AOI Provides On-line Audio of Luncheon TalksSince 1999, audio cassette recordings of AOI's monthly luncheons have been filed in our archive (MS422) at the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. Beginning with the February 2016 luncheon we will be capturing our business meetings, announcements and featured speakers in digital form. These 60-90 minute files will be aggregated, burned to a CD/DVD or other archival media and placed on file at the Historical Society at the end of the calendar year. We realize that taking this approach, we may be delaying access to these talks. While we do not have statistics to support the use of these audio files in the past, we do not want to place at a disadvantage anyone who would like access to the talks in the mean time. So, we are providing the audio portion of the monthly luncheons here on our web site so they might be enjoyed by those unable to attend or by others who may want to use components of the talks in their research. If any of the contents is used or quoted in published works, essays or blogs, please give proper credit to both the speakers and the AOI of DC.
We would be interested in any feedback, concerns or questions regarding this new feature. Email your feedback via our Contact Us form. |
Case Trees' Community Education Coordinator Gabrielle Rovigno discusses the District's historic designation as a City of Trees, a historic overview of the city's urban forest and efforts underway today to ensure a healthy tree canopy to help mitigate the effects of erosion, CO2 sequestration, beauty and livability.
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Robert Headley (R) and Pat Padua (L) present a program on "The History of Motion Picture Exhibition in the Washington Metropolitan Area" as AOI President Thomas Neale looks on. The slide-illustrated talk covered the earliest motion pictures houses in DC to the downfall of historic movie houses to the rise of the now common multiplex theatres.
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AOI member and author John DeFerrari kicks off a session of member reminiscences about streetcars and other modes of public transportation in D.C.
John presented images from his book, "Capital Streetcars" to encourage members of the audience to share their memories of commuting to and from school, work, shopping and social events. |
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Heurich House Executive Director Kim Bender shares her research on Myrtilla Miner and the school she established for African American girls which later became the D.C. Teachers College then Federal City College and now the University of the District of Columbia. Kim's talk, "Myrtilla Miner's Normal School for Colored Girls."
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Kim Prothro Williams discusses her book, "Lost Farms and Estates of Washington, D.C." Kim is an employee of the District of Columbia's Historic Preservation Office (a division of the Office of Planning) and works on behalf of the District to write nominations for Historic designation and researches historic D.C. properties.
[Note: the business portion of the day's program, announcements and Historian Nelson Rimensnyder's trivia challenge are not included due to a technical issue.] |
Rebecca Boggs Roberts discusses her book, "Suffragists in Washington, D.C." detailing the near century long effort for women's voting rights. Rebecca describes in eye-opening detail the plans for the women's march on Washington and the efforts at men and other obstructionists at their attempts to disrupt it.
Also, at the opening of the program newest AOI member Knight Kiplinger addresses the membership in a tribute to the 49 victims of hate violence that occurred earlier in the day in Christ Church, New Zealand. |
Lynetta Stevens and her father Stewart discuss his decades long career as a chandelier cleaner and window washer in the White House. Mr. Stevens served while seven Presidents of both parties and their families came and went. Listen to Stewart's fascinating stories as he recalls, "The White House Chandeliers." Also, about 15 minutes into the business meeting and announcements portion of the program, listen to the unbelievable development that has occurred in the case that author Anthony Pitch covered in his 2016 novel, "The Last Lynching..."
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Washington Post columnist John Kelly discussed the District's "Lost Laws" which had been 'on the books' since the early 1870s and were resurrected in the early 1950's in the civil rights efforts to afford accommodations to African Americans attempting to patronize traditionally all-white restaurants.
"The District of Columbia's 'Lost Laws' and their impact on restaurant patrons" |
Mitchell Yockelson, one of America’s foremost experts on the First World War, holds a doctorate from the Royal Military College of Science, Cranfield University, in the United Kingdom, is the recipient of the Army Historical Foundation’s Distinguished Writing Award, is an investigative archivist at the National Archives and Records Administration, as well as a former professor of military history at the United States Naval Academy. He currently teaches at Norwich University. At the 4th and final AOI luncheon dedicated to the centennial of World War I, Yockelson spoke on: Forty-seven Days: How Pershing’s Warriors Came of Age to Defeat the German Army.
