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
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
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
James A. Piper talks about his involvement in the construction of the original Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum) at the Carver Theater site. He describes the attitudes of residents, and the atmosphere in the neighborhood during that time. He details the efforts and influence of John Kinard, Zora Martin-Felton, and James (Jim) Mayo in shaping the museum and its programming. He describes the culture of the Smithsonian Institution, where he served as an exhibit designer, and the evolution of African American representation in museums over time.
The interview was recorded on July 15, 1991. The audio quality is clear throughout the recording with some minor background noise.
Exhibit mentioned: Black Patriots of the American Revolution.
Biographical / Historical:
James A. Piper served as an exhibit designer for the Smithsonian Institution for over 25 years. He was involved in the renovation of the Carver Theater, site of the original 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
Dorn C. McGrath (1930-) talks about discovering the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum) in 1968, meeting John Kinard, establishing a long-standing friendship with him, and serving in an advisory role for the museum. He describes the museum as providing an enriching educational experience for Anacostia youth by focusing on their environment and local issues. He details the difference between the original museum, which he describes as more accessible, more focused on the neighborhood, and "funky", and the new museum, which he describes as more stylized and able to accommodate larger gatherings. He also talks about the potential of the Anacostia community and his hope that new leadership will emerge to support further development.
The interview was recorded by Gail S. Lowe on March 26, 1991. The audio quality is clear throughout the recording with some minor background noise.
Exhibitions mentioned: The Rat: Man's Invited Affliction, The Real McCoy: Afro-American invention and innovation, 1619-1930.
Biographical / Historical:
Dorn C. McGrath was born in Bradford, Pennsylvania on May 16, 1930. He graduated from Bradford High School, earned a B.A. in engineering and architecture from Dartmouth in 1952, and a master's degree in city planning from Harvard University in 1959. He served in the U.S Navy from 1955 to 1958, and in the Civil Engineer Corps in Spain from 1958 to 1959. He worked for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Then he taught courses as an educator for George Washington University, first in the department of urban and regional planning, and later in the department of geography, a career which lasted 35 years. He founded George Washington University's center for urban and environmental research and served as chair of the geography department from 1996 to 2003. He worked closely with residents in neighborhood areas, including the Anacostia neighborhood in Washington DC. He was active as an alumnus of Dartmouth and served as class president from 2007 to 2013.
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
Byron Rushing discusses his affiliation with the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum) through its founding director, John Kinard, and through Zora Felton, the director of the education program. He describes seeking out John after receiving a fellowship from the National Endowment of the Arts to travel and meet with people involved with African American museums around the country, in support of his work at the Museum of African American History in Boston. He describes remaining in close contact with Kinard and Martin-Felton, and the significant influence the museum had on his work at the museum in Boston. He describes the seminal innovations of the museum, including the extension of its mission beyond exhibit content to a relationship with the community, the style of its staff, and its active presence and involvement in various issues. He expresses his view that the major successes of the museum were the tone and standard it set for African American museums in the United States, its education program, and its exhibit program because it involved members of the community in the production of exhibits.
The interview was recorded via telephone on June 12, 1992. It can be heard clearly throughout the recording, despite significant background noise.
At the 25 minute mark, the interview ends and a recording of an audio tour for the exhibition To achieve these rights: the struggle for equality and self-determination in the District of Columbia from 1791-1978, begins.
Exhibitions mentioned: The Rat: Man's Invited Affliction, Climbing Jacob's Ladder: the rise of Black churches in Eastern American cities, 1740 - 1877.
Biographical / Historical:
Byron Rushing (1942-) attended Harvard College and MIT, and received an honorary doctorate from the Episcopal Divinity School where he served as an adjunct professor. He served as president of the Museum of African American History in Boston from 1972 to 1985. He represented the Ninth Suffolk district in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1983 to 2019. He received the Harriet Tubman Community Achievement Award in 2012, and the HistoryMaker Award from the History Project in 2014.
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
Albert Hopkins describes how he came to be involved with the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum), through his role with the Anacostia Economic Development Corporation, where he and John Kinard served on the board of directors. He describes the museum's emphasis on African American history and achievements, and the impact it had on schools throughout Washington DC because tours came from all over the city to see special programs. He describes the critical contributions of Louise Hutchinson, Zora Martin-Felton, and John Kinard. He also talks about how the museum changed upon relocating, becoming less accessible while still serving the community.
