Oral History Interview with William and Daisy Dyson

Object Details

Names: Armstrong High School (Washington, D.C.); Frederick Douglass Memorial Home; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; Dyson, Daisy; Dyson, William D., 1899-1992
Collection Creator: Anacostia Community Museum

Place: Anacostia (Washington, D.C.); Anacostia River (Md. and Washington, D.C.); Barry Farms (Washington, D.C.); Congress Heights (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).

Extent: 1 Sound recording ((1 data disk DVD-R digital, 24-bit 96kHz WAV.))); 1 Sound recording ((1 sound disk CD-R (00:53:09) digital, 16-bit 44.1 KhZ)); 1 Sound recording ((1 sound cassette (00:53:09)))

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: 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.