Oral history interview with Dean Anderson

Dean W. Anderson discusses his relationship with John Kinard from 1973 to 1983, when he worked for the Smithsonian Institution as a principal assistant to Charles Blitzer, the then Assistant Secretary for History and Art. He talks at length about Kinard's efforts to find a new location for the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum), one that would have a large parking lot, more visibility, and that would allow for an expansion of the scope of the museum. He recalls how the American Association of Museums recognized Kinard as having changed the definition of the word museum in this country because he was the first to pay attention to the local community, and to introduce topics into the exhibition program that museums had never treated before. He says Kinard's influence caused a "ripple effect", and that some would credit the existence of member organizations like the African American Museum Association to the success of the museum, and Kinard's leadership. He recounts Kinard's strong moral conviction, devotion, patience, determination, how active he was in the AAM, and how this helped him when making a case to the Smithsonian Institution about various issues. He also describes many of the political deliberations, brainstorming, and the planning that went into the eventual relocation to Fort Stanton Park. The interview was recorded by Gail S. Lowe, on May 8, 1991(?). The audio quality is clear throughout the recording, with some minor background noise. Exhibition mentioned: Climbing Jacob's Ladder: the rise of Black churches in Eastern American cities, 1740 - 1877.