The records of the Evolution of a Community: 1972 Exhibition presented by the Anacostia Community Museum measure 5.83 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The Research Files series contains news clippings, publications, unpublished articles, project files, and research material for the exhibitions. Subjects include local figures and the Barry's Farm neighborhood, unpublished historical narratives, and project records related to archaeological investigations and neighborhood development programs.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 the audio cassettes and transcripts of the oral history interviews collected in 1970-1971 for the Evolution of a Community exhibits. This series also includes interview notes and thank you letters from the museum to the interviewees. Digital audio files are available for some of the oral history interviews.
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:
Evolution of a Community began as a research project to investigate the history of Anacostia through oral histories. This project was funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Housing and Urban Development Department, and the Cafritz Foundation of Washington, D.C. The purpose of creating an oral history project was to record Anacostia's history from the perspective of its residents and translate those stories into meaningful and interesting exhibits. Three exhibitions were created from this project by the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community 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).
The papers of Anne Valk— a specialist in oral history, public history, and the social history of the 20th-century United States measure 3.75 linear feet and date from 1964 to 1997. The collection contains oral history interviews and documents acquired or created by Dr. Valk during her extensive research of key figures in D.C. community activism for her book, Radical Sisters: Second-Wave Feminism and Black Liberation in Washington D.C. (University of Illinois Press, 2010).
Research files and ephemera from the following people, organizations, and publications are represented in the collection: Josephine Butler (DC Statehood Party; Adams Morgan Organization), Etta Horn (Southeast Neighborhood House's Band of Angels; National Welfare Rights Organization), Dorothy Burlage (Southeast Neighborhood House), Betty Garman (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee), Judy Richardson (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee), Bernice Reagon (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee), Marcia Sprinkle (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee), Juanita Weaver (Quest), LaValleJones (Rape Crisis Center), Loretta Ross (Rape Crisis Center, National Black United Front, National Organization of Women), Peggy Cleveland (The Bridge), Joan Biren (DC Women's Liberation Movement), Cathy Wilkerson (SDS, Weather Underground), Tina Smith (SNCC), Off Our Backs newspaper, and Congress Of Racial Equality (CORE),
among others.
Biographical / Historical:
Anne Valk (1964- ) is a specialist in oral history, public history, and the social history of the 20th-century United States. Dr. Valk received a M.A. from Mount Holyoke College and a PhD in history from Duke University in 1996. Professor Valk has written extensively in the areas of women's history, history of feminism, and oral history. She teaches public history at the Graduate Center at City University of New York (CUNY) and is the director of the Center for Media and Learning/American Social History Project.
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist at acmarchives@si.edu.
Rights:
The Anne Valk papers are the physical property of the Anacostia Community Museum. Literary and copyright belong to the author/creator or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, and to obtain permission to publish or reproduce, contact the Museum Archives.
1 Sound recording ((1 data disk DVD-R digital, 24-bit 96kHz WAV.)))
Container:
Box 1, Folder 29
Box 4, Cassette 6A
Box 4, Cassette 6B
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Sound recordings
Sound cassettes
Oral histories (document genres)
Place:
Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)
Anacostia Community Museum
Date:
1970 - 1971 March 19
Scope and Contents note:
Almore Dale, an African American man born in 1911, discusses growing up in Anacostia when the neighborhood unofficially was segregated. Dale says the neighborhood is home to a considerable number of government employees as well as business owners, farmers, and other professionals. Dale, like many of his friends in Anacostia, attended public school at Birney Elementary School. Dale later attended Howard University, and the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. He talks about the typical family structure and dynamic, with most families having two parents with two to three children. Dale remembers how the community worked together to help raise the neighborhood children. Most families attended church, and he names Our Lady of Perpetual Help as the most popular church when he was growing up, and he describes the Anacostia Bank (now the Anacostia National Bank).
Dale talks about how politics was not a huge part of the community; how most of the community did not have the right to vote until a few years before the time of the interview; and how community associations and civic leadership helped shape Anacostia. Dale particularly emphasizes how women in the neighborhood, including Mrs. Webster and Jessie Bray Banks, provided charitable services, and bought property to help the community grow.
Almore Dale was interviewed by Irene White and Marlene Corbin on November 23, 1970. Digital audio files include white noise and static; interviewee can be heard clearly for some parts.
Collection Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: 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: 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).
