Category: Neighborhoods

Alexandria, VA’s Library Oral History Interviews

Alexandria, VA’s Barrett Library

The Alexandria Library Local History and Special Collection released seventeen short oral history interviews. These interviews were conducted with some of the oldest African American families, who share a small piece of their history of growing up in Alexandria. The oldest person interviewed was around 95 years old. Below are the links to sixteen of those interviews.

Alvin Lewis, a native-born Alexandrian, was interviewed by the Alexandria Library, Local History, and Special Collection about his family in Alexandria. You can view his interview at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfYs0eH86QA

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The Alexandria Library, Local History, and Special Collection released Charles Sias’ oral history interview, and it is about his life in Alexandria. His family migrated to Alexandria from Mississippi in the 1950s. He attended and graduated from Parker-Gray High School. Check out his interview at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-89dmfBgOk

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Lesa Diggs-Moore’s oral history interview. She grew up in the Del Ray Community. She shares her childhood stories from the 1960s, when she dealt with the flooded areas in Del Ray. Check out her interview at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flW1zy0HSuU

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Obie Lovelace’s oral history interview. The interview is about his life growing up in Alexandria. Check out his interview at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JYWZDMikXQ

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Carolyn Banks Summers’ oral history interview. Her family made huge contributions to the Alexandria Black Business community. Check out her interview at:

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Dr. Michael Casey’s oral history interview. His family history goes back to the 1700s in Alexandria/Fairfax, VA. Check out his interview at:

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Ella Louise Joe’s oral history interview. She grew up in the Bailey Cross and Seminary Communities. Check out her interview at:

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Michael A. Thomas’ oral history interview. Thomas grew up in Old Town Alexandria and attended Charles Houston Elementary School, Parker-Gray Middle School, and T.C. Williams. Check out his interview at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiyMBwMyYCw

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Debra Adkins Cole grew up in Alexandria. In 1967, she was the first African American child to use the Alexandria Barrett Library. Debra discusses being part of the class of Titians in 1971 and 1972 at T.C. Williams. Check out her interview at:

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Gerald Wanzer’s oral history interview. He grew up in the West End of Alexandria, VA, known as Seminary. His family has been in that area since the Civil War. Check out his interview at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3u1DEPybME

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Clyde Pearson Jr.’s oral history interview. He grew up in Alexandria on West Street. He talks about going to the Catholic School. Clyde grew up during the period of segregation. He also talks about how African Americans cared for each other during his adolescent years in Alexandria. You can check out his interview at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFoASgoME-c

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Harriet Payne Moore’s oral history interview. She was born in Alexandria in 1934. Moore grew up in the 500 block of Gibbon Street. She is a member of Roberts Memorial United Methodist Church. You can check out her interview at:

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Willie Seegars’ interview. He was born in Alexandria and grew up on Pendelton Street. You can check out his interview at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LaXTHmbCtQ

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Andrew Winfree’s oral interview. He is 87 years old and a 1955 graduate of Parker-Gray High School. He talks about his life in Alexandria, military, and work career. You can check out his interview at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB2RG38krRQ

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Constance Yvonne Terrell’s oral history interview. She is 90 years old and a graduate of Dunbar High School in Washington, DC. She was born and raised in Seminary. Yvonne is a member of Oakland Baptist Church. You can check out her interview at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4apGy3AunjE

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Gwen Day Fuller’s oral history interview. Gwen is the daughter of the late Ferdinand T. Day. She talks about growing up on the North side of Alexandria. During her childhood, Gwen also talks about St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and Alexandria’s African American businesses. You can check out her interview at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvxCoELWJ8Q

Contee and Gibson Families

Behind the scenes of the article titled, “A 150-Year history of the Contee-Gibson Family School.”

