4 10 42 https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/2ab902e78305682aec4326f18891b680.jpg 79838aa183c4ac1f132788a0a3c35ce7 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Philadelphia Immigration Project Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Charles Hardy Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed John "Herb" Rudolph Interview Keyword Religion Churches Christmas Holidays Fashion. Clothing and dress. Women's suffrage Baseball Technological innovations OHMS Object Text 5.1 2017oh270_irw038 Interview with John H. Rudolph, August 23, 1982 2017oh270_irw038 ohirw I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Collection irw001 I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries (Exhibit) Child labor. Childhood Employment World War, 1914-1918 Immigrants Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. Neighborhoods Emigration and immigration. Families. Labor disputes Labor movement Labor unions Depressions--1929 Prohibition Religion Churches Christmas Holidays Fashion. Clothing and dress. Women's suffrage Baseball Technological innovations John &quot ; Herb&quot ; Rudolph Charles Hardy 2017oh270_irw038_rudolph_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2017oh270_irw038_rudolph_acc001.mp3 Other audio 45 Early history working at Stetson Hat Company Okay, um, Herb, you started at Stetson Hat Company when you were how old? Rudolph explains how, at 16, he got his job at Stetson Hat Company from an employment office. He also discusses the young adult first-aid program, Stetson Field Corps, that he was involved in. Children's programs ; Employment offices--Philadelphia ; Factory work ; First aid ; Stetson Field Corps ; Stetson Hat Company ; World War I Child labor. ; Childhood ; Employment ; Medical care 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/b2fbc7155a2ce36c6fe2d308ff1f62bb.jpg &quot ; Sizing Stetson Hat Bodies,&quot ; Hagley Museum &amp ; Library, 1913 282 Impact of World War I on the neighborhood How did the, uh, the war affect your neighborhood, your family? Rudolph discusses the effects of the first World War on his neighborhood, as well as the employment situation. He recalls shortages of food and coal as well as German immigrants' feelings towards the war. Anti-German ; Anti-German sentiment ; Coal shortages ; German immigrants ; Germans ; Rationing ; Selective Service ; Sugar shortages ; World War I Immigrants ; Neighborhoods ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; World War, 1914-1918 17 http://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/archive/world-war-i/ Jacob Downs, &quot ; World War I,&quot ; The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia, 2014. 553 Work at Stetson Do you remember your first day at Stetson? Rudolph discusses his first day at Stetson and the different jobs at the factory, including &quot ; inspector&quot ; and &quot ; packer.&quot ; Factory jobs ; Factory work ; Hat inspectors ; Hat packaging ; Production lines ; Stetson Hat Company Child labor. ; Childhood ; Employment 39.978321, -75.143218 18 Former site of the Stetson Hat Factory, 1798-1700 N 5th St. Philadelphia (Pa.) http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/5f4abc1b73a8abc8d35f40c97d5c3e1d.jpg Hamilton, &quot ; Stetson Hat Packing Stage,&quot ; February 23, 1950, George D. McDowell Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Photographs, Temple University Libraries, Urban Archives 752 Stetson immigrant workers and Americanization classes Was there any--back to your first day, was there any sort of an initiation for new workers at Stetson? Rudolph recalls his relations with other workers at Stetson. He discusses the Italians working in the back shop and how relatives got new immigrants jobs. He also explains the Stetson school for citizenship training and the Americanization class. Americanization ; Citizenship ; Italian ; Italian Americans--Philadelphia ; Italian immigrants Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/b5746263c5a95cca3c540278af8c04cc.jpg Page from company pamphlet on English and Naturalization Citizenship classes, John B. Stetson Hat Company, &quot ; The Human Element of the Stetson Business,&quot ; c. 1925. Hagley Museum &amp ; Library. 1104 Changes in labor policies after World War I And how long did they--when did they start to disappear, tail out? Rudolph discusses how the Stetson factory and policies began to change after WWI. He discusses mechanization of the factory as well as the implementation of a coupon system for monitoring job efficiency. Bedeux System ; Efficiency agents ; Factory work ; Foreman ; Mechanization ; Modernization ; Stetson Hat Company Employment ; Technological innovations ; World War, 1914-1918 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/ee93d944d75ab81032b7440196223e0a.jpg &quot ; Architectural Illustration of Stetson Factory Buildings&quot ; December 17, 1940, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. 1358 Religious services at Stetson Stetson's was a pretty, uh, uh, I would say the--uh, high morals. Rudolph discusses religion at Stetson and the Tuesday noonday service that took place during the lunch break at the factory. He reports that many workers attended the noon day service as means to get an extra 15 minutes of lunch break. Catholics ; Church services ; Corporate paternalism ; Factory work ; Italian Americans--Philadelphia ; John B. Stetson Mission Sunday School ; Protestant work ethic ; Stetson Hat Company ; Tuesday Noonday Service Churches ; Employment ; Religion 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/8bc00d8207c1ff0c249b3ade3f062347.jpg &quot ; The Stetson Sunday School&quot ; and &quot ; Noonday Service,&quot ; John B. Stetson Hat Company, &quot ; The Human Element of the Stetson Business,&quot ; c. 1925, Hagley Museum &amp ; Library. 1494 Stetson Christmas parties in the 1920s Um, I guess at the heart of the whole Stetson program, or at least at--symbolically, was the Christmas parties. Rudolph discusses a Stetson Christmas party during the 1920s including a gathering of employees in the auditorium, presentations where management made financial reports, the president spoke, and then they distributed Christmas bonuses. Some employees received building and loan shares, stock shares, and pocket watches. He then explains how the company distributed Christmas bonuses based on department pay line positions, giving hats, turkeys, Whitman's candies, and gloves based on gender and marital status. Employees really looked forward to the bonuses as they needed the financial assistance. Christmas bonuses ; Christmas party ; Corporate paternalism ; Factory work ; Finances ; Stetson Hat Company ; Whitman's candies Christmas ; Economics. ; Employment ; Holidays 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/dac6861949075788ae0aee76635e3785.jpg John B. Stetson Hat Company, &quot ; Stetson Workers With Their Christmas Turkeys,&quot ; c. 1925, Hagley Museum &amp ; Library. 1822 The absolute power of the foremen before unionization Can you, can you rattle off some of your major likes and dislikes? Rudolph discusses the absolute power of his foreman and reveals that his biggest complaint about working at Stetson was that the foreman had absolute power before the unions. He recalls the foreman sending him home for disciplinary reasons, but then notified Rudolph that he didn't lose any pay. He ultimately considers the foreman as &quot ; fair and square.&quot ; Factory work ; Foremen ; Stetson factory ; Stetson Hat Company Employment ; Labor disputes ; Labor movement ; Labor unions 17 1994 Stetson after the &quot ; efficiency system&quot ; I'll ask you about the union in a minute. Rudolph explains how the efficiency experts set quotas and in other ways changed work at the factory. He discusses how he understood the purpose of the quotas despite the workers' dislike of the efficiency experts. He also explains some of the newly implemented rigid restrictions on workers and punishments for lateness. 1929 stock market crash ; Efficiency systems ; Factory quotas ; Factory work ; Great Depression ; Scientific management ; Stetson Hat Company ; Taylorism Depressions--1929 ; Employment ; Labor disputes 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/4d98f37d234c13e2baafcf0cf44233cd.jpg &quot ; A Section of Soft Hat Trimming,&quot ; Hagley Museum &amp ; Library, 1925. 2397 The impact of seasonal work at Stetson Was work seasonal at Stetson's? Rudolph discusses how seasonal work at Stetson led to long seasons of unemployment and how workers supplemented their incomes by running hat renovating shops from home or working in other hat factories. Rudolph got into other work during the off-season such as furniture canvasing and sign painting. He also shares how his mother and wife pressured him to keep his job at Stetson despite him wanting to leave. Factory work ; John B. Stetson Hat Factory ; Seasonal labor ; Slack season ; Stetson ; Stetson Hat Company Employment 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/9e7f43785d333e489cbdb5e52b7876c4.jpg &quot ; Stetson Fall Styles Advertisement,&quot ; The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 28, 1921 2899 The impact of the Great Depression on the Stetson Hat Company as well as fashions for hat wearing How did the, the Depression affect Stetson's? Rudolph discusses the impact of the Great Depression on Stetson and the emergence of &quot ; hatlessness.&quot ; He explains that this trend hurt many Stetson workers so badly that the union, as well as the company, often refused to do business with those not wearing hats. Rudolph estimates Stetson went from 6000 employees to 450 over a period of 35 years. 1929 stock market crash ; Great Depression ; Hat unions ; Stetson Hat Company Clothing and dress. ; Depressions--1929 ; Employment ; Fashion. ; Labor unions 17 3096 On the arrival and impact of unionization after 1945 How did, um--what brought in the union to Stetson? Rudolph explains that the union came in 1945 due to the lack of rights and privileges of workers at Stetson and the absolute power of the foreman. He discusses some of the changes that the union brought such as paid vacations, insurance, and raises. He also recalls three workers' strikes at Stetson. Rudolph also discusses where the seasons of unemployment fell throughout the year. Factory work ; Hat unions ; Stetson Hat Company ; Stetson Hat Factory Employment ; Labor disputes ; Labor movement ; Labor unions 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/a4ea6a6598cf6c24a8ef3fab97492241.jpg &quot ; Hatters, Stetson Co. Sign New Wage Agreement,&quot ; National Labor Tribune, May 1, 1954 3572 Memories of practical jokes among Stetson workers It was a lot, lot of fun. I mean, we had, uh, a lot of nice guys there. Rudolph discusses three comical memories of workers at the Stetson factory. They would play tricks on a specific gullible worker. Factory work ; Industrial workers ; Stetson Hat Company Employment 17 4129 Teenage workers, Stetson's apprenticeship system, and lifelong friends When you started there, were there many kids working in Stetson? Rudolph shares that there were many teenage workers in every department at Stetson. He talks about how workers over the age of 21 could not start an apprenticeship, which was required for finisher, flanger, or sizer. He then says that he and a group of young friends hung out together socially outside the work hours, throwing parties and picnics. These friends kept in touch for many years, and at the time of the interview Rudolph was the only of those men still living. He attributes his longevity to a lack of worrying and keeping active. Apprenticeships ; Factory work ; Hat craft ; Hat production ; Stetson Hat Company ; Teenage workers ; Young workers Child labor. ; Childhood ; Employment ; Friendship. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/b1265b9b59d88a9803151eed5be954be.png &quot ; Flanging Stetson Soft Hats,&quot ; John B. Stetson Company, 1913. 4459 Beer, breweries, and Prohibition What was the best beer in Philadelphia when you were a young man? Rudolph recalls beers and the many breweries in Philadelphia, including Ortieb's, Schmidt's, and Gretz. He notes that many people did not like Prohibition, and resorted to making their own alcohol. Gretz's brewery was located right near Stetsons. He says that he does not remember much underage drinking and that liquor regulations were very strict and respected. Alcohol ; Beer ; Brett's ; Brewery ; Eighteenth Amendment ; Germantown Avenue &amp ; Oxford Street ; Henry F. Ortlieb Brewing Company (Ortieb's) ; Jacob Schmidt Brewing Company ; Manayunk (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Ortlieb's Brewery ; Rieger &amp ; Gretz Brewing Company ; Shems ; Underage drinking Alcoholic beverage law violations ; Crime. ; Distillation ; Distilling, illicit ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. ; Prohibition 39.96455,-75.142475 17 Ortlieb's Brewery http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/6e3a9efd8b51151e204b5989104981a7.jpg Louis Meehan, &quot ; Ortlieb's Brewery building,&quot ; Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 2009 4777 1920s Philadelphia politics and suffrage Were you ever active in politics, Herb? Rudolph shares that he was never active in politics but once worked at the polls for $10. He says that he never experienced but did hear, many times, that people were paid to vote. At 19, Rudolph was too young to care about women's suffrage. Democratic Party ; Poll working ; Republican Party (Philadelphia) ; Suffrage ; Voting ; Women's suffrage Democratic Party (Pa.) ; Democratic Party (U.S.) ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Politics and government ; Republican Party (Pa.) ; Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ) ; Women's rights 17 5026 Final reflections on his years at Stetson So all in all then, how would you, uh, how would you assess your--you worked at Stetson 50 years? Rudolph explains that he would not work at Stetson again because he did not gain much from it. The hat business limited him because he could only work at Stetson or a smaller factory. He wishes that he had gone into another business so that he had more job opportunities and shares how many Stetson workers accumulated a lot of debt during their off periods. Debts ; Factory work ; Finance ; Job restrictions ; Stetson Hat Company Economics. ; Employment 17 5281 The Stetson baseball games and the Brooklyn Royal Giants Do you remember the industrial sports leagues, soccer or baseball? Rudolph recalls seeing the Stetson baseball team on Saturdays even before he started working for the company. He lists other teams, including the Brooklyn Royal Giants, which attracted a large crowd because they were a rare African American team. African American baseball teams ; Brooklyn Royal Giants ; Disston ; Industrial sports leagues ; Parkesburg Iron Company baseball team ; Stetson baseball team African American baseball players ; Baseball ; Employment ; Recreation 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/8d1c6e2bdb52ca906d2547acefbd6cca.png &quot ; View of the New Stetson Athletic Grounds, Opening Day May 3rd 1913&quot ; Hagley Museum &amp ; Library. interview John &quot ; Herb&quot ; Rudolph (b. 1901), worked at the Stetson factory in North Philadelphia for forty-nine years. In his 1982 oral history interview, Rudolph provided a first-hand account of the changing nature of factory work and of the American hat industry from his hiring in 1917 to his last day in 1966. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. audio Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 http://www.nunncenter.net/ohms/render.php?cachefile=2017oh270_irw038_rudolph_ohm.xml 2017oh270_irw038_rudolph_ohm.xml https://oralhistory.uky.edu/catalog/xt7m901zgq96 Indexed By Leonard Lederman Sort Priority 0030 OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2017oh270_irw038_ohm.xml Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Interview: John H. Rudolph Description An account of the resource John "Herb" Rudolph (b. 1901), worked at the Stetson factory in North Philadelphia for forty-nine years. In his 1982 oral history interview, Rudolph provided a first-hand account of the changing nature of factory work and of the American hat industry from his hiring in 1917 to his last day in 1966. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2017oh270_irw038 Subject The topic of the resource Child labor. Childhood Employment World War, 1914-1918 Immigrants Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. Neighborhoods Emigration and immigration. Families. Labor disputes Labor movement Labor unions Depressions--1929 Prohibition Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio Relation A related resource <a href="/exhibits/show/john-rudolph/stetson" title="Rudolph exhibit">Explore an exhibit about Rudolph's life</a> https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/483ea5fbe9ed52385d22aac26ca62d53.jpg ab45db2bbd9c89bfb1fd85ff75e4b870 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Philadelphia Immigration Project Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Charles Hardy Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Anna Lavin Interview Keyword Transportation Automobiles. Sanitation. Refuse and refuse disposal. Waste disposal sites Race relations Finances Poverty Childhood Labor unions OHMS Object Text 5.1 2017oh260_irw028 Interview with Anna Lavin, July 14, 1982 2017oh260_irw028 ohirw I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Collection irw001 I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries (Exhibit) Employment Jews--Identity. Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. Emigration and immigration. Immigrants Neighborhoods. Families. Health. Hygiene. Citizenship. Influenza Epidemic, 1918-1919 Dwellings Housing. Neighborhoods Neighbors. Diseases. Transportation Automobiles. Sanitation. Refuse and refuse disposal. Waste disposal sites Race relations Finances Poverty Childhood Labor unions Anna Lavin Charles Hardy 2017oh260_irw028_lavin_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2017oh260_irw028_lavin_acc001.mp3 Other audio 0 Strikes in Philadelphia in 1913 --storm Saturday, and we were caught between nineteen--between 20th and 21st. After some small-talk, Lavin describes a large cloak makers strike by the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union in 1913. She remembers the union sent inspectors by train to Vineland to make sure none of the work was done in Norma. 1913 Cloak Makers Strike ; International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Labor strikes ; Norma (N.J.) ; Norma, New Jersey Employment ; Labor disputes ; Labor movement ; Labor unions 14 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/thumbnails/ef38d31256da298d644c1f3abbbe7f6c.jpg &quot ; Her sewing keeps the country from coming apart at the seams&quot ; . c. 1972. Yanker poster collection (Library of Congress) 144 First automobiles I remember the first automobiles we saw. Lavin remembers reading about automobiles before she first saw one. She shares how, when she had no work in the shop, she worked in a cannery near Norma. She then recounts her first experiences riding in an automobile: a long ride to Elizabethtown, where the owner asked some boys for money to take them home. A police officer ordered him to take the boys back for the same price he charged them to go out. She shares that she lived 3.5 miles from Vineland so she had to walk. Canneries ; Cars ; Elizabethtown Pennsylvania ; Norma (N.J.) ; Norma, New Jersey ; Parvin State Park ; Perdue Cannery ; Perdue Chicken ; Vineland (N.J.) ; Vineland, New Jersey Automobiles. ; Employment ; Transportation 39.665643, -74.847215 15 Winslow Junction http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/55b4082c4cfeae2ef3977006dc593a38.jpg &quot ; Automobile&quot ; . c. 1910-1915. Library of Congress 460 Recollections of Norma and Vineland, New Jersey And Vineland was a big shopping town then. Lavin remembers what it was like living in the small town of Norma, near Vineland, New Jersey. Vineland was a shopping hub, but there was nothing more than a place to purchase groceries in Norma. She remembers living in Philadelphia during the First World War but has no recollection of Bolsheviks. Bolsheviks ; New Jersey ; Norma (N.J.) ; Norma, New Jersey ; Vineland (N.J.) ; Vineland, New Jersey ; Winslow Junction ; World War I World War, 1914-1918 39.497935, -75.087457 14 Norma, New Jersey http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/904fb08d9b88f62d4d1e141ecbbc44bd.jpg &quot ; Vineland, New Jersey&quot ; . 1907. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division 578 Jewish institutions in South Philadelphia Now I was, uh, always, uh, union-oriented because of my aunts who were here long before I was born--well, before I, I was born. Lavin shares that she was always &quot ; union oriented.