1 Sound recording ((1 data disk DVD-R digital, 24-bit 96kHz WAV.)))
Container:
Box 1, Folder 31
Box 4, Cassette 21
Box 5, Disk 21
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Sound recordings
Oral histories (document genres)
Place:
Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)
Barry Farms (Washington, D.C.)
Anacostia Community Museum
Date:
1970- 1971 March 19
Scope and Contents note:
Amanda Forest, an African American woman born in 1883, and her daughter, Edna Forest Browne (born in 1906), speak about growing up in Anacostia and the differences between the two generations. Forest says some children attended Garfield Elementary School until the fifth grade and a few students went on to high school. She describes how churches also educated the neighborhood children. The two churches at the time were Emmanuel Episcopal Church and St. John CME Church. When Forest was growing up, the neighborhood only had one bank (Anacostia National Bank), no parks or transportation, and a single white police officer. By the time Browne was a child, school was compulsory, parks were being built, and a bus system was established. The biggest change the two women noticed was the racial tension between white and African American people before and after desegregating schools.
Browne talks about her mother's involvement in various community organizations, such as the Sunshine Relief Program and Cherie Club. Forest and Browne discuss how many women in the community organize these clubs, usually through their church, to help less fortunate families in the neighborhood. Mary E. Lewis and Betsy Paige were two female leaders in the community at the time.
Amanda Forest and Edna Forest Browne were interviewed on November 28, 1970, by an unnamed volunteer or staff member at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now the Anacostia Community Museum). Digital audio files include white noise and static; interviewee can be heard clearly for most parts.
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: 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: 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).
4 Digital files ((1 data disk DVD-R digital, 24-bit 96kHz WAV.)))
Container:
Box 2, Folder 26
Box 4, Cassette 14A
Box 4, Cassette 14B
Box 4, Cassette 14C
Box 5, Disk 14A & 14B
Box 5, Disk 14C
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Sound cassettes
Sound discs
Digital files
Oral histories (document genres)
Place:
Anacostia Community Museum
Date:
1970- 19 Mar 1971
2007 September 14
Scope and Contents:
Norris Scott, an African American man born on November 13, 1888, and his wife Claudine (née Blires) Trivers Scott, an African American woman born around 1893, discuss what Anacostia was like throughout their marriage, with Norris being from the area. They talk about the changing demographics of the neighborhood; what recreation was available for African American residents then, such as Eureka and Green Willow Parks for playing sports (baseball and rugby) as well as Ottaway Holmes for boating; what typical occupations, such as laborers and domestic workers; how the biggest churches at that time were Campbell AME Church and Bethlehem Baptist Church; and about banking at the only bank in the neighborhood, the Anacostia Bank (now Anacostia National Bank).
The Scotts also speak about the construction of public housing and Suitland Parkways starting in the 1940s and how those projects changed Anacostia. Additionally, they discuss how segregation and integration impacted the community, particularly how different administrations, such as the Wilson Administration, made racial tension worse. They conclude the interview providing information about the current problems of the neighborhood: transportation, sanitation, and crime.
Claudine (née Blires) Trivers Scott and Norris Scott were interviewed on December 5, 1970, by an unnamed volunteer or staff member at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now the Anacostia Community Museum). Digital audio files include white noise and static; interviewee can be heard clearly for most parts.
General:
Claudine's maiden name is Blires. Her first husband's last name is Trivers (she is the mother of George J. Trivers) and Norris Scott is her second husband.
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: 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: 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).
1 Digital file ((1 data disk DVD-R digital, 24-bit 96kHz WAV.)))
Container:
Box 2, Folder 27
Box 4, Cassette 16A
Box 4, Cassette 16B
Box 5, Disk 16
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Sound recordings
Sound discs
Digital files
Oral histories (document genres)
Place:
Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)
Anacostia Community Museum
Date:
1970- 1971 March 19
1974 April 3 - 1975 November 11
2007 September 14
Scope and Contents note:
Ophelia Settle Egypt, an African American woman born on February 20, 1903, discusses her time in Anacostia after moving to the neighborhood in 1940. She talks about the public education available (such as Dunbar High School), the "Social Work Row" in the neighborhood (a street in Anacostia where many social workers lived), the different occupations residents had, and the typical family structures. She describes how the neighborhood was segregated and how sit-in protests began the difficult integration process.
