Page "Anacostia Community Museum" Paragraph 9

ACM did not have a permanent collection until the late 1970s.

The museum was not allowed to build such a collection by the Smithsonian.

The Smithsonian lacked in its collections related to African American history and culture, and John Kinard help encourage other museums to start acquiring objects, such as artwork and pieces owned by Duke Ellington.

In 1977 the museum was able to start building its permanent collection.

It wasn't until 1992 that ACM created its first collections management policy, specifying a focus on the Anacostia neighborhood and surrounding areas.

The museum was donated the archives of Lorenzo Dow Turner, in 2003, by his wife, Lois Turner Williams.

In 2010, an exhibition Word, Shout, Song: Lorenzo Dow Turner, Connecting Communities Through Language, was held to showcase the collection.

The museum also has a collection of art including artists such as James A. Porter, Sam Gilliam, and Benny Andrews.