&quot ; Lavin remembers going to a preschool run by the Salvation Army on Front Street, in Philadelphia. Lavin says her family spoke Yiddish in the home, and her father learned English when he lived in Russia. She then talks about the Jewish institutions of her childhood including the Neziner Synagogue on 2nd near Catherine, The Jewish Sheltering Home for the Aged, and the Hebrew Literature Society where she took out books. Bainbridge Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Front Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Hebrew Literature Society ; Jewish Sheltering Home for the Aged ; Labor Unions ; Neziner Synagogue ; Salvation Army School Education ; Employment ; Jewish children ; Jews--Identity. ; Labor disputes ; Labor movement ; Labor unions ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 39.941171, -75.145670 20 2nd Street and South Street, where Neziner Synagogue was once located http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/3315f1de65500f1ebc64d71eb82f478d.jpg &quot ; The exterior of Neziner Synagogue&quot ; , December 19, 1957. Philadelphia Jewish Archives Photographs, Temple University Libraries 807 The Jewish community in South Philadelphia When you were, um, young, then in the city, there were still many more Jews coming in from Russia and Poland-- Lavin talks about Jews continuing to come from Europe to Philadelphia to settle in South Philadelphia. She recalls the market stands around Head House Square, near 2nd and South Streets, where she bought silk stockings. Lavin then talks about how there was no need for automobiles in her neighborhood. Lavin then talks about present day topics such as her health as a diabetic, the weather, going grocery shopping, and more. 2nd and South Streets (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Bainbridge Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Head House Square ; Jewish immigration ; Kosher food ; South Philadelphia Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Jews--Identity. ; Neighborhoods. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 39.942199, -75.145353 20 Headhouse Square http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/7b7581afe71e0916fb3d8c2e71999a68.png &quot ; 2nd Street Market- Meat Stall&quot ; , June 14, 1935. DOR Archives 1185 Experience with landing in Philadelphia off the boat Now my aunts--now my grandfather bought the, the--our passage at, I think it was Rosenblum, or Rosenbluth? Lavin recalls that her aunt and grandfather bought her ocean passage on an installment plan for $28 from Rosenbluth Travel in South Philadelphia. Her family arrived at the Washington Avenue Immigration Station and they rented furnished rooms. Immigrants were not allowed to keep their shoes upon arrival as everything needed to be fumigated, so her family threw their shoes away. She recalls buying shoes from a local store near 4th and Bainbridge. She also remembers a dispensary (pharmacy) where they purchased medicine when a family member was sick. &quot ; Jewish Times&quot ; ; 4th and Bainbridge Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Bainbridge Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Chain migration ; Dispensary ; Ellis Island ; immigration journey ; Living conditions ; Rosenbluth Travel ; South Philadelphia ; Washington Avenue Immigration Station (Philadelphia, Pa.) Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 39.940669, -75.149364 20 4th and Bainbridge, location of the shoe store where Lavin bought shoes upon her arrival to Philadelphia http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/ab72052ac1fbd46ecabe6ab64bb88451.jpg &quot ; Washington Avenue Immigration Station&quot ; . c. 1915. PhillyHistory.org, a project of the Philadelphia Department of Records 1468 Lice, bathing at home, and public baths You mentioned when you--(coughs)--when you arrived that they fumigated the clothing. Lavin talks about how common lice were among children when she grew up because everyone lived in such close living conditions. Her family members each had a bath on Friday afternoons. Her family had a water tap, which was an improvement from bathing outdoors filling a tub from a hydrant. After washing hair they fine-combed their hair to remove lice. She recounts how the first child home would have clean water for the bath. She recalls accompanying her aunt to public bath houses, which she enjoyed, aside from being naked in front of strangers. Women bathed on Thursdays, while men bathed on Fridays before the Sabbath. She then discusses the differences in homes that had running water and those that did not. Indoor plumbing ; Lice ; Public baths ; Public housing ; South Philadelphia Childhood ; Families. ; Health. ; Hygiene. ; Neighborhoods. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 17 http://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/archive/public-baths-and-bathing/#7205 Ryan D. Purcell, &quot ; Public Baths and Bathing,&quot ; Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia, 2013. 1906 Obtaining birth certificates and citizenship papers When you were, um, a young girl then in Philadelphia, and you were traveling around, or walking around different parts of South Philadelphia... Lavin recalls getting a birth certificate for a younger sister and discovering another family with the same last name in Weccacoe Square. She recalls how births were often done by a midwife and people had to pay for birth certificates. She recalls having to go into City Hall to get a birth certificate for her younger sister. She then recalls a family member who died during the 1918 flu epidemic. She also recalls going to City Hall to get her own citizenship papers and being tested by Judge Gordon. Birth certificates ; Childbirth ; Citizenship papers ; City Hall (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Influenza Epidemic of 1918 ; Judge Gordon ; Weccacoe Square Citizenship. ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Influenza Epidemic, 1918-1919 39.952405, -75.163680 17 City Hall, Philadelphia http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/thumbnails/ecca21ea78cb3a4e79edc90ce5426c39.jpg &quot ; Citizenship Papers for Anna Lavin&quot ; October 1, 1922. National Archives of Philadelphia. 2244 Purchasing living room furniture And, uh, but I, I, uh, I really enjoyed life. Always. Lavin talks about life in a neighborhood where nobody had more than anyone else. She recalls musicians practicing on her block on Lawrence Street early in the morning. She recalls fondly how her family purchased a ten-dollar living room suite of five pieces that she had coveted in a store window. She remembers the pride they felt once they had it. Broad Street and South Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Lawrence Street ; Saving money ; Street cleaners Dwellings ; Families. ; Housing. ; Neighborhoods ; Neighbors. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/de3908d137515946fe0984043959fbf5.jpg &quot ; Bedroom&quot ; 1912, Still Philadelphia. 2552 No theft / Trash collection Were there any problems with theft, Anna? Lavin talks about how there was no fear of theft and families often left their doors open without fear. She also talks about how trash was swept into the middle of the street or the gutters and street cleaners came to collect it once a week. There was very little trash due to nothing being put in plastic. Food leftovers were put in a box in the back of the house and was taken by the street cleaners. The street cleaners were often Italian. Italian Americans--Philadelphia ; Street cleaners ; Theft ; Trash Dwellings ; Families. ; Housing. ; Neighborhoods ; Neighbors. ; Refuse and refuse disposal. ; Sanitation. ; Waste disposal sites 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/0fbe7dfd28fdc588d95be64f6d9e0209.jpg &quot ; Trash Collectors&quot ; . 1912. Still Philadelphia 2798 On being poor Let me ask you another, um. Did you ever walk down to the Italian neighborhoods? Lavin talks about her experience with the Italian neighborhood where she took sewing lessons at Torah Hall, and how nationalities normally stuck with their own because everybody was poor. [Audio fades in and out.] Italian Americans ; Italian neighborhoods ; Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia ; Sewing lessons ; Stenographers ; Torah Hall Finances ; Neighborhoods ; Neighbors. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Poverty ; Race relations 21 3048 Family finances Did, did the family save money then? Lavin talks about how her family pooled their money and her mother paid the bills. Each family member could then spend their extra money. Lavin used her money to pay for a car to take her to work and her sister used her money for nicer clothing. She shows Hardy some objects such as commemorative pins and union paraphernalia. Family expenses ; Saving money Families. ; Finances ; Poverty 17 3219 Birth, sickness, scarlet fever, quarantines, and death When a child was born in the family-- Lavin recalls that births occurred in the home with a midwife. Her father wrote down the birthdates in the family Bible. Lavin regretfully notes that her family disposed of her father’s possessions after his death. She remembers when her two- and four-year-old brothers died of scarlet fever. The doctor called for a police wagon to bring the boys to the hospital, and then came to report that they had died. She shares that her apartment was quarantined and fumigated. Childbirth ; Death ; Influenza Epidemic of 1918 ; Quarantine ; Scarlet fever Diseases. ; Families. ; Health. ; Influenza Epidemic, 1918-1919 ; Physicians 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/f96e3450707badb35b24b79d250ff1ac.jpg &quot ; Philadelphia Deaths from Influenza&quot ; . February 2, 1931. PhillyHistory.org, a project of the Philadelphia Department of Records interview Anna Lavin came with her family from Russia to Philadelphia in 1896 aboard the S.S. Pennland and landed in the immigration station at the foot of Washington Avenue. It was South Philadelphia where her family settled and where Lavin started to work at the age of twelve. In a life of struggle and poverty, Lavin worked for 53 years in the garment industry. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. audio Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 http://www.nunncenter.net/ohms/render.php?cachefile=2017oh260_irw028_lavin_ohm.xml 2017oh260_irw028_lavin_ohm.xml https://oralhistory.uky.edu/catalog/xt7m901zgq96 Indexed By Alea Echterling Sort Priority 0027 OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2017oh260_irw028_ohm.xml Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Interview: Anna Lavin (1st interview) Description An account of the resource Anna Lavin came with her family from Russia to Philadelphia in 1896 aboard the S.S. Pennland and landed in the immigration station at the foot of Washington Avenue. It was South Philadelphia where her family settled and where Lavin started to work at the age of twelve. In a life of struggle and poverty, Lavin worked for 53 years in the garment industry. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2017oh260_irw028 Subject The topic of the resource Employment Jews--Identity. Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. Emigration and immigration. Immigrants Neighborhoods. Families. Health. Hygiene. Citizenship. Influenza Epidemic, 1918-1919 Dwellings Housing. Neighborhoods Neighbors. Diseases. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio Relation A related resource <a href="http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/exhibits/show/anna-lavin/poor-before">Explore an exhibit on Anna Lavin's life.</a> https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/db0ae0f93ae0ee6a5eb47f1a704eb206.jpg 2cb2eec9396c93a49ba5cfca4bd8635e Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Philadelphia Immigration Project Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Charles Hardy Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Anna Lavin Interview Keyword Button hole makers Button-hole makers Jobs Careers Work Child labor Neighborhoods Neighbors. Apartments. Housing. Dwellings Influenza Epidemic, 1918-1919 OHMS Object Text 5.1 2017oh259_irw027 Interview with Anna Lavin, July 9, 1982 2017oh259_irw027 ohirw I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Collection irw001 I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries (Exhibit) Immigrants Emigration and immigration. Families. Employment Education Childhood Labor unions Button hole makers Button-hole makers Jobs Careers Work Child labor Neighborhoods Neighbors. Apartments. Housing. Dwellings Influenza Epidemic, 1918-1919 Anna Lavin Charles Hardy 2017oh259_irw027_lavin_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2017oh259_irw027_lavin_acc001.mp3 Other audio 0 Coming to America --that's not quite four, not quite five, I was four and, uh, so I had a few years of schooling. Lavin shares that she is the oldest of her siblings, that her father studied English in Russia and that he never seemed to lose that Russian accent. She shares examples--that they lived on &quot ; Benberitchie Street&quot ; (Bainbridge) and recalls fondly his description of a ball game. She shares that she is 90, and was only four when they first immigrated to America. Bainbridge Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Chain migration ; Russia Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 39.940735, -75.149370 19 Bainbridge Street, the street where Lavin lived. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/8e3467636a82bd9b18454afcadf5cac3.jpeg &quot ; Declaration of Intention of Citizenship for Anna Lavin,&quot ; 1925, Ancestry.com. Courtesy of the National Archives of Washington D.C. 110 Lavin's father: A button-hole maker What did your father do? What profession-- Lavin explains that her father was a book-keeper in Russia for a farmer and once the family moved to America he changed his profession to button-hole maker. She also quickly explains how her mother and father met one another. Book keepers ; Book-keepers ; Button hole makers ; Button-hole makers ; Careers ; Jobs ; Work Employment ; Families. 17 161 Lavin's grandfather My grandfather had a, uh, uh--well, it was a, uh, stop-off for people driving through. Lavin shares that her grandfather ran an inn in Russia and worked in a machine shop when he came to Philadelphia at 4th and Carpenter. He lived until he was 96 years old but lost some of his memory in the last three years of his life, which he spent in the Home of the Jewish Aged on 3rd and Spruce Streets. 4th Street and Carpenter Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Careers ; Home of the Jewish Aged ; Jewish Sheltering Home for the Aged ; Jobs ; Russia ; Sabbath ; Spruce Street and Third Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Work Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants 39.944744, -75.146887. 19 3rd Street &amp ; Spruce, the location of the Home of the Jewish Aged. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/1b731ca9b4f45e456298fbe4ac15d2f2.jpg &quot ; Patients of the Jewish Sheltering Home for the Aged,&quot ; 1891, Madlyn and Leonard Abramson Center for Jewish Life. Courtesy of the Madlyn and Leonard Abramson Center for Jewish Life 338 Voyage from Russia to Philadelphia in 1897 You came over in 1893 you said? Born in 1892, Lavin says she came with her parents and two siblings to the United States in January 1897 on the S.S. Pennland. She recalls having daily vaccinations, which left marks on her arms, and eating steamed carrots, which she hated. Her mother was sick through most of the voyage and only ate the Kosher food they had brought with them. Once they arrived at the Washington Avenue Immigration Station, they changed their name from Levitin to Lavin. The purser marked down &quot ; L-a-v-i-n&quot ; . Immigration journey ; S.S. Pennland ; SS Pennland ; Vaccinations ; Washington Avenue Immigration Station Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 39.932983, -75.141593 19 Washington Avenue Immigration Station, at Washington Ave and Pier 53 along the Delaware River, the location where Lavin first arrived in Philadelphia. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/57db13e209e63161ce4ae51dd0ded28f.jpg &quot ; Immigrants aboard the S.S Pennland,&quot ; 1888. 491 Going to work at age 12 And at 12 I went into the shop. And about two years later, there was an edict that, uh, you had to have a b--a certificate to work, children under 13--uh, from 13 years up had to have a certificate. Lavin says that she got her first job as a button-hole maker when she was only twelve years old, and that she continued to work for another fifty-three years. She shares that after school she carried bundles of work to her father who had his foot-powered sewing machine, which he taught her to use, and that he worked on the 4th floor of a stable at 4th and Monroe Streets. She shares that people worked until they died at their machines, which happened to a man that she worked with, and that when her mother took sick in 1913 they moved to Norma, New Jersey for a few years, where Lavin worked as a vest maker. 4th Street and Monroe Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Careers ; Child labor legislation ; Factory work ; Gaslight ; Jobs ; Labor unions ; Work Child labor. ; Childhood ; Employment ; Families. 39.939920, -75.149561. 19 4th &amp ; Monroe Street, the location of a stable where Lavin's father worked. 705 Button-hole making Can you tell me what your father's shop was--you say he worked on the fourth floor of a stable. Lavin shares that her father worked in a dirty bare room with other immigrant men. When she found her first job as a buttonholer, working at a shop on 3rd and Cherry, she learned how to use the new Reece Buttonhole Machine. She was the only young girl working in this shop. Careers ; Child labor ; Jobs ; Reece Button Hole Machine ; Wheeler and Wilson Sewing Machine ; Work ; Working conditions Child labor. ; Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Immigrants 39.953029, -75.145041 19 3rd Street &amp ; Cherry Street, where Lavin worked. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/a13f052fc3a9faad79fef3c6fb6f0877.jpg &quot ; Reece Machine,&quot ; 1881, Jubilee Catalogue. Courtesy of the NAAI Machine Museum 805 Ida Chestnut and the organization of the Ladies Shirtwaist Union And I was union-conscious because my aunts belonged to the union and, uh, one of their friends, Ida Ches--her name was Ida Chestnut and she was the one that really started the union at ladies, uh, shirtwaists... Lavin talks about Ladies Shirtwaist Union organizer, Ida Chestnut, and how she started the union where there were not enough sleeves for the shirts. Lavin also fondly remembers that Chestnut made her handkerchiefs. Careers ; Ida Chestnut ; International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Jobs ; Shirtwaist factories ; Work Employment ; Labor disputes ; Labor movement ; Labor unions 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/e07e4609e6520584e1dd2faf98424098.jpg &quot ; Leah Sherman at shirtwaist factory,&quot ; c. 1910, Stein Family Papers. Courtesy of Temple University Libraries 967 The Lavin family in Norma, New Jersey, 1913-1920 Uh, do you remember how much you made when you started work? Or what the hours were? Lavin discusses her working life and supporting her family in Philadelphia and Norma, New Jersey. She remembers going out to get the workers' lunch, which entitled her to a free lunch. She made four dollars a week, while her father made six, supporting a family of 10. During the Scarlet Fever epidemic, Lavin's two youngest siblings died, at age 4 and 2, leaving fewer mouths to feed. Lavin notes that her family lived in Norma, New Jersey, from 1913 to 1920, and her brother (14 months younger than her), worked jobs in both Philadelphia and Norma. During World War I, Lavin got a job making feed bags for horses. Once they moved back to Philadelphia, she began making more money that could support the entire family. Careers ; Illnesses ; Jobs ; Norma, New Jersey ; Scarlet Fever epidemic ; Sickness ; Work ; World War I Employment ; Families. ; Norma (N.J.) ; World War, 1914-1918 39.497931, -75.08758 12 Norma, New Jersey, where the Lavin family lived for about seven years at the Alliance Colony, a Jewish agricultural community. 1522 Malnutrition and Soupy Island I'm, I'm interested in, um, how you all got by in Philadelphia before you moved to Norma. Asked about their lives before the move to Norma, Lavin shares that her mother was suffering from malnutrition because she fed the children but not herself, and that some aunts, who had a butter and egg store, delivered food to the house regularly. Lavin says, however, they never saw themselves as poor because in their part of Philadelphia, everyone was poor. She then recalls taking a trip to Soupy Island on the Delaware River during summer vacation, where they received tokens for milk and containers of soup. Lavin remembers going first to the Mount Vernon Grammar School and then to Fletcher School, a few blocks away, and then quitting school to work once she was 12. Fletcher School ; Malnutrition ; Mt. Vernon Grammar School (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Red Bank, New Jersey Childhood ; Education ; Employment ; Families. 