Frank Smith, Ph.D., Oral History Interview: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

An oral history interview and conversation with historian Dr. Frank Smith, Ph.D. It consists of three versions of a digital video recording, two camera card files (2025.12.4.1.1 and 2025.12.4.1.2, .mxf files) and one edited file (2025.12.4.1.3, .mov file).

Dr. Frank Smith was interviewed by Temple University student James Gray III on June 28, 2023, as part of the Social Justice Conversations Oral History Project. The interview took place at the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum in Washington, DC. At the time of the interview, Dr. Smith was 80 years old.

This oral history interview with Dr. Frank Smith consists of two distinct sections: an “interview” section (part 1) and a “conversation” section (part 2, 00:59:22). In part 1, Dr. Smith describes his early life in Newnan, GA, and his time in Atlanta at Morehouse College. He recalls race relations in Georgia, his involvement with the sit-in movement, Black police officers, and the Atlanta Student Movement. He also discusses the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and organizing efforts in Mississippi, such as the Mississippi Freedom Labor Union. He also touches on the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He mentions several incidences of racial violence experienced by civil rights activists and others, including arrests, beatings, murder, and sexual assault. In part 2, Dr. Smith recalls Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer’s arrest in Winona, MS, and describes the injuries she suffered while in custody and alludes to the sexual violence experienced by Black women. He describes the last interaction he had with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., just before his assassination and then discusses the assassination with Gray. They then discuss Marion Barry, John Lewis, D.C. Home Rule Act, and policing. Dr. Smith describes the role African Americans played in the Civil War, his efforts to memorialize Black Union soldiers, and the challenges Black soldiers faced after the Civil War. Dr. Smith and Gray also discuss the goals of the Civil War Museum and the value of education. Finally, Gray shares his passions and discusses the Black Student Union at Temple University. Dr. Smith closes by reflecting on a book about Nelson Mandela and discussing the importance of cultivating Black communities’ ability to care for themselves.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: June 28, 2023
• Created by: National Museum of African American History and Culture, American, founded 2003
• Recorded by: Trudy Hutcherson, American
• Edited by: Candace Dane Chambers, American
• Interviewed by: James Gray III
• Interview of: Dr. Frank Smith Ph.D., American, born 1942
• Subject of: Emmett Till, American, 1941 - 1955
• Subject of: Morehouse College, American, founded 1867
• Subject of: Rich's Department Store, American, 1867 - 2005
• Type: video recordings
• Type: oral histories
• Type: digital media - born digital
• Medium: digital
• Dimensions: Duration (2025.12.4.1.3, edited): 2 hr., 23 min., 3 sec.
• Dimensions: File size: 225 GB
• Place filmed: Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
• Place captured: Newnan, Coweta County, Georgia, United States, North and Central America
• Place captured: Mississippi Delta, Mississippi, United States, North and Central America
• Place captured: Winona, Montgomery County, Mississippi, United States, North and Central America
• Place captured: Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Activism
• Topic: Civil Rights
• Topic: Communities
• Topic: Education
• Topic: Families
• Topic: Government
• Topic: HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities)
• Object number: 2025.12.4.1
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: © Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.