Washington, D.C.: History and Culture Filmography
updated (12/04)

Ain't gonna shuffle no more 1964-1972. Eyes on the prize II: America at the racial crossroads. 1990. 1 videocassette (60 min.). Covers the black consciousness movement throughout the country through the mid 1960's and early 1970's. Discusses Muhammad Ali's political battle over the Vietnam War. Explores the rise of black politicians and activists. Describes the student movement for black studies at Howard University. VHS 7411

American Byzantine. 2000. 1 videocassette (57 min.). Tells the story of the building of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and its connection to America in the 20th century. VHS 6664

The American University Washington, D.C. 1999. 1 videocassette (10 min.). The American University experience as told by students and faculty in their own words. Brief comments cover the classroom, social life, student body composition, and the opportunities available to students living in the nation's capital. VHS 6398

The American University centennial convocation President Clinton address. 1993. 1 videocassette (73 min.). In the first major foreign trade speech of his new administration, President Bill Clinton proposes a five-step plan: strengthen the domestic economy; tie trade to security concerns; lead the major financial powers to coordinate global economic growth; promote economic growth in the developing countries; and support democracy and economic reforms in Russia and other former Soviet republics. VHS 2299

American University historical film 1 videocassette. VHS 7489

Asylum. 1988. 1 videocassette (57 min.). The history of Saint Elizabeth's Hospital, the national mental institution in Washington, D.C., and the changes in American treatment of the mentally ill which the hospital's history reflects. When the first patient entered Saint Elizabeth's in 1855, he had the place all to himself. By 1950, with 7000 residents, the institution had changed from a haven to a crowded pen. The civil rights movement of the 1960s led to a general release of this patient population and the closing of much of the hospital, but questions of how best to treat the mentally ill remain unresolved. VHS 5867

Black Georgetown remembered. 1 videocassette (40 min.). c1989. A documentary based on the recollections of

D.C., divided city. 2 videocassettes (94 min.). c1989. Ted Koppel reports from the black ghetto area in Washington, D.C. showing the conditions and problems of the people living there. Interspersed are interviews with government officials, business leaders, community workers and others. VHS 638.

Duke Ellington's Washington the rise, fall, and rebirth of a neighborhood. 1999. 1 videocassette (57 min.). Profiles the Washington, D.C. African-American community in the early years of the 20th century, with some biographical information about Duke Ellington. VHS 6429

Fine food fine pastries open 6 to 9. 1989. 1 videocassette (29 min.). Explores the culture and history of Sherrill's Restaurant and Bakery, which has served as a neighborhood gathering place on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, since the Depression. Presents interviews with, and shows the daily activities of the waitresses, owners, and regular customers of Sherrill's. Illustrates how this unique restaurant has become a vital part of the ritual of a city community. VHS 1304

For love and for life the 1987 march on Washington for lesbian and gay rights. 1989. 1 videocassette (60 min.). Documents the Oct. 11, 1987, march for freedom, justice and life by a half million lesbians and gay men. VHS 1506

Fishing in the city. 1 videocassette (29 min.). c1990. Discusses recreational fishing on the Potomac River in Washington, DC. VHS 3611

Frederick Douglass : When the lion wrote history. 1 videocassette (90 min.). c1994. Archival materials and Douglass' autobiographical writings are used to present the story of his life. VHS 3030

I Have a Dream. 1 videocassette (28 min.). c1986. Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech from 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. VHS 318

Innocent until proven guilty. 1999. 1 videocassette (67 min.). "Follows Forman both in his role as public defender and as educator at an alternative high school for juvenile ex-offenders, which he co-founded. Using his knowledge of the judicial system, his understanding of the streets, and his commitment to the African-American community, he is trying to help at-risk youth get back on track."--Back of container. VHS 7154

Inside the White House. 1996. 1 videocassette (ca. 89 min.). Takes viewers behind the scenes of the White House--through basement corridors, kitchens, and even into the private quarters of the First Family--to explore the history of the house and its significance... Against the backdrop of a recent state dinner for Russian President Boris Yeltsin, the White House Chief Usher corrals butlers, chefs, waiters, the press corps, dishwashers, dignitaries, and 150 invited guests. "The program includes interviews with all the living presidents and first ladies ... as well as rarely seen historical footage of important White House events. In addition, present and former chief ushers, seamstresses, plumbers, and carpenters share anecdotes about both public and private moments.". VHS 4142

John F. Kennedy, commencement cddress at American University, Jun. 10, 1963. 1 videocassette (30 min.). VHS 1779

Justice in the District of Columbia, tough decisions. 1988. 1 videocassette (22 min.). The program shows scenes and interviews participants in the District of Columbia Court system. It includes sections on the organization and staffing of the court system and discussions of sentencing, the jury system, witnesses, the family division, mediation, appeals, and the citizen's role. VHS 2530