39.876382, -75.176245 17 Red Bank, New Jersey Soupy Island http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/e2b6620543744045dd775c54d46489b6.jpg &quot ; Soupy Island,&quot ; 1939, Philadelphia Record. Courtesy of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania 1745 Life in the Front Street neighborhood Did the other girls your age go to work too? Was that-- Asked to describe the Front Street neighborhood, Lavin shares her recollections of their neighbors. The Lavins lived in the 2nd floor apartment that entered through an alley. An upside down butter churn was their refrigerator. They had cold running water and had a bath every Friday afternoon, with the first child home getting the clean water, which was heated on a 2-burner kerosene stove. They washed clothes in the yard. Each apartment had 3 rooms, one on top of the other. The toilets were in the back, next to a stable. They divided the front room in half to make a bedroom, and had a coal stove in the back room. All five kids slept in a feather bed on the floor. She says that in the social room they had a chair “for each one,” and good rugs on hard wood floors that they scrubbed each week. Fletcher School ; Front Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Front Street neighborhood ; Mt. Vernon Grammar School (Philadelphia, Pa.) Apartments. ; Dwellings ; Families. ; Housing. ; Neighborhoods ; Neighbors. 39.937571, -75.144949 19 Front Street Neighborhood, the neighborhood where Lavin and her family lived during most of their time in Philadelphia. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/fdddba5abe502a0e8919a49b822f23c5.jpg William Nicholson Jennings, &quot ; Philadelphia Rowhomes,&quot ; c. 1900, Courtesy of Temple University Libraries 2192 Scarlet fever Um, what happened when a--one of the children got sick? Lavin talks about the death of her two little brothers, James and Benjamin, within one week of each other, during the scarlet fever epidemic. She shares that when they fumigated the house, she and the little children stayed with aunts. She ate out of the same dish with the child she fed and never got sick. She shares that when one kid got the measles they all got it. Doctors making house calls charged 50 cents. Citizens Republican Club ; Death ; Epidemic ; Family doctors ; Front Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Illnesses ; Infant mortality ; Influenza Epidemic of 1918 ; Measles ; Pemberton Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Scarlet fever epidemic ; Sickness ; Thomas Jefferson Hospital Diseases. ; Families. ; Health. ; Physicians 39.939595, -75.149633 19 Pemberton Street, the street where Lavin's aunt lived. Lavin and some of her siblings stayed with her aunt while her house was being fumigated. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/324762a421c6b0b566280a676d623e8f.jpg Eme O'Dell Banister, T. Sloan Banister, &quot ; Scarlet Fever Quarantine,&quot ; 1906. Courtesy of Temple University Libraries 2573 Outhouses, baths, and bed sheets Did you all--there was an--I guess you used an outhouse out back? Lavin discusses the system of the outhouses and how it all worked, bathing and washing clothes once a week, and even tells a story of when the store downtown had bed sheets for sale during which she, her aunt, and her mother all went down and bought new bed sheets. Coal stoves ; Fels-Naptha Laundry Soap ; Honey wagon ; Jewish markets ; Outhouses ; Shopping ; Stores Families. ; Plumbing. ; Refuse and refuse disposal. ; Sewerage. 39.927345, -75.157203 19 South 7th Street, the site of the marketplace for Jewish people to buy groceries, fresh fruits and vegetables. 3040 Summertime in Fairmount Park and Torah Hall What did your, uh--how did your parents feel about living in Philadelphia? Lavin recalls that when she was young and it was summertime, her family would ride the trolley to Fairmount Park, which only cost a nickel. She recalls this period as the “good old days.” She learned to sew at classes at the Torah Hall at 10th Street and Carpenter. She recalls a sad experience there, when all the younger girls received dolls, but she did not because she was too young. 10th Street and Carpenter Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Fairmount Park (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Federation Building ; Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia ; Nickel Fair ; Sewing classes ; Torah Hall ; Trolley Childhood ; Families. ; Recreation 39.988114, -75.19712 17 Fairmount Park, the location where the Lavin family enjoyed the sun during summer weekends. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/9162163ff2346e68a484e1baebcd81e9.jpg &quot ; Girls Playing in Fairmount Park,&quot ; c. 1930, Hebrew Sunday School Society Records. Courtesy of Temple University Libraries 3124 Schooling at Torah Hall The only thing is that I was still going to school. I went to Torah Hall. Did you ever hear of that one? Lavin talks about her schooling at Torah Hall, where she went to sewing classes every Sunday. Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia ; Jewish Hanukah Dolls ; Torah Hall Education 39.937991, -75.159685 19 10th &amp ; Carpenter Street, the location of the Jewish Federation Building, Torah Hall, where Lavin attended. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/902f00a55e292946314bc319f47cf026.jpg &quot ; Torah Hall,&quot ; c. 1900, Jewish Encyclopedia.com, Courtesy of Jewishencyclopedia.com 3235 On being a single woman and never learning about sex Aha. Did you ever have any children of your own? Lavin admits she never married and never bore children, explaining that she never learned either from her parents or from co-workers in the sweatshops where babies came from. She did not even know where her own siblings came from. &quot ; Birds and the bees&quot ; ; Conception ; Sex education Childbirth ; Marriage 17 3298 Recollections of childhood Even, even the younger children like my brother sold papers on the street. Lavin describes her little brother’s job selling newspapers on the street for a penny or two apiece. She laughably remembers the first and probably only time she saw a thousand dollar bill at a bank. Lavin describes some of the good times she had as a child, playing stick ball and telling ghost stories with her siblings and neighborhood kids from down the street. She sometimes went to the Hebrew Literature Society and read books, as well as going to a library to borrow books. She recalls some of the stories and songs the girls would share with one another. 2nd and Chestnut Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; 5th and Catherine Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Children ; Friends ; Ghost stories ; Hebrew Literature Society ; Stick ball Child labor. ; Childhood ; Employment ; Families. ; Recreation 39.948381, -75.144078 19 2nd &amp ; Chestnut Street, the block in which Lavin's little brother sold newspapers and where she saw a one-thousand dollar bill. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/2444a8de70279b28bc76f2207dd2d089.jpg Lewis Wickes Hine, &quot ; 3 Newspaper Boys,&quot ; 1910. Courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photograph Division. 3704 Girls' clothing, homemade &amp ; bought The only thing I saved for was to buy hair ribbons for the girls. Lavin explains how and where girls' clothing was made. Most of their clothing was made in factories, although they did have some pieces that were homemade and altered by their mom or aunts. The girls in the family constantly handed clothes down to one another ; they received new clothing only twice in a year--for Passover in the spring and the High Holy Days. Clothes ; Clothing factory ; Girls clothing ; Girls' clothing Childhood ; Children's clothing. ; Clothing and dress. ; Families. ; Women's clothing. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/af812cc15f0707b6ddee4910238b7bd7.jpg &quot ; Girls at Hebrew Sunday school,&quot ; 1941, Hebrew Sunday school Society Records. Courtesy of Temple University Libraries 3786 How the Lavins became Americans I have a question for you here. Uh, I'm very interested in, uh, how people became Americans. For instance, your father when he came over here. Lavin reminisces back to the time where her dad tried to get his second papers in Salem County, New Jersey and couldn't receive them. He and his witnesses were completely drunk at the Salem County courthouse and unfortunately, his witnesses couldn't vouch for him as they were drunk. Lavin explains that her father tried very hard to assimilate to American life, by knowing all of the street names from where and around the area he lived but he could never lose that strong Russian accent. Accents ; Assimilation Citizenship. ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/97545c76da213736d71ae54f04ba32ce.jpeg &quot ; Citizenship papers for Anna Lavin,&quot ; 1922, ancestry.com. Courtesy of the National Archives of Philadelphia 3878 Their furniture &amp ; electricity in their home There we had a couple of rooms, of course there were only three babies then, a couple of rooms and, uh, uh, a bureau. Lavin goes in depth on the type of furniture and how many rooms they had in their house on Bainbridge Street. At the time, no one in her neighborhood in South Philly had electricity. Everyone she knew had gas lights. She states the first time she remembers having electricity is when she lived on Folsom Street when she was about 45 years old. Electricity ; Folsom Street ; Gas lights Apartments. ; Dwellings ; Families. ; Housing. ; Neighborhoods 39.967920, -75.165991 19 Folsom Street, the street in where Lavin lived when she had electricity for the first time in her life. 4130 Constant moving for the Lavin family / Lavin's first refrigerator It seems the family moved around quite a-- Lavin explains how frequently her family moved. At one point in time she left Ellsworth Street and moved to Montrose Street but then returned back to Ellsworth Street because she got sick and diagnosed with Rheumatism. She states that every little thing they received was a novelty for them, whether used or not--they appreciated all of the nice things they could get. Lavin describes how many Italians had nice and expensive things. When she was 75 years old and moved to the ninth floor of the Sidney Hill Apartments and bought her first refrigerator, this is when she knew she made it in life. Ellsworth Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Illnesses ; Montrose Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Rheumatism ; Sickness ; Sidney Hillman Apartments Apartments. ; Dwellings ; Families. ; Housing. ; Neighborhoods 39.953281, -75.177201 19 22 S 22nd Street, the location of the Sidney Hillman Apartments where Lavin moved to at 75 years old and bought her first refrigerator. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/4a1a582b8a895857d4b34b48a60615e5.jpg &quot ; Sidney Hillman Apartments,&quot ; c. 1980, Creative Commons Archive. Courtesy of Creative Commons 4511 The flu epidemic of 1918 I, uh--my life was, uh--after work I used to have--my mother was a sick woman and, uh, I was pretty healthy. And the only sickness in our family, real sickness was during the flu epidemic, 1918. Lavin talks on the horrors of the flu epidemic of 1918. She watched many of her family members die of the flu including her aunt, mother, and uncle. Even though she never had the flu, she explains how horrified and helpless Philadelphia was at the time. No one knew if there was ever going to be a cure and no one knew if the epidemic was ever going to end. Death ; Illnesses ; Influenza Epidemic of 1918 ; Mt. Sinai Hospital ; Sickness ; The Flu Epidemic of 1918 Families. ; Influenza Epidemic, 1918-1919 39.930269, -75.153166 19 1429 South 5th Street, the site of the Mt. Sinai Hospital where Lavin's uncle died of the flu. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/f96e3450707badb35b24b79d250ff1ac.jpg Frank Siegner, &quot ; Philadelphia Deaths from Influenza,&quot ; 1931. Courtesy of Phillyhistory.org, a project of the Philadelphia Department of Records. 4858 Conclusion I should probably let you go now. Charlie Hardy concludes the interview with Anna Lavin but asks if he could interview her again because he has many other topics he'd like to discuss, including becoming an American, the foods they ate, and the winter season. 17 interview Anna Lavin came with her family from Russia to Philadelphia in 1896 aboard the S.S. Pennland and landed in the immigration station at the foot of Washington Avenue. It was South Philadelphia where her family settled and where Lavin started to work at the age of twelve. In a life of struggle and poverty, Lavin worked for 53 years in the garment industry. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. audio Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 http://www.nunncenter.net/ohms/render.php?cachefile=2017oh259_irw027_lavin_ohm.xml 2017oh259_irw027_lavin_ohm.xml https://oralhistory.uky.edu/catalog/xt7m901zgq96 Indexed By Alexis Jennings Sort Priority 0028 OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2017oh259_irw027_ohm.xml Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Interview: Anna Lavin (2nd interview) Description An account of the resource Anna Lavin came with her family from Russia to Philadelphia in 1896 aboard the S.S. Pennland and landed in the immigration station at the foot of Washington Avenue. It was South Philadelphia where her family settled and where Lavin started to work at the age of twelve. In a life of struggle and poverty, Lavin worked for 53 years in the garment industry. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2017oh259_irw027 Subject The topic of the resource Immigrants Emigration and immigration. Families. Employment Education Childhood Labor unions Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio Relation A related resource <a href="/exhibits/show/anna-lavin/poor-after" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Explore an exhibit on Anna Lavin's life&nbsp;</a> https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/2fbdb9390325affa6ceea61c59626132.jpg e7267cb718323d0bed1441435f5cc837 https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/18250dd7d77fd4701b8fa90a03d47395.jpg 3fecf1fdcb65bcf9bb20d494e4f864ef Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Philadelphia Immigration Project Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Charles Hardy Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed John Calpin Interview Keyword United States--Trials, litigation, etc. Gambling Journalism. Newspapers. Reporters and reporting. Race relations OHMS Object Text 5.1 2017oh258_irw026 Interview with John Calpin, August 8, 1982 2017oh258_irw026 ohirw I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Collection irw001 I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries (Exhibit) Political corruption Crime. Police corruption. Police. Alcoholic beverage law violations Organized crime. Prohibition Depressions--1929 Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. Finance. Politics and government Politicians Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ) Democratic Party (U.S.) United States--Trials, litigation, etc. Gambling Journalism. Newspapers. Reporters and reporting. Race relations John Calpin Charles Hardy 2017oh258_irw026_calpin_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2017oh258_irw026_calpin_acc001.mp3 Other audio 2 Johnny O'Malley's trial He was a very, very colorful character. Johnny O'Malley stood trial against well-known publisher, Walter Annenberg. Lemuel B. Schofield, O'Malley's attorney, convinced the court to drop the 137 irregularities against O'Malley. He was ultimately found not guilty. Schofield was a well-respected and revered attorney. Favoritism ; Fayette County (Pa.) ; Fayette County, Pennsylvania ; Jean Barrett ; John Fine ; Johnny O'Malley ; Lemuel B. Schofield ; Racetracks ; Republican Party ; Walter Annenberg Publishers and publishing. ; United States--Trials, litigation, etc. 39.922645, -79.724997 12 North Union Township, Fayette County. Philadelphia brought a high-ranking judge from this location in to serve on the O'Malley case to avoid favoritism. 177 Gambling and immigrant favors Apparently, one of the principal--this is what I've read, one of the principal political roles of the magistrates was to dispense favors to the immigrants. City officials, mainly magistrates, commonly provided favors to immigrants. Calpin recalls that these officials sat in on criminal cases, heard their own civil cases, and provided the favors covertly and overtly. One of these magistrates, John Fine, went to jail for protecting gamblers. One of the biggest gambling joints was located on Filbert Street, a block away from the Philadelphia Bulletin and the magistrate’s office. It housed some of the most prominent craps games in the history of Philadelphia. Calpin discusses his and his coworkers' enjoyment of working for the Bulletin, promising to inform his future children of his happiness. &quot ; The Philadelphia Bulletin&quot ; ; 12th and Silver St (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Charlie Cline ; Favoritism ; Frank Long ; Immigrants ; John Fine ; Loans Crime. ; Gambling ; Journalism. ; Newspapers. ; Police corruption. ; Police. ; Political corruption ; Reporters and reporting. ; United States--Trials, litigation, etc. 39.952891, -75.157145 17 1001 Filbert Street, Philadelphia (Pa.) http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/5c4f340b1b26225763bb563ef257f56f.jpg &quot ; Bulletin Building, Philadelphia, Pa, Edgar V. Seeler, Architect,&quot ; c. 1909. Catalogue of the Fifteenth Annual Architectural Exhibition. 475 Philadelphia's poor financial conditions So, you say that Hampton Moore then refused to take any federal aid, in the early years of the Depression? Philadelphia suffered financially and economically due to the Great Depression and “Hampy” Moore’s refusal to receive federal aid. To Calpin, this delayed the city's recovery. Many citizens did not have jobs and looked for housing and survival needs. Under S. Davis Wilson, the city hocked the Gas Works revenues, which was far less than the city should have been receiving. The city paid off its loan of $39 million, which went directly to banks and syndicates. The Gas Commission soon took over operations of the Gas Works. Great Depression ; Harry A. Mackey (Mayor of Philadelphia, 1928-31) ; J. Hampton Moore (&quot ; Hampy&quot ; , Mayor of Philadelphia, 1920-24) ; Joseph S. Clark, Jr. (Mayor of Philadelphia, 1952-56) ; New Deal ; Philadelphia city council ; Philadelphia Gas Commission ; Philadelphia Gas Works ; Public Works Administration ; S. Davis Wilson (Mayor of Philadelphia, 1936-39) ; Stotesbury Mansion (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; United Gas Improvement Company (UGI) ; Works Progress Administration (WPA) Depressions--1929 ; Finance. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 39.950585, -75.159351 17 Philadelphia Gas Works http://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/archive/philadelphia-gas-works/ Herbert B. Ershkowitz, &quot ; Philadelphia Gas Works,&quot ; The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia, 2015. 917 Great Depression's impact on the city Could you tell me a bit more about, um, the impact of the Depression on the city, in the early years? The Great Depression’s impact on the city brought great infrastructure and landmarks such as the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, extension of the Broad Street Subway, Museum of Art, and Parkway leading up to the Museum. Philadelphia spent such a vast amount of money on these attractions, that the Sesquicentennial Exhibition in 1926 was mediocre. Calpin reminisces about the city's new council and mayors, including &quot ; untouchable&quot ; J. Hampton Moore and successor W. Freeland Kendrick. According to Calpin, it was the city’s “heyday”. 1919 Philadelphia City Charter ; Benjamin Franklin Bridge ; Benjamin Franklin Parkway ; Broad Street Station (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Delaware River ; Frankford Ave (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Great Depression ; Harry A. Mackey (Mayor of Philadelphia, 1928-31) ; J. Hampton Moore (&quot ; Hampy&quot ; , Mayor of Philadelphia, 1920-24) ; Philadelphia Museum of Art ; Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company (PRT) ; Richardson Dilworth ; Sesquicentennial Exhibition of 1926 ; Veterans Stadium ; W. Freeland Kendrick (Mayor of Philadelphia, 1924-28) Depressions--1929 ; Finance. