Usage conditions may apply for digital images, video, and sound recordings linked within SOVA collections. While digital content may be restricted, SOVA collection descriptions and catalog records are available CC0 for re-use. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.
Anacostia Community Museum Archives
Fractious Family House Photographs
Summary
- Collection ID:
- ACMA.06-115
- Dates:
-
2009
- Languages:
-
English.
- Physical Description:
-
4.07 MegabytesDigital Images
- Repository:
Content Description
Content Description
This collection includes three photographs of the A-frame house built by Barry Farm early settler William Fractious in 1867-68 on the 2100 block of Elvans Road in Southeast, Washington, DC. The images were taken in 2009 by Patricia Brown Savage while conducting research on the history of Elvans Road.
Historical
Historical
In 1867, the Freedmen's Bureau created a settlement to accommodate some of the African Americans coming to Washington, DC during the Civil War. The Bureau acquired 375 acres from the Barry family across the Eastern Branch (later Anacostia River) in what was then called Washington County. The land from Barry Farm was divided into 356 one acre lots to be sold to the newly freed people.
William Fractious, born in Virginia around 1827 and his wife Lucy, were likely among those who acquired lots in the new development. A carpenter by trade, Fractious acquired lot 7 of section 3, which came with the materials needed to build an A-frame style two room house. In the 1940s, when sewage and water came to Elvans Road, the family built an addition which included a bathroom and another bedroom.
The Fractious family house on the 2100 block of Elvans Road served as the family abode for several generations over more than 140 years. By 2009 however it was abandoned, and shortly thereafter, it was razed. It is believed that this was the last example of the A-frame houses originally built in Barry Farm.
Administration
Author
Jennifer Morris
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Access
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.
Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Preferred Citation
Fractious family house photographs, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution, gift of Patricia Brown Savage.
Keywords
| Keyword Terms | Keyword Types | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Anacostia (Washington, D.C.) | Geographic | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Barry Farms (Washington, D.C.) | Geographic | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| A-frame houses | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Anacostia Community Museum Archives
1901 Fort Place, SE
Washington, D.C. 20020
ACMArchives@si.edu
