Mary McLeod Bethune

Mary McLeod Bethune: The daughter of former slaves who
became a leader in education and civil rights

A week or so ago, I featured pictures of a statue of Lincoln in a little park east of the Capitol. In addition to the tribute to the Great Emancipator, the park is also home to a statue of a little-known (at least, unfortunately, among white people), but influential civil rights activist named Mary McLeod Bethune.

Ms. Bethune's signature

The fifteenth of 17 children, Ms. Bethune was born to former slaves in South Carolina. An educator, Ms. Bethune founded an African-American all-girls school in Daytona Beach, Florida, that later merged with an all-boys school and became the Bethune-Cookman College (and now a university.) She served as its president from 1923-42 and again in 1946-47. She was also part of President Franklin Roosevelt's Black Cabinet--an informal group of black policy advisors and advocates to the president. Ms. Bethune also founded the National Council of Negro Women in 1935 in New York and it later headquartered in a house on Logan Circle that is now a designated National Historic Site.

Ms. Bethune's Legacy: Equal Education for Children of Color

This statue to Ms. Bethune is located in Lincoln Park and was the first statue in the city honoring a black American. It was sculpted by Robert Berks, the same artist who sculpted the whimsical likeness of Albert Einstein and a bust of President John F. Kennedy for the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. In this tribute to Ms. Bethune, she is seen supported by a cane given to her by President Roosevelt and handing a copy of her legacy to two eager children.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 09/08

Daughters

Constitutional Hall of the Daughters of the American Revolution

Americans are known for being proud of their heritage and history. Among some of the oldest and proudest organizations are those that tie our personal genealogy to national historical events. For example, the Mayflower Society for descendants of the pilgrims who landed in Massachusetts in 1620. Or, the Sons of the Confederacy for descendants of the men and women who fought with the South during the U.S. Civil War. Or the Daughters of the Mormon Pioneers for descendants whose ancestors crossed the American plains in the 1840s and 50s to settle the Utah Territory.

One of the larger and perhaps most distinguished ancestral organizations in the U.S. is the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, or the DAR. According to the organization's website, "Any woman 18 years or older--regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background--who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution, is eligible for membership." The DAR was founded in 1890 and today boosts more than 165,000 members in 3,000 chapters in the U.S. and overseas.

Preservation, Patriotism, Education:
The threefold mission of the DAR

The DAR's threefold mission is "historical preservation, promotion of education, and encouragement of patriotic endeavor." In addition, members of the DAR volunteer more than 60,000 hours annually to schools and veterans organizations around the country. The DAR is located on 17th Street NW within view of the White House and includes a museum with more than 30,000 artifacts and objects from pre-Industrial America, a concert hall--Constitution Hall--that is available for events throughout the year, and a library described as a "premier genealogical research center...ranked the third most important of national institutions based on the uniqueness of sources."

If you're interested in the American Revolution and this era of American history, the DAR is the place to visit when you're in Washington. As a personal aside, when I was a wee thing, my father took a job one summer filming historical documents for the DAR in their building on 17th Street.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 08/08

Two Things Challenge: Church / Lady

This is the church, this is the steeple;
Open the doors and see all the people.
Close the doors and hear them pray.
Open the doors and they all run away!

This week's Two Things Challenge was Church / Lady. One of the things I enjoy about living in Washington is, people go to church in this town. And they get dressed up to do. Sunday finery is really fine around here. My goal was to get some pictures of ladies in their Sabbath threads, but I was either out too early or too late. Summer church service times elude me, so I'm sans sisters in Sunday frocks and sashes. Nevertheless, I went down to 15th and Church Streets NW and took some pictures at St. Luke's Episcopal Church and then over to the American Red Cross Museum. These are the results.

The 8:00 service was underway when I arrived at St. Luke's and they had the doors thrown open to enjoy the cool morning air. The homily was in full swing as I discretely made efforts to photograph one of the oldest Episcopal churches in the city. Founded in 1873, it served as the predominant Episcopal parish for colored people in the District of Columbia. The church is located on the edge of the DuPont Circle and Logan Circle neighborhoods and remains a predominantly black church with a rich history and vibrant community.

Sister Jane D'Angelo on the grounds of the Red Cross Museum

For lady, I had to be a little more creative. There are very few monuments or memorials to women in the District, but I knew about one or two on the grounds of the American Red Cross Museum on 17th and D Streets NW. This picture is a statue of Sister Jane D'Angelo and commemorates her life and the lives of 300 nurses who died during World War I. I thought it was a fitting representation of a lady.

Church ladies listening to the homily

Finally, this last photo takes us back to St. Luke's and combines both words. I shot these two ladies through the open door of the church.


Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 08/08

The Dairy Godmother

The Dairy Godmother--a Del Ray/Alexandria institution

About a year ago, while watching the local PBS station WETA, there was a little video about a custard shop called The Dairy Godmother (how great is that name?!) in Alexandria's Del Ray neighborhood. I kept saying I was going to go there and then I'd forget. Well, the other day, the video ran on WETA again and this time I wrote down the name of the place and made a commitment to go. Last Wednesday found me and some friends in Del Ray enjoying frozen treats at this wonderful little independent, woman-owned business!

Liz Davis: The Dairy Godmother herself!

The Dairy Godmother is to Del Ray what Ben's Chili Bowl is to D.C.--and worth every lick. If you like frozen custard or creative sorbets, this is absolutely the place to go! And, if you have a four-legged friend, owner Liz Davis also sells goodies for the pups. If you stop in, be sure to look for Liz and say hi! She's a down-to-earth woman who exudes joy in what she does and who has created a neighborhood space of lasting value. Believe me, I'll be going back very soon!

