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Title: Angelyn Whitehurst Interview, September 14, 2019
Date: September 14, 2019
Creator: Dan Kerr; Angelyn Whitehurst
Description: Angelyn “Angie” Whitehurst grew up in Petworth from the age of eleven and recalls the tight-knit community that existed between area schools, small, black-owned businesses, and the library. She discusses the long history of the neighborhood, originating before the Civil War as a plantation and the regentrification that she has seen occur in recent years, bringing a diversity of people and businesses. She wants to see the neighborhood be “happy, balanced, [and] incorporating of others” in future years.
Subject: 2019 Celebrate Petworth Festival; Petworth (Washington, D.C.); Neighborhood festivals; Gentrification; Racial segregation; Affordable housing
Country: United States
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/humanitiestruck:2003
Rights statement: Copyright for this object is held by American University and does not preclude any use the co-interviewee(s) may want to make of the information in the recordings themselves. This object is made available through the American University Digital Research Archive for research and educational purposes. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the object beyond the bounds of Fair Use must be obtained from the American University Library -- Archives and Special Collections.

Title: Joan Thomas Interview, September 14, 2019
Date: September 14, 2019
Creator: Dan Kerr; Joan Thomas
Description: Joan Thomas has lived in the same house on Varnum Street since 1949, and in the Petworth neighborhood since 1945. The Petworth she initially encountered was significantly different that the Petworth of 2019—she recalls the segregated establishments and schools and, in particular, the date when every white family on her street, save one, moved out rather than remain in an integrated neighborhood. Her recollections include the integration of the neighborhood, her local/national political activism, and her hopes for the future of the Petworth community.
Subject: 2019 Celebrate Petworth Festival; Petworth (Washington, D.C.); Neighborhood festivals; Racial segregation; White flight; CGentrification; Racial discrimination; Red Cross; Gray Ladies (Red Cross); Georgia Avenue (Washington, D.C.); Black-owned businesses; Political activism; Local businesses
Country: United States
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/humanitiestruck:2008
Rights statement: Copyright for this object is held by American University and does not preclude any use the co-interviewee(s) may want to make of the information in the recordings themselves. This object is made available through the American University Digital Research Archive for research and educational purposes. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the object beyond the bounds of Fair Use must be obtained from the American University Library -- Archives and Special Collections.

Title: Larry Neff Interview Part 1, October 26, 2021
Date: October 26, 2021
Creator: Larry Neff; Audrey Barnett
Description: In this interview, Larry Neff shares his experiences living in DC through the AIDS epidemic. He describes his gay community in DC prior to the outbreak of AIDS and then describes how the crisis transformed the community. Bet Mispachah, a queer synagogue in DC, proved to be an important support system for Neff through the height of the AIDS crisis and into the present day. He speaks on how his relationship with this organization has evolved throughout the years.
Subject: HIV; AIDS; Washington, DC; Foggy Bottom; Dupont Circle; George Washington University; gay and lesbian community; Lambda Rising bookstore; Connecticut Avenue; Kramers bookstore; government employees; racial segregation; Washington Blade; Washington Post; Whitman Walker; President Reagan; NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt; stigma; Bet Mishpachah; US Department of Transportation; PTSD; Judaism; University of Maryland; Bet Simchat Torah; David Green; Washington Hebrew Congregation; caregiving; Dace Stone; Jewish funeral practices; gay marriage; lesbian weddings; queer Jewish community; COVID-19; parenthood
Country: United States
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/humanitiestruck:3330
Rights statement: Copyright for this object is held by American University and does not preclude any use the co-interviewee(s) may want to make of the information in the recordings themselves. This object is made available through the American University Digital Research Archive for research and educational purposes. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the object beyond the bounds of Fair Use must be obtained from the American University Library -- Archives and Special Collections.

Title: Mara Johnson Interview, September 14, 2019
Date: September 14, 2019
Creator: Carmen Bolt; Mara Johnson
Description: Mara Johnson visited the Petworth neighborhood frequently while growing up, visiting a number of family members. She became a Petworth resident in 1973, when she moved into the home her aunt had lived in during Johnson’s childhood. Johnson notes a number of changes in the neighborhood over the past several decades, namely the transition from a predominantly black neighborhood to a more diverse community comprised of individuals from all over the world. Changing demographics have brought new commerce, and while she reflects fondly on the longtime businesses that no longer exist, she is excited by the variety of options—especially culinary—that are now available.
Subject: 2019 Celebrate Petworth Festival; Petworth (Washington, D.C.); Neighborhood festivals; Gentrification; Racial diversity; Local businesses; Family history; Community history
Country: United States
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/humanitiestruck:2009
Rights statement: Copyright for this object is held by American University and does not preclude any use the co-interviewee(s) may want to make of the information in the recordings themselves. This object is made available through the American University Digital Research Archive for research and educational purposes. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the object beyond the bounds of Fair Use must be obtained from the American University Library -- Archives and Special Collections.

