Oral History Project

HTI's 2001 Oral History pilot project, funded by a Montgomery County Historic Preservation Grant Fund, captures the recollections of three senior members of the Takoma community about World War I, the Depression, World War II, the African-American community in Takoma Park, and the years prior to the 1960s. A second grant from Montgomery County Historic Preservation Fund to continue the oral history interviews began in January 2002.

The interview subjects were:

• Ethel Meyers Barile, who was 91 years old at the time of the interview, our oldest interview subject and a lifetime resident of Takoma Park.
• Dorothy Barnes, also a lifelong resident of Takoma Park, and a member of Historic Takoma's Board of Directors as Historian.
• Roland Dawes, long-time resident of Takoma Park, owner of Roland's Barber Shop, and at the time of the interview newly elected city council member to Ward 4.

Copies of the interview transcripts, photos, and related interview information are available at the Historic Takoma Archives, as well as at the Takoma Park and Takoma DC libraries, Montgomery County Historical Society, the Historical Society of Washington, and in local school libraries.