The Association of the Oldest Inhabitants of the District of Columbia – The District’s oldest historical organization and regarded as the city’s Living Archive – observed the centennial of the end of World War I in 2018 with a series of 5 luncheon talks.
AOI Director Barbara Bates supervised the selections and this is the first of five:
“African American Soldiers in World War I” presented by Matthew Margis, Historian in the Histories Directorate at the US Army Center of Military History, presented on February 16, 2018.

African Americans In World War One

Author W. Douglas Fisher who along with Joann Buckley wrote “African American Doctors in World War I: The Lives of 104 Volunteers.”  Mr. Fisher was accompanied by Urbane Bass the grandson of one of those doctors who served and died in service to his country. This is the 3rd of 4 planned talks to the AOI in recognition of the Centennial of World War I.

African American Doctors in WWI with W. Douglas Fisher

Mitchell Yockelson, one of America’s foremost experts on the First World War, holds a doctorate from the Royal Military College of Science, Cranfield University, in the United Kingdom, is the recipient of the Army Historical Foundation’s Distinguished Writing Award, is an investigative archivist at the National Archives and Records Administration, as well as a former professor of military history at the United States Naval Academy. At the time of his talk, he was teaching at Norwich University. 
This is the 4th and final AOI luncheon dedicated to the centennial of World War I

"Forty-seven Days:  How Pershing’s Warriors Came of Age to Defeat the German Army " with Mitchel Yockelson - General Pershing with NARRATED INTRO 2025-11-24

Author Garrett Peck speaks on his work, "The Great War in America."  Garrett drew on his research and familiarity with the AOI and its members' interests to highlight portions of his book that were relevant to his District of Columbia-centric audience. This walk was given on May 17, 2019

"The Great War in America" with Garrett Peck

Author and history professor Dr. Cindy Gueli discusses her book on the impact of the  women who filled so many vital jobs in Washington, D.C. during World War II.  Her talk was presented on March 18, 2016.  Cindy went on to become the President of the Association of the Oldest Inhabitants of D.C. in 2023.

"The Lipstick Brigade: The Untold True Story of Washington's World War II Government Girls - WWII Women in the Workforce" with Dr. Cindy Gueli

Kenneth Burke of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine discusses the life of Clara Barton and her Office of Missing Soldiers in his role as its Site Manager. Mr. Burke's talk was given October 20, 2017.

"Clara Barton's Office of Missing Soldiers" with Ken Burke of the National Civil War Medicine

The Library of Congress's Veterans History Project is discussed by its Director Robert Patrick at an AOI luncheon on May 20, 2016.

"The Great War in America" with Garrett Peck

The Association of the Oldest Inhabitants of D.C.

Related tracks