There could be family history gold in this pile of papers… (photo: Linda Crichlow-White)

by Linda Crichlow-White
guest contributor

They say that the only people who like “hoarders” — people who don’t ever throw things out — are genealogists.

It’s because of materials that I found in relative's homes in Petworth and Park View that I've been able to tell stories about my ancestors.

During these days with "extra" time, many of us are doing serious spring cleaning. But, be careful when cleaning up and cleaning out! There might be clues to your ancestors and other history among the clutter! You need to be especially careful if you are helping an elder sort and organize.

The clutter of a life long-lived has history recorded (photo: Linda Crichlow-White)

When I had the responsibility of cleaning out an elder's home in Park View, I found diaries, photographs, letters and more. One of the items in the house was a painting by local artist Richard Dempsey. I had looked at the painting many times and because I never thought of this part of my family as art connoisseurs, thought that the painting might have been purchased at a Murphy's or Woolworth's 5 & 10. (Yes, those stores used to sell decorative arts for homes. There used to be a Woolworth's where the Lion Liquor Store is on Georgia Avenue, and a Woolworth's near 14th and Park Road.)

I know some of you have never even heard of a 5&10... At any rate, fortunately for this writer who maybe didn't have an eye for fine art, my relative had fastened a note on the back of the painting. There, enclosed in a Wonder Bread plastic bag, was a 1950 program from the Barnett Aden Gallery that featured Dempsey's work!

The author going through an Aunt’s home and finding so much history (photo: Linda Crichlow-White)

Turns out, Dempsey was mentioned in some of my relatives’ writings, so apparently he had given the piece to the family and it stayed on the wall from the 1950s until 2006, when my cousin was 92 and could no longer stay in the house by herself. Most of Dempsey’s other works were more appealing than the one on the wall on Manor Place and fortunately received due recognition.

When you come across such materials in your home, you might call your local library to see if they are interested in any of the materials. In DC, the Special Collections Department of DC Public Library is the office primarily responsible for such acquisitions. The Washington Historical Society is also another option for DC family memorabilia. While it's too late for 2019 taxes, if you donate materials now, and get a receipt, you can use the donation as a tax deduction next year.

I have been fortunate to be able to donate materials to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Some of you remember the article that Lois Cooper wrote about the tin of Madame Walker Hair memorabilia that were found in another aunt's home.

The letters and diaries that I found are now at the Schlesinger Library at Harvard/Radcliffe helping to tell stories of American women. Turns out that my Park View relatives had major Boston connections, having lived there from the 1880s, thus becoming a good fit for Schlesinger.

A family diary from the 1960s chronicles history unfolding (photo: Linda Crichlow-White)

As soon as the quarantine is over, I'm hoping to donate some 1940's-era file cabinets from a house on Randolph Street to the National Park Service to use in one of their historic home museums.

Note: You can get a larger tax donation if you have your materials appraised.

The things I've found and donated came from "ordinary" people and "ordinary" homes ...right here in Petworth/Park View. So when you’re cleaning up your or a family member’s home, don’t throw something out without giving it a thought!