How the Project Came Together
hometown DC is the result of an unprecedented collaboration between the city’s leading humanities organizations.
As part of HumanitiesDC’s DC Oral History Collaborative, 21 Washingtonians from a variety of backgrounds gave oral history interviews for the project. Some were relative newcomers to the city, while others were lifelong residents with multi-generational Washington families. All call DC their hometown. One part time capsule, one part memory bank, these interviews will eventually be transcribed and archived.
The stories collected are presented in conversation with past oral history interviews from the People's Archive at the DC Public Library, historic photographs from the DC History Center, and works by local artists from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities's Art Bank.
Narrator Flor Rivas, photographer Farrah Skeiky, and oral historian Kristy L. posing with friends beside a preview of Rivas's panel at the opening reception.
Artist Denise Wright posing beside a panel preview featuring her photograph, The Spectator (2005), courtesy of the DCCAH Art Bank Collection.
Narrator Marcia Rock celebrating with friends and family at the opening reception. Photo by Cindy Centeno
Opening event attendees listening to oral history playlists in the Listening Lounge. Photo by Cindy Centeno
Narrator Patricia Wheeler speaking with other attendees during the opening event. Photo by Cindy Centeno
Laura Brower Hagood, Executive Director of the DC History Center, welcoming guests and thanking sponsors at the opening reception. Photo by Cindy Centeno
Aaron Myers, Executive Director of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, speaking to the opening event crowd. Photo by Cindy Centeno
Narrator Dahlia Aguilar listening to hometown DC oral histories in the opening reception's Listening Lounge. Photo by Cindy Centeno
Verbal Gymnastics musicians perform at Step Into the Story: hometown DC On Stage. Photo by Cindy Centeno
Attendees dancing during Step Into the Story: hometown DC On Stage. Photo by Cindy Centeno
Narrator Ernestine Byrd Hamilton and John Johnson discuss her oral history clip at the Step Into the Story event. Photo by Cindy Centeno
Verbal Gymnastics actors perform Ernestine Byrd Hamilton's oral history clip using Playback Theater techniques. Photo by Cindy Centeno
A Verbal Gymnastics actor performs Ernestine Byrd Hamilton's oral history clip using Playback Theater techniques. Photo by Cindy Centeno
Audience members clap for Verbal Gymnastics performers at Step Into the Story event. Photo by Cindy Centeno
Narrator Edward Underwood and John Johnson discuss his oral history clip at Step Into the Story event. Photo by Cindy Centeno
Narrator Edward Underwood and John Johnson watch Verbal Gymnastics performers recreate Edward's oral history clip. Photo by Cindy Centeno
Verbal Gymnastics performers use Playback Theater techniques to act out and audience member's story during Step Into the Story. Photo by Cindy Centeno
Step Into the Story event attendees swap stories. Photo by Cindy Centeno
Step Into the Story event attendees swap stories. Photo by Cindy Centeno
Verbal Gymnastics Theater Company and John Johnson take center stage to conclude the Step Into the Story event. Photo by Cindy Centeno
This project would not have been possible without the following contributors.
Researcher
Izy Carney
Exhibit Designer
Adrienne Gaither
Performers
John Johnson and
Verbal Gymnastics
Theater Company
Photographer
Farrah Skeiky
Oral Historians
Jasper Collier
Claude L. Elliott
Phillip Gragg
Paul Grant
Rhonda Henderson
Kristy Li Puma
Thank you to the hometown DC oral history narrators who shared their stories.
Dahlia Aguilar
Mark Beckford
Armonte Butler
Ernestine Byrd Hamilton
Pearl Eni
Adan Hernandez Nova
Pacyinz Lyfoung
Tim Ma
Miya Nixon
Babatunde Oloyede
Flor Rivas
Marcia Rock
Sally Schwartz
Nancy Shia
Edward Underwood
Seshat Walker
Zoma Wallace
Patricia Wheeler
Courtney Williams
Desiree & Greg Wright
Every DC story deserves to be heard, including yours!
As part of our hometown DC: Oral History Shorts series on social media, we invite you to record and submit your own mini oral history. Share a favorite DC memory, a neighborhood moment, or what makes this city feel like home to you.
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With additional support from:
