Laurence Parks interview, 2023-01-12
Scope and Contents
D.C. Oral History Collaborative (DCOHC) is a citywide initiative to train community members in oral history skills, fund new and ongoing oral history projects, connect volunteers with oral history projects, and publicize existing oral history collections. DCOHC is a project of DC Public Library, HumanitiesDC, and the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. This collection contains oral history interviews, transcripts, and indexes produced by DCOHC grantees.
Dates
- Creation: 2023-01-12
Creator
- Eikenberry, Eric (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This series of interviews is still being processed and will eventually be available online in Dig DC. Until then, please contact us for access: peoples.archive@dc.gov
Biographical / Historical
Laurence Parks was born in 1967 in the Brookland neighborhood of Washington, D.C. After a stint at the University of the District of Columbia and a series of odd jobs, he followed his older sister into bicycle messenger and delivery work and hasn't left it since, though participating in the world of alleycat racing—even with a sly detachment—has seen him travel to Berlin, London, Paris, and Dublin, among other places. Currently, Laurence delivers medical cannabis to residents all over the District.
Extent
From the Collection: 1.13 Terabytes
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
In this oral history, Laurence Parks reflects on his life and lifestyle as a messenger. Notable discussions include his deep dive on the former political economy of the messenger industry and its once close ties, in D.C., to both white-shoe law firms and the man-made disasters and scandals from which they profited, and his after-hours visits to the House and Senate office buildings. Laurence spends much of the interview hopping between winding and humorous anecdotes, including an early-1990s bike ride from D.C. to New York, attending the first World Championships in Berlin in 1992, and gaining brief local internet attention as 'alleycatting Larry' some years back. Whether going over alleycats in particular or messengering work more broadly, 'nutty' is the descriptor Laurence reaches for time and again.
Topical
Repository Details
Part of the The People's Archive, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library Repository