Oral history interview with Frank Taylor

Frank Taylor describes the initial conversations among Smithsonian staff that led to the creation of the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum). He recalls that as the idea came to fruition, upon selecting the Carver Theater as the site, his role became to help prepare the building. He talks about the positive changes that happened in the neighborhood after the museum opened. He shares an anecdote about John Kinard dealing with drug trafficking that happened near the building by employing the "toughest of them all", giving him a camera, and "bringing him into the family." In turn this person helped control the activity going on outside the museum. He talks about the purpose of the museum, to bring the museum to people who do not, or cannot, ordinarily access the museums on the National Mall. He also describes the experimental nature of the museum, and how decisions were made as they broke new ground. He talks about his relationship with John Kinard, and how he sometimes provided guidance for working with Smithsonian leadership, by encouraging him to write out and propose his objectives. The interview was recorded on June 25, 1991. The audio quality is generally clear, but it is difficult to hear the interviewee's responses at certain points due to significant background noise.