Overview
Origin Story
The genesis of The 1962 Project was my research to understand my father’s life experiences. My father never talked about himself. I knew he was a firefighter with the District of Columbia Fire Department because I remember seeing him in his khaki firefighter uniform when I was young. He retired in 1968, when I was seven, after being assaulted by a police officer while walking home from work during the riots that erupted after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. I don’t remember anyone explaining what happened.
In 2013, while cleaning out my father’s apartment shortly before he died, I found a document written by Ruth Bates Harris, Executive Director of the D.C. Human Relations Commission, that described several of his traumatic experiences. I call the document The Case. The discovery started me on a research journey to learn more about my father’s life experiences.
I soon realized that my father’s experiences were shared by many Black firefighters and their experiences received little attention in the official histories of the District of Columbia Fire Department. My family history research evolved into a community history project, The 1962 Project. It is named for the year the last firehouse was integrated.
Purpose
The purpose of the project is to preserve and share the experiences of Black firefighters in the District of Columbia Fire Department during segregation and integration.
Focus
Understanding is the primary objective.
- What was the environment of the District of Columbia Fire Department during segregation and integration?
- What did Black firefighters experience?
- What was the impact of those experiences on them and their families?
The goal is to have readers stand in the shoes of Black firefighters and experience what they experienced every day when they went to work.
Approach
The project combines my personal story with rigorous historical research and memories shared by firefighters to tell the history in an informative and engaging manner using plain English that can be understood by ordinary people.
Direct quotes from historical documents and conversations with firefighters allow the people in this history to speak for themselves. Their memories help bring the historical information to life.
Why This Project Matters
The perspective of Black firefighters, their experiences, and the impact of those experiences on them and their families receive little attention in the official histories of the District of Columbia Fire Department. This project will help fill the gap.
Future Work
The first publication from the project is my historical memoir, which is currently in development. It tells the story of my research journey to understand my father’s life experiences and the fire department history I uncovered along the way. Possible future work includes additional books, a traveling exhibit, and other ways to share this history with the public.
Help Preserve this History
Do you have stories, photos, memorabilia, documents, or other materials about the Department?
This project focuses on 1919–1969, especially the 1950s and 1960s.
Materials will be preserved through digital scanning and photography.
You will keep your original items. Nothing will be collected or taken. We will scan or photograph them and return them immediately.
Please complete the form if you would like to:
- Share materials or stories
- Ask a question
- Receive project updates
