Oral History Interview with Harold W. Ricker

Object Details

Names: Anacostia National Bank; Birney Elementary School; Koontz, Wilbur Ledru, 1902-1982; Mudd, Richard Dyer, 1901-2002; Ricker, Harold W., 1909-1983
Collection Creator: Anacostia Community Museum

Place: Anacostia (Washington, D.C.); Congress Heights (Washington, D.C.); Barry Farms (Washington, D.C.); Anacostia Community Museum

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 disc ((1 sound disk CD-R (00:27:25). digital, 16-bit 44.1 KhZ)); 1 Digital file ((1 data disk DVD-R digital, 24-bit 96kHz WAV. ))); 1 Sound cassette ((1 sound cassette (00:27:25)))

Type: Archival materials; Audio; Sound discs; Digital files; Sound cassettes; 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: Harold W. Ricker, a white man born in 1909, discusses what Anacostia was like during the first half of the twentieth century, including what schools (Ketcham Elementary School, Van Buren Elementary School, and Eastern High School) and churches he and other residents attended (Emmanuel Episcopal Church, St. Teresa's Catholic Church, and Anacostia Methodist Church). He recalls prominent community members, including Ledru Koontz and Dr. Richard Mudd as well as popular recreation growing up and historic landmarks, such as Anacostia Bank (now Anacostia National Bank), the 11th Street Bridge, and the Mudd family estate. He also speaks about the racial tension between the different communities, particularly between Congress Heights and Barry Farm. Harold W. Ricker 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 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.