spring Events Calendar 2009 HSW BIOGRAPHY SERIES MAY Albert Small Celebrating Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month

A Washington native, Albert H. Small began collecting rare prints and DON’T MISS! maps of Washington, D.C. in the late 1940s. An amateur historian, Mr. Saturday, May 2 Small owns perhaps the most comprehensive collection of memorabilia 2, 9 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. When the Word is Written Series related to the Declaration of Independence and one of the largest Saturday, May collections of rare prints and maps of Washington, D.C. Mr. Small 11:00 a.m. - 4 p.m. Family Event TWO WOMEN, TWO BOOKS, ONE MAN: has been a generous contributor to the Jewish Society of Greater Remembering Lily: An examination of memoirs and family Washington’s - Lillian and Albert Small Museum and the National E. Ethelbert Miller Museum of American History’s Albert H. Small Documents Gallery. Painting Urbanscapes E. Ethelbert Miller discusses President of Southern Engineering Corporation, Mr. Small has been his two memoirs--Fathering active in the building industry throughout the Mid-Atlantic region for Words and his new book, more than 50 years. He serves on the boards of the National Symphony The 5th Inning. Mr. Miller Orchestra, the Folger Shakespeare Library, the Tudor Place Foundation, sits down to discuss his and The Manuscript Society. He is a member of the James Madison life and work with two Council of the Library of Congress and of the Life Guard of , people who know him well—Dr. Denise King-Miller a trustee of the National Archives Foundation, and treasurer for the U.S. and Michelle Blandburg, his first and second wives. Department of State Diplomatic Reception Rooms Endowment Fund. This discussion is an opportunity to talk about love, divorce, marriage, and family life. Are all the stories true? Come and find out. The author writes Photo: Barr Weissman in his new book, “This book is a riff on middle-age, In celebration of Lily Spandorf’s Washington Never marriage, fatherhood, and failure. In baseball the fifth More Collection on view at the Historical Society of inning can represent a complete game. The structure Washington, D.C., visual artists are invited to come of this book consists of balls and strikes. As a writer to the grounds of HSW to paint scenes of everyday I might now and then throw the reader a curve.” life at our historic location at Mt. Vernon Square. (Ages 12 to Adults) [email protected] or 202-383-1828. FREE Lily Spandorf’s watercolor images capture many of the streetscapes she first admired when she came to Washington in 1960. Fifty years later, artists will Sunday, May 3 have the same opportunity to document scenes from 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. HSW Author & Lecture Series our beloved city through the medium of watercolors, acrylic, or pencil. The Quander Quality: Nellie Quander, An Pearl Begin the day by visiting the Spandorf exhibition. By Rohulamin Quander Next, walk the grounds. After you have chosen the scene you want to paint, set up your easel and On the occasion of the centennial supplies. HSW will provide you with a chair. celebration of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, we present a book Artists who want to submit images of their paintings about the life of Nellie M. Quander, to be considered for an exhibition in our community the sorority’s first national president. gallery should fill out an application form that can Written by Rohulamin Quander, be found at the reception desk on the first floor. Our a senior administrative judge for the District of director of exhibitions will make the final selections Columbia, the book was published by the Quander to be exhibited. (Ages 12 to Adults) RSVP@historydc. Historical Society in cooperation with Three D Publishing. org or 202-383-1828. FREE Continued on page 20

160 DC LIVE! MAGAZINE DC LIVE! MAGAZINE 17 FROM THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C. FROM THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, D.C. spring Events Calendar 2009 - MAy spring Events Calendar 2009 - may

