Interview: Pleasant Burke, A Man of Peace

Object Details

Creator: Anacostia Neighborhood Museum
Names: Anacostia Community Museum; Anacostia Neighborhood Museum; Lorton Reformatory; Burke, Pleasant; Martin-Felton, Zora
Collection Creator: Anacostia Community Museum

Occupation: Artists
Topic: African Americans; African American artists; Prisoners; African American prisoners

Custodial History: Created for Anacostia Neighborhood Museum. Recorded at Anacostia Neighborhood Museum in the office of the Director.

Citation: Interview: Pleasant Burke, A Man of Peace, Record Group AV09-023, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution.

Scope and Contents: Discussion between Zora Martin-Felton and Pleasant Burke about Burke's feelings, insights, and experiences. Some discussion about life at Lorton Reformatory and his return to the community. Pleasant Burke, a painter and resident of Lorton Reformatory, explains his painting and what he communicates to people through his work. Burke talks about his artistic process, the media he works with, why he creates art, and his evolution as an artist. He also talks about the experience of being an artist at Lorton Reformatory, the artistic and creative opportunities at Lorton Reformatory, and his family and life (crime and drugs) prior to his stay at Lorton Reformatory. At the end of the recording, Burke recites a poem he wrote about his painting.; Interview/Discussion. Part of ACM Museum Events, PR, and Ceremonies Recordings. Dated 19740326.

Collection Restrictions: Use of the materials requires an appointment. Some items are not accessible due to obsolete format and playback machinery restrictions. Please contact the archivist at acmarchives@si.edu.