Anacostia Community Museum

Many important artifacts—such as letters, land deeds, birth certificates and other family documents, newspapers and news clippings, quilts, clothing, and personal mementos—survive in family homes, preserved and passed on from generation to generation. It is the mission of the Anacostia Community Museum to collect these artifacts of everyday life, such as grocery receipts, bills, and personal letters. These materials are often of significant historical value, for they not only connect each of us with our family heritage and the day-to-day struggles of our ancestors, but also give us insight into the broader currents of history.

This photograph forms part of the Percival Bryan Collection and is an illustration of artifacts found in family homes. Since the beginning of photography families have used the medium to document and preserve significant events in their lives and communities. While the majority of family photographs are taken by local photographers and family members, works by famous photographers are often found in family collections.