Rohulamin Quander’s ancestors came to the Americas three centuries ago and originated Saturday, May 9 Thursday, May 14 in what is now Ghana, West Africa. Several 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Education Program 1:00 & 3 p.m. Family Film Series Quander ancestors were in service to at his Mount Vernon plantation. A native Family Workshop A Century of Quilts: America in Cloth Washingtonian, Quander is a cousin of Nellie M. Oral History Workshop Laurie Gorman, 77 mins., PBS Home Video Quander. Having been repeatedly asked through the years about Nellie Quander by sorority and This rich and beautifully crafted The Veterans History PBS documentary celebrates community members, he elected to publish this book Project of the Library of to coincide with Alpha Kappa Alpha’s centennial the art of quilting by featuring Congress’s American selections from the best 100 observance in 2008. Sharing Nellie’s philosophy Folklife Center collects about giving back to others, Rohulamin is donating American quilts of the 20th and preserves the 9, 16, 30 century, the stories behind their a portion of the book’s proceeds to the Nellie M. remembrances of American war veterans. This free Saturday, May Quander Memorial Scholarship Fund, located at 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Family Tai Chi Classes creation, and the quilters as oral history workshop will give you a chance to work they work. . with experts from the Veterans History Project and Celebrating Asian Pacific Islander learn methods and techniques for collecting and The program visits the 1999 Rohulamin’s last book was The Quander Quality: The preserving the stories of veterans from your family American Heritage Month True Story of a Black Trailblazing Diabetic (the life of International Quilt Festival in and community. See a sample interview and learn Houston, where many of these James W. Quander, his late father). Currently he is Bring the entire family out to learn tai chi on the experts’ top tips, from the kind of equipment you’ll quilts were featured together for the first time. The working on a third book, The Quanders: Since 1684, grounds of the Historical Society of Washington, need to the right questions to ask. This workshop film also travels across America to capture the artists An Enduring African American Legacy. (Ages 12 to D.C. The ancient art of tai chi is a style of kung fu is great for families, groups, and Scout troops that at work in their studios and homes telling the stories Adults) [email protected] or 202-383-1828. FREE that emphasizes internal energy. The movements are want to capture their own stories or for teachers behind the creation of these magnificent treasures. slow and easy and able to be performed by anyone looking to bring oral history into the classroom. No Their stories are tales of a creative spirit inspired regardless of physical condition or age. The Chinese RSVP required. (Suitable for all ages) FREE by love, sorrow, joy, fond memories, proud cultural term taijiquan literally means “supreme ultimate fist.” ties, love of nature, religious beliefs, and a need for 5, 12, 19, 26 artistic expression. Their quilts tell stories through a Tuesday, May At the height of its development around 1644 C.E., Saturday, May 9 myriad of colors, textures, and fabrics that reflect the Tours, Talks, and Tea tai chi was a fast martial art that also valued slow 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. diversity of American life and the continuing tradition 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Education Program movements meant to expand the mind and focus the of quilting in new and different ways. (All Ages) Treat yourself by body’s energy. When the Qing Dynasty Manchurian Second Saturday Scavenger Hunt [email protected] or 202-383-1828. FREE TOURS, TALKS & TEA joining us for a guided emperor saw the health and vitality of tai chi tour of our exhibitions Lily Spandorf’s Washington masters, he demanded he be taught tai chi. Refusal on view, stimulating to teach the emperor would mean death, so the tai talks, art-related films, Lily Spandorf chi masters decided to teach him the slow, flowing Saturday, May 16 and complimentary was a D.C. artist movements rather than the fast martial art aspect of 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Education Program tea or coffee at the who captured tai chi. The Manchus, now believing that they had elegant Historical scenes of learned tai chi, began to practice it on a large scale. Girl Scouts Program Society of Washington, Washington The Chinese, on the whole not knowing tai chi, saw My Heritage D.C., located in the through her their new leaders practicing tai chi and began to Carnegie Building at watercolor practice it themselves. This is how the slow flowing The Historical Society of Washington, Mt. Vernon Square. paintings. In movements that are internationally recognized as tai D.C. is the perfect place to explore Exhibitions currently this month’s chi came into practice. your