Egypt provides information about her time at Howard University, recalling student involvement with the sit-in protests (including her own experiences) as well as with musical groups at Howard Theater and Constitutional Hall, where students saw Duke Ellington and Marian Anderson perform. She speaks about how the communities in Anacostia used to be much more close-knit by organizing civic organizations and neighbors helping each other with childcare and housework. She recalls the fight for integration of schools and other public spaces. The interview is cut short during Egypt noting the difference between childrearing now versus when she was growing up.
Ophelia Settle Egypt was interviewed on December 9,1970, by an unnamed volunteer or staff member at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now the Anacostia Community Museum). Digital audio files include white noise and static; interviewee can be heard clearly for most parts. The interview was cut short due to a recording failure of tape #16B.
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: 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: 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).
Pierre McKinley Taylor, an African American man born in 1898, recounts his experiences in Anacostia growing up, describing the housing and shacks that were built under Army Chief of Staff Douglas MacArthur and his memories of raising farm animals on Cedar Hill and selling milk around the neighborhood. He provides detailed information about prominent families and community members (such as the Dale and Douglass families), local businesses (such as Dr. Shipley's Pharmacy and Dyson's Barbershop), and important landmarks (such as Douglass Hall, the Frederick Douglass Home, and Eureka and Green Willow Parks).
He talks about church-going and the closest three major churches growing up, Campbell AME Church, Bethlehem Baptist Church, and St. Philip's Church, as well as what transportation was available then. Other topics of discussion include the geographical boundaries of Anacostia and how they were segregated, typical employment and incomes, and the Anacostia newspaper.
Taylor also describes the political involvement, community organizing, and banking at the Anacostia Bank (now Anacostia National Bank). He recalls what it was like growing up in the Frederick Douglass Home with his sister, Caroline Taylor Crocker, including details about the history and maintenance of the home after the death of Helen Pitts Douglass.
Pierre McKinley Taylor was interviewed by John Bradshaw on December 31, 1970. His wife, Sarah Davis McKinley, was also present for the interview and answered a few questions under the name "Sarah" in the transcripts. Digital audio files include white noise and static; interviewee can be heard clearly for most parts.
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: 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: 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).
Raymond Bumbry, an African American man, describes what life was like in Anacostia when he was growing up, what schools people attended (Birney Elementary School and Dunbar High School), what jobs most people had (laborers, domestic workers, and schoolteachers), what churches people attended (St. Teresa's Catholic Church, Our Lady of Perpetual Help), and what parks people went to (Green Willow Park and Eureka Park).
Bumbry mentions that he and his neighbors began voting after the Kennedy administration. He also discusses being a part of the Masonic order and doing church work, as well as working for the federal government and passing the civil service examination. He ends the interview talking about popular transportation, such as horses and buggies or streetcars, and recommending other people in Anacostia to interview.
Raymond Bumbry was interviewed on December 3, 1970, by an unnamed volunteer or staff member at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now the Anacostia Community Museum). Digital audio files include white noise and static; interviewee can be heard clearly for most parts.
General:
Raymond Bumbry is sometimes misspelled as Bombray.
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: 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: 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).
1 Digital file ((1 data disk DVD-R digital, 24-bit 96kHz WAV.)))
Container:
Box 2, Folder 30
Box 4, Cassette 32
Box 5, Disk 32
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Sound discs
Sound cassettes
Digital files
Oral histories (document genres)
Place:
Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)
Fort Stanton (Washington, D.C.)
Anacostia Community Museum
Date:
1970- 19 Mar 1971
2007 September 14
Scope and Contents note:
Russell Lockwood Paxton, an African American man born around 1911, discusses his experiences in Anacostia since moving there in 1948. He recalls his time as a child in Northwest Washington D.C., attending Dunbar High School, visiting his friends in Anacostia, socialization, and recreational centers like the YMCA. He also talks about typical government jobs residents held in the 1940s and 1950s; how Washington D.C. was integrated but has "unwritten rules" for African American residents; how close-knit families and the communities used to be; church-going and Sunday school; and Home Rule and other political involvement of his neighbors.
Paxton discusses important landmarks in the neighborhood, including the Frederick Douglass Home and the Fort Stanton Recreation Center, as well as the different civic associations and community organizations he is a part of, including the Dr. Charles Qualls Anacostia Coordinating Committee and the Police Precinct Advisory Committee. Throughout the interview, he lists community leaders, such as Almore Dale, Ledru Koontz, Ella Foster, and James Banks. He ends the interview speaking about the current problems in Anacostia: crime, sanitation, and public housing and transportation.