The interview was recorded on April 21, 1992, and begins at about 30 minutes into recording, after Cynthia Matthews interview. The audio quality is clear throughout with some minor background noise.
Biographical / Historical:
Albert (Al) Hopkins (1941-2012) served in the Air Force from 1956 through 1960. He graduated from Howard University with a BS in Mathematics, and earned a JD from Howard Law School. In 1965 he served as associate engineer with the Human Engineering Section of the Man Machine Department of the Martin Marietta Company in Baltimore, where he worked with U.S. Air Force astronauts. In 1969 he became a Business Development Counselor for the Anacostia Economic Development Corporation, where he progressed to Deputy Director, then Executive Director from 1974 until his passing in 2012.
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
Amina J. Dickerson describes the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum) as a pioneering institution that provided great counsel and inspiration to the movement to create African American museums around the country. She views it as a model institution that served and was situated within its community, and that tried to elevate the spirit and the intellect of the residents to ever higher standards and awareness. She recalls collaborating with the museum on the Out of Africa exhibit in the 1970s when she worked for the Museum of African Art. She remembers Zora Martin-Felton's leadership in the education program, an effort she says to develop the skills, intellect and spirit of young people in the Anacostia area. She recounts the museum's many successes including the development of exhibitions that came to serve the network of African American museums around the country, and their commitment to creating publications to accompany their exhibitions.
The interview was recorded via telephone. The voices are somewhat muffled, but can be heard clearly throughout the recording.
Exhibitions mentioned: Out of Africa: from West African kingdoms to colonization, The Rat: Man's Invited Affliction, Climbing Jacob's Ladder: the rise of Black churches in Eastern American cities, 1740 - 1877, Black women: achievements against the odds.
Biographical / Historical:
Amina J. Dickerson began her career in theater after studying at Emerson College in Boston. She earned an MA in Arts Management from American University in Washington, DC. From 1974 to 1982, she served as Director of Education at the National Museum of African Art. In 1983, she served as Assistant Director of Philadelphia's Afro-American Historical and Cultural Museum. In 1984, she served as President of Dickerson Global Advisors. She has also served as Co-Interim Director of the University of Chicago's Smart Museum of Art, and the DuSable Museum of African American History. She has held leadership positions at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art, the Chicago Historical Society, the Woods Fund of Chicago, and as Vice President of the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation. She has also served as Chair of the Chicago's Cultural Advisory Council, and Co-Chair of the Art Institute of Chicago's Leadership Advisory Committee. She was honored as Chicago Professional Grantor of the year in 2002, Chicagoan of the Year in 2004, received the Legacy Award from the ETA Creative Arts Foundation, the Annual Sir Juana Award from the Mexican Fine Arts Center, and the Jazz Institute's Tim Black Award for Community Service in 2006.
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
Charles W. Mickens discusses how he came to become involved with the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum). He recalls working as the Assistant Chief of Production for Exhibits at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, developing a training program for exhibition design, and establishing a close collegial relationship with John Kinard, which eventually led to Kinard offering him a job at the museum. He talks about making plans to finish the interior of the Carver Theater so that it could be utilized as an exhibition space, and how there was no funding for that effort. He remembers making the renovation a project for his students because many of the skills required would also apply to exhibit design, like putting up drywall. He describes Kinard's generosity in the community, how he held big lunches which many residents would attend, and how he kept an open-door policy. He says that through the community's engagement, and Kinard's strong leadership, the museum became like the "Rock of Gibraltar", protected from attempted closures.
The interview was recorded on July 12, 1991. There is some background noise, but the interview can be heard clearly throughout the recording.
Exhibitions mentioned: The Frederick Douglass years: a cultural history, Blacks in the Westward Movement, The Rat: Man's Invited Affliction.
Biographical / Historical:
Charles W. Mickens worked for the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History as Assistant Chief of Production Exhibits, and established a training program for exhibit design. He later supervised exhibit production for the Anacostia Community Museum before retiring in 1977.