past and the stories within your on view are: Lily scavenger hunt community! During this program we will Spandorf’s Washington Never More Collection; we’ll explore her Free lessons are provided by the Wong People explore our own heritages by creating a Portraying Lincoln: A Man of Many Faces; and exhibit and artistic style. Get your family, friends, Kung Fu Association, which is directed by Raymond family tree and trying to discover where our names Quilts for Obama. Come alone, or bring friends or or Scout troop together to test your skills with our Wong and has been in Washington D.C. since 1985. come from. We will also learn some special dances family. Tours, talks, and films begin at 1:30 p.m. and scavenger hunt! Come in to HSW and pick up the This is one of the few groups left in the world that is and games that our ancestors might have played! All beverages are served until 3:30 p.m. Meet inside clues, then head up to the exhibit to explore Lily preserving the noncommercial form of kung fu and activities will help you earn the My Heritage badge the K Street entrance to HSW. (Ages 12 to Adults) Spandorf’s Washington! Make sure you save your tai chi. Wear loose clothing and comfortable shoes. or Listening to the Past Try-It. Pre-registration is [email protected] or 202-383-1828. FREE sheet when you’re done. If you complete all ten Class will be held outside, weather permitting; required. (Suitable for Brownie or Junior Girl Scouts) scavenger hunts in 2009, you’ll earn a prize! No otherwise, it will be held inside HSW. No RSVP Please email [email protected] or call RSVP required. (Suitable for all ages) FREE required. (Suitable for all ages) FREE 202-383-1830. FREE

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become a registered Saturday, May 16 library user, which Sunday, May 17 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Family Film Series gives you access to 2:15 p.m. Chinatown Walking Tour the collections and in- Hip Hop Cinema Café Presents house research aids. Celebrating Asian Pacific Islander Deep Crates Space is limited to 20 American Heritage Month participants. Please 2004, Jeremy Weisfeld, 70 minutes. Presented by the solSource reserve your place Group and the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. Join master guide Jeanne by Wednesday, April Fogle for an exotic guided 15th by emailing info@ Deep Crates is the kind of walking tour around historydc.org or calling 202-383-1850. (Age 18 and film that is long overdue. the District’s historic Above) FREE The documentary traces Chinatown. Washington’s the history of crate digging, Chinatown lays claim choice. Native plants can be beautiful and healthy a slang term used by DJs to the world’s largest without the extra water and fertilizer that non-native that refers to checking Sunday, May 17 single-span Chinese archway. Designed by Alfred plants often need to survive. Want to see more wild record stores for old, rare, or 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. HSW Lecture/Discussion Liu, this huge seven-roofed, wooden archway was butterflies, birds and animals? Native plants are what unusual music on the vinyl commissioned by the governments of Washington, they need to survive. Native plants invite the wild format. Since the 1990s, Celebrating the Albert Small Collection D.C., and the Municipality of Beijing—Washington’s things into your yard to eat and feed their babies. hip hop composers and sister city. The Chinese characters on the arch read: Our region has a wide rage of native plants to fit producers have incorporated Join us for an informative talk “Zhongguo cheng”—from left to right—which means every type of garden with beauty in every season. into their songs elements from these old recordings. celebrating the Albert Small Chinese city or Chinese quarters. Artists who are interviewed in the film include Collection. The collection Cheval Force Opp, owner of Garden Tours, will , Madlib, , Maseo, Peanut comprises rare late 18th to early The first Chinese community was established in discuss why native plants make practical sense for Butter Wolf, Egon, , and the Soulman. The 20th century maps and prints Washington in the late 1880s on Pennsylvania every type of gardener and garden. She will present movie offers inspiring stories about how the scene of Washington, D.C., collected Avenue near 4 ½ Street, NW. By the early 1930s the pictures and lists of her favorite native plants, and started, the unbridled joy of finding that rare gem, by Albert Small. Six active entire community relocated near 