September 1, 2016

New Leadership for the Overbeck History Lectures

After coordinating the effort for fifteen years, John Franzén handed over leadership of the Overbeck History Lectures to longtime community activists Nancy Metzger and Maygene Daniels in September 2016.

The lecture program, which explores the history of the District of Columbia and especially the Capitol Hill neighborhood, mounted 58 free lecture presentations under Franzén's direction.

Nancy Metzger has been intensively involved for many years in Capitol Hill community improvement and historic preservation efforts. She headed the successful drive to have the Capitol Hill Historic District extended down 8th Street S.E. to the Navy Yard and served on the city's Historic Preservation Review Board from 2.012–2016

Until her recent retirement, Maygene Daniels served as head archivist at the National Gallery of Art, and has long been the Overbeck Project's senior adviser on archival issues. She also played a central role in researching the history of the Old Naval Hospital (site of today's Hill Center) and creating the historic signage in that facility.

News Archive

Remembering Hayden Wetzel

The Overbeck Project notes with sadness the passing of Hayden Wetzel, an extraordinary tour guide who has been described as a "touchstone for history" in the District of Columbia.

Oral histories Featured at CHRS meeting

Overbeck Project Manager Bernadette McMahon and historian Brian Kraft jointly presented “Voices from our past – Researching oral histories of Capitol Hill“ during the June 22, 2021, Capitol Hill Restoration Society meeting.

Interviewing by Zoom

When the shutdowns prompted by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic prevented the Overbeck Project from interviewing Capitol Hill neighbors, modern technology came to the rescue. Like most of the world, project volunteers enlisted Zoom to continue with almost-normal operations.

In Memoriam: John Franzén

The Overbeck Project notes with sadness the passing of Steering Committee chairman and visionary leader John Franzén on November 1, 2020. Franzén’s recorded interviews with historian Ruth Ann Overbeck prior to her death in 2000 provided the inspiration for this oral history project.

Boswell transcript online

Members of the Boswell family lived at 11 D Street SE for 160 years, almost as long as Capitol Hill has been a residential community. We are proud to announce that a transcript of interviews with Bill Boswell, the last family member to live there, is now included on this website.

RIP Goldie Mamakos

Overbeck Project interviewee Goldie Mamakos passed away on March 20, 2020, at age 89.

The Overbeck Project Notes with Sadness the Passing of James Goode.

Goode was the author of a number of valued and important books on the history and development of the city of Washington, including our Capitol Hill neighborhood.

Overbeck Project notes with sadness the passing of two interviewees

During May 2019, the Overbeck Project and Capitol Hill lost two valued friends.

Project launches new website

The Overbeck Project has extensively redesigned its website to enhance its appearance and make it more user-friendly, with stronger search capability.

Overbeck History Lectures Move to Hill Center

The highly successful Overbeck Lecture Series relocated to Hill Center at 921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE in September 2015.

Project launches Overbeck History Press

In the fall of 2011, our tenth anniversary year, the Overbeck Project branched out into publishing in order to bring to light a wonderful new book by Mary Z. Gray.

Project produces video on Eastern Market’s revival

In 2009, as part of the Overbeck Project's effort to record first-hand accounts of the 2007 fire that devastated Eastern Market, Langley Bowers produced a powerful 20-minute video, “Eastern Market: The Rebuilding.”

Father Michael's Story

As Capitol Hill’s St. Peter’s Church concludes its 200th anniversary year, learn more about Irish-born Father Michael J. O’Sullivan who served as pastor from 1970 to 2005.