Discovering Hidden Washington: A Journey Through the Alley Communities of the Nation's Capital

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About the Program

Image of Discovering Hidden Washington in the Library's Coolidge Auditorium In May 1998, the Library of Congress launched a program to introduce 4th grade students to the historical treasures of the Library of Congress. In presenting this extraordinary program, the Library has three goals:

To provide an immediate, stimulating and relevant experience of American history, art, and literature through live presentations of materials from the collections of the Library;
To introduce students and teachers to the Library of Congress and its collections and stimulate awareness of the unique role libraries play in a free society; and
To demonstrate to children that books and libraries can make a difference in the outcomes of their lives -- their relationships, values, career choices and quality of life; to promote literacy and lifelong learning.

May 15, 2003 - Discovering Hidden Washington

Image of The Washington Revels This year we have another exciting program planned which we are delighted to be presenting with The Washington Revels. Entitled "Discovering Hidden Washington: The Alley Communities of Washington DC," the program will bring to life the alley communities where people lived, worked, played and worshiped. This interesting and little known period in the history of our nation's capitol will be presented through song, dance, and children's games, and also through the historic collections of the Library of Congress including manuscripts, photographs, period newspapers, and maps.

Charles Williams Leads the Revels and the Children in Song Our partner in this program is The Washington Revels, who are dedicated, through performance, community involvement and education to reviving, nourishing and promoting celebrations of the cyclical renewal of life that have drawn and bound people together through the ages and across cultures. Revels productions are joyful celebrations of the seasonal and cyclical traditions of various cultures including African American, Celtic and medieval France, among others. These theatrical presentations illuminate important tradition bearers who keep alive the integral links between artistic expression and folk rituals. Local, national and international artists and designers join the volunteer chorus of more than 60 adults, teens and children to express the themes of life, death, rebirth, the symbolism of the season of the shortest (and darkest) days of the year, and the customs and rituals that point to these themes. Revels audiences are not simply spectators, but vital participants, invited to join with those on stage in singing and, at some moments, dancing in the aisles.

Children at the 2001 Program asking questions At the inaugural program and each year since, we have focused on the theme of childhood experience and education and have featured photographs, letters, poems, biographies, speeches, journal and diary entries from the manuscripts of well-known and ordinary Americans whose personal papers are in the collections of the Library of Congress. For example, we have drawn on the papers and diaries of noted anthropologist Margaret Mead, the papers of former slave and statesman, Frederick Douglas, the papers of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the papers of former Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter and other research materials.

A question and answer period closes out the program during which the children have an opportunity to ask questions of the Library's specialists about the collections and the Library of Congress itself. Approximately 500 students and teachers attended last year's program which featured material celebrating the importance of civil rights and civil liberties.

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Library of Congress Help Desk ( May 14, 2003 )