7th & H Streets into will explain the best place to use them in your garden, and the twisted politics that sometimes go along researchers, including collection what had been a German neighborhood. The 7th be it large or small, sunny or shady, wet or dry. with the activity’s oneupsmanship. Hear about curator Dr. James Goode, will Street corridor was an important commercial area. the obsession with old vinyl records. This film is discuss the importance of private Although this downtown “island” of ethnic diversity Cheval Force Opp is a frequent speaker for insightful, wise, and inspiring. collectors in preserving primary historical resources. is shrinking and changing, a new cultural scene is garden clubs, and Elderhostel tours and writes for The program will include presentations on a survey rapidly developing, and 7th Street’s history continues Washington Gardener Magazine. (All Ages) RSVP@ After the film you are invited to participate in an of the Washington, D.C. site before it was officially to evolve. Wear comfortable walking shoes and historydc.org or 202-383-1828. FREE audience discussion with some of the best visual selected by George Washington, and a map penciled bring a bottle of water. No recording devices may artists, B-Boys, DJs, and emcees on the D.C. hip by a British soldier while resting in Bladensburg. be used to record the content of the tour. Meeting hop scene. (Ages 12 to Adults) [email protected] place: Front door of the Historical Society, 801 K Sunday, May 31 or 202-383-1828. FREE Nearly two centuries ago, British cavalry scouts Street, NW. Limit 25. (Ages 12 to Adults) Registration gathered information about the roads through required: [email protected] or 202-383-1828. FREE 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. HSW Author & Lecture Series Prince George’s County and drew a map to guide Hell Hawks! The Untold Story of the Saturday, May 16 the invading army to Bladensburg. Four decades later, the sites and routes of the Underground Saturday, May 30 American Fliers Who Savaged 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. Research Series Railroad and of the Lincoln Conspirators could be Hitler’s Wehrmacht traced on two maps of Washington and the District Learn to Research D.C. History Using 10 - 11:30 a.m. Family Urban Gardening By Robert F. Dorr and Thomas D. Jones by Adolph Boschke. Still another forty years later, Going Native the Kiplinger Research Library three alternate routes for a memorial highway from Using Native Plants for Beauty and Biota Hell Hawks! (2008, Zenith Press) is the Washington to Mount Vernon were described in an Cheval Force Opp, Garden Tours story of a band of young American Have you ever wanted to know the history of your 1889 map that shows interesting information about fighter pilots and their gritty fight neighborhood, your local school, or your family? suburban at the time. Discussion will center Did you know that planting native plants not only against Hitler’s vaunted military. The Well, the answers to your queries may very well be on these and other maps in the Small Collection, adds beauty to your garden but also supports our “Hell Hawks” were the men and in our Kiplinger Research Library! Join us and learn but will also include other unique documents and native birds, bugs, and animals? machines of the 365th Fighter Group. how to use our library to research topics related artifacts such as George Washington’s letters. Beginning just before D-Day, June 6, to the history of the District of Columbia and its (Ages 16 to Adults) [email protected] or Using flowers, shrubs, and trees that also grow residents. At the workshop you will also sign up to 202-383-1828. FREE in the fields and forest of our region is a smart

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1944, the group’s young pilots (most were barely Asian culture has twenty years old and fresh from U.S. flight training inspired western Asian Pacific Islander May 15 schools) flew to support Eisenhower’s ground forces artists, authors, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. as they advanced across France into Germany. and new-age chefs American Featured Films Living in tents atop the cold mud of their frontline but Asian culture is Asian Pacific Islander American airfields, the Hell Hawks’ daily routine had much in as diverse as the May 5 & 19 Heritage Film Festival common with that of the G.I.s they supported. Their countries and regions 1:30 p.m. war did not stop until the Nazi surrender on May 8, that represent it. Come Asian cinema is on the rise. The