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
Caryl Marsh was a psychologist for the Washington DC Recreation Department. She was consulted in the development of the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum), and she describes writing the initial plan for the museum, working with various community groups, developing criteria for location selection, and conducting regular meetings with the museum's Advisory Committee. She worked alongside community and museum leaders like S. Dillon Ripley, Stanley Anderson, and Charles Blitzer, and describes how John Kinard came to be selected as the first director. She recalls the experimental nature of the museum, its focus on outreach, and how its innovation influenced the national museum community. She also describes the positive impact the museum had on the Anacostia community, how it has changed over time, and its relationship with the Smithsonian Institution.
The interview was recorded on July 25, 1991. There is background noise throughout the recording, but the interview can be heard clearly.
Exhibitions mentioned: The Rat: Man's Invited Affliction, The Frederick Douglass years: a cultural history.
Biographical / Historical:
Caryl Marsh (1923-) earned a bachelor's degree from Brooklyn College in 1942, and a Master of Arts from Columbia University in 1946. She was the Assistant Cultural Attache to the American Embassy in Paris from 1946 to 1948. She served as a psychologist for the District of Columbia Recreation Department from 1957 to 1969, and a Special Assistant for the Smithsonian Institution from 1966 to 1973. In 1978, she earned a Doctor of Philosophy from George Washington University. From 1978 to 1985, she served as an Exhibitions Curator for the National Archives, and from 1985-1986, she served as Senior Exhibitions Specialist. She also served as Director of the traveling psychology exhibition for the American Psychological Association from 1986 to 1993, and Chair of the humanities seminars for the Science Technology Centers, Science Museum Association from 1994 to 2001. She retired in 2003.
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
Introductory narration for museum exhibit, Evolution of a Community, draws parallel between the greed and ignorance of Europeans enslaving and dehumanizing Africans beginning in 1442, and the racism and inequality of African Americans 500 years later. The museum exhibit examines the social ills - unemployment, feeble health care, starving bodies, poor housing, and deadly drugs - that daily plaque the community of Anacostia.
Narration. Part of Evolution of a Community Audiovisual Records. Undated.
Biographical / Historical:
Evolution of a Community, an exhibit at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum from January 1972 though December 1972, presented the history of Anacostia from post-World War II to the present through photos, text, drawings, video tape programs, and a slide/tape show. Evolution of a Community Part II, also known as Anacostia Today, was on display at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum from March 1973 though July 1973. The exhibitions developed as a result oral histories collected from Anacostia residents.
General:
Title transcribed from physical asset.
Series Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Some items are not accessible due to obsolete format and playback machinery restrictions. Please contact the archivist at acmarchives@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Prologue to Evolution of a Community Part II, Exhibition Records AV03-040, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for partial processing of the collection was supported by a grant from the Smithsonian Institution's Collections Care and Preservation Fund (CCPF).
Building, painting, prepping, and installation of museum exhibit, Evolution of a Community, at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum.
B-roll footage of installation of museum exhibit. Part of Evolution of a Community Audiovisual Records. Undated.
Biographical / Historical:
Evolution of a Community, an exhibit at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum from January 1972 though December 1972, presented the history of Anacostia from post-World War II to the present through photos, text, drawings, video tape programs, and a slide/tape show. Evolution of a Community Part II, also known as Anacostia Today, was on display at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum from March 1973 though July 1973. The exhibitions developed as a result oral histories collected from Anacostia residents.
General:
Title transcribed from physical asset.
Series Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Some items are not accessible due to obsolete format and playback machinery restrictions. Please contact the archivist at acmarchives@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Evolution of a Community Exhibition Installation, Exhibition Records AV03-040, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for partial processing of the collection was supported by a grant from the Smithsonian Institution's Collections Care and Preservation Fund (CCPF).
The Smithsonian Institution president, Anacostia residents, and city politicians provide remarks for the official opening of the exhibition Evolution of a Community at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum. Their speeches cover the history, purpose, and growth of the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum; an introduction to the exhibit; the role of museums, particularly the role of the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum within in the community of Anacostia and the city of Washington, D.C.; a short history of the people of Anacostia, including the establishment of Anacostia and Barry Farms; the importance of recording history for the people of a community; the present state of Anacostia; and what Anacostia will be for future generations. Recording also includes footage of exhibit displays, museums visitors, and exterior of the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum; and a musical performance by Blackstone Rangers Band.