Myron Contee had no idea about the history of his ancestors in Alexandria, Washington, DC and Maryland. His Contee and Gibson families were early property owners in Alexandria. The Contee family migrated from Prince Georges, Maryland around the beginning of the Civil War to Washington, DC. They stayed in Washington, DC until after the Civil War. Myron’s second great-grandfather and his children migrated to Alexandria after the civil war leaving other relatives in DC. They became property owners of not just one house but several homes in Alexandria.

You can read Myron Contee’s story, “A 150-year history of the Contee-Gibson Family” in the Alexandria Times dated, August 12, 2021 at https://alextimes.com/2021/08/the-other-alexandria-contee-gibson-family/

The Other History of Fish Town – Dogan Family

Behind the scenes of the Alexandria Gazette Packet’s article on, “The Other History of Fishtown – Dogan Family”

Betty Dogan Roberts Nicholas

Mrs. Betty Dogan Roberts Nicholas’ father, William S. Dogan II’s family has been in Alexandria since the 1700s. The Dogan were born free prior to the Civil War. They had businesses in Alexandria down at the wharf. They lived for many years in an African American neighborhood called Fishtown in Alexandria.

One of the Dogans had a restaurant and bar business down at the fish wharf before the civil war. With that type of business, he brought real estate in Alexandria. The properties with houses on it were rented out. This was a source of income for the family.

Unknown to the present generation, they were unaware that their family had been in the area for over 300 plus years. They contributed a lot to the history of Alexandria and they saw a lot of history made in Alexandria.

Check out this article “The Other History of Fish Town – Dogan Family” on pages 9 and 10 at http://connectionarchives.com/PDF/2021/051921/Alexandria.pdf.

Grandfather and Us: Wilmer Benjamin Henry

Backstory of the article that was in the Alexandria Gazette Newspaper on September 2, 2020, gives insight into Wilmer Benjamin Henry and his grandchildren.

Wilmer Benjamin Henry at Virginia Episcopal High School

Wilmer Benjamin Henry was born on February 22, 1898 in Accotink, which is located in Fairfax, Virginia near Fort Belvoir. His father was from Bedford, Virginia and his mother was from Fairfax, Virginia.

Wilmer had several careers including janitor, barber, waiter, and a mail carrier for his community. He loved his family and especially his grandchildren. Two of his grandchildren shared their memories of their grandfather with me.

Rita Murphy Harris was one of his grandchildren. She is the

Left to right: Rita Harris and Toniette Duncan

daughter of Elrich Murphy and Marie Elizabeth Henry Murphy. She grew up in her grandfather’s house. Toniette Henry Duncan is the daughter or Corrine Idella Henry and John Sydney Holland, Jr. She also grew up in her grandfather’s house. Both women talked about the adventures they experienced in their grandfather’s house

Also in their grandfather’s house on Johnson Lane prior to urban renewal, they experienced life in the rural area of Seminary. The women enjoyed the closeness of family members and friends in their community.

“Our friends were like family,” stated Toniette. “We all were very close like family.”

Life in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s in the Seminary area include extended families and friends who looked out for each other and enjoyed the simply life.

Rita is the only child of Elrich Murphy. Her mother Marie Elizabeth Murphy-Spinner remarried and had two sons, Blair Spinner and Albert Spinner, Jr. Toniette is her mother’s youngest child, but she has an older sister, Sylvia Delores Henry. In addition, Toniette and Sylvia have other siblings through their father and they are Ceyonne, Deborah, Leslie, Lisa and Lynne.

Grandparents are special human beings. For Rita and Toniette, their grandfather found his youth again through his grandchildren raising them and providing for them.

Wilmer Benjamin Henry died at the age of 83 on December 16, 1981. Up until he died, he was employed at the Virginia Episcopal High School as a janitor and he was the neighborhood barber.

You can read more about “Grandfather and Us: Wilmer Benjamin Henry,” in the Alexandria Gazette newspaper dated, September 2, 2020 on page 6 at
http://connectionarchives.com/PDF/2020/090220/Alexandria.pdf.