Oral History Interview with (Dr.) Charles Qualls

Object Details

Names: Bethlehem Baptist Church (1872-) (Washington, D.C.); Campbell African Methodist Episcopal Church (Washington, D.C.); Frederick Douglass Memorial Home; Qualls, Charles E., 1932-1984
Collection Creator: Anacostia Community Museum

Topic: African American men; African Americans; Community Organizations; Community development; Segregation -- United States; Frederick Douglas; Anacostia Neighborhood Museum; exhibit

See more items in: Evolution of a Community: 1972 Exhibition Records; Evolution of a Community: 1972 Exhibition Records / Series 2: Interviews

Sponsor: Funding for partial processing of the collection was supported by a grant from the Smithsonian Institution's Collections Care and Preservation Fund (CCPF).

Extent: 1 Sound recording ((1 data disk DVD-R digital, 24-bit 96kHz WAV.))); 1 Sound recording ((1 sound disk CD-R (00:32:39). digital, 16-bit 44.1 KhZ))

Type: Archival materials; Audio; Sound recordings; Oral histories (document genres)

Collection Citation: Evolution of a Community: 1972 Exhibition Records, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution.

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.

Scope and Contents note: Dr. Charles Qualls, an African American man born in 1912, discusses his memories of Anacostia and what the neighborhood was like during his younger years. He speaks on a variety of subjects, such as geographical boundaries, recreation, the ethnic and racial makeup of the community, and lower-income housing. He also talks about typical occupations for African American residents, including clerks and messengers; about how segregation and integration changed Anacostia; and about what politics looked like in the area. Dr. Qualls recalls his efforts to improve the neighborhood, such as installing flood lights, raising money for the Cafritz Hospital, and restoring the Frederick Douglass Home while he was chairperson of the Coordinating Committee of Anacostia Vicinity. He concludes the interview by talking about current issues in the neighborhood with sanitation, transportation, and housing. Dr. Charles Qualls was interviewed on November 23, 1970 by an unnamed volunteer or staff member at 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.