Oral History Interview with John N. Robinson, Jr. and Rita Robinson

Object Details

General: Title created by ACM staff based on project/exhibition name and interviewee's name.

Place: Anacostia (Washington, D.C.); Barry Farms (Washington, D.C.); Washington (D.C.); United States

Topic: African Americans; Communities; African American neighborhoods; Neighborhoods; Community development, Urban; Migration, Internal

See more items in: East of the River: Continuity and Change Exhibition Records; East of the River: Continuity and Change Exhibition Records / Series 3: Interviews

Citation: East of the River: Interview with John N. Robinson, Jr. and Rita Robinson, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution.

Scope and Contents: John N. Robinson, Jr. and Rita Robinson talked about where they grew up in Washington, D.C.; the schools they attended; and the recreation in which they participated as children/youth. They discussed how they met. Rita talked about the role of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in the community; growing up poor using the outhouse and water pump in Washington, D.C.; and how the atmosphere and community changed when people from southwest moved into southeast Washington, D.C., and when people moved into Barry Farms. John explained when and why they left the neighborhood; Rita explained why she did not want to leave Washington, D.C. John talked about how the riots in 1968 affected the Parklands area. The Robinsons talked about the changes in the community and how they feel about the change in southeast Washington, D.C. Rita talked about her family's house which used to be on the property where the Anacostia Community Museum is now located; John talked about his father, the artist John N. Robinson.; Interview created in conjunction with the Anacostia Community Museum's 40th Anniversary Oral History Project and the exhibition, 'East of the River: Continuity and Change.' Dated 20070504

Collection Restrictions: Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.