Harry Henderson and Ruth Fine. Interview about Romare Bearden with Harry Henderson, 2001 December 21. Ruth Fine papers, circa 1929-2016. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Ed Morrow and Romare Bearden. Interview with Ed Morrow, 1987-1988. Ruth Fine papers, circa 1929-2016. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
The Anacostia Oral History Project Collection contains 39 oral history interviews with 42 individuals who either grew up in or spent a considerable amount of time in the neighborhood. Interviewees discuss their memories of Anacostia dating back to the 1890s and points of focus include education, occupations, transportation, geographic boundaries, and recreational and community activities. The interviews were conducted and recorded on audiocassettes in 1975 through the Center for Anacostia Studies and the Anacostia Community Museum. Most of the interviews have been digitized and are accessible in the archive on CDs.
Biographical/Historical note:
The Center for Anacostia Studies was the predecessor of the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum research department.
Related Archival Materials note:
The Anacostia Community Museum Archives also houses other oral histories of the area, including the ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project.
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist at acmarchives@si.edu.
6 Linear feet (3 record boxes, 2 legal size clamshell boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Exhibition catalogs
Contact sheets
Correspondence
Clippings
Photographic prints
Negatives
Exhibition records
Oral histories (document genres)
Place:
Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)
Date:
1898-1988
Scope and Contents:
The records of the Evolution of a Community: 1972 Exhibition presented by the Anacostia Community Museum measure 6 linear feet and date from 1898 to 1988. Included are exhibit administrative files, lists of images, press releases for the promotion of the exhibit, oral history transcripts and permission forms, and extensive research files into the Anacostia community in southeast Washington D.C.
The Research Files series contains news clippings, publications, unpublished articles, project files, and research material for the exhibitions. Subjects include local figures and the Barry's Farm neighborhood, unpublished historical narratives, and project records related to archaeological investigations and neighborhood development programs.
The Interview series consists of transcripts of the audio collected in 1970-1971 for the "Evolution of a Community" exhibits. This series also incliudes interview notes and thank you letters from the museum to the interviewees.
Exhibit File series includes an outline for exhibit themes and proposed layouts, drafts of the exhibit scripts, lists of exhibit objects, promotional press releases, and related correspondence.
Arrangement:
Evolution of a Community: 1972 exhibition records is arranged in 4 series.
Series 1: Research Files
Series 2: Interviews
Series 3: Exhibit Files
Series 4: Audiovisual Materials
Historical Note:
Three exhibitions were done by the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum between 1972 and 1975. The first exhibition was The Evolution of a Community, Part 1: 1608-1955 and was held from February 27, 1972 – August 31, 1972. This exhibition centered on the history of Anacostia from 1608 until shortly after World War II, drawing from the 1970 oral histories interviews with longtime residents. The second exhibition was The Evolution of a Community, Part 2: 1955-Present and was held from September 1, 1972 – December 31, 1972. This exhibition showcased Anacostia's history from 1955 to 1972 and was organized into five major topics: housing, unemployment, education, crime, and drugs. The last exhibition was Anacostia Today: The Evolution of a Community, Part 2: Continued and was held from March 1, 1973 – July 31, 1973. This exhibition was the same exhibition as The Evolution of a Community, Part 2: 1955-Present but brought back for the museum's fifth anniversary and continued its focus on its five major topics.
Records of the Evolution of a Community: 1972 Exhibition were created by the Anacostia Community Museum.
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.
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: 1972 Exhibition Records, 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).
