From a Basement Cache, History in Fine Photos

Irene T. Whalen, owner of Zawadi and exhibition curator, is more interested in the photos' historical significance. Schmidt says he has plenty of images of poor people and of prominent people from the era, but almost none of the African American middle class.

"When you think of the post-slavery period, we have many images of destitute people merely surviving," Whalen says. "In these photos, we have people in an urban environment who seem to be living fairly well."

White will talk about her collection at Zawadi this weekend. Her message? Spoken like a true librarian: "Get older relatives to help you catalogue your pictures."

Timely Reflections on Memory

Those perplexed by the perjury trial of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby could read articles and watch the news. Or they could check out Jane Franklin Dance's new work "Temporal Interference." The performance is all about the imperfection of memory.

Three dancers will move around a theremin, that wobbly-sounding instrument often used during alien scenes in old movies. New-media artist Bryan Leister hooked up the theremin to a computer program that allows the dancers to affect a live video feed of their movements. Projected images of the dancers will fade in and out like memories.

"Temporal Interference" was conceived before the Libby trial started, but Franklin says it's "hard to miss" the parallels.

It's about how some things stay with you and some things just dissolve," Franklin says. "And how that memory can change from one person to the next."

Linda Crichlow White's photographs will be on display Saturday to Feb. 28 at Zawadi, 1524 U St. NW. White will be there from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday to answer questions. Free. 202-232-2214.

"Temporal Interference" will be performed Feb. 24-March 4 at Warehouse Theater, 1021 Seventh St. NW. $15. 202-783-3933 or http://www.janefranklin.com.