The Dairy Godmother is located at 2310 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia, and is open seven days a week.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 07/08

Meridian Hill Park

Meridian Hill Park includes this beautiful stepped fountain. Built in the 1930s, it utilized concrete conglomerate--considered an innovative medium for sculpture and park fountains at the time.

Originally the site of a mansion built by John Porter, Meridian Hill Park in northwest Washington lies exactly on the meridian line surveyed by Benjamin Banneker in Jones Point, Virginia, in 1791 thereby setting the first official boundary stone for the District of Columbia.

In the 19th century, the park was the site of Columbia College, which later became The George Washington University. During the Civil War, Union soldiers camped on Meridian Hill. In the early 20th century, the land was bought by the U.S. government and plans were drawn up for a formal garden park meant to rival the royal parks and gardens of Europe. In 1933, the grounds were transferred to the National Park Service (NPS) and in 1936, the park was completed. In 1969, it was suppose to be renamed Malcolm X Park, but Congress wouldn't ratify the name. Still, some long-time residents of the city refer to it as such, while most newer residents continue to call it Meridian Hill.

The park includes statues of James Buchanan, 15th POTUS; Dante Allegri;
and Joan D'Arc. (Click on images to enlarge.)

For many years, the park was a lovely oasis in the city, but in the 1970s and 80s, Meridian Hill fell prey to crime and the drug trade. Open air dealing was not an uncommon site and the area was considered unsafe, especially after sunset. In 1990, a group of citizens banded together to form the "Friends of Meridian Hill Park" after a teenager was murdered in the park. Their work, in conjunction with the NPS, has restored the park to its former glory. Today, the park is again a clean, relatively safe gathering place for residents and visitors.

The stepped fountain as seen from the terrace above. Note in the distance,
the Washington Monument peeking over the top of the apartment building in the foreground.

The park features a beautiful, cascading water fountain and statues of President James Buchanan, Dante Allegri, Joan D'Arc, and an unusual memorial to an unknown Naval officer, William Schvelte. There is also a pavilion on the northeast side of the park and a temporary stage structure on the terrace above the water fountain. It is there during the summer months that a group of musicians congregate and beat their drums on Sundays.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 6/08

FDR @ Night

A sculpture that captures Roosevelt's most famous communication method:
fireside chats broadcast on radios into homes of millions of Americans.

I've featured elements of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in a couple of other postings--water and a sculpture of men standing in a bread line. As I've mentioned before, this memorial commemorates the four presidential terms of FDR, who led America during some of its most turbulent modern history. Through the Great Depression and World War II, FDR is remembered with mixed emotion. Politics aside, this entry presents a few more of the sculptures and features in this unique memorial.

(L): Statue of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, an active proponent of the creation of the United Nations.
(R): Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his terrier, Fala.

Tactile experience: Columns and panels with bas relief friezes and Braille
so the blind can enjoy this monument along with the seeing.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 3/08

Organization

The Organization of American States:
Justice, Democracy, Peace and Prosperity in the Americas

In 1826, Simón Bolívar, then president of Peru, proposed the creation of a multi-national organization of central and south American countries that would have a common military, a defense pact, and a supranational parliament. Due to civil wars and governmental instability in many countries, the proposition struggled and continental agreement and cooperation was mediocre at best.

In 1948, members met in Bogata, Columbia, at the Ninth International Conference of American States where everyone pledged to fight communism in America. The signatories of this event comprise what became known as the Organization of American States (OAS.) OAS' mission is to "strengthen cooperation on democratic values, defend common interests and debate the major issues facing the region and the world."

Queen Isabel II of the Spains (left) and Simón Bolívar of Venezuala (right)

This statue of Isabel II sits in the plaza of the OAS outside its entrance on 17th Street. Isabel II was Queen of the Spains (Reina de las Españas) of the House of Bourbon from 1833 - 1886. She was considered "wayward and unscrupulous" in matters of politics which left her rather unpopular. In 1868, a revolution in Spain resulted in her exile in Paris where she lived out her remaining years. Isabel II died in 1904 and is buried in Spain.

An equestrian statue of Simón Bolívar can be found on the west side of the property at 18th and C Streets NW. In addition to his involvement in the creation of what would eventually be the OAS, Bolívar was president of four Latin American countries during his career: Venezuela (1813-1814), Greater Columbia (1819-1830), Peru (1824-1827), and Bolivia (1825.)

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 4/08

Gratitude

The gratitude of Armenia is the theme of this statue

On the grounds of the Museum of the American Red Cross is this statue of a woman and child. Statues of women are a rare sight in Washington, so this one really stood out a few weeks ago when I was taking pictures of the aforementioned museum. This statue is a gift from the citizens of Armenia to the citizens of America in gratitude for our assistance following a devastating earthquake in December 1988.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends and fellow photobloggers!

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 11/07

Red Cross

The Red Cross Museum on 17th Street NW

Founded in 1881 by Clara Barton, the American Red Cross has grown into an international aid organization that provides comfort and aid to victims of disasters locally, nationally, and internationally. Whether your home burns down or you've survived a hurricane, the Red Cross has been one of the first aid organizations to mobilize and deliver supplies to people all over the world.

This building, on 17th Street NW not far from the White House, is the original headquarters of the American Red Cross. Over the portico are the words "To the Heroic Women of the Civil War"--a tribute to those brave women who provide medical assistance and comfort to the wounded and dying of the that national conflict. It was after the war that Barton organized the Red Cross, based on the need she saw during the Civil War. Today, this building serves as a museum, while the American Red Cross' headquarters have moved up a few blocks to E and 22 Streets NW.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 11/07.