Russell Lockwood Paxton was interviewed on January 8, 1971, by an unnamed volunteer or staff member at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now the Anacostia Community Museum). Digital audio files include white noise and static; interviewee can be heard clearly for most parts.
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: 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: 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).
Thomas Taylor, an African American man, talks about his time growing up in Anacostia and the changes he has seen over the years. He discusses common occupation for African American residents at the Navy Yard, St. Elizbeth's Hospital and Boiling Field while others worked jobs such as blacksmiths, farmers, police officers, and postal service workers. He speaks about how he dropped out of high school to work but later high school became compulsory after the 1940s. He recalls important neighborhood businesses at the time, including Dr. Shipley's Pharmacy and the Craig Farms, where they harvest tomatoes, string beans, and watermelons. He recalls typical recreational activities at that time, such as picnicking at Green Willow Park and attending dances at Birney Elementary School. He also provides information about local churches, including Campbell AME Church, St. Philip's Church, and Bethlehem Baptist Church. He recalls geographical boundaries and civic associations in Anacostia.
Taylor recalls the police force and race relations in Anacostia, as well as interactions between business owners. He recalls important historic landmarks, such as the Frederick Douglass Home, the Uniontown train station, and the Garfield Dance Hall. He discusses community organizing and leadership, listing John Henry Dale Jr., Emma Smith, and Mary Smith as notable community leaders. He ends the interview describing current issues in the neighborhood with sanitation, crime, and the lack of proper medical care in Anacostia.
Thomas Taylor was interviewed in March of 1971 by an unnamed volunteer or staff member at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now the Anacostia Community Museum). Digital audio files include white noise and static; interviewee can be heard clearly for most parts.
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: 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: 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).
1 Sound recording ((1 data disk DVD-R digital, 24-bit 96kHz WAV. )))
1 Sound recording ((1 sound cassette (00:22:54)))
Container:
Box 2, Folder 32
Box 4, Cassette 36
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Sound recordings
Oral histories (document genres)
Place:
Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)
Anacostia Community Museum
Date:
1970- 19 Mar 1971
Scope and Contents note:
Tracy Franklin Campbell, a white man born around 1895, recalls his time in Anacostia after moving there in 1921. Topics of discussion include neighborhood demographics, public education, recreation, church, and politics. He talks about segregation and racial tension in Anacostia; however, he recalls how everyone had to do business together because the neighborhood was so small. He discusses residents' employment with the government as well as at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, the U.S. Post Office Building in D.C., and the Navy Yard.
Campbell provides information about local churches and their congregations, such as St. Teresa's Church, St. Philip's Church, and Anacostia Methodist Church, as well as about community organizations he was a part of, such as Eastern Star and the Lion's Club. He lists prominent community members, including George Frazier, Elzie Hoffman, Ledru Koontz, George Mayo, and Lorenzo Thompson. He concludes the interview discussing the current problems of Anacostia and how much it has changed since he was younger regarding demographics and crime.
Tracy Franklin Campbell was interviewed on March 10, 1971 by an unnamed volunteer or staff member at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now the Anacostia Community Museum). Digital audio files include white noise and static; interviewee can be heard clearly for some parts.
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: 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: 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).
William A. Butler, an African American man, talks about living in Anacostia for over sixty years from 1904 to 1966. He discusses topics such as attending Birney Elementary School, local churches such as St. Teresa's Church, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and Campbell AME Church, swimming and fishing in Anacostia River, and recreation at Green Willow and Eureka Parks. He also provides information about family structures, church attendance, and politics. He speaks about how Anacostia was segregated; how close knit each community (Barry Farm-Hillsdale, Congress Heights, and Uniontown) was; and his experiences with racial discrimination, including racial slurs. The interview is cut short while Butler is speaking about important landmarks in the neighborhood, including the Frederick Douglass Home and Fort Stanton.
William A. Butler was interviewed in the spring of 1971 by an unnamed volunteer or staff member at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now the Anacostia Community Museum). Digital audio files include significant white noise and static; interviewee can be heard for some parts; interview is cut short at 00:32:27 due to recording failure. The transcript is also incomplete.
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: 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: 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).
William Dyson, an African American man born around 1899, and his wife, Daisy Dyson, an African American woman born 1903, talk about what life was like after moving to Anacostia in 1941. They discuss attending local public schools, such as Armstrong High School, and the geographic boundaries of the neighborhood and its communities (Congress Heights, Uniontown, and Hillsdale-Barry Farm), including the Anacostia River and Nicholas Street. They describe what recreation was popular (going to the beach, picnicking, and playing at parks) as well as which denominations people followed. They speak about how close knit the community and families were; racial tension and segregation in Anacostia; the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; and about the police force.