recent success 1945. During their year in combat, the Hell Hawks experience these Families of VIETNAM of the Bollywod film Slumdog Millionaire and paid a heavy price for victory. Sixty-nine pilots and cultures and see what has served as inspiration to Arden Films, Inc. 30 mins. 2004 the wave of East Asian cinema flooding America airmen died in the fight across the continent. The so many. Featuring cultural displays, native dances reflects this trend. Now it’s Asian-American group’s daily confrontation of sudden, violent death and performances, and information on visiting Asian Take a fantastic journey to cinema’s turn. Celebrating APA Heritage Month, forged bonds between the men that remain strong countries, this event has something for everyone in the another country where you the D.C. Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific sixty years later. family. No RSVP needed. (All Ages) FREE will view the unique lives of Islander Affairs and the D.C. Asian Pacific Islander two Vietnamese children and American Film Festival present a movie night that Robert F. Dorr (born 1939) is a military aviation writer their families. Learn about a will feature films related to Asian Americans. This and retired senior U.S. diplomat who has authored FEATURE different culture and way of life, mix of short and feature-length films promises to 70 books and numerous articles on international family interaction’s, foods, and be family-friendly, entertaining, and informative. affairs, military issues, and the Vietnam War. He D.C. Historic Sketch celebrations. Join us in our visit Bring your family and friends and join us for a writes the weekly “Back Talk” opinion column for The to the cities, countryside, schools free film screening. The mission of the D.C. APA Military Times and the monthly “Washington Watch” Celebrating Asian Pacific Islander ,and homes of two families – from breakfast to Film Festival is to bring attention to the creative feature of Aerospace America. American Heritage Month bedtime and all the fun-filled activities in between. output from APA communities and to encourage (All Ages) FREE the artistic development of APA films in the greater By CR Gibbs Thomas D. Jones is a veteran NASA astronaut, Washington metropolitan region. (A partnership scientist, speaker, author, and consultant. He has between The Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific spent 53 days working and living in space. Tom May 12 & 26 Islander Affairs (OAPIA) the Historical Society of writes frequently about space exploration and 1:30 p.m. Washington, D.C.) [email protected] or aviation history. His last book is Sky Walking: An 202-383-1828. (All Ages) FREE Astronaut’s Memoir (2006, Smithsonian Books- 5 Centimeters Per Second Collins). (Ages 16 to Adults) [email protected] or 2007, Japan, 62 min., Makoto Shinkai 202-383-1828. FREE Celebrating Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month, the Saturday, May 2, 9, 16, 30 D.C. Mayor’s Office on Asian 12 noon - 4:00 p.m. Family Program and Pacific Islander Affairs, APA Film, and ADV Films present The home of the Chinese Community Church at A Glimpse of Asia: Embassies’ the Japanese animated film, 500 I Street, NW, contains a fascinating and many- 5 Centimeters Per Second, Cultural Displays layered history. The church building itself is over subtitled “A Chain of Short 150 years old and has housed Presbyterians, Stories about their Distance.” Jews, African-American Baptists, and as of May The film comprises three short movies: The 2006, Chinese Christians. In fact, historians have Chosen Cherry Blossoms (Oukashou), Cosmonaut, discovered recently that the architect of the original and 5 Centimeters per Second (Byousoku). The brick and sandstone structure, completed in 1852, movie tells the tale of two young friends who part was none other than Thomas U. Walter, the fourth because of a family move. Their deep feelings architect of the Capitol. for each other keep them in contact, but they JOIN HSW!

worry they may not meet again. Then, one day, The Chinese Community Church of Washington, one decides to visit the other. Don’t miss this Visit www.historydc.org D.C. was incorporated in 1935 and first met at the compelling film! (Ages 12 to Adults) FREE Mt. Vernon Place Episcopal Church. In 1994 the and click JOIN NOW Chinese Community Church entered into a shared ministry with the Mt. Vernon Place United Methodist or call 202 383 1894 Church before moving to its present “I” street location. for more information.

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