Association of the Oldest Inhabitants of the District of Columbia facts for kids

The Association of the Oldest Inhabitants of the District of Columbia (AOI) is the oldest group of its kind in Washington, D.C.. It represents people who have lived in the city for a long time. This association works to protect the history and traditions of Washington. It also helps come up with new ideas to make the city better for everyone who lives there.

What is the AOI?

The Association of the Oldest Inhabitants of the District of Columbia, or AOI, is a special group. It is the oldest civic organization in Washington, D.C.. This means it's the longest-running group focused on community life and government in the city. The AOI cares deeply about the city's past and its future.

How the AOI Started

The AOI was founded on December 7, 1865. This was right after the American Civil War, a time when Washington, D.C., was changing a lot. Many important people from the city helped start it. These included Benjamin Ogle Tayloe, Peter Force, and J. Carroll Brent, along with 28 other well-known Washingtonians.

Membership Rules Over Time

When the AOI first started, members had to be at least 50 years old. They also needed to have lived in the District for 40 years. Today, the rules are a bit different. To join, you must be at least 40 years old. You also need to have lived, worked, or owned a business in D.C. for at least 20 years. If your family member meets these rules, you can also join. People who don't meet these main rules can become Associate Members. They have most of the same benefits but cannot hold leadership positions.

Important Things the AOI Has Done

The AOI became an official organization in 1903. For many years, from 1911 to 1956, they met in the Old Union Engine House. This building was later taken down. Over the years, the AOI has helped with many important city projects.

Improving Washington, D.C.

The AOI supported building the District Building, which is now called the John A. Wilson Building. They also helped get modern streetlights installed across the city. In 1938, they helped make sure Washington's flag was chosen as the official flag. In 2002, they spoke out against a new design for the flag.

Protecting City Plans

The AOI has worked to protect important city plans, like the L'Enfant and McMillan Plans. These plans guide how Washington, D.C., is laid out and developed. The AOI has pushed for streets that were closed, like Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House, to be reopened. They also speak at meetings to make sure these important city plans are followed.

Honoring City Leaders

Thanks to the AOI's efforts, a statue of Alexander Robey Shepherd was brought back to downtown Washington on January 29, 2005. Shepherd was a governor of the area from 1873 to 1874. In November 2010, the AOI added a special plaque at the base of his statue. This plaque shares information about his life. The statue is located at the northeast corner of the John A. Wilson Building.

Connecting with Other Groups

On July 4, 1920, the AOI invited members of a similar African-American group to a meeting. This group was called The Association of the Oldest Inhabitants (Colored), Inc. They met to honor D.C. veterans who died in World War I (1917-1918).

The AOI (Colored)

The AOI (Colored), Inc., became an official organization in 1914. It was a very active group until the 1970s. For a long time, many of their records were thought to be lost. However, thanks to efforts by the "Washington Post's" John Kelly and historian James Goode, some records were found.

Mr. Goode found these records while researching a book. He was interviewing the granddaughter of William D. Nixon, who was president of the "Oldest Inhabitants, Incorporated" (their preferred name) from 1942 to 1962. With help from the current AOI's historian, Nelson Rimensnyder, and President Bill Brown, Mr. Nixon's family worked with Howard University's Moorland-Spingarn Library. The library digitized these records, and copies were given back to the family. While most of the early records (1914-1942) are still missing, the current AOI helped save some of this important history.