The Dysons recall important neighborhood landmarks, such as Gallinger Hospital, Frederick Douglass Home and Lincoln Park. Other topics of discussion include sanitation, transportation, and newspapers.
William and Daisy Dyson were interviewed by John Bradshaw on January 6, 1971. Digital audio files include white noise and static; interviewee can be heard clearly for some parts.
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: 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: 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).
John Henry Jr. Dale, an African American man born in 1888, and his wife, Lucille Emma Patterson Dale, an African American woman born in 1890, talk about their experiences growing up and living in the Anacostia neighborhood. Topics of discussion include the geographical boundaries of the communities (including how they were segregated), how the name Anacostia came about, typical occupations and incomes, family structures, and what education was available at various times. They describe various recreational activities, church attendance, and politics. They also discuss the changing race relations between the white and African American residents of Anacostia.
John Henry Jr. and Lucille both recall important neighborhood businesses and landmarks, such as the Anacostia Bank, Campbell AME Church, and Mason's Funeral Home. They include information about community leaders and civic associations. They end the interview noting pressing current issues the neighborhood faces, including employment, sanitation, and transportation.
John Henry Jr. Dale and Lucille Emma Patterson Dale were interviewed by an unnamed volunteer or staff member at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now the Anacostia Community Museum). Digital audio files include white noise and static; interviewee can be heard clearly for most parts.
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: 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: 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).
2 Sound discs ((1 sound disk CD-R (00:45:17). digital, 16-bit 44.1 KhZ)(1 sound disk CD-R (00:44:02). digital, 16-bit 44.1 KhZ))
1 Digital file ((1 data disk DVD-R digital, 24-bit 96kHz WAV.)))
Container:
Box 2, Folder 17
Box 4, Cassette 35
Box 4, Cassette 35B
Box 5, Disk 35
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Sound cassettes
Sound discs
Digital files
Oral histories (document genres)
Place:
Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)
Anacostia River (Md. and Washington, D.C.)
Anacostia Community Museum
Date:
1970- 1971 March 19
2007 September 14
Scope and Contents note:
James Banks, an African American man born in 1920, discusses growing up in Anacostia for the first 22 years of his life. He discusses topics such as education at Birney Elementary and Dunbar High and playing baseball in the sandlots or swimming in the Anacostia River. He talks about the geographical boundaries of the neighborhood as well as the changing demographics; how most families gardened and raised smaller livestock like chickens and pigs; segregation between the communities; and important landmarks in the area, such as Douglass Hall and Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
Banks mentions the prominent community members, including Elzie Hoffman, Almore Dale, Fannie Shipley, James Smoot, Martha Ellis, and Cora Wilkerson. He also speaks about the issues the neighborhood faces regarding the lack of healthcare, sanitation, and housing for residents.
James Banks was interviewed by John Bradshaw on February 22, 1971. Digital audio files include white noise and static; interviewee can be heard clearly for most parts.
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: 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: 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).
1 Digital file ((1 data disk DVD-R digital, 24-bit 96kHz WAV.)))
Container:
Box 2, Folder 19
Box 4, Cassette 33
Box 5, Disk 33
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Sound discs
Sound cassettes
Digital files
Oral histories (document genres)
Place:
Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)
Anacostia Community Museum
Date:
1970 - 1971 March 19
2007 September 14
Scope and Contents note:
John G. Warner, an African American man born around 1896, discusses growing up in Anacostia after moving there in 1903 with his family. He provides information about his education at the Birney School, playing at Green Willow and Eureka Park, banking at Anacostia Finance Company, and local landmarks such as the Frederick Douglass Home. He talks about his father, John B. Warner, who was a pastor at Campbell AME Church, and how close-knit the congregation was when he was younger.
Warner also spoke about community organizing, particularly through church gatherings, to help make improvements to the neighborhood, such as paving roads and putting in more streetlights. He describes a few of the major changes he has seen in Anacostia, including crime and the police, religious affiliations, and family structures.
John G. Warner was interviewed by an unnamed volunteer or staff member at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now the Anacostia Community Museum). Digital audio files include white noise and static; interviewee can be heard clearly for most parts.
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: 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: 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).
