A Community Exploring Its Past

While most Americans probably think of Capitol Hill as simply the site of the U.S. Capitol, those who live here know it as an old and thriving residential neighborhood, a small town within a large city. The Overbeck Project captures the history of this community by recording the recollections of its longtime residents and preserving other records of its fascinating past.

Project volunteers collect and transcribe interviews for posting on this site. We also sponsor a highly successful lecture series exploring our city's history. We urge you too to get involved in this exciting effort, sponsored by the Capitol Hill Community Foundation.

Transcripts newly added September, 2011: These five interview transcripts were added during September: Donnald Anderson, Patricia Briel, Mary Jerrell, Hugh Kelly, and Jean Noel.

Exciting News 

The Overbeck Project has gone into publishing. A wonderful new book by Washington writer Mary Z. Gray describing the Capitol Hill of her 1920s childhood will be appearing soon. Go to the Overbeck History Press page to learn more about 301 East Capitol: Tales From the Heart of the Hill, and watch for the announcement of book signing events in the neighborhood.

Now 93, Mary Gray grew up above her family's inherited funeral home at 301 East Capitol (a building owned today by the Folger Shakespeare Library) and was a regular contributor to The Washington Post, The New York Times and other publications for over half a century. Cul de Sac cartoonist Richard Thompson calls her "one of the funniest raconteurs I know."

Book Signings Set for February 12 and 13

Mary Gray will read from her book and answer questions at a book signing at the Hill Center on Sunday, February 12, at 2:00 p.m. Register online at http://hillcenterdc.org/home/programs/113.

A signing is also set for Monday, February 13, at 1:00 p.m. at Mary's childhood home, 301 East Capitol, which is now the Folger Shakespeare Library's Haskell Center. No reservation is required.