What makes the Association of the Oldest Inhabitants of D.C. the "District's Living Archive" and why is the AOI so intent on preserving the lectures, stories and reminiscences of its monthly meetings?
Sara Booth Conrow, June 21, 2002, at the Pier 7/Channel Inn.
"WASHINGTON'S LIVING ARCHIVE" from the Washington Post-August 30, 1993 -- Sarah Booth Conroy, Washington Post Staff Writer reported,
"The Association of the Oldest Inhabitants of the District of Columbia, founded in 1865, has, against all logic, been born again. Or at least, become younger, more inclusive and more vigorous in the past year. For at least a decade, the Chronicler, fascinated by the name, had tried to no avail to find the organization. It only existed, it seemed, in yellowed clippings that made you sneeze. Then, the Oldest Inhabitants renaissance president Harold Gray called the Chronicler. The organization is one of the city's oldest, though two or three years younger than the Metropolitan Club. When historian Jack Henry was given custody of the oldest archives, he found a blue-covered pamphlet explaining why it was formed..."
On the heels of Sara's report and seven years after this article appeared, newly elected AOI President Bill Brown (Nov. 1999) promised in his acceptance speech to the assembled members:
"...during the next year I would like to see us pursue the following: - Record on cassette tape, summarize and provide to the Historical Society the reminiscences of our members at our twice annual open forums. These great stories should be captured for future generations to enjoy or researchers to access..."
Bill's commitment to preserve the organization's guest speakers and the reminiscences of members was, in fact, prompted by a rather sad experience which preceded his taking office:
At its Sept. 18, 1998, meeting, President Phil Ogilvie arranged for the District's past Geologist James V. O'Connor to speak on "Washington's 100 Rivers & Streams: Where Did All the Streams Go?" Retired from the DC Government, Mr. O'Connor continued to share his expertise on the DC's waterways by lecturing at the University of the District of Columbia and giving impromptu street-corner talks on the city's geology and hydrology. His talk kept the AOI members and guests present that September day captivated with his discussion of the myriad springs, streams, slashes, cataracts and runs that permeate the city's landscape. Where streams were not "officially" named or recognized, he provided his own monikers: "Observatory Run" for the creek than ran beneath Georgetown University's Hayden Observatory, Willow Spring, City Hall Spring and Brown's Spring to name a few. It was Mr. O'Connor's hope, as he expressed at the luncheon, to compile all of his research and notes into a comprehensive book on the geology and hydrology of Washington, D.C. But his dream never became a reality: he died a year later... his informative, spellbinding, slide-illustrated talk fell on the ears of those present but was never to be shared again.
It was this experience that prompted in-coming President Bill Brown to vow that all future AOI lectures, talks and reminiscences would be recorded for posterity and for the benefit of future generations.
As of February 2026, the AOI has more than 130 of its programs recorded on 90-minute audio cassettes which are in the works to be digitized. These are in addition to the nearly 40 already digitized programs available via the Digital Collection tab on this website and the numerous videos available on YouTube via the Luncheon Recordings tab. But sadly, James V. O'Connor's intriguing talk is lost to the ages; however, below are several documents and tributes to this lost DC Treasure.
"The Association of the Oldest Inhabitants of the District of Columbia, founded in 1865, has, against all logic, been born again. Or at least, become younger, more inclusive and more vigorous in the past year. For at least a decade, the Chronicler, fascinated by the name, had tried to no avail to find the organization. It only existed, it seemed, in yellowed clippings that made you sneeze. Then, the Oldest Inhabitants renaissance president Harold Gray called the Chronicler. The organization is one of the city's oldest, though two or three years younger than the Metropolitan Club. When historian Jack Henry was given custody of the oldest archives, he found a blue-covered pamphlet explaining why it was formed..."
On the heels of Sara's report and seven years after this article appeared, newly elected AOI President Bill Brown (Nov. 1999) promised in his acceptance speech to the assembled members:
"...during the next year I would like to see us pursue the following: - Record on cassette tape, summarize and provide to the Historical Society the reminiscences of our members at our twice annual open forums. These great stories should be captured for future generations to enjoy or researchers to access..."
Bill's commitment to preserve the organization's guest speakers and the reminiscences of members was, in fact, prompted by a rather sad experience which preceded his taking office:
At its Sept. 18, 1998, meeting, President Phil Ogilvie arranged for the District's past Geologist James V. O'Connor to speak on "Washington's 100 Rivers & Streams: Where Did All the Streams Go?" Retired from the DC Government, Mr. O'Connor continued to share his expertise on the DC's waterways by lecturing at the University of the District of Columbia and giving impromptu street-corner talks on the city's geology and hydrology. His talk kept the AOI members and guests present that September day captivated with his discussion of the myriad springs, streams, slashes, cataracts and runs that permeate the city's landscape. Where streams were not "officially" named or recognized, he provided his own monikers: "Observatory Run" for the creek than ran beneath Georgetown University's Hayden Observatory, Willow Spring, City Hall Spring and Brown's Spring to name a few. It was Mr. O'Connor's hope, as he expressed at the luncheon, to compile all of his research and notes into a comprehensive book on the geology and hydrology of Washington, D.C. But his dream never became a reality: he died a year later... his informative, spellbinding, slide-illustrated talk fell on the ears of those present but was never to be shared again.
It was this experience that prompted in-coming President Bill Brown to vow that all future AOI lectures, talks and reminiscences would be recorded for posterity and for the benefit of future generations.
As of February 2026, the AOI has more than 130 of its programs recorded on 90-minute audio cassettes which are in the works to be digitized. These are in addition to the nearly 40 already digitized programs available via the Digital Collection tab on this website and the numerous videos available on YouTube via the Luncheon Recordings tab. But sadly, James V. O'Connor's intriguing talk is lost to the ages; however, below are several documents and tributes to this lost DC Treasure.
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Click the link below to read a compendium of James V. O'Connors notes and bibliographies. While Mr. O'Connor was not an AOI member and his notes and materials are available on the internet, in its on-going quest to remain "Washington's Living Archive," that information is available here.
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