Leonard Jr. Ford, an African American man born around 1903, and his wife, Geraldine Ford, an African American woman born around 1905, they discuss the geographic boundaries, education, and community of Anacostia was like in the early years of their marriage. They recall how most children attended school through the 12th grade and how many classmates went onto college, despite the lack of public education in their neighborhood for African American children. Geraldine speaks about family structure and church attendance and Leonard recounts memories of fun activities and the racial tension in Anacostia.
Leonard Jr. and Geraldine Ford were interviewed by an unnamed volunteer or staff member at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now the Anacostia Community Museum). Digital audio files include white noise and static; interviewee can be heard clearly for most parts; interview is cut short at 00:17:21 due to recording failure. Transcript is also incomplete.
General:
Leonard G. Ford is sometimes mistaken for his son, Leonard G. Ford Jr. in the materials. Geraldine Ford's full name is Geraldine Mabel Reynolds Ford and is sometimes referred to by her middle name, Mabel, or the nickname "Jerlean."
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: 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: 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).
2 Digital files ((1 data disk DVD-R digital, 24-bit 96kHz WAV.)))
Container:
Box 2, Folder 21
Box 4, Cassette 20A
Box 4, Cassette 20B
Box 5, Disk 20
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Sound discs
Sound cassettes
Digital files
Oral histories (document genres)
Place:
Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)
Anacostia Community Museum
Date:
1970- 1971 March 19
Collection Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: 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: 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).
1 Sound recording ((1 data disk DVD-R digital, 24-bit 96kHz WAV. )))
1 Sound recording ((1 sound cassette (00:57:53)))
Container:
Box 2, Folder 22
Box 4, Cassette 39
Box 5, Disk 39
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Sound discs
Sound recordings
Oral histories (document genres)
Place:
Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)
Anacostia Community Museum
Date:
1970- 1971 March 19
Scope and Contents note:
Martha E. Ellis, an African American woman born in 1886, talks about her life in Anacostia, where she was born and raised and continues to live. Topics of discussion include education at Birney and Garfield Elementary Schools, recreational activities such as church, pageants, and choirs. the ethnic makeup of Anacostia, crime rates, and the difficulty of finding good paying jobs. She also describes typical family structures and incomes as well as local businesses, such as Dr. Shipley's Pharmacy, Mason's Funeral Home, and the Anacostia Bank (now the Anacostia National Bank).
Ellis provides information about the community organizations and civic associations she has been involved in, such as Eastern Star and the women's branch of the Masons, as well as prominent community leaders, such as the Dale and Mason families, and the pressing problems the community is facing today with crime and unemployment.
Martha E. Ellis was interviewed in March of 1971 by an unnamed volunteer or staff member at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now the Anacostia Community Museum). Her daughter, Ruth Ellis Duckett, was also present for the interview and answered a few questions under the name "Daughter" in the interview transcript. Digital audio files include white noise and static; interviewee can be heard clearly for most parts.
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: 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: 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).
1 Digital file ((1 data disk DVD-R digital, 24-bit 96kHz WAV.)))
Container:
Box 2, Folder 23
Box 4, Cassette 19
Box 5, Disk 19
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Sound cassettes
Sound discs
Digital files
Oral histories (document genres)
Place:
Fort Stanton (Washington, D.C.)
Anacostia Community Museum
Date:
1970- 1971 March 19
Scope and Contents note:
Mary A. Cooke, an African American woman born around 1903, recounts growing up in the Anacostia neighborhood. She talks about her education at Garfield Elementary and St. Anne's Catholic School as well as her family life. Other topics of discussion include recreation, racial tension, employment and income, and historical landmarks, such as Griswold Place and Fort Stanton. She also discusses important businesses in the community, including Douglass Hall and the Anacostia Bank (now the Anacostia National Bank). Other important landmarks in the area include St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Eureka and Green Willow Parks, and several churches, including Bethlehem Baptist Church, Campbell AME Church, and St. Teresa's Catholic Church.
Cooke describes what community organizing and civic associations were like at that time and what community leaders did to contribute to the neighborhood. Throughout the interview, she remembers important residents in Anacostia, such as Lucille Dale, Ollie Cooper, Dr. Luther Scott, James Smoot, and Dr. Rezin Shipley. She concludes the interview by talking about the current issues with crime in the neighborhood.
Mary A. Cooke was interviewed on December 12, 1970, by an unnamed volunteer or staff member at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now the Anacostia Community Museum). Digital audio files include white noise and static; interviewee can be heard clearly for most parts.
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: 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: 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).
