Witness to a Possibility (WTAP): Black Theater Movement in Washington, DC
Scope and Contents
This collection contains audio cassettes, posters, correspondence, and publications related to the Witness To A Possibility (WTAP) project to document the Black Theater movement in Washington, D.C.
Dates
- circa 1960s - circa 1990s
- Majority of material found within 1980-1986
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.
Biographical / Historical
The Witness to a Possibility project documents the Black Theater movement that took place in Washington, D.C., between 1968 and 1976. The Black Theater movement represents a significant cultural landmark in the history of both theater and Washington, D.C.
The Black Theater movement was driven forward by significant events that profoundly affected the black community, such as the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Vietnam War, and the general racial injustices in American society. The movement arose as a means to document the historical past of black people and as a way to address the issues and concerns of the community.
The Witness to a Possibility project was carried out in the 1980s by Howard University Professor Vera J. Katz and her former student, Taquiena Boston. The two worked together to collect documents and to conduct oral histories with many of the writers, actors, and directors for such theater programs as Black Repertory Theater and the Howard Players.
Extent
4.5 Linear Feet (6 doument boxes and one oversized box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection contains audio cassettes, posters, correspondence, and publications related to the Witness To A Possibility (WTAP) project to document the Black Theater movement that took place in Washington, D.C., between 1968 and 1976. The Witness to a Possibility project was carried out in the 1980s by Howard University Professor Vera J. Katz and her former student, Taquiena Boston. The two worked together to collect documents and to conduct oral histories with many of the writers, actors, and directors for such theater programs as Black Repertory Theater and the Howard Players.
Arrangement
Organized into 2 series: Papers and Audio cassettes and ephemera.
Physical Location
Materials are stored off-site, and will require additional retrieval time. Please contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Taquiena Boston, 2015 (Accession 2015.056)
- African American history Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Austin, Joy Ford
- Black theater--United States--History Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Duke Ellington School of the Arts Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Howard University Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Malone, Mike
- Oral history -- Washington(D.C.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Truitt, Quay Barnes
- Title
- Guide to the Witness to a Possibility records, 1968-1987
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- University Archives, Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University
- Date
- 2016
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University Repository
