Object Details
- Local Numbers
- AV001420
- Names
- Bethlehem Baptist Church (1872-) (Washington, D.C.)
- Birney Elementary School
- Frederick Douglass Memorial Home
- Dale, John Henry, Jr., 1888-1973
- Shipley, Rezin, Dr., 1865-1924
- Smith, Emma
- St. Philip's Episcopal Church
- Taylor, Thomas
- Collection Creator
- Anacostia Community Museum
- Place
- Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)
- Anacostia Community Museum
- Topic
- African American men
- African Americans
- African American police
- 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 cassette (1 box)
- Date
- 1970- 19 Mar 1971
- Container
- Box 2, Folder 31
- Box 4, Cassette 45
- Archival Repository
- Anacostia Community Museum Archives
- Type
- Archival materials
- Audio
- 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.
- Genre/Form
- Oral histories (document genres)
- Scope and Contents
- 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.
- Record ID
- ebl-1698441000661-1698441001426-0
