Oral History Interview with John Henry Jr. and Lucille Dale

Object Details

Names: Campbell African Methodist Episcopal Church (Washington, D.C.); Dunbar High School (Washington, D.C.); Saint Elizabeths Hospital (Washington, D.C.); Smoot family; Dale, John Henry, Jr., 1888-1973; Dale, Lucille Emma Patterson, 1889-1973
Collection Creator: Anacostia Community Museum

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

Topic: African American women; African American men; African Americans; Segregation -- United States; 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).

Container: Box 2, Folder 18; Box 4, Cassette 7; Box 4, Cassette 7A; Box 4, Cassette 7B; Box 4, Cassette 7C; Box 5, Disk 7 (Tapes 1 & 2); Box 5, Disk 7 (Tapes 3 & 4)

Type: Archival materials; Audio; Sound cassettes; Sound discs; Digital files; 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: 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.