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Dr. Ruth Trocolli, the District of Columbia's Chief Archeologist in the Historic Preservation Office (under the Office of Planning) describes her office's role, the importance -- though lack of authority -- of examining construction sites and other discoveries for artifacts and also reviewed individual efforts including the examination of the Yarrow Mamout site in Georgetown and the "Shotgun House" on Capitol Hill.
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AOI member Loretta Neumann, President of the Alliance for the Civil War Defenses of Washington, presented a history of the Civil War forts that encircle the District, the historic battle of Ft. Stevens and some of the public programs now being offered to commemorate the Battle of Ft. Stevens and the community and neighborhood that supported that facility during the Civil War. Loretta's talk begins about 48 minutes into the program but is terminated prior to her conclusion as our digital recording device ran out of memory.
Prior to Loretta's talk, HSW Director John Suau provided an update on the Historical Society's planned reopening of the Kiplinger Research Library and a new Washington History Center in the restored Carnegie Library. The restored library will open as a new Apple Flagship Store and Washington History Center in mid-December 2018. John's talk begin at about 21 minutes into the program. |
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Author W. Douglas Fisher who along with Joann Buckley wrote “African American Doctors in World War I: The Lives of 104 Volunteers” gave the 3rd of 4 planned talks to the AOI in recognition of the Centennial of World War I. Mr. Fisher was accompanied by Urbane Bass the grandson of one of those doctors who served and died in service to his country.
[Note: Mr. Fisher's presentation beings at appx. the 18 minute mark in the program] |
AOI member John DeDeffari presented a series of images on "Bygone Industrial DC" to kick off a session of member reminiscences which was a hallmark of AOI meetings of old. The business meeting, announcements, trivia and John's kick off together with several minutes of reminiscences are captured on our digital audio feature to the right; however, a technical glitch -- the batteries died -- prevented the live capture of about 20 minutes of open-mike recollections but they are summarized here: "Bygone Industrial DC"
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Elizabeth Foxwell, author of "In Their Own Words: American Women in World War I," gave a fact-filled presentation focused on District of Columbia women who served. Due to a technical glitch, we missed the first 3 minutes of Elizabeth's talk but we have summarized them here:
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Matt Margis, a historian in the Histories Directorate at the US Army Center of Military History, tells us about African Americans in World War I.
The focus of his talk was on the National Guard elements and their role in WWI which was particularly timely as the Commanding General of the DC National Guard, Gen. William Walker, was present at the luncheon to hear Matthew's talk and to meet AOI members and officers who the DCNG will be partnering with on AOI's plans to observe the Centennial of the Armistice on Sunday, November 11, 2018 at the DC War Memorial. |
Janet McFarland discusses the many efforts over the years -- lead primarily by the DC Chapter of the DAR -- to locate, repair/replace and protect the original boundary stones placed by Andrew Ellicott and Benjamin Banneker to demark the 10 square mile perimeter of the city.
AOI President Bill Brown opens, "Janet McFarland will take us on a journey of discovery to learn about the laying of the first Boundary Stone to today and the recent restoration efforts in her talk, “Boundary Stones - Birthstones of our Nation's Capital.” Her talk begins at about 23 minutes into the audio. |
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AOI Member and Cherry Blossom author Ann McClellan hosts a panel on the history of Bonsai and their importance to this country and special relationship we have with Japan. Sandra Moore and Steven Voss contribute to the presentation as Sandra has written a children's book on Bonsai and Steven has extensively photographed and published his photos of the collection at the National Arboretum.
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John P. Richardson (AOI's Secretary) discusses his recently published biography of the District's 2nd Territorial Governor Alexander Shepherd. "Alexander Robey Shepherd: The Man Who Built the Nation's Capital" traces Shepherd's life as an apprentice plumber, businessman, legislator, Governor and silver mining entrepreneur.
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John Michael discusses his book, "The History of Ft. Leslie J. McNair.
(September 16, 2016) A Civil Servant Designed Our National Banner: The Unsung Story of Francis Hopkinson
(June 17, 2016) The Veterans History Project (May 20, 2016) |
The Library of Congress' Veterans History Project is explained by its Director Robert Patrick.
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Here is the audio of our final two 2015 luncheons:
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