Exhibition opening. Part of Evolution of a Community Audiovisual Records. AV003208: part 1. AV003182: part 2. AV003208: glitches/skips in video recording. Undated.
Biographical / Historical:
Evolution of a Community, an exhibit at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum from January 1972 though December 1972, presented the history of Anacostia from post-World War II to the present through photos, text, drawings, video tape programs, and a slide/tape show. Evolution of a Community Part II, also known as Anacostia Today, was on display at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum from March 1973 though July 1973. The exhibitions developed as a result oral histories collected from Anacostia residents.
Local Numbers:
ACMA AV003208
General:
Title transcribed from physical asset.
Series Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Some items are not accessible due to obsolete format and playback machinery restrictions. Please contact the archivist at acmarchives@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Opening: Evolution of a Community Pt. 1, Exhibition Records AV03-040, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for partial processing of the collection was supported by a grant from the Smithsonian Institution's Collections Care and Preservation Fund (CCPF).
Through narration and street interviews conducted by James Campbell, Anacostia residents talk about the tight knit, safe community prior to the rise in crime; insignificant employment and recreation opportunities after increased migration to Anacostia as a result of Southwest Urban Renewal projects; how increased population and lack of opportunities lead to increased crime, drug use, and unemployment in Anacostia; government trying to control crime though programs like methadone maintenance rather than dealing with the deepest concerns; and reasons for high rate of unemployment, including inadequate schools, racial discrimination, and ineffective unemployment and social services. Teachers talk about overcrowded classes, outdated curriculum, and the overall education system; students discuss their teachers.
Narration and interviews. Part of Evolution of a Community Audiovisual Records. Interviews product of Street Interviews. AV003499: street interviews and narration from 001505 - 001710 [also on recording: Narration about West African Slave Trade and Out of Africa Narration]. Undated.
Biographical / Historical:
Evolution of a Community, an exhibit at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum from January 1972 though December 1972, presented the history of Anacostia from post-World War II to the present through photos, text, drawings, video tape programs, and a slide/tape show. Evolution of a Community Part II, also known as Anacostia Today, was on display at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum from March 1973 though July 1973. The exhibitions developed as a result oral histories collected from Anacostia residents.
Local Numbers:
ACMA AV003499
General:
Title transcribed from physical asset.
Series Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Some items are not accessible due to obsolete format and playback machinery restrictions. Please contact the archivist at acmarchives@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Evolution of a Community Part III: Crime, Unemployment, Education, Exhibition Records AV03-040, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for partial processing of the collection was supported by a grant from the Smithsonian Institution's Collections Care and Preservation Fund (CCPF).
Narrator, possibly reading from a book or diary, describes a streetcar journey around the Washington, D.C. metro area on August 5, 1906. He states the character's observations and experiences encountering negroes along the journey, including internally questioning the motives of negroes.
Narration. Part of Evolution of a Community Audiovisual Records. AV003371-1 and AV003371-2 same content; AV003371-2 sound beeps throughout the recording. Undated.
Biographical / Historical:
Evolution of a Community, an exhibit at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum from January 1972 though December 1972, presented the history of Anacostia from post-World War II to the present through photos, text, drawings, video tape programs, and a slide/tape show. Evolution of a Community Part II, also known as Anacostia Today, was on display at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum from March 1973 though July 1973. The exhibitions developed as a result oral histories collected from Anacostia residents.
Local Numbers:
ACMA AV003371-2
General:
Title transcribed from physical asset.
Series Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Some items are not accessible due to obsolete format and playback machinery restrictions. Please contact the archivist at acmarchives@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Evolution of a Community Part I, Exhibition Records AV03-040, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for partial processing of the collection was supported by a grant from the Smithsonian Institution's Collections Care and Preservation Fund (CCPF).
Historian Louise Daniel Hutchinson leads tour of museum exhibit Evolution of a Community. The tour includes four stops: Douglass Hall (black shopping center), Old Birney School, a black home, and a black church. Prior to the tour, Hutchinson provides a history of Anacostia from its earliest beginnings when the Nacotchtank Indians, part of the Algonquian family, lived on the land now known as Anacostia until General Howard bought land, Barry Farms, to break up into lots to sell to free blacks through the Freedman's Bureau. During the tour, Hutchinson describes employment in the 1920s; segregation in schools, businesses, and theaters; the clearing of Tent/Shack City, where veterans lived, with tear gas and fire under the direction of Douglass MacArthur, George Patton, and Dwight Eisenhower in 1932; home life and items found in a black home in the 1920s; and the importance of the church to the spiritual and social lives of black people.