Legacy Week ceremony. 1991. 1 videocassette (41 min.). Film of the opening ceremony of Legacy Week, a series of events commemorating President John F. Kennedy's commencement address at the American University, June 10, 1963, proposing a test ban treaty. Following introductory remarks by student organizers and by Acting President Milton Greenberg, the featured speaker, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, proposed a six-point program of "social security for children" to complete the unfinished work of President Kennedy's administration. The film concludes with scenes at the plaque on the Kennedy Terrace, located adjacent to Reeves Athletic Field, the spot on which President Kennedy stood when making his commencement address. VHS 1380

Marian Anderson. 1 videocassette (58 min.). c1991. Marian Anderson's life and career is described in her personal reminiscences, in interviews with others, and in film clips and recordings. VHS 1568

Music in a grand space: 50 Years of the Washington Cathederal Choral Society. 1 videocassette (28 min.). c1992. Commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Washington Cathedral Choral Society while also covering aspects of the growth of the National Cathedral and the city of Washington. VHS 1725

The Music district. 1995. 1 videocassette (57 min.). The video swings to the beat of four vibrant but little known African-American musical groups flourishing in Southeast Washington, D.C., within blocks of the centers of the national power. Members and fans of four bands (Legendary Orioles, The four echos, Junk Yard Band, Kings of Harmony) discuss their origins and support within their community. VHS 4503

The National Gallery of Art. 1 videodisc. c1983. Includes a history of the National Gallery of Art, a guided tour (27 min.), and pictures and descriptions of 1,645 individual works of art designed to be viewed separately. VDD 1

National Symphony Orchestra more than meets the ear. 1996. 1 videocassette (ca. 30 min.). Brief look at The Kennedy Center's and the NSO's school/community arts education initiatives in the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. area. Stresses the NSO's commitment to providing learning experiences for young people. VHS 5935

No Easy Walk. 1 videocassette (60 min.). Eyes on the Prize series, part 4. c1986. Retells the stories of three cities involved in the civil rights movement: Albany, Ga., where the police chief and Martin Luther King, Jr. each tested out the strategy of nonviolence in his own way; Birmingham, Ala. where children marched against fire water hoses; and Washington, D.C. where Black and white, young and old, North and South came together to march on the nation's capital. VHS 248

Party animals. 2002. 1 videocassette (57 min.). Whimsical sculptures of 200 donkeys and elephants created by local area artists on display in Washington, DC from April to September 2002. VHS 7437

Poppy. 1994. 1 videocassette (31 min.). Film describes the school and home life of an African American high school student when the grandfather who raised him is seriously ill and he must decide whether to continue to be a member of the basketball team or to apply for admission to college. The film is followed by statements by participants in the film who discuss their roles and their aspirations for the future; the sub-title on the label calls this portion "Behind the scenes, the making of Poppy.". VHS 2890

Portraits of freedom: A history of Black Washington. 1 videocassette (47 min.). c1990. This television program e xplores the history of African Americans in Washington through local neighborhoods (Ge orgetown, Barry's Farm), churches, schools (Dunbar H.S., Howard University) and the cultural scene. Landmarks such as the slave cemetary, Frederick Douglass's home, Mount Zion Methodist Church, and the Lincoln Theatre are shown and discussed. Memories of segregated Washington by D.C. residents such as Marion Pryde, Neville Waters, Louise Hutchinson, Prof. Edward Smith, Dr. W. Montague Cobb, John Best and Fran Cohen as well as commentary on present day Washington. VHS 2058

President Clinton at American University, September 9, 1997. 1997. 1 videocassette (ca. 40 min.). President Clinton briefly looks at the accomplishments in his presidency to date and then looks ahead to what he hopes to accomplish in conjunction with Congress in the next three months. Issues he touches on include: equal access to education, Pell Grants, setting national educational standards, ensuring the survival of Social Security and Medicare, improving trade, strengthening the American family, environmental issues, improving government efficiency, building strong relationships with other countries of the world and building a strong and unified America. VHS 4985

President Clinton's speech at the American University Convocation. 1993. 1 videocassette (ca. 60 min.). President Clinton, in a speech delivered at a convocation in honor of American University's centennial celebration, talks about the imperative of American leadership in the face of global change - focusing on "the economic leadership [that must be exerted] at home and abroad as a new global economy unfolds ... ." Clinton offers five steps that constitute an agenda for American action in a global economy: (1) get the U.S. economic house in order; (2) make trade a priority; (3) exercise leadership among the major financial powers to improve U.S. coordination on behalf of global economic growth; (4) promote the expansion of growth in the developing world and (5) support democratic reforms in the former Soviet Union. VHS 5140

