anacostia Community Museum Archives also houses other oral histories of the area, including the Anacostia Oral History Project.
Provenance:
Materials were created as part of the Museum's 25th Anniversary exhibition and celebration.
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist at acmarchives@si.edu.
Steven Newsome, the second director of the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum), and successor to John Kinard, discusses the purpose and impact of the museum, and how it has changed over time. He describes how the museum has aligned more with the Smithsonian Institution, and how it now serves an international audience, while remaining devoted to the local community. He describes the "call and response" relationship the museum has with the neighborhood, where, for example, if the community asks for guidance in researching genealogy, the museum will sponsor genealogy workshops. He describes the museum as having become more academically grounded and focused on more diverse audiences.
The interview was conducted on December 17, 1991. There is background static, but the interview can be heard clearly throughout.
Biographical / Historical:
Steven C. Newsome (1952-2012) attended Trinity College and Emory University. He served as the Chief for the Office of Cultural and Educational Services, Division of History and Cultural Program, Department of Housing and Community Development in Annapolis, Maryland, the director of the Banneker-Douglass Museum, and as the Executive Director of the Maryland Commission on Afro-American History and Culture, before becoming the director of the Anacostia Museum from 1990 to 2004. In this role, he oversaw a renovation of the museum facilities and raised $8.5 million to support it. He created an annual summer academy for children and launched a national collecting initiative for the museum through the exhibit Precious Memories. After retiring from the Anacostia Museum, he became Executive Director of Prince George's Arts and Humanities Council, and founding director of Prince George's County African American Museum and Cultural Center. He also served on many boards of cultural organizations in the Washington DC area, including the American Association of Museums, Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington, and the Maryland Humanities Council, and also served a term as President of the Mid-Atlantic Museums Association.
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
Elaine Heumann Gurian discusses how she first became involved with the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum) in 1986, when she served as the Deputy Secretary of Museums for the Smithsonian Institution. She describes her many conversations with John Kinard, and the assistance she provided in transitioning to new leadership after he passed away in 1989. She also describes the extraordinary impact the original museum had on the museum community, the early exhibits, and how the museum changed after relocating to the Fort Stanton site.
The interview was conducted on December 11, 1991. There is static throughout the recording, but the interviewee can be heard clearly.
Exhibition mentioned: The Rat: Man's Invited Affliction.
Biographical / Historical:
Elaine Heumann Gurian (1937-) was born in New York City. She earned a Bachelor in Art History from Brandeis University in 1958, and a Master of Education in Elementary Education and Art Education from the State College of Boston in 1966. She worked as an Art Teacher for the Solomon Schechter School in Newton Massachusetts, an Art Consultant for the Boston Mayor General's Office (1969-1971), and as Director of Education for Instate Contemporary (1969-1972). In 1987, she became the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Museums at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC. Then in 1991, she became the Deputy Director for public program planning at the National Museum of the American Indian, followed by a role as Deputy Director for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. She continued to work as a senior consultant for projects at a range of institutions. In 2006, she authored the book Civilizing the Museum: The Collected Writings of Elaine Heumann Gurian. She also served as President of the Museum Group, and has received numerous awards and honors, including the Distinguished Service to Museums Award in 2004 from the American Association of 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
Christopher Reynolds recalls the grand opening of Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum) in 1967, when he was a student in junior high school. He remembers the speeches John Kinard and S. Dillon Ripley gave that day, with the themes "this museum is your museum" and "if people don't go to the museum, we'll take the museum to the people." He recalls how he became involved in the museum as a volunteer, and how he helped to organize the Youth Advisory Council with John Kinard. He remembers working with neighborhood children in creative productions, like plays, and the zoo and general store at the museum. He talks about his close relationship with Zora Martin-Felton, and the influence she and John had on him during his teenage years. He recalls how the Carver Theater site was a galvanizing location for the community, that was easily accessible. He remembers how there was a vibrancy on the block when a new exhibit was opening, and how the museum provided educational opportunities for everyone in a non-threatening way. He expresses his sense that the museum changed when it relocated, that it became less accessible, and less of a focal point of activity for the neighborhood.
The interview was recorded on July 13, 1991 by Helene Fisher. The audio is clear throughout the recording with some minor background noise.
Exhibitions mentioned: This Thing Called Jazz, The Rat: Man's Invited Affliction.
Biographical / Historical:
Christopher Reynolds (1952-) graduated from Sarah Lawrence College. He trained as a professional dancer with Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham, and Marcel Marceau. He went on to perform with the Paul Taylor Dance Company in the 1970s and 1980s, and with the Omega Liturgical Dance Group. He formed his own dance troupe in 1976, the Greg Reynolds Dance Quintet.
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
Joan Maynard, a founding preservationist of the historic Weeksville neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, discusses how she came to learn about the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum) in 1971 after attending a meeting of the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington DC. She talks about the museum's influence for developing African American museums throughout the country, its importance to and impact on the Anacostia neighborhood, and the leadership of John Kinard and Zora Martin-Felton. She discusses how a tour of the museum on its 5th Anniversary encouraged and energized members of the museum and preservation communities in New York.
The interview was conducted via telephone on May 9, 1992. There is background static throughout the recording, which makes it difficult to hear the interviewee in some parts.
Biographical / Historical:
Joan Maynard (1928-2006) was born in Brooklyn, New York on August 29, 1929. She attended Bishop McDonnell Memorial High, Art Career School in Manhattan, and graduated from Empire State College of the State University of New York. She was also a Revson Fellow at Columbia University and received an honorary doctorate from Bank Street College of Education. She worked as a commercial artist and art director for McGraw-Hill, and created comic book treatments of black history, including the Golden Legacy comic series. She also drew covers for The Crisis magazine, the official magazine for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. In 1968, she founded the Society for the preservation of Weeksville and Bedford Stuyvesant, which worked to preserve the legacy of Weeksville, a pre-Civil War African American community in Brooklyn, New York. She secured funding from the New York Landmarks Conservancy, the Downtown Brooklyn Association, and the Mary Flager Carey Trust in order to rehabilitate four wood-frame houses from the mid-1800s, and engaged the local community through public outreach and education, including recruiting students to participate in archaeological digs on the site. Joan Maynard served as President of the Society for the Preservation of Weeksville and Bedford Stuyvesant from 1972-1974, and as Executive Director from 1974-1999. She was also a member of Alex Haley's Junta Kinte Oral History Workshop, a founding member of the African American Museum Association, and was Trustee Emeritus of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, receiving their highest honor, the Louise DuPont Crowninshield Award. In 1983, she authored Weeksville, Then & Now: The Search to Discover, the Effort to Preserve, Memories of Self in Brooklyn, New York. She also received a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award from the Brooklyn District Attorney, Charles Hynes. In October of 2017, a block of Buffalo Avenue in Brooklyn was re-named Dr. Joan Maynard Way in her honor.
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