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Politicians ; Politics and government 39.965866, -75.181020 17 Philadelphia Museum of Art http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/c74f4164834ba4cd9b3be1aec1e2d813.jpg &quot ; Delaware Avenue-North to Delaware River Bridge,&quot ; c. 1923. DOR Archives. Later called the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, the Delaware River Bridge was under construction during the 1920s. 1196 Philadelphia's Camp Happy and social services during the Great Depression The only time I ever worked for the city, I was a counselor in 1923 and 1924 at Camp Happy, which was the city’s camp. Now they have up in the Poconos. Calpin was a counselor at Camp Happy in the Torresdale neighborhood in Northeast Philadelphia (the camp has since moved to the Poconos). He, along with his fellow counselors and friends, would stage boxing matches after sundown at the camp. W. Freeland Kendrick, Philadelphia’s mayor at the time, frequently visited Camp Happy and shared an affection for assisting the youth. Calpin discusses the prominence of the Civilian Conservation Corps, otherwise known as the CCC, which was a public work relief program for young men that were unmarried and unemployed. 18th and Wood St (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Academy Avenue and Frankford Avenue (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Boxing ; Camp Happy ; Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) Camps ; Frankford Ave (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Franklin D. Roosevelt ; Franklin Delano Roosevelt ; Great Depression ; Harry Mackey ; Michael Donahue ; Republican Party ; Shriners ; Shriners Hospital for Children (Philadelphia) ; Torresdale (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; W. Freeland Kendrick (Mayor of Philadelphia, 1924-28) ; West Philadelphia ; Works Progress Administration (WPA) Childhood ; Depressions--1929 ; Employment ; Finance. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Politicians 40.007464, -75.151322 17 Shriners Hospital for Children http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/8836fd1a6eb4e87220d7ece55e5338be.jpg &quot ; Camp Happy, Torresdale,&quot ; c. 1927. Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department, Hagley Museum and Library. 1605 Introduction of Bill Vare You know, I'd be interested in finding out about--(??)--is, um, the relationship between the mayors and the Vare machine, the Republican organization. The Vare Family, most notably Bill Vare, wielded strong political power in Philadelphia. The Vares’ ties were to the Republican Party, who controlled essentially every facet of the city, including police departments, political offices, leaders in the community, etc. The 1919 City Charter allowed the Council to reorganize departments, recognizing the significance of strong employees to formulate a solid government foundation. Vare ran for the U.S. Senate in 1926 against Gifford Pinchot, which resulted in scandal when Vare was caught with illegal paper ballots. As a result, Vare won the election, but was not awarded a seat in the Senate. 13th Ward (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; 1919 Philadelphia City Charter ; Boies Penrose ; Chestnut Hill (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Edwin Vare ; George Wharton Pepper ; Germantown (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Gifford Pinchot ; Gifford Pinchot (Pennsylvania governor, 1923-27, 1931-35) ; Harry Mackey ; J. Hampton Moore (&quot ; Hampy&quot ; , Mayor of Philadelphia, 1920-24) ; John R. K. Scott ; Logan School (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Manayunk (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Market Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Prohibition ; United States Senate ; Vare Machine ; William Scott Vare ; World War I Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Police corruption. ; Political corruption ; Politicians ; Politics and government ; Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ) ; World War, 1914-1918 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/5ced4943c87dc920d37f82d708c5ebbf.jpg &quot ; William Scott Vare portrait,&quot ; c. 1934. Philadelphia Record photograph morgue, Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 2101 Vare's influence in Republican politics The thing--the thing I’m really curious about, John, is how Vare contr--what Vare's relationship was to the mayors. Bill Vare, a Philadelphia construction contractor and Republican Party politician, put mayors into office. Many of these mayors were lame ducks when they got elected into positions and the majority did not do anything productive after leaving office. Vare’s reign over Philadelphia epitomized the concept of nepotism, which was commonplace in the 20th century. Mayors, city council members, and ward leaders had a mutually beneficial relationship, as they would trade favors or cease to be productive together. J. Hampton Moore (&quot ; Hampy&quot ; , Mayor of Philadelphia, 1920-24) ; Joseph S. Clark, Jr. (Mayor of Philadelphia, 1952-56) ; Nepotism ; Philadelphia 1951 Home Rule City Charter ; Vare Machine ; W. Freeland Kendrick (Mayor of Philadelphia, 1924-28) ; William Scott Vare Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Political corruption ; Politicians ; Politics and government ; Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ) 17 2300 Smedley Butler and Grand Jury investigations You know what’s interesting? After talking to, um, Sam Berry, was, um, one of the things in nineteen--well, actually, this was, this was separate. Smedley Butler was invited, by Mayor W. Freeland Kendrick, to become Philadelphia's Director of Public Safety. His ultimate duty was to infiltrate bootlegging activities and police corruption. The Grand Jury investigations of 1928 and 1929 shook the foundations of the police department. Democratic Party ; Grand Jury Investigation of 1928 ; Grand Jury Investigations (1927, 1928) ; Great Depression ; John &quot ; Jack&quot ; Kelly ; Philadelphia city council ; Police ; Republican Party ; Republican Party (Philadelphia) ; S. Davis Wilson (Mayor of Philadelphia, 1936-39) ; Smedley Darlington Butler ; William V. Hadley Alcoholic beverage law violations ; Crime. ; Depressions--1929 ; Organized crime. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Police corruption. ; Police. ; Politicians ; Politics and government ; Prohibition ; Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ) 17 http://gamma.library.temple.edu/exhibits/exhibits/show/potable-power--delaware-valley/smedley &quot ; Smedley Darlington Butler (1881-1940),&quot ; Temple University Libraries Digital Exhibits, 2003-2006. 2741 Democrats and Republicans fight for city control When did the police get out from under control of the politician? The Democratic and Republican parties fought for dominance in City Council. The public raised issues with its government such as employment and raised wages. Barney Samuel, as mayor, took responsibility for these pressing issues. Corruption was spread across several organizations in the city. In an anecdote, Calpin recalls the Department of Collection’s leader, Craig Ellis, committing suicide due to rumors of collection favoritism and missing money. Barney Samuel ; City Hall (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Committee of 15 ; Democratic Party ; Economy ; Employment -- Wages ; Entertainment ; Favoritism ; Joseph S. Clark, Jr. (Mayor of Philadelphia, 1952-56) ; Lyndon Johnson ; Richardson Dilworth ; Smedley Darlington Butler ; Walter Phillips, Sr. Democratic Party (U.S.) ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Police corruption. ; Political corruption ; Politicians ; Politics and government ; Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ) 17 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1941-11-24_Mayor_Samuels_Proclaims_City_Defense_Week.ogv &quot ; Mayor Samuels Proclaims City Defense Week,&quot ; Universal Newsreels, 1941. 3036 Democrats lead the way The roles were completely reversed. The Democratic Party assumed power in City Council, swiftly reversing roles with the Republican Party. Votes for each side in elections changed dramatically, as Republicans could only muster up around two-hundred-thousand votes or so per candidate--approximately the same amount that Democrats had gotten in years past. Now, Democratic candidates like Adlai Stevenson and Lyndon B. Johnson received around 500,000. Adlai Stevenson ; Barney Samuel ; Franklin D. Roosevelt ; Franklin Delano Roosevelt ; Joseph S. Clark, Jr. (Mayor of Philadelphia, 1952-56) ; Lyndon Johnson ; New Deal coalition ; Philadelphia city council ; Political realignment ; Raymond Pace Alexander ; Woody Armstrong Democratic Party (U.S.) ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Politicians ; Politics and government ; Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ) 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/a40c490ba2af6836a693569a221616df.jpg &quot ; Raymond Pace Alexander,&quot ; The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, 1953. 3239 Overview of political leaders So, cons--political control of the police really breaks with the Committee of 15. Ward leaders and politicians of all kinds started to lose power over the police department. Superintendents and Directors of Public Safety were not corrupt, as they were in years prior. The police departments were finally creating careers for themselves. Committee of 15 ; Director of Public Safety ; Lemuel B. Schofield ; S. Davis Wilson (Mayor of Philadelphia, 1936-39) ; Smedley Darlington Butler ; Superintendents Democratic Party (U.S.) ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Police corruption. ; Police. ; Political corruption ; Politicians ; Politics and government ; Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ) 17 3523 Prohibition-era impacts Something else I’d be interested, just in sort of finishing off this, this aspect is how the end of Prohibition changed, uh, politics in the city or anything else. During the Prohibition era, mobsters such as Al Capone, Boo Boo Hoff, and various others, commenced in bootlegging, gambling, drug trafficking, and racketeering. The official name of the alcohol ban was called the Volstead Act. The markups and sales tax on alcohol became a major revenue-raising situation, as well as the lottery. Al Capone ; Bootleggers ; Bootlegging ; Drugs ; Gambling ; Liquor rings ; Max &quot ; Boo Boo&quot ; Hoff ; Numbers racket (gambling) ; Pennsylvania State Liquor Control Board Alcoholic beverage law violations ; Crime. ; Gambling ; Organized crime. ; Prohibition 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/e3d41644b3ba933aa88d88597b17faf0.jpg &quot ; Smedley Butler Destroying Kegs of Beer,&quot ; c. 1924. Library of Congress. 3779 Cops on the beat As a police reporter, you know, how, how effective do you think the cop on the beat was? According to Calpin, a typical cop on the beat was “the man”. Officers were revered and at the very least, respected. There was no high-level technology, yet cops were still able to communicate effectively and keep a tight grip on the city. Calls came into the 23rd and 33rd District and police responded to scenes immediately. 12th and Christian ; 23rd District ; 33rd District ; Committee of 15 ; Corporal ; First Police District (12th and Pine) ; Roundhouse (Philadelphia Police Headquarters) ; Technological innovations Crime. ; Police. 39.954535, -75.151988 17 Philadelphia Police Department Headquarters 4076 Hughie McLoon's death McLoon was the clerk for Magistrate Eddie Carney, and he had been the mascot of the Phillies. Hugh &quot ; Hughie&quot ; McLoon served as the clerk for Eddie Carney, a magistrate in the city, as well as the mascot for the Philadelphia Athletics baseball team. McLoon and two other gunmen were gunned down with shotguns outside of a fire department, in which he died. Calpin examined McLoon in the hospital, as his torso was “littered with bullets”. 10th and Summer St (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Athletics ; Eddie Carney ; Guns ; Hugh &quot ; Hughie&quot ; McLoon ; Magistrates ; Numbers racket (gambling) ; Roundhouse (Philadelphia Police Headquarters) ; Thomas Jefferson Hospital Crime. ; Murder 39.956, -75.159 17 Approximate location of Hugh McLoon's murder (10th and Summer St.), Philadelphia Fire Company http://gamma.library.temple.edu/exhibits/exhibits/show/potable-power--delaware-valley/mcloon &quot ; Suspects in the Murder of Hugh McLoon,&quot ; c. 1928. Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. 4274 Organized crime How would that lead to a, to a grand jury investigation of the police department? McLoon’s death launched a grand jury investigation of the police department, mainly due to his connections with politician Eddie Carney. However, it was no surprise when a gangster died in battle, because of the tumultuous setting of the mafia scene. Benny “The Bum” Fogelman and “Boo Boo” Hoff each owned places on Broad and Spruce Streets, both common hangout spots. Police obtained key parts of their information from informants within crime syndicates, from mafiosos like Frank Sindone. Atlantic City ; Benny Leonard ; Benny the Bum ; Bobby DeLuca ; Bootleggers ; Bootlegging ; Broad and Spruce ; Eddie Carney ; Frank Sindone ; Italian ; Italian Americans--Philadelphia ; Italian Mobs (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; James Hines ; Joe Padula ; Mafia ; Max &quot ; Boo Boo&quot ; Hoff ; Salvatore Testa ; Syndicates ; Underworld Alcoholic beverage law violations ; Crime. ; Organized crime. ; Police corruption. ; Police. ; Political corruption ; Politicians ; Politics and government ; Prohibition 39.947018, -75.164721 17 Spruce Street and South Broad Street http://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/archive/bootlegging/ Annie Anderson, &quot ; Bootlegging,&quot ; The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia, 2015. 4527 Boo Boo Hoff: Philly gangster What can you tell me about Boo Boo Hoff? Boo Boo Hoff was one of the most prominent gangsters in the city. Amidst the Prohibition Era, he expanded his business into bootlegging, similar to other mobsters in Philadelphia. He was shot and killed in the Sylvania Hotel, prompting a chain of gang warfare across areas in Atlantic City. Hoff was responsible for Sammy Grossman’s slaying in Plainfield, Pennsylvania. 13th and Spruce Street ; 13th and Walnut St (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Benny the Bum ; Gang War ; Gangsters ; Locust Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Max &quot ; Boo Boo&quot ; Hoff ; Plainfield (Pa.) ; Plainfield, Pennsylvania ; Sammy Grossman ; Spruce and Pine Street ; Sylvania Hotel Alcoholic beverage law violations ; Crime. ; Organized crime. ; Prohibition 17 http://gamma.library.temple.edu/exhibits/exhibits/show/potable-power--delaware-valley/booboo &quot ; Max 'Boo Boo' Hoff (1895-1941),&quot ; Temple University Libraries Digital Exhibits, 2003-2006. 4746 Gang warfare Was there a lot--I mean, you know, in--did Philadelphia in the thirties-- Gang warfare occurred predominantly between underworld crews, and not against cops. James &quot ; Shoey&quot ; Malone, Director of Public Safety, led the patrol against criminals. His routine included waiting for the criminals at the train station, waiting for them to get off, roughing them up and intimidating them, and then sending them back to their original area. Philadelphia detectives, including the big mob and little mob, routinely guarded against potential mobsters and criminals. &quot ; Big mob&quot ; ; &quot ; Little mob&quot ; ; Broad Street Station (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Chicago (Ill.) ; Chicago, Illinois ; Director of Public Safety ; Gang violence ; Gangs ; New York ; New York City (N.Y.) ; New York City, New York ; Shoey Malone ; Underworld Crime. ; Organized crime. ; Police. 17 4915 The African American underworld The other thing I’m, I'm interested in is how, um--where did the, uh, the black community fit into all this? Newspaper coverage of Black organized crime was minimal. There were two sections of neighborhood crime ; one was along South Street and Lombard Street on the west side, while one was on the east side, located from Broad Street to the river. South Philadelphia was a group of neighborhoods, in which Blacks kept to themselves. Italians, Jews, and Germans, in particular, were not fond of them. Bill Barrett, a famous congressman from Philadelphia, controlled the 36th Ward. According to Calpin, these territories were 90% Black. &quot ; Negro crime&quot ; ; 12th and Pine St. (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; 15th and Locust Street ; 20th and Fitzwater Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; 24th St and Wolf St (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; 30th Ward (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; 4th and Snyder Ave (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Bainbridge Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Chestnut Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Informants ; Italian ; Italian Americans--Philadelphia ; Lombard Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Queen Village (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; South Philadelphia ; South Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Wharton Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; William Barrett African Americans--Social conditions. ; Crime. ; Organized crime. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Race relations 39.943, -75.175 17 20th Street and Fitzwater Street, African American living quarters 5268 Population 'melting pot' Was the city pretty segregated then in terms of-- Philadelphia’s population represented what was known to Calpin as a “melting pot” of diversity. Italians, Jews, Poles, Germans, Irish, and Blacks comprised differing areas of the city, most notably South Philadelphia. These locations were largely segregated. The Irish and the Poles populated Catholic churches, the Poles mainly populated the Queen Village, while many African Americans resided in Kensington, etc. Regardless of systematic segregation, these groups shared content relationships with each other. &quot ; Melting pot&quot ; ; Antagonism ; Broad Street Station (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Catholic parishes ; Department stores ; Frankford (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; German ; Greek ; Irish ; Italian ; Italian Americans--Philadelphia ; Jewish ; Kensington (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Market Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Mercantile ; Polish Americans--Philadelphia ; Russia ; Segregation ; Segregation in Philadelphia ; Synagogues African Americans--Relations with Irish Americans. ; African Americans--Relations with Italian Americans ; African Americans--Relations with Jews. ; African Americans--Relations with Polish Americans ; African Americans--Social conditions. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Race relations 39.938, -75.148 17 Queen Village, Polish living quarters interview When he graduated from Temple University with a journalism degree in 1925, John Calpin (1904-1991) became a police reporter for The Philadelphia Bulletin. There, he witnessed first hand the impact of Prohibition on the city of Philadelphia and the vast power of the Republican City Machine. In the decades that followed, Calpin would go on to become a newspaper bureau chief and civic reformer. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. audio Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 http://www.nunncenter.net/ohms/render.php?cachefile=2017oh258_irw026_calpin_ohm.xml 2017oh258_irw026_calpin_ohm.xml https://oralhistory.uky.edu/catalog/xt7m901zgq96 Indexed By William Jones Sort Priority 0008 OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2017oh258_irw026_ohm.xml Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Interview: John Calpin (2nd Interview) Description An account of the resource When he graduated from Temple University with a journalism degree in 1925, John Calpin (1904-1991) became a police reporter for The Philadelphia Bulletin. There, he witnessed first hand the impact of Prohibition on the city of Philadelphia and the vast power of the Republican City Machine. In the decades that followed, Calpin would go on to become a newspaper bureau chief and civic reformer. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2017oh258_irw026 Subject The topic of the resource Political corruption Crime. Police corruption. Police. Alcoholic beverage law violations Organized crime. Prohibition Depressions--1929 Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. Finance. Politics and government Politicians Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ) Democratic Party (U.S.) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio Relation A related resource <a href="/exhibits/show/calpin-john/philly-clean-up" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Explore an exhibit about John Calpin's life</a> https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/2f89adc9fef2c18bd0f6e2b474232299.jpg e2e71b143153e9dbf65a0399d35d11d1 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Philadelphia Immigration Project Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Charles Hardy Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed David Kaplan Interview Keyword Sanitation. Hygiene. Public baths. Citizenship Ethnic relations. Movie theaters Technological innovations Boardinghouses Russian Revolution OHMS Object Text 5.1 2017oh256_irw024 Interview with David Kaplan, June 30, 1982 2017oh256_irw024 ohirw I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Collection irw001 I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries (Exhibit) Emigration and immigration. Immigrants Employment Russia Families. Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. Language and languages. Education Jews--Identity. Worship (Judaism) Sanitation. Hygiene. Public baths. Citizenship Ethnic relations. Movie theaters Technological innovations Boardinghouses Russian Revolution David Kaplan Charles Hardy 2017oh256_irw024_kaplan_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2017oh256_irw024_kaplan_acc001.mp3 Other audio 8 Starting work in America --a, a history program so we're trying to, to find out what individual people's experiences have been in the city. Kaplan arrived in 1911 from Russia (where he didn’t like the government) to flee the chaos and oppression in the ensuing years before the Revolution. At home he was a teacher, but in the U.S. he had to take a factory job for $3 a week, for 60 hours, where he slept on the floor. He arrived like many others: with nothing, desperate, and didn't speak the language. As he progressed, he changed and learned trades. Working to survive the harsh economic times, he ate herring which was a delicacy back in Russia. He started in the textile industry working different jobs such as making pants pockets and suspenders and made a little more money. He recalls that he paid a man five dollars to learn to make back pockets in pants then got a job for $5 a week. He says that he struggled, living on herring and bread. He later worked on skirts, and had his own hot dog and hamburger stand near the City Hall Annex from 1935-1946. City hall ; Clothing industry ; Herring ; Hot dog stands ; Revolutions ; Russia ; Russian Revolution ; Working conditions Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Immigrants ; Small business--Ownership 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/f638b1a8ed3288493ac64cb1a9f713c8.jpg &quot ; Daroff &amp ; Sons factory workers press suits,&quot ; 1910. Frederick A. Meyer. George D. McDowell Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Collection, Courtesy of Temple University Libraries. 295 Working until retirement And then I went into the clothing trade. Kaplan says he went into the clothing trade in 1946. He worked for 20 years to get a pension through the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, and retired in 1967 at the age of 77. Usually people retired at 65 to collect Social Security, but it wasn't enough so he worked for 12 more years. Kaplan shares that he is now 92 years old and in good health, and hopes to be 100. Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America ; Clothing industry ; Retirement ; Social Security Employment ; Labor unions 17 408 The decision to leave Russia Let me ask you some questions. Kaplan says that he was not happy with his life in Russia, although he had a good job as a teacher. Once the revolution started, Kaplan had to serve in the army for 4 years after he turned 20. He didn't like the Russian government because it did not treat Jews well and did not allow them to live in cities or large villages, affording them few rights. He shares that those were the boom days of immigration to America, as long as you had $25. Jewish ; Jews ; Russian Army ; Russian Revolution Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants 3 578 The trip to America Can you describe for me how you came from Russia to America? When Kaplan decided to come to the U.S. he went to an agent who bought a ticket for him to illegally cross the Russian border. He and his stepsister fled to Warsaw where they traveled to Bedzin, then crossed the border to Germany in the middle of the night. After waiting two weeks they took the ship Graf Waldersee to the United States where his stepbrother was waiting for him. He arrived in Philadelphia at the Washington Avenue Immigration Station, walked to the house he stayed at, and in two days got his first job in a factory. Kaplan shares that all kinds of people were coming to the U.S. Bedzin (Poland) ; Bedzin, Poland ; Chain migration ; Ellis Island ; Gentiles ; Graf Waldersee ; Poland ; Revolutions ; Russian Army ; Russian Revolution ; Warsaw (Poland) ; Warsaw, Poland ; Washington Avenue Immigration Station Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants 50.338586, 19.121162 3 Bedzin, Poland, where Kaplan crossed the Russian border into Germany. At the time Poland was divided between Russia and Germany. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/ddc40839f06773f8191ff629c6d1b193.jpg &quot ; Str. Graf Waldersee,&quot ; c.1900-1905. Detroit Publishing Company photograph collection. Library of Congress. 937 First impressions of Philadelphia Do you remember what you expected to find in Philadelphia? Kaplan says he didn’t know much about Philadelphia before his arrival and found it harder than what he had heard from letters. He found it hard to get a job without a trade and didn't speak the language. He shares that family members already there took care of newcomers from the old country. When he arrived, he appreciated that streets were cemented unlike his home in Russia which had mud coated streets when it rained. He also remembers that lights lined the streets and brightened the city, which was better than the lanterns he used in Russia. He was also impressed by how people dressed, how frequently people changed clothes, and that people bathed, unlike in Russia where there was no place to bathe. Amenities ; Electric lights ; Electricity ; Paved streets Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Families. ; Hygiene. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Sanitation. 17 1157 Bathing in Philadelphia Another thing impressed me: the way they are dressed here. Kaplan shares that in Russia, richer people hired a man to bring them water, while the poor got water themselves carrying it in buckets on their shoulders. In his village, once a month a man rang a bell to tell everyone in the town that there was hot water in the bathhouse. Kaplan then talks about the bathhouses in Philadelphia, which cost 10-15 cents. He went to one on Wood Street. He then remembers that there was no electricity on Wyalusing Avenue, the street he lived on when he first came to Philadelphia. Bath houses ; Chain migration ; Gentiles ; Jewish ; Jews ; Russia ; Wood Street bath house (Philadelphia, Pa.) Hygiene. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Public baths. ; Sanitation. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/thumbnails/396a1e7552a7e98132e2bcc176a206df.jpg &quot ; Public Baths Association Building, Wood Street,&quot ; Public Baths Association of Philadelphia Collection. Courtesy of Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 1398 Kaplan brings his sister from Russia and helps her learn Yiddish So when you arrived in the city, you moved, uh, out to West Philadelphia? Kaplan shares that he saved 50 cents a week from his $3 a week salary until he had enough money after a year to buy a ticket to bring his sister over from Russia where she worked as a maid. In Philadelphia, he paid for her education and hired a someone to teach her “Jewish” [Yiddish] so that she could communicate with other Jews in Philadelphia. Kaplan says that after his sister got married, she moved to West Philadelphia. Kaplan himself married at age 40, had a daughter who graduated from college, and works for the YMHA on Pine Street, and works with people with intellectual disabilities. Jewish ; Russia ; The Forward ; West Philadelphia ; Wyalusing Avenue (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Yiddish Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Language and languages. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 17 1534 Reflections on education in Russia and Philadelphia And I educated her and she beca--she, uh, got a trade making blouses, dresses. Kaplan's sister married and moved to West Philadelphia. Kaplan himself married and had a daughter who graduated from college. Despite his past as a teacher who tutored students in their homes, Kaplan never taught in Philadelphia. Education was lacking in poorer areas of Russia and many Jewish immigrants were uneducated, particularly females. In Philadelphia, Kaplan picked up on the language fairly quickly. Within the Russian Jewish communities in Philadelphia, people continued to speak Yiddish. West Philadelphia ; Wyalusing Avenue (Philadelphia, Pa.) Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Language and languages. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 17 1560 Reflections on his daughter / More on education in Russia and Philadelphia Well, I was a bachelor till about 40. Kaplan shares that he married when he was 40, and has a daughter who graduated from college and works for the Philadelphia YHMA. Kaplan says that in Russia, he taught people how to read and write Jewish and Russian in their homes. Many were uneducated, especially girls in small towns who got no education. He remembers reading to boys in Philadelphia who “didn't know nothing.” Gershman YHMA ; Northeast Philadelphia YHMA ; Pine Street YHMA (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Shalom Building ; West Philadelphia Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Language and languages. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 17 http://www.gershmany.org/about/history-y/ &quot ; History,&quot ; Gershman Y, 2016. 1861 On learning English and becoming an American When you came to Philadelphia did you go to any agencies, any of the Jewish agencies for help? In Philadelphia, Kaplan came to his step brother and picked up on the English language fairly quickly. Within the Russian Jewish communities in Philadelphia, people continued to speak Yiddish. He shares that in Philadelphia, he was anxious to become an American, copy the styles, and to forget about being Jewish. Although raised in a religious house, he was not religious. He shares that his grandfather, father, and uncle were also teachers in Russia. When he was young, he helped his grandfather teach. Citizenship ; Hebrew ; Judaism ; Naturalization ; Religion Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Jews--Identity. ; Language and languages. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Worship (Judaism) 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/f52f4a992c7eab2376c44cbb82ecd21f.jpg &quot ; Russian Village,&quot ; c. 1909-1920. National Photo Company Collection. Library of Congress 2198 Assimilating in America So how d--what did one then do to become an American? Kaplan describes how he acted and behaved as Americans did to the best he could in order to be a &quot ; real American,&quot ; although he mingled with Jewish people still and didn't interact as much with &quot ; real&quot ; Americans. Kaplan never had someone teach him to be American and learned on his own. He went to theaters, operas, and movies to immerse himself in American culture. Unlike other Jews, he didn't cling to Jewish traditions. He views those that do as ignorant for being so stubborn. Americanization ; Argentina ; Citizenship ; Culture ; Falklands War ; Greenhorns ; Israel ; Naturalization ; Opera ; Symphony Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Jews--Identity. ; Language and languages. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Worship (Judaism) 17 2554 Ethnic relations in Philadelphia When--in your early years in the city, did you feel any discrimination against you from the people outside of-- Asked about ethnic tensions in Philadelphia, Kaplan says that he never personally experienced it and did not witness it against others. He recalls that an Irish man might feel superior to a Jewish man. Kaplan then says that he did not mingle with Gentiles outside of work, and that few Gentiles worked in the clothing industry. Ethnic tensions ; Gentiles ; Irish ; Italian ; Jewish Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Ethnic relations. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Race relations 17 2684 Philadelphia's garment industry And that's all it was, it was Italians, working in my, my line of, uh, clothing. Kaplan talks about his work in the textile industry and how he got into the industry. He mentions that in the past, Jews dominated the clothing industry, along with Germans before them. In time that faded, with African Americans, Italians, and Puerto Ricans doing most of the work. He remembers Jewish workers stopping to pray in the factories. He quit the industry at the age of 77 years old. Garment industry ; H. Daroff and Sons Company ; Jews ; Textile industry Employment ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 39.953807, -75.157634 17 Pitcairn Building at 11th and Arch Streets, which housed the Daroff Company that Kaplan worked for. 2978 Going to the movies You mentioned earlier that you, um, used to go to the movies when you first came here. Kaplan elaborates on his interest in movies when he first arrived. Tickets were cheap and there were several Jewish theaters. He notes that audiences typically behaved poorly during movies. People brought food with them inside the theaters. Over time this changed and behavior became more appropriate. Charlie Chaplin ; Films ; Movie theaters ; Movies ; Theaters Motion picture theaters. ; Motion pictures. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. ; Recreation 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/8459f6b73fb14f6a542b16510720b922.jpg &quot ; Met Theater on Broad Street with advertisement for Abe Neff and His Orchestra,&quot ; c. 1947. Philadelphia Jewish Archives Photographs. Courtesy of Temple University Libraries. 3133 Reflecting on how times have changed Um, any event in your mind that stood out that took place in the 1920s? Kaplan remembers major events from the 1920s through 1982. He recalls the many inventions of the time, such as cars, radios, and computers. He remembers the impact cars made on life in the city and how people would run after them. To Kaplan, there is no single great invention because they all outdid their predecessors. Kaplan reflects on how much has changed in society since he was young, such as the decreased interest in reading. Bicentennials ; Charles Lindbergh ; Computers ; Inventions ; Lindbergh Flight ; Radio ; Smedley Butler ; Technology Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Technological innovations 17 3574 Reflections on progress Yeah, I was always anxious what's going on. Kaplan remembers that when the revolution started in Russia in 1905, he was in a little town “and didn't know nothing.” He shares that it was a hard life, and that he would not want to go back to that life. He says that the U.S. progressed a whole lot more than Russia. Kaplan explains that unlike in Russia, the technological advancement spread to other smaller towns and not just cities. China ; Hamburg (Germany) ; Hamburg, Germany ; Russian Revolution ; Social conditions ; Technology Russia ; Technological innovations ; United States 17 3767 Boarding houses Let me turn the question around. What disappointed you when you arrived in Philadelphia? What didn't live up to your expectations? When asked what disappointed him in Philadelphia, Kaplan shares that he was disappointed by how hard it was to get a good job. He came here hoping to be someone and felt like nothing upon his arrival. He then talks about men living in boarding houses with other single immigrant men, sleeping sometimes three to a room. He shares that when he arrived, he lived with his stepbrother in a single room with one bed and no heat. He remembers that people used coal to heat their stoves and that there was no other heat in the houses. When it was very cold, the landlady had a little coal stove in the room, which gave him a headache. 'American dream' ; Boarding houses ; Boardinghouses Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; United States 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/db0cacd6dc872a4fe7eda5856497035b.jpg &quot ; Southeast Corner of Front Street and Fairmount Avenue,&quot ; November 13, 1915. Used by permission of PhillyHistory.org, a project of the Philadelphia Department of Records. interview David Kaplan (b. circa 1889) was born in a Russian village to a Jewish family. With his father in America, Kaplan had to work as a child to support his family. Fearing military conscription, he fled Russia in 1911 and immigrated to Philadelphia. In 1946, after decades of financial struggle, Kaplan found a steady job in the clothing industry and retired with a pension at the age of 77. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. audio Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 http://www.nunncenter.net/ohms/render.php?cachefile=2017oh256_irw024_kaplan_ohm.xml 2017oh256_irw024_kaplan_ohm.xml https://oralhistory.uky.edu/catalog/xt7m901zgq96 Indexed By Jack Robinson Sort Priority 0025 OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2017oh256_irw024_ohm.xml Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Interview: David Kaplan Description An account of the resource David Kaplan (b. circa 1889) was born in a Russian village to a Jewish family. With his father in America, Kaplan had to work as a child to support his family. Fearing military conscription, he fled Russia in 1911 and immigrated to Philadelphia. In 1946, after decades of financial struggle, Kaplan found a steady job in the clothing industry and retired with a pension at the age of 77. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2017oh256_irw024 Subject The topic of the resource Emigration and immigration. Immigrants Employment Russia Families. Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. Language and languages. Education Jews--Identity. Worship (Judaism) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio Relation A related resource <a href="/exhibits/show/david-kaplan/americanization" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Explore and exhibit on David Kaplan's life</a> https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/a0ce8ae7d0c3e36bb1f1c8c44546920f.png 17e40c765efbefb731f0514482dca095 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Philadelphia Immigration Project Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Charles Hardy Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Michael Giovanelli Frank De Sipio Interview Keyword Depressions--1929 World War, 1914-1918 Dwellings Housing. Education Childhood Alcoholic beverage law violations Crime. Distillation Distilling, illicit Police. Politicians Politics and government Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ) Irish Americans. Irish Americans--Social life and customs. OHMS Object Text 5.1 2017oh252_irw020 Interview with Michael Giovanelli and Frank Di Sipio, June 9, 1982 2017oh252_irw020 ohirw I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Collection irw001 I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries (Exhibit) Emigration and immigration. Immigrants Families. Employment Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. Prohibition Marriage Italian Americans. Italian Americans--Social life and customs. Depressions--1929 World War, 1914-1918 Dwellings Housing. Education Childhood Alcoholic beverage law violations Crime. Distillation Distilling, illicit Police. Politicians Politics and government Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ) Irish Americans. Irish Americans--Social life and customs. Michael Giovanelli Frank De Sipio Charles Hardy 2017oh252_irw020_giovanelli_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2017oh252_irw020_giovanelli_acc001.mp3 Other audio 2 Giovanelli introduction I'm all set, you ready? Giovanelli shares that he was born in 1900 and immigrated from Italy to the United States in 1913, settling first in Boston where he attended school before moving to Philadelphia in 1918, where he worked at Hog Island Shipyard, and then Baldwin Locomotive Works for 6 years, then worked at from a long career at General Electric as a mechanical designer for 36 years before retiring at age 65. In 1974 he moved to South Philadelphia and joined the Marconi Center, serving on the board. Baldwin Locomotive Works (Broad Street plant, Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Boston (Ma.) ; Boston, Massachusetts ; General Electric ; Hog Island Shipyard ; Marconi Center ; South Philadelphia ; St. Monica Parish (Philadelphia, Pa.) Childhood ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Immigrants 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/27b9059db436ef85dd44201471984eb6.jpeg &quot ; Baldwin Locomotive Works,&quot ; May 5, 1925, PhillyHistory.org. 165 Di Sipio introduction Frank, where, uh-- Born in 1904, Di Sipio says that he has lived in South Philadelphia his whole life. As a kid, he lived in 3-story house with no gas or electricity, left school in 8th grade work to help support the family, and then went to night school and learned to be an electrician before working in the coal and oil business, from which he retired. After moving to the suburbs upon retirement, he became so depressed that he returned to South Philly, selling his home, and joining Saint Monica’s and the Marconi Center. In 6 months he was president and volunteered for everything they had. Every morning he does volunteer work then goes to Marconi where he plays bocce and pinochle. Di Sipio shares that their parents never had it this good. Electricians ; Springfield (Pa.) ; Springfield, Pennsylvania ; St. Monica Parish (Philadelphia, Pa.) Childhood ; Education ; Employment 39.920566, -75.175519 17 St. Monica's Parish/St. Monica's Roman Catholic Church 365 Giovanelli's work at Hog Island and Baldwin Locomotive Um, let's talk about the city in the nineteen teens and twenties. Giovanelli talks about living in a three-story “box house” (trinity style row house with one room per floor) with no electricity or gas. Giovanelli discusses his time during World War I working at the Hog Island Shipyard, making $23 a week, before working at Baldwin Locomotive Works following the war, earning only $10 a week. When he was there, he went to the engineering department and started his training there. In 1926, he went to work at General Electric. Baldwin Locomotive Works (Broad Street plant, Philadelphia, Pa.) ; General Electric ; Hog Island Shipyard ; The Great Depression ; Trinity house ; World War I Depressions--1929 ; Dwellings ; Employment ; Housing. ; World War, 1914-1918 39.962947, -75.161921 17 Baldwin Locomotive Works https://www.philageohistory.org/rdic-images/view-image.cfm/HGSv9.0756-757-758 Ernest, Hexamer. &quot ; Baldwin Locomotive Works,&quot ; Greater Philadelphia Geo History Network, 2018. 533 Row house life and primitive health care Those days were beautiful, but I wouldn't want to go back to them. Di Sipio recalls growing up in a 3-story, 3-room row house with 9 kids and 2 parents. The girls slept with their mother on the 2nd floor and the boys slept upstairs, all huddled together to keep warm. When a woman was going to have a baby, the doctor arrived carrying all his pots and pans and tools in a pushcart. In the winter, everybody stayed in the kitchen to keep warm around a 2-burner gas stove started by putting a quarter in a meter. Giovanelli then shares how he painted in a hospital for a week to pay the bill for a treatment. Di Sipio recalls that a hospital charged $17 for his wife’s 21-day stay. Baldwin Locomotive Works (Broad Street plant, Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Childbirth ; Great Depression ; Health care ; Healthcare ; Hog Island Shipyard ; Medicine ; Trinity houses ; World War I Depressions--1929 ; Health care issues, costs, and access ; Medical care ; World War, 1914-1918 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/2314020d4a874010c621d0f2d3e0fb67.jpg &quot ; Women and man in row house,&quot ; 1928. &quot ; Still Philadelphia&quot ; 775 Hardships during the Great Depression During the Depression time... Giovanelli shares how during the Great Depression, GE laid off 24 and kept only 2 people in his department, and how some companies gave pork for people to eat. He returned to GE following the Depression. General Electric ; Great Depression Depressions--1929 ; Employment 17 879 Family life This neighborhood where we're at had--most of the people, I'd say 98% of the people owned their homes here. Di Sipio shares that 98% of the people owned homes in his neighborhood and how old women stayed in their own homes rather than move in with children. Both men recall how their families saved money -- 10 cents a day, for emergencies. Di Sipio shares how they used to buy clothes, with boys getting suits at Easter then handing them down to the younger ones. They both describe their large families and the immense respect that the children had for both parents, while also noting their parents’ strict discipline, and how the siblings in the large family did not fight and were well-behaved. Di Sipio says his mother was “the big boss.” Di Sipio shares that after his “first father,” was killed in a railroad accident, his “second father” was strict. Finances ; Home life ; Occupational hazards ; Parental authority ; Parental discipline ; Trinity houses Childhood ; Discipline of children ; Families. ; Neighborhoods ; Neighbors 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/05f3e9ba55d6c6567ca7a31b6f678236.jpg &quot ; Children in the Streets,&quot ; July 17, 1925. Housing Association of the Delaware Valley Photographs, Temple University Libraries 1234 Giovanelli's journey from Italy to Boston and recollections of the journey You came over, Mike, uh, 1913? Giovanelli explains his father's decision to move from a farming region near Naples, Italy. As a shoemaker, the pay was unpredictable, while in the U.S., he got paid every Friday. He first came to the United States and stayed for five years before returning to Italy, but came back for economic reasons. Giovanelli says his family sold everything before emigrating. The U.S. required immigrants to have good health and eyesight. The family came 2nd class, with a dining room and good food, on the Canopic from Naples to New York because his father had money. He talks about the bad air and getting sick on the 10-day ship journey and how they gave food to people in steerage “because they didn't get much.” Barter systems ; Immigration journeys ; Naples (Italy) ; Naples, Italy ; S.S. Canopic ; Serial migration ; Shoemakers ; Southern Italy ; SS Canopic ; Steerage ; Stetson Hat Company Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/275b857a38ec1ecd42fa7c0bc58f2065.jpg &quot ; SS Canopic,&quot ; c. 1908. http://www.vanderwielen.org/Genealogy/media/media189.html. 1496 Giovanelli's move to Phildelphia and Di Sipio's journey from Italy Why did the family move down to Philadelphia? Giovanelli says his family came to Philadelphia after visiting an uncle ; crating all the furniture to send by train. After recalling how a coal man picked up the dead during the 1918 influenza epidemic, Di Sipio shares that in Italy his family worked for a baron, who took half of what they grew. They relied on the barter system. It cost $40 to come to the U.S., so his father earned money working for Stetson’s, sending $80 for two more relatives, who worked at Victors. Di Sipio stresses that no one ever wanted to return back to Italy because of the luxuries in the U.S. 1918 Shoe strike ; Barter systems ; Chain migration ; Influenza Epidemic of 1918 ; Victor Talking Company Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Influenza Epidemic, 1918-1919 17 1812 Public baths and odd jobs Did you guys go to the public baths? Giovanelli shares that he never went to the public baths ; however, Di Sipio explains the luxuries provided at the public baths, like a large towel and a bar of soap. Di Sipio explains that Italian men did not go to the public baths, and that he only began to go due to a friendship with some Jewish men. He then explains that he also worked for the Jewish families doing various tasks on their Sabbath. Health ; Jewish ; Jews ; Jews--Philadelphia ; Public baths ; Sabbath Employment ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/ece4c93d958e55f168bd82c732ba5e18.jpg &quot ; Darien and Montrose Streets - Bathhouse,&quot ; 1911. DOR Archives. 1931 Smedley Butler, Director of Public Safety Do you guys remember Smedley Butler? Di Sipio explains how Philadelphia Director of Public Safety Smedley Butler raided the Union League during Prohibition. Di Sipio tells of Butler's background as an Army General and as chief of the city’s police and fire forces. Giovanelli explains that Butler introduced traffic lights. They both explain how Prohibition was too difficult to deal with for Butler. Di Sipio remembers the failed Philadelphia sesquicentennial celebrations which cost the city money in 1926. Giovanelli recalls attending grammar school upon his arrival at age 14, before attending two years of high school, and later night school. Broad Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Director of Public Safety ; Philadelphia Sesquicentennial ; Police ; Prohibition ; Smedley Darlington Butler ; Technological innovations ; Union League ; W. Freeland Kendrick (Mayor of Philadelphia, 1924-28) Alcoholic beverage law violations ; Childhood ; Crime. ; Distillation ; Distilling, illicit ; Education ; Police. ; Politicians ; Prohibition 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/fullsize/ba77e97b0587eead7b9b1476eb6f1954.jpg &quot ; Smedley Butler Sworn in as Director of Public Safety,&quot ; c. 1924, USMC Archives. 2188 The Republican Machine of Philadelphia Can I ask you some questions about politics? Both men explain how the Republican political machine in Philadelphia reformed the city and won over constituents by cleaning up rubbish and through other quality of life issues, although it also bought their votes. They stress that today the role of the local government is less involved compared to that of the federal government. Di Sipio states that people voted the way that the local ward boss wanted them to ; however, Giovanelli asserts that he voted he way he chose. Federal government ; Local government ; Local ward bosses ; Philadelphia ward politics ; Political machine ; Republican city machine ; Republican Party ; Republican Party (Philadelphia) ; Vare Machine ; Ward bosses ; William Scott Vare Political corruption ; Politicians ; Politics and government ; Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ) 17 2621 Prohibition and bootlegging Can you all tell me any, uh, you know, you guys tell me any stories about Prohibition? Di Sipio recalls making beer in the bathtub at home and making wine. He insists that everyone was bootlegging one way or another ; however, Giovanelli disagrees. Di Sipio also says that he and his family sold wine to other families. Di Sipio also mentions infamous gangsters the Lanzetti boys. He also talks about bootlegging from Chicago which had ties with Al Capone. They both stress that their families never got drunk, instead everyone drank casually. &quot ; Scarface&quot ; ; &quot ; Wettest city in the country&quot ; ; Al Capone ; Bootleggers ; Gangsters ; Jails ; Lanzetti Boys (Italian gang, Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Prisons ; St. Valentine's Day Massacre Alcoholic beverage law violations ; Crime. ; Distillation ; Distilling, illicit ; Prohibition 17 http://gamma.library.temple.edu/exhibits/exhibits/show/potable-power--delaware-valley/lanzetti &quot ; Potable Power,&quot ; Temple University Libraries Digital Exhibits, 2003-2006. 2960 Reputation of the South Philadelphia Police Uh, let me tell you something about the police that I never forgot. Di Sipio notes that if an arrested individual challenged the police, they would beat him unconscious. Both men stress that officers had a great reputation among the people. They also both note that the reputation of police officers varied throughout Philadelphia, with a differing reputation in Kensington than in South Philadelphia. Cops ; Jails ; Kensington (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Police abuse ; Police brutality ; Prisons ; South Philadelphia Crime. ; Police corruption. ; Police. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/thumbnails/94cfdbb955021c25d6d0e0a5a68216e3.jpg &quot ; Police train with shotguns,&quot ; January 30, 1924. George D. McDowell Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Photographs, Temple University Libraries. 3082 The best and the worst of South Philadelphia You might say, &quot ; Are we enjoying life now?&quot ; Asked to reflect on the best and worst aspects of life in the early 1900s, Giovanelli stresses the importance of keeping busy with some kind of work or trade. Di Sipio explains that families in the 1980s break up at an alarming rate, which did not happen in the past. Alcohol ; Drug use ; Drugs ; Marijuana Employment ; Families. ; Marriage 17 3264 Dating and courtship in the 1930s When did you all have to be in? Both men explain how some girls eloped due to strict fathers ; parents were much more lenient with boys. Di Sipio gives a personal story of how he met his future wife and was required to have her father accompany them on dates. He also briefly touches on forms of entertainment such as the 69th Street Movie Theater (now the Tower Theater), Danceland, along with a few other places. Giovanelli also mentions the sexual tendencies of some women during the Prohibition era. They then touch on marriage customs compared to the 1980s. 69th Street Movie Theater ; Danceland ; Elopement ; Marriage ; Marriage customs ; Paisan ; Parental authority Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. ; Recreation 17 3784 Stigma against premarital sex and divorce among Italian Americans Was there, was there a lot of premarital hanky panky? Both men speak about the rarities of divorce and premarital pregnancy. Although these events were rare among Italian Catholics, the consequences were harsh. If a woman became pregnant before marriage, Di Sipio says she would be referred to as a &quot ; conversation piece.&quot ; Along with this rarity, divorce was just as bad ; if one was granted a divorce, that individual was seen as an outcast in society. Both men agree that this has to do with Roman Catholicism and the rural Italian culture that immigrants brought with them. Divorce ; Gender roles ; Italian culture ; Pre-marital sex ; Pregnancy ; Sexual intercourse Italian Americans--Social life and customs. ; Italian Americans. ; Marriage ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. 17 4238 Homes in South Philadelphia Mike, did you, did you move into South Philadelphia when you came into the city? Giovanelli recalls that when his family moved from Boston to Philadelphia in 1918 they lived in South Philadelphia near 13th and Catherine Streets. Di Sipio lived near 5th and Carpenter Streets. 13th St. and Catherine St. (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; 5th Street and Carpenter St., (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; South Philadelphia Dwellings ; Families. ; Housing. ; Neighborhoods 39.936275, -75.152083 17 5th Street and Carpenter St, Philadelphia, Pa (where Frank Di Sipio grew up) http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/d74f34617da9462c915d1372ad61cfbd.jpeg &quot ; 910 South 5th Street - Clean Up Week,&quot ; May 6, 1915. Used by permission of PhillyHistory.org, a project of the Philadelphia Department of Records. This street scene is within a block of where Di Sipio lived as a child. 4266 Italian and Irish relations When, when were all--when you were first in the city, when you were growing up, do you remember prejudice against Italians from other people? Di Sipio explains the prejudice he faced, along with other Italians, from the Irish, but he explains that as the years went on they all became friends and would play ball together. However, in the beginning he explains that they could not step out of their boundaries or else the Irish would force others to empty their pockets. He also recalls the excessive drinking and the toughness of Irish fathers he knew. The Italian boys fought back and earned the respect of the Philadelphia Irish. Giovanelli also remembers one incident at Baldwin Locomotive Company where there was a fight among ethnic groups. 12th and Wharton St. (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; 15th and Dickerson St. (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Baldwin Locomotive Works (Broad Street plant, Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Ethnic groups ; Irish ; Irish Americans--Philadelphia ; Irish fathers ; Italians ; Prejudices Irish Americans--Social life and customs. ; Irish Americans. ; Italian Americans--Social life and customs. ; Italian Americans. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. 39.933843, -75.163908 17 12th and Wharton St. This was a large square where many Irish Americans lived. 4521 Work at Baldwin Locomotive Works Can you tell me a little more about Baldwin? Giovanelli describes his time at Baldwin Locomotive Works (Spring Garden) from 1919-1926. He mentions his work schedule, the benefits, wages, and the production line, etc. He gives several personal narratives from his time at this company as a young man. He recalls how he left Baldwin when he was denied a supervisor position. He also tells of how the company eventually moved to its Eddystone location in 1928-29. Assembly lines ; Baldwin Locomotive Works (Broad Street plant, Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Benefits ; Careers ; Factory work ; General Electric ; Great Depression ; Jobs ; Locomotives ; Wages ; Work Depressions--1929 ; Employment 39.962524, -75.161428 17 The original location of Baldwin Locomotive Works (Broad Street plant) http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/c8dacf0cfa3a3b5a734bac2b6462713a.jpg Baldwin Locomotive Works, Spring Garden and Broad Streets, Detroit Publishing Company, c. 1908. 5000 Industrial jobs during The Great Depression Now in 1932 was the Depression. Giovanelli explains his time working with Baldwin Locomotive Company through General Electric ; Baldwin Locomotive Company gave the moving parts. He explains that he was never out of work during The Great Depression. 15th St. and Callowhill St (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Baldwin Locomotive Works (Eddystone, Pa. plant) ; Careers ; Factories ; Factory ; Federal government ; General Electric ; Jobs ; Locomotives ; New Deal ; Tennessee Valley Electric Company ; The Great Depression ; Westinghouse ; Work Depressions--1929 ; Employment 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/thumbnails/63c2052e57a36652a991d6abb8a90569.jpg &quot ; Group of General Electric Employees,&quot ; c. 1900. George D. McDowell Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Photographs, Temple University Libraries. 5171 Di Sipio's work as a plumber Frank, you said that you were, um, a plumber? Di Sipio says that he was a plumber and that he attended night school. He acquired his working papers at about 14 or 15 years old. Night schools ; Plumbers ; Trade jobs ; Working papers Education ; Employment 17 5204 Conclusion You know, I, I, um, I've probably kept you all long enough. This segment is the end of the interview and the interview fades off ; however, both men said that they would be interested in doing another interview in the future. 17 interview Interviewed at the Marconi Center in South Philadelphia, these two Italian-American men recount their early experiences with education and work life. Giovanelli emigrated with his family from Naples in 1918, working at Hog Island Shipyard during World War I and eventually retiring from a career at General Electric as a mechanical designer. Di Sipio was born to immigrant parents in South Philadelphia, where he grew up with nine children in a three-room house. At the time of the interview, both men were actively involved in the community life of the Marconi Center, a program for older adults, and in Saint Monica’s Catholic Parish. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. audio Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 http://www.nunncenter.net/ohms/render.php?cachefile=2017oh252_irw020_giovanelli_ohm.xml 2017oh252_irw020_giovanelli_ohm.xml https://oralhistory.uky.edu/catalog/xt7m901zgq96 Indexed By Kolby Gonzalez Sort Priority 0020 OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2017oh252_irw020_ohm.xml Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Interview: Michael Giovanelli & Frank Di Sipio Description An account of the resource Interviewed at the Marconi Center in South Philadelphia, these two Italian-American men recount their early experiences with education and work life. Giovanelli emigrated with his family from Naples in 1918, working at Hog Island Shipyard during World War I and eventually retiring from a career at General Electric as a mechanical designer. Di Sipio was born to immigrant parents in South Philadelphia, where he grew up with nine children in a three-room house. At the time of the interview, both men were actively involved in the community life of the Marconi Center, a program for older adults, and in Saint Monica’s Catholic Parish. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2017oh252_irw020 Subject The topic of the resource Emigration and immigration. Immigrants Families. Employment Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. Prohibition Marriage Italian Americans. Italian Americans--Social life and customs. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/6b3527b88108d51febe80ec9335fe47a.jpg 6c8f16fde6a0c8d5c9c503166a787099 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Philadelphia Immigration Project Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Charles Hardy Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Catherine Ehrmann Interview Keyword Stetson's Hat Company Hungarian-Americans Parental authority John B. Stetson Company Stetson Hat Company World War I Labor disputes Labor movement Labor unions Great Depression Diseases. OHMS Object Text 5.1 2017oh249_irw017 Interview with Catherine Ehrmann, July 15, 1982 2017oh249_irw017 ohirw I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Collection irw001 I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries (Exhibit) Employment Childhood Child labor. World War, 1914-1918 Immigrants Emigration and immigration. Marriage Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. Families. Hungarian Americans. Recreation Citizenship Stetson's Hat Company Hungarian-Americans Parental authority John B. Stetson Company Stetson Hat Company World War I Labor disputes Labor movement Labor unions Great Depression Diseases. Catherine Ehrmann Charles Hardy 2017oh249_irw017_ehrman_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2017oh249_irw017_ehrman_acc001.mp3 Other audio 7 Beginning to work at age 14 So you say you started work at the age of 14? Ehrmann says she began working at the age of 14 because she didn't like school and wanted to work. She started at $2.50 a week working making photo frames, then in 1916 moved to Stetson’s after learning it offered $3.00 a week. She then talks about the different jobs she worked at Stetson's. She started as a thread trimmer and later moved to the “Cage,” the name for the factory area where ribbons were stored. She cut ribbons for hats, before the hats moved to the trimmers. &quot ; The cage&quot ; ; Careers ; Continuation schools ; Hat ribbons ; Jobs ; John B. Stetson Company ; Ribbon cutters ; Stetson Hat Company ; Stetson’s Hat Factory ; Trimmers ; Work Child labor. ; Childhood ; Employment 39.977944,-75.143136 17 Stetson's Hat Company location: W Montgomery Avenue near Cadwallader Street, and N 4th Street (Germantown &amp ; Columbia Avenues) Philadelphia, PA http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/8801e76cdfe9347f01e3cd4291ac1241.jpg The exterior of Stetson Hat Factory. 188 Work at Stetson’s Hat Factory during World War I And then the war came along. By that time, I was 18, so I got an opportunity to run--operate a machine. Ehrmann says that by the time the First World War was in full swing, she was 18 years old and Stetson's permitted her to operate a machine to do &quot ; stitch and cross&quot ; – a method that hid where stitches started and stopped on a hat rim. Stetson's took on a government contract producing military hats toward the end of the war. Stetson's had extra material that the government did not take back, so Stetson sold the material to its employees. She mentions that John B. Stetson, Jr. married a countess, who collected supplies for overseas during the war. [Her details in this matter may not be not accurate, as genealogical records show that it is John B. Stetson Sr.'s wife, Elizabeth who married a Portuguese count in 1908 following Stetson's death in 1906.] Careers ; Government ; Jobs ; John B. Stetson Company ; John B. Stetson, Jr. ; Machine operators ; Overseas hats ; Stetson Hat Company ; Stetson’s Hat Factory ; Work ; World War I ; WWI Child labor. ; Childhood ; Employment ; World War, 1914-1918 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/dce10956ede6d17c9381420e87fd0207.jpg Stetson's Hat Company, &quot ; Why War-Shortage Cannot Affect Quality of Stetson Hats,&quot ; Philadelphia Inquirer, 1916. 307 &quot ; A Nice Place to Work&quot ; --Stetson's corporate paternalism Stetson's was a nice place to work. They were very considerate. Ehrmann describes how Stetson was a nice place to work, offering programs such as required exercise classes, and allowing employees do as they pleased during the slack season, until enacting a policy of working only three days a week to save money. She recalls having her three children at the Stetson Hospital. She quit Stetson’s at age 21 when she married, but stayed friends with the women she worked with. Stetson’s gave Christmas gifts to employees ; women received candy and a gift certificate for leather gloves at Strawbridge and Clothier, while men received a turkey. She also remembers teaching in the Stetson Sunday School. Careers ; Corporate paternalism ; Crochet ; Exercise programs ; Jobs ; John B. Stetson Company ; Labor unions ; Piecework ; Slack season ; Stetson Hat Company ; Stetson Hospital ; Stetson Sunday School ; Stetson's Hat Company ; Strawbridge &amp ; Clothier ; Work Employment 17 https://hiddencityphila.org/2015/01/hats-off-to-the-last-stetson-building-standing/ Dennis Carlisle (AKA GroJLart), “Hats Off To Stetson’s Union Mission Hospital,” Hidden City Philadelphia, January 20, 2015. 487 Stetson Christmas parties Did you attend some of the Stetson Christmas parties then? Ehrmann says that the Stetson Christmas parties were a nice gathering, with no drinking. In her time, there were no vocal groups or speeches by the president ; she recalls a blind organist from Germantown who made the trip every year by himself, who played the organ. She says the Philadelphia Orchestra played in the auditorium once. Ehrmann also says that the auditorium was used for Sunday school, showing religious movies, and meetings for the officers. Careers ; Jobs ; John B. Stetson Company ; Philadelphia Orchestra ; Religious movies ; Stetson auditorium ; Stetson Christmas Party ; Stetson Hat Company ; Stetson Sunday school ; Stetson's Hat Company ; Work Employment 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/9a186bee67870172eb6645e6e0d83785.jpg This is an article about the different gifts that Stetson distributed to its employees for Christmas. 640 Immigrating from Hungary to the United States You say that your parents came over from-- Ehrmann explains that that her family emigrated from Hungary. Her father was a wagon builder who learned his trade in his home country, then came to America for a better life. Her father was well-educated in that line of work, and obtained a higher-paying job immediately because of his advanced skill set. When cars began to gain popularity, he began to work on cars. Her father could not speak English but got by working for an Irish man. Germantown Avenue and York Avenue (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Hungarian immigrants ; Wagon building Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Immigrants 39.988176, -75.146305 17 Germantown Ave and York Avenue, where Ehrmann’s father worked building wagons and later automobile bodies. 736 Family finances And he was your strict, old-world-- Ehrmann’s father, like other Old World fathers, was strict and “the boss” of the family. She says that she had three brothers who died in infancy, leaving her and two other sisters. She and her sister turned over their pay to their parents, keeping a quarter per week in spending money. The Ehrmann family was never without work, and her older sister worked at a hosiery mill at 9th and Columbia Avenue. When asked about family finances, she says that her parents never told her what they had, and she continued to practice this policy with her own children. Her father was frugal and saved money, building a home in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, after retirement. Careers ; Cherry Hill (N.J.) ; Cherry Hill, New Jersey ; Family finances ; Homeownership ; Infant mortality ; Jobs ; Money ; Parental authority ; Salary ; Spending money ; Work Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants 39.977592, -75.149426 17 9th and Cecil B. Moore (formerly Columbia), where her sister worked at a hosiery mill. 954 Working and schooling at Stetson Hat Company Can you tell me what your impressions were of Stets--of the whole fac--hat factory when you were a young girl? Ehrmann recalls that Stetson’s took care of its workers, with an infirmary. She remembers her first day of work as a 14-year-old as exciting yet tiring ; she had to stand all day cutting threads. Once she operated a machine ; she could opt to sit on a high stool or stand the whole time. Other girls also quit school to work because there were no child labor laws, with many starting at age 12, although the law mandated that children attend continuation school for two hours one day a week. Stetson had their own teacher in the factory, so the girls could fulfill their schooling requirement without leaving work. Stetson also allowed their workers a 15-minute break in the afternoon, which she says was uncommon, and a 45-minute lunch period, during which she went home. Careers ; Child labor ; Continuation schools ; Jobs ; John B. Stetson Company ; John B. Stetson, Jr. ; John B. Stetson, Sr. ; Stetson Hat Company ; Stetson's Hat Company ; Work Child labor ; Childhood ; Education ; Employment 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/cb2746b05735282b94d30d3f944f7c5c.jpg First Aid Room at Stetson's, 1925, courtesy of Hagley Museum and Library. 1183 German language barrier And my father never went into learning to speak English 'cause he could speak German with the people. Ehrmann says that her father did not learn to speak English for a long time because the people at his work spoke German. Ehrmann herself only spoke German to him, too. The rest of her family learned and spoke English outside of the house, especially her mother because she had to do all of the shopping. When her father was 60, he was finally reading an English paper. English language ; German language ; Language acquisition Education ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Language and languages. 17 1243 Slack season adjustments at Stetson D--were there young boys who worked at Stetson, too? Ehrmann says that there were not as many young boys working at Stetson as there were girls. Before she started working there, employees gave tours of the hat-making process during the slack season. During the summer, employees made hats for the winter season. During the slack season, Stetson kept the workers on salary, and Ehrmann describes how she and other workers used to sit and crochet. Before World War I, Stetson's brought in efficiency men to improve the factory's efficiency, implementing a three day workweek. Careers ; Efficiency men ; Jobs ; John B. Stetson Company ; Salary management ; Slack season ; Stetson Hat Company ; Stetson's Hat Company ; Work Child labor ; Childhood ; Employment 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/e995821638680b7367bf308c4327bf69.jpg Stetson's Christmas Hats Advertisement, Philadelphia Inquirer, 1921. 1376 Stetson reputation and the start of unions What was the, um--have you any idea of what the reputations of the Stetson's was-- Ehrmann says that the reputation of Stetson was wonderful. If people heard that you worked at Stetson, it was notable and worth acknowledging. She mentions that she thinks unions ruin businesses, and she is thankful that she left Stetson before the union came in. One of her friends who worked there when the union got in expressed her distaste and said that the company was not the same when this occurred. Careers ; Jobs ; John B. Stetson Company ; Stetson Hat Company ; Stetson's Hat Company ; Work Employment ; Labor disputes ; Labor movement ; Labor unions 17 1500 Union &amp ; management relations at the toy factory I worked in a toy place for 20 years, I was--before I retired. Ehrmann explains that she worked a job at a toy factor until the 1960s. She worked there for 20 years, stating that the bosses treated her differently when the union entered. She also says that the union knew nothing about toys, but still told the company how to run the business. She even was out on strike twice, one time out of work for four months. After too many fights between the employer and union, eventually the place went bankrupt. Careers ; Jobs ; Labor strikes ; Pensions ; Toy Company ; Work Employment ; Labor disputes ; Labor movement ; Labor unions 17 1580 Famous hat wearers Do you remember any of the, uh, famous cowboy stars or-- Ehrmann does not recall any specific movie stars’ names, but she recalled the beauty of the hats Stetson made for them. Each year the stars would send the hats to get re-blocked, cleaned, and adorned with new ribbons. She also does not recall Tom Mix coming to town and being let off of work for his arrival, but instead mentions that they got a day off of work the day the war ended when there was a parade of Broad Street. Broad Street parade ; Careers ; Cowboy hats ; Jobs ; John B. Stetson Company ; Stetson Hat Company ; Stetson's Hat Company ; Tom Mix ; Western movies ; Work ; World War I Employment ; World War, 1914-1918 17 https://www.mensamericana.com/single-post/2016/02/16/Tom-Mix-and-The-Ultimate-gotohell-Hat Adam Sherman, “Tom Mix and The Ultimate &quot ; go-to-hell&quot ; Hat” www.mensamericana.com, February 2016. This is a website that provides information and photos about the famous hat that Tom Mix always wore. 1654 World War I and anti-German sentiments Do you remember when the war broke out? Ehrmann shares that when World War I broke out she and her family were returning from a trip to Europe, where they still had property. She describes her experience, as an 11-year-old, when the first war broke out. She says they never experienced any anti-Hungarian feelings, but does remember that schools stopped teaching the German language. She shares how her father wanted her boyfriend to learn how to speak German because he was of German heritage. Anti-German sentiment ; Anti-Hungarian sentiment ; German language ; German-Hungarians ; Hungary ; World War I Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Language and languages. ; World War, 1914-1918 17 1785 Marriage beliefs and citizenship struggles Did you meet your husband at, at Stetson? Ehrmann says that she did not meet her husband at Stetson, but met him through his sister because they were neighbors. Her father would not talk to him, but she married him anyway, having a marriage of 52 years. Her father wanted her to marry her “own kind,&quot ; someone who he could converse and share similar opinions with, although she strongly believed in marrying for love. He had arranged her sister’s marriage, and the couple never got along. She says her sister often wanted to go back to Europe, but her father was satisfied with his quality of life in Philadelphia, despite not learning English until he was 60 year old. Ehrmann then details her father’s experiences becoming an American citizen, losing his papers while visiting Europe and having to start the process again. When she married an American citizen in 1922, she still had to get citizenship papers, because the law did not grant citizenship through marriage. She recounts her experience with parties and dancing, saying that parties were always held in homes, and no one went out. Arranged marriages ; Ehrmann family ; Marriage to Americans Citizenship ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Hungarian Americans. ; Immigrants ; Marriage ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. ; Recreation 17 2097 Ehrmann’s husband, the neighborhood near Stetson, and her father’s first car What did your husband do? Ehrmann's husband was a tool and dye maker who began work at a machine shop around the corner from the Stetson Hat Factory at the age of 14 after his father died, in order to provide for his mother and four other siblings. He attended night school and correspondence school, and he worked himself up from machinist to tool and dye maker. She then talks about the number of factories in the Kensington neighborhood near her home at 5th and Diamond, noting that people wanted to live near where they worked. She recalls that her father bought his first car for $300 and notes his terrible driving. She then mentions her husband’s drinking but says she will not talk about it on tape. 5th Street and Diamond Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Alcoholism ; Correspondence schools ; Germantown Avenue (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Kensington (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Machinists ; Model T ; Night schools ; Tool and dye makers Education ; Employment ; Families. ; Marriage ; Neighborhoods ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/a90b2cc97badb3cd822c0346c62f3458.jpg A street view photo of Columbia Avenue, 50 Feet East of 5th Street, facing west, in the neighborhood Ehrmann describes. 2280 Stetson Sunday school, sewing class, and movies Did--getting back to Stetson, did people--how--I'm, I'm interested in how important a part the factory played in the lives of the people in the neighborhood. Ehrmann says that the Stetson factory was very clean and the floors were spotless. She says that she went to the Stetson Sunday School as a kid because her father told her &quot ; you're better in church than on the street.&quot ; Ehrmann then talks about going to a Stetson-owned movie theater that showed westerns in an old church at Germantown and Columbia Avenue for two cents and that Stetson also provided sewing classes in the building next door. Careers ; Community life ; Corporate paternalism ; Germantown Ave and Columbia Ave, now Cecil B. Moore Ave (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Jobs ; John B. Stetson Company ; Stetson Hat Company ; Stetson's Hat Company ; Sunday school ; Western movies ; Work Employment ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. ; Recreation ; Religion 17 http://philaplace.org/story/840/ Here is a link where the Stetson Story is described in detail, including how Stetson helped its workers out. 2484 Stetson's School Where did you go to school? Ehrmann talks about going to school at 4th and Montgomery at the elementary school by Stetson's until 4th grade, and then went to a school near 4th and Dauphin Street through 7th grade. She says most of the boys quit school to work after 7th grade. Her sister wanted to continue school and become a nurse, but her father would not let her. She worked in hosiery factory and then later worked at Stetson’s until she got married. She shares that after she quit school at age 14, she stayed home helping her sick mother from January to September, before starting work at Stetson. 4th Street and Dauphin Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; 4th Street and Montgomery Avenue (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Careers ; Jobs ; John B. Stetson Company ; Stetson Hat Company ; Stetson Hat Company school ; Stetson's Hat Company ; Work Child labor ; Education ; Employment ; Families. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 17 2768 The Great Depression How did that affect your family? Ehrmann says that although the Great Depression didn’t affect her father, it impacted her own family, as she and her husband took out a second mortgage on their home, withdrawing $12 at a time in order to make ends meet. Her husband lost his job and went on unemployment and started drinking, so she went back to work in order to support the family. When many of her friends and neighbors went on government relief, she refused to do so. She couldn’t pay the $200 in property taxes on their house, so her house was sold at sheriff’s sale. A portion of her son’s Navy income paid rent for her house until she bought another. Alcoholism ; Bank savings ; Finances ; Great Depression ; Home ownership ; Money ; Mortgages ; Unemployment Depressions--1929 ; Employment ; Families. 17 3181 Quality of life, past and present How--let me ask you one final question. How would you say the, the quality of life compares between today and, and when you were a young woman? Ehrmann says that she believes that life was better in her time, mentioning how her grandson has no future ahead of him. In her time, people just went on no matter how hard life got. People just continued to live their lives, not missing a beat, whereas today, people want immediate success. In her time, trudging on was a better way to live because she learned to appreciate and manage things better. She also says she never went without food or clothing because of her father’s steady job. Frugality ; Parental authority ; Public transportation Employment ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 17 3305 Impressions of various sections of Philadelphia One final question: Did you ever go down to South Philadelphia when you were young? Ehrmann recalls going shopping on South 9th Street, although if her parents knew she went at night, they would have “killed me,” describing the Italian neighborhood as rough. She mentions that her son married an Italian girl, and that they have a different way of life. She doesn’t remember any African-American sections of Philadelphia, saying that she did not venture outside Columbia and Diamond and 5th to 2nd Streets. After she married, she moved to around 6th and Allegheny. Her first visit to Center City was to Wanamaker’s Department Store to pick up samples when she hoped to get a job learning dressmaking, but afterward, her father told her she was not to run around downtown. Ehrmann says her mother told her before passing away that the biggest mistake of her life was allowing her husband to know she was afraid of him. Ehrmann quotes her husband with a chuckle: “If I ever get like your father, hit me over the head with a frying pan.” After she married, she and her husband went to see minstrel shows on Market Street with other couples. She says that on a nice night, they could walk all the way from Market to Diamond. 6th Street and Allegheny Ave (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; 9th Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; African Americans ; Columbia Ave (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Diamond Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Downtown Philadelphia ; Italian Americans ; Lehigh Avenue (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Market Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Minstrels ; Parental authority ; Public transportation ; South Philadelphia Families. ; Hungarian Americans. ; Immigrants ; Marriage ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. ; Recreation 39.999999, -75.140512 17 W Allegheny Ave &amp ; N 6th St, Philadelphia, PA ; where Catherine and her husband lived when first married. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/1ffae7f58bf1bb2ce663275adad0196a.jpg William A. Gee, &quot ; Allegheny Avenue Bridge Looking East from 6th Street,&quot ; Oct. 5, 1927. Used by permission of PhillyHistory.org, a project of the Philadelphia Department of Records. 3684 Repressed lives, then and now I always enjoyed life. Ehrmann says that she always enjoyed her life, but she admits many people were and are still depressed. She complains of people buying things all the time even though they claim there are no jobs, they continually buy more and more. She also states that people during her youth were much more quiet and repressed, while everyone speaks out more now. She says she always spoke out, causing her father to disown her in his will. Consumer economy ; Consumerism ; Repressed lives Families. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. 17 3792 Voting and city politics / Citizenship issues Did you, um, did you vote? Ehrmann claims that she voted in each election because her husband made her. She says that she voted nonpartisan until her children came home from the service, when she started voting Republican. She was never that interested in politics. She notes that her mother never became an American citizen. Ehrmann says that having to go through the citizenship process at age 11 was ridiculous, with the government asking her silly questions about her father’s work and what he did with his furniture during his trip back to Europe. She says the process took a long time. Nonpartisan ; Republican Party ; Voting Citizenship ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Politics and government ; Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ) 17 3951 Childhood diseases, diphtheria, quarantine, and the influenza epidemic of 1918 You know what kind of house we lived in? Ehrmann lived in a &quot ; Father, Son, and Holy Ghost&quot ; (trinity) row house with her family. One brother died while they lived in Europe, another one died of the measles at nine months old, and the last one died of diphtheria at age four. Her younger sister had diphtheria when Ehrmann was 18, and she was required to stay home from Stetson’s for six weeks. Her father was allowed to keep working because woodwork &quot ; didn’t carry disease.&quot ; She recalls both diphtheria and measles were very prevalent, and they expected her sister to die. She was not supposed to be near her sister but used to sneak upstairs and read stories to her. Around 1918, many people had influenza, and her family had to take care of her cousins. Ehrmann says that there was a lot of fear, with the cemeteries stacked with coffins. Some believed that drinking whiskey would prevent contraction of the flu. Childhood mortality ; Diphtheria ; Father, Son, and Holy Ghost house ; Illnesses ; Influenza Epidemic of 1918 ; Measles ; Quarantine ; Sickness ; Trinity row houses Diseases. ; Families. ; Health. ; Influenza Epidemic, 1918-1919 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/a120654425ad6a17c015b1673d9143cd.jpg Quarantined neighborhood, Dec 17, 1921, Philadelphia Evening Bulletin. interview Catherine Ehrmann came with her family from Hungary to Philadelphia in 1904, when she was two years old. She grew up right around the corner from the Stetson Hat Company in the Kensington neighborhood. In 1916, at the age of 14, she began to work at Stetson's, and stopped working there when she married at the age of 21. In her July 1982 interview, Ehrmann talked about her time as a Stetson employee and how she married against her Old World father's wishes. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. audio Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 http://www.nunncenter.net/ohms/render.php?cachefile=2017oh249_irw017_ehrman_ohm.xml 2017oh249_irw017_ehrman_ohm.xml https://oralhistory.uky.edu/catalog/xt7m901zgq96 Indexed By Amelia Oberholtzer Sort Priority 0016 OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2017oh249_irw017_ohm.xml Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Interview: Catherine Ehrmann Description An account of the resource Catherine Ehrmann came with her family from Hungary to Philadelphia in 1904, when she was two years old. She grew up right around the corner from the Stetson Hat Company in the Kensington neighborhood. In 1916, at the age of 14, she began to work at Stetson's, and stopped working there when she married at the age of 21. In her July 1982 interview, Ehrmann talked about her time as a Stetson employee and how she married against her Old World father's wishes. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2017oh249_irw017 Subject The topic of the resource Employment Childhood Child labor. World War, 1914-1918 Immigrants Emigration and immigration. Marriage Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. Families. Hungarian Americans. Recreation Citizenship Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio Relation A related resource <a href="/exhibits/show/catherine-ehrmann/experiences-at-stetson">Explore an exhibit about Catherine's life</a> https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/3b27ce484ced84a49f9c19f5a6bafd35.jpg 935b9ab0c7bdb2605c18f59bfd4c35ce Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Philadelphia Immigration Project Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Charles Hardy Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Armand DiStefano Interview Keyword Victor Cafe Records Italian Americans Record stores Record shops OHMS Object Text 5.1 2017oh247_irw015 Interview with Armand DiStefano, January 30, 1984 2017oh247_irw015 ohirw I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Collection irw001 I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries (Exhibit) Childhood Families. Neighborhoods. Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. Recreation Stores, Retail. Restaurants. Sound--Recording and reproducing Radio--History. Musicians Motion pictures. Feature films. Victor Cafe Records Italian Americans Record stores Record shops Armand DiStefano Charles Hardy 2017oh247_irw015_distephano_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2017oh247_irw015_distephano_acc001.mp3 Other audio 0 Introduction / Record stores in his childhood Do I have to answer that?--(laughs)-- DiStefano describes his childhood living in an Italian neighborhood where the family lived at 1237 Christian Street. He fondly recalls how his father would take him and his brother to a record shop, Iannellis, where they served Coca-Cola and ice cream. On Sundays, they would see concerts with some of the great Italian opera singers. His father used this same idea and opened his own record shop in 1917 on 11th and Catherine Street. 1237 Carlisle Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Artists ; Catharine Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Chestnut Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Concerts ; Enrico Caruso ; Factory workers ; Family history ; Iannellis ; Ice cream parlors ; Italian Americans ; Italian neighborhoods ; John McCormack ; Kugler's Restaurant ; Luisa Tetrazzini ; Neck tie makers ; Opera ; Record companies ; Record company ; South Philadelphia ; Waiters Childhood ; Families. ; Neighborhoods. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. ; Recreation ; Stores, Retail. 39.940010, -75.163693 17 1237 Christian Street, Philadelphia, Pa., location of DiStefano's childhood home http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/fullsize/9e67659be2c1dcdc9797ba6c7d793d88.jpg John McWhorter, &quot ; 1236-38 Christian Street,&quot ; 12/03/1956, Courtesy of PhillyHistory.org, a project of the Philadelphia Department of Records 226 History of Victor Cafe Okay, let me ask you about that. DiStefano describes how his father opened the record shop using his talents of music and food, based on the same idea of the restaurant, Iannelli's, that he would visit as a child with his brother, Henry. He says the record shop was friendly and people came to listen to music and the company. 11th and Catharine Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Businesses ; Coca-Cola ; Dickinson Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Enjoyment ; Ice cream ; Music ; Prohibition ; Records ; Success ; Victor Café (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Victor Company ; Victor RCA ; Victor Talking Company Childhood ; Families. ; Neighborhoods. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. ; Recreation ; Restaurants. ; Stores, Retail. 39.931676, -75.166327 17 Location of Victor Cafe at its present address, 1303 Dickinson Street, Philadelphia, Pa. (original address was 11th and Catharine Street, Philadelphia, Pa.) http://victorcafe.com/ The Victor Cafe restaurant still stands today at 1303 Dickinson Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 356 Employment history and work ethic We were able to overcome the, the, the hard times and, and with a little, um, barring here and there, my father made it. DiStefano says he saw his father work hard to achieve success and he did the same thing. He says that from hard times comes success, and that one has to suffer first in order to enjoy success later on in life. DiStefano recalls his many jobs after graduating from Central High School. He began as a stock boy at Weinman Company then worked at Raymond Rosen Company, a record distributor, which provided better opportunities. He worked as a buyer and in public relations before becoming a salesman, and stayed for 20 years. After his parents passed away in 1957, he ran their two properties in Cherry Hill, New Jersey while his brother ran the family business, the record shop. Careers ; Central High School (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Cherry Hill (N.J.) ; Cherry Hill, New Jersey ; Decca Records ; HMV Retail Ltd. ; Jobs ; Larry Urban ; Occupations ; Raymond Rosen Company ; Salesman ; Salesmen ; Stock boys ; Victor Cafe ; Weinman and Company ; Work Employment ; Families. ; Restaurants. ; Stores, Retail. 39.949833, -75.144403 17 Raymond Rosen Company address at 216 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pa., location of DiStefano's first job http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/fullsize/0f7088a87e9bbabb26b714ab161fc8f3.jpg &quot ; 216 to 222 Market Street&quot ; showing various properties including Rosen Company&quot ; , 1971, Courtesy of the City of Philadelphia Department Records 669 The family record store and importance of music Let me ask you some questions about the--how your father got into the record business and what that was like during the early days. DiStefano shares how his father got into the record business and what it was like to run a record shop. He reminisces about the friendliness of the shop and how his father treated his customers well. DiStefano remembers the glass listening booths and how opera and Italian folk songs were the big thing. The shop had a huge Italian clientele so his father catered to them. In those days, the music business was a joy and very personal to his father. He also mentions how Italian families were very protective of their children, so when he was offered opportunities to work in New York and Boston, his father wouldn't allow it. &quot ; Il'Progresso&quot ; ; &quot ; L'Opinione&quot ; ; 11th and Catherine Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Family ; Italian Americans ; Italian clientele ; Italian folk songs ; Italian newspapers ; Listening booths ; Opera music ; Record companies ; Record company ; Victor Catalog ; Victor RCA Childhood ; Families. ; Neighborhoods. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. ; Recreation ; Restaurants. ; Stores, Retail. 39.938521, -75.161220 17 11th and Catharine Street, address of first location of Victor Cafe http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/fullsize/95a1d4785e83d3b317ab4b2b033e9de1.jpg Elvino V. Smith, “Washington Ave to Catharine St &amp ; 6th St to 10th St,” Circa 1917, Courtesy of the Historical Society of Philadelphia 1002 Buying records and Italian-American gender roles I noticed in, um, the 1925 Victor catalog that I guess your standard, uh, Victor black label record was 75 cents. DiStefano remembers that before the Great Depression, men would spend the afternoon in the record shop while the women went home to cook the great Italian meals. He recalls Sunday church and family dinners, and shares that although women would mention certain items they liked, men bought most of the records. DiStefano mentions some of the popular selling artists, such as Billy Murry and Frank Crummit. It wasn't until after the 1930s when women became more involved. 1925 Victor Catalog ; Billy Murry ; Churches ; Family ; Family values ; Frank Crummit ; Franklin Barr ; Gender roles ; George Olsen ; Henry Burr ; Italian Americans ; Italian clientele ; Italian meals ; Paul Whiteman ; Record collectors ; Sundays ; Traditions Childhood ; Families. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. ; Recreation ; Restaurants. ; Stores, Retail. 17 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=chi.34955490 ; view=1up ; seq=9 Victor Talking Machine Company, &quot ; Catalog of Victor records, with biographic material&quot ; , Circa 1922, With Biographic Material, Opera Notes, Artist's Portraits, And Special Red Seal And Green Sections. Camden, New Jersey 1321 Relations with the Victor Record Company Let me ask you more about the recordings. DiStefano describes how his father was very friendly with the Victor Company. His father was a professional, was very loved by his customers, and knew how to handle himself with the big companies. He promoted the Victor Talking Machine by selling the opera tickets in addition to the sales of records. Eldridge R. Johnson ; Italian opera ; John DiStefano ; Radio Corporation of America (RCA) ; RCA Victor ; Record industry ; The Victor Dog ; Victor Company ; Victor Publication ; Victor Records ; Victor Talking Machine Company Families. ; Restaurants. ; Stores, Retail. 17 http://www.davidsarnoff.org/vtm.html The Victor Talking Machine Company by B. L. Aldridge edited by Frederic Bayh, The David Sarnoff Library 1538 Sound quality of different phonographs What--was there a lot of variety within, um, in, in the sound quality coming out of different machines at that point? DiStefano discusses the different quality of the various record players and how the sound chamber on a table model was not as great as on the larger machines. He explains the difference between Victrolas, gramophones, and non-electrical orthophonic machines and says that electrical music players weren't available until 1926. He briefly mentions Victor Talking Company owner Eldridge R. Johnson and how he feels his father had an influence on Giovanni Zenatello and Nino Martini, who were opera singers, getting signed by the Victor Talking Company. [Segment ends abruptly.] Giovanni Zenatello (Opera singer) ; Gramophones ; Hand-wound ; Nino Martini (Opera singer) ; Orthophonic ; Phonographs ; Record players ; Sound chambers ; Sound quality ; Titto Ruffo (Opera singer) ; Victor catalog ; Victor Talking Company ; Victrolas Sound--Recording and reproducing ; Stores, Retail. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/fullsize/55af5b8bd0a95769dc38bb57cea80297.jpg Norman Bruderhofer, &quot ; Victor V Disc Phonograph (Gramophone)&quot ; Circa 1907, Courtesy of the Collection of John Lampert-Hopkins 1810 Impact of radio on the record industry --put it this way, uh, Charlie, right? DiStefano discusses how radio impacted records sales for a while because of the novelty. However, radio eventually helped sell records and became an instrument to help promote phonograph records and movies. His father accepted radio and played mostly Italian opera stations. However, Victrolas were still their biggest selling items until radio finally came into its own after 1925 and still remains strong today. Cecil B. Demille ; Education ; Ethnicity ; Films ; Italian opera ; Jack Dempsey ; Movies ; Phonographs ; Radios ; Records ; Television ; Victrolas Radio--History. ; Recreation ; Sound--Recording and reproducing ; Stores, Retail. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/fullsize/ea1e93dda261985d39a7cc265dc332ff.jpg Joe Haupt, &quot ; Vintage Large Wood Westinghouse Tombstone Radio&quot ; Circa 1930s, Courtesy of the Radio Collection: Vintage Large Wood Westinghouse Tombstone Radio, April 3, 2013 2037 Favorite radio shows Do you remember what the first radio show you used to listen to as a kid regularly or your father used to tune into regularly? DiStefano remembers the radio shows and music that interested him most and how his father favored Henry Burr. DiStefano enjoyed sports but found his interests moved into operatic music in the late 1920s. He enjoyed the Firestone Program, both on radio and TV when it became available. Some favorite shows included Eddie Cantor and Uncle Andy and the Showboat. His favorite bands were The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Benny Goodman, and Artie Shaw. American Album of Familiar Music ; American music ; Artie Shaw ; Artists ; B.A. Roth ; Baby RoseMarie ; Benny Goodman ; Captain Andy ; Charles Kullman ; Eddie Cantor ; Edison ; Firestone Program ; Fox Trot ; Henry Burr ; Italian opera ; Lady Esther's Program ; Orchestras ; Paul Whiteman ; Radio shows ; Radios ; Sports ; Television ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra ; Uncle Andy and the Showboat Musicians ; Radio--History. ; Recreation ; Sound--Recording and reproducing ; Stores, Retail. 17 https://www.bennygoodman.com/ BENNY GOODMAN: The Official Website of The King of Swing 2263 The quality of recordings Can you give me a, uh, uh, comparison of the quality of the different--of the recordings by different companies back in the old days: Victor, Columbia? DiStefano liked the Victor brand because he was most familiar with it and it was their best seller. He liked Brunswick and Edison’s recreation disc, but felt the sound quality of Columbia's lamination base was an inferior record. He discusses how electrical records emerged and knocked out many of the acoustical records that Edison sold. He comments that RCA Victor built their catalog on imported records because the sound quality was far superior than records in the United States. 1932 ; Acoustic ; Bach ; Columbia Records ; Edison recreation disk ; Edvard Grieg ; HMV records ; Imported records ; Opera ; Paul Gershwin ; RCA Victor ; Record catalogs ; Record players ; