Oral history interview with Ann Zelle

Ann Zelle discusses how she came to meet John Kinard at the 1969 annual meeting of the American Association of Museums (AAM) in San Francisco. She describes John's impact on the AAM and on the International Council of Museums (ICOM) where his work with the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum) gained international attention. She describes her first impressions of the museum, recalling that it was a joyful, exuberant, hands-on museum that integrated into the neighborhood. She also describes John Kinard's many contributions, paying tribute to his charisma, his patience, and his ability to maintain great relationships with both the Smithsonian Institution leadership and the Anacostia community. The interview was conducted on July 14, 1992 by Zora Martin-Felton. There is background static which makes it difficult to hear the interviewer in some parts, but the interviewee can be heard clearly throughout the recording.