The Republic of virtue. American visions. 1997. 1 videocassette (60 min.). Part 1 of an eight part series presenting American history through its visual art, painting, sculpture, architecture and monuments. This first segment examines some of the first images made in America which resemble ancient ones. Jefferson and the founding fathers felt that classicism gave the young nation power and authority. In Washington, D.C. architects adopted and transformed the classical style to serve a new, democratic ideal. Hughes explores the work of artists and architects, Benjamin West, John S. Copley, Charles W. Peale, Thomas Cole and Charles Bulfinch. VHS 4571

The Road to Rock Bottom. 1 videocassette (60 min.). Great Depression series, part 2. c1993. As the Great Depression progressed economic collapse took its toll on rural America. Crops went uns old, farm mortgages were called in by banks, hungry farmers protested, and robberies increased dramatically. The U.S. Army was called in to defend the nation's capital from veterans who were demanding that President Hoover and Congress pay a bonus for their services in World War I. The film ends with Franklin Roosevelt's landslide election to the presidency. VHS 2452

Shooting back, photography by homeless children in Washington, DC. 1990. 1 videocassette (30 min.). A look at the life of homeless children through photographs taken by homeless children. VHS 7375

Someone, I tell you. 1993. 1 videocassette (21 min.). This account of the fourth display of the AIDS quilt in Washington, D.C., October 9-11, 1992, serves as the mechanism for recounting the origin of the NAMES Project and its extraordinary growth. The quilt serves as a memorial to those who have died of AIDS, helps ease the grief of those who work on it, and raises public awareness of the sanctity of human life and the need for increased research on both prevention and cure of AIDS. Despite bad weather, the display was visited by thousands of people. VHS 3198

Southwest remembered, a story of urban renewal. 1990. 1 videocassette (50 min.). Describes an urban renewal project in the Southwest section of Washington, D.C. VHS 1200

Statue of freedom removal. 1 videocassette (61 min.). c1993. Bruce Collins interviews William Allen about the history of the Capitol Building and the Dome and of previous efforts to preserve or restore it while the camera shows the crane removing the Statue of Freedom from the top of the Dome. VHS 2164

Step by step: A story of Black Washington. 1 videocassette (60 min.). c1983. The recollections of former Howard University professors Harold Lewis and W. Montague Cobb are interspersed with still photographs and newsreel clips to describe Afro-American life in Washington, D.C. in the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. VHS 7732

The Stone carvers. 1 videocassette (29 min.). c1988. Amidst the gargoyles at the Washington Cathedral, some of the last remaining stone carvers in America demonstrate their traditional skills and exchange lively stories. VHS 2728

Throwaway people. 1990. 1 videocassette (58 min.). An investigation of the economic, social and political forces that have produced the Black American underclass in Shaw, a crime-ridden neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Observes that, following the Civil Rights legislation of the 1960s and the riots of 1968, the stable Black middle class moved out of the area. Explores the following themes: economic decline, addiction to crack and other drugs, lawlessness, teen-age pregnancy, and the long and desperate search for employment on the part of those without specialized skills. VHS 790

Thug life in D.C. 1999. 1 videocassette (71 min.). Focuses on Aundrey Bruno, a teenager awaiting trial in the D.C. Detention Facility. He faces up to 115 years for shooting a police officer. Includes interviews with his mother and younger brother, as well as the warden of the D.C. Detention Facility and her staff. VHS 5839

Thurgood Marshall: Portrait of an American hero. 1 videocassette (28 min.). c1985. This historical documentary traces the career of the first black appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Justice Marshall's position as a role model and civil rights trailblazer is emphasised. VHS 530

A Tour of the Library of Congress. 1 videocassette (22 min.). c1986. An introduction to the Library's collection and services. The basics of using the Library are covered and a short section outlines the history of the collection. VHS 242

Vietnam memorial. 1988. 1 videocassette (60 min.). Depicts the five-day National Salute to Vietnam Veterans sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, during which veterans and their families rallied in Washington, D.C. to dedicate the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Constitution Gardens, November 1982. Records the extremes of emotions experienced by these individuals, from sadness to joy and pride, and their reactions to the American people's indifference and detachment. VHS 547

The Washington colorists. 1 videocassette (37 min.). c1986. Between 1955-65, a few young artists made Washington, D.C. a center for innovation in modern art. These artists include: Morris Louis, Kenneth Noland, Howard Mehring, Thomas Downing, Gene Davis and Paul Reed. VHS 4935

Washington, D.C an inspiring tour. The Holiday video library. 1987. 1 videocassette (60 min.). A tour of our nation's capital, including the White House, the Library of Congress, the National Archives, the Smithsonian Institution, the Capitol Building, and Arlington National Cemetery. VHS 313

We bring a quilt. 1988. 1 videocassette (30 min.). The AIDS Memorial Quilt covered the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. on the weekend of October 7, 1988. This documentary is a moving chronicle of that event, dedicated to the thousands of people who have been touched by the AIDS epidemic. VHS 4021

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