Tour of exhibit. Part of Evolution of a Community Audiovisual Records. Video recording quality: image drop out and skips in recording. Undated.
Biographical / Historical:
Evolution of a Community, an exhibit at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum from January 1972 though December 1972, presented the history of Anacostia from post-World War II to the present through photos, text, drawings, video tape programs, and a slide/tape show. Evolution of a Community Part II, also known as Anacostia Today, was on display at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum from March 1973 though July 1973. The exhibitions developed as a result oral histories collected from Anacostia residents.
General:
Title transcribed from physical asset (Evolution of a Community) and contents of video recording (tour of the exhibit).
Series Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Some items are not accessible due to obsolete format and playback machinery restrictions. Please contact the archivist at acmarchives@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Evolution of a Community: Oral History of Anacostia, Exhibition Records AV03-040, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for partial processing of the collection was supported by a grant from the Smithsonian Institution's Collections Care and Preservation Fund (CCPF).
Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (ANM) staff discuss exhibition design and other details for Evolution of a Community Part II. They discuss how to best present each section of the exhibition: prologue, drug abuse, unemployment, crime, prison and rehabilitation, and education. The staff is particularly concerned with how children and youth will interact with and think about the drug abuse section; they discuss ways to further educate youth about drugs and how to emphasize the future can be different for the youth. Some of the staff is concerned that the exhibit addresses the problems, but not the solutions. They debate the role of the museum in the community, how to involve the Anacostia residents and community organizations further in the creation of exhibitions, and providing exhibition related activities and resources to the community. Additionally, the ANM staff discuss possible audiovisual components, graphics, photographs, three dimensional displays, and interactive elements to add to the exhibition. This recording also includes interviews with youth about their thoughts on the role of ANM and museums in general; and questions to ask H.R. Crawford, particularly in regards to his views on public housing.
Discussions (meeting) and interviews. Discussions related to exhibition, Evolution of a Community Part II. Interviews for Housing in Anacostia Video Project (transcribed from asset) and inquiries about role of museum. Part of Evolution of a Community Audiovisual Records. Poor audio quality (interference). Undated.
Biographical / Historical:
Evolution of a Community, an exhibit at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum from January 1972 though December 1972, presented the history of Anacostia from post-World War II to the present through photos, text, drawings, video tape programs, and a slide/tape show. Evolution of a Community Part II, also known as Anacostia Today, was on display at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum from March 1973 though July 1973. The exhibitions developed as a result oral histories collected from Anacostia residents.
Local Numbers:
ACMA AV003275-2
Series Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Some items are not accessible due to obsolete format and playback machinery restrictions. Please contact the archivist at acmarchives@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Staff Seminar: Exhibition Planning for Evolution of a Community Part II, Exhibition Records AV03-040, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for partial processing of the collection was supported by a grant from the Smithsonian Institution's Collections Care and Preservation Fund (CCPF).
An exhibition on Anna J. Cooper, Washington D. C. educator and author. It was organized by the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum and held there from February 1981 to September 1982. Louise Daniel Hutchinson served as curator. These records document the planning, organizing, execution, and promotion of the exhibition. Materials include correspondence, research files, exhibit scripts, administrative records, brochures, press coverage, education packets, loan agreements, and floor plans.
Related Archival Materials note:
Audiovisual materials related to this exhibition located in Anacostia Community Museum Archives.
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.
Topic:
African Americans -- Washington (D.C.) Search this
An exhibition on the history of the transatlantic slave trade, organized by the Anacostia Neighborhood and held there from February 1979-February 1980. Curated by Louise Daniel Hutchinson. These records document the planning, organizing, execution, and promotion of the exhibition. Materials include correspondence, research files, exhibit scripts, administrative records, brochures, press coverage, education packets, loan agreements, floor plans, and catalogues.
Related Archival Materials note:
Audiovisual materials related to this exhibition located in Anacostia Community Museum Archives.
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist.