Title: Paula White Interview, September 14, 2019
Date: September 14, 2019
Creator: Dan Kerr; Paula White
Description: Paula White came to the Petworth neighborhood in 1987. At the time of her arrival, she recalls a finding a mixed community made up of older white families and younger black families, a trend that has flipped in recent years. Her husband grew up in Petworth and they raised their children in the neighborhood. The library and pool feature prominently in her memories of their childhood, and she misses the closeness that existed between the community before familiar neighbors moved out. She is encouraged by the recent upsurge in community events and hopes it will revitalize the Petworth she once knew and bring the diverse residents of the neighborhood together.
Subject: 2019 Celebrate Petworth Festival; Petworth (Washington, D.C.); Neighborhood festivals; Racial diversity; Public transportation
Country: United States
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/humanitiestruck:2010
Rights statement: Copyright for this object is held by American University and does not preclude any use the co-interviewee(s) may want to make of the information in the recordings themselves. This object is made available through the American University Digital Research Archive for research and educational purposes. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the object beyond the bounds of Fair Use must be obtained from the American University Library -- Archives and Special Collections.

Title: Regina Chow McPhie Interview, January 26, 2020
Date: January 26, 2020
Creator: Dan Kerr; Regina Chow McPhie
Description: Native Washingtonian Regina Chow McPhie discusses her family history in DC's Chinatown and reflects on the necessity of perserving Chinese heritage in the area. She talks about how her family was involved in Chinatown from its earliest days, and how her grandfather helped start the Lee Family Association. She says that her grandfather and other immigrants were relegated to domestic work, such as the laundry business, due to racial discrimination and a hatred of the Chinese. Regina talks about how Chinatown has significantly diminished. She remembers visiting Chinatown and connecting with thousands of other Chinese in the 60s and 70s, whereas now only about 300 Chinese live in the area. While she admires the DC government's efforts to preserve Chinatown, she thinks they can do more, perhaps with money collected from parking tickets. She says now that Chinatown is struggling to exist. Regina sees a dichotomy between the older and younger generations in terms of the importance of preserving heritage. She views this as extremely important: "if you don't have your heritage, you don't have your history. You don't exist."
Subject: Lunar New Year Festival; Chinese New Year's Day parade; Chinatown (Washington, D.C.); Chinatown (San Francisco, CA); Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association; 1882 Foundation; Chinese Americans; Ethnic identity; Chinese identity; Chinese heritage; Chinese culture; Chinese Railroad Workers Descendants Association; Transcontinental Railroad; Racial discrimination; Domestic workDomestic work; Anacostia Community Museum; Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum; Dr. Samir Meghelli; Harry Chow (community activist); Penny Lee (documentary producer); Wah Luck House; Mary E. Surratt Boarding House; Chinese laundries; Chinese-owned businesses; Local businesses; Chinese immigrants; immigrants; Ethnic identity; Chinese identity; Chinese culture; family associations; Lee Family Association; Affordable housing; Gentrification; Urban development
Country: United States
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/humanitiestruck:2038
Rights statement: This work has been identified as being free of known restrictions under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, under the terms of Public Domain.

Title: Reginald Thomas, Roosevelt Daniels, Michael Vanison Interview, September 14, 2019
Date: September 14, 2019
Creator: Dan Kerr; Reginald Thomas; Roosevelt Daniels; Michael Vanison
Description: Reginald Thomas, Roosevelt Daniels, and Michael Vanison grew up together in the Petworth neighborhood. They attended Petworth Elementary School, played together in the area that is now occupied by the Recreation Center, and have fond memories about how closely knit the community was. The three shared recollections about the way the community has changed, naming stores that no longer exist but still provoke fond memories. Additionally they recall difficult moments such as the riots surrounding the Martin Luther King, Jr. assassination. Their strong ties to the community led them to form the Petworth Reunion Committee, which seeks to commemorate the Petworth of their youth.
Subject: 2019 Celebrate Petworth Festival; Petworth (Washington, D.C.); Neighborhood festivals; Petworth Reunion Committee; Shepherd Street (Washington, D.C.); Local businesses; Georgia Avenue (Washington, D.C.); Public transportation; Upshur Street (Washington, D.C.); Rock Creek Park (Washington, D.C.); Martin Luther King, Jr., assassination of; 1968 riots; Racial diversity
Country: United States
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/humanitiestruck:2011
Rights statement: Copyright for this object is held by American University and does not preclude any use the co-interviewee(s) may want to make of the information in the recordings themselves. This object is made available through the American University Digital Research Archive for research and educational purposes. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the object beyond the bounds of Fair Use must be obtained from the American University Library -- Archives and Special Collections.

Title: Rita Moy Interview, January 26, 2020
Date: January 26, 2020
Creator: Jenna Goff; Rita Moy
Description: Native Washingtonian Rita Moy reflects on her history with the Chinese New Year celebration in Chinatown. She remembers coming down to Chinatown for the festival by streetcar as a child, going to family association buildings, receiving "red envelopes" of money gifts, and watching the firecrackers with her siblings from the top floor of buildings. She briefly talks about her father's involvement in Chinatown politics, such as with the Moy Family Association. Rita discusses how she's seen Chinatown evolve: whereas it used to be a tight-knit communtiy of mostly Southern Chinese, an increase in diversity has led to what she sees as good changes. While she says DC Chinese have scattered around the DC area, the Lunar New Year is now "a diverse group celebration."
Subject: Lunar New Year Festival; Chinatown (Washington, D.C.); Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association; 1882 Foundation; Chinese New Year's Day parade; immigrants; Chinese immigrants; family associations; Moy Family Association; On Leong Association; red envelopes (hóng bao); Chinese culture; Chinese heritage; Ethnic identity; Gentrification; Racial diversity
Country: United States
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/humanitiestruck:2039
Rights statement: This work has been identified as being free of known restrictions under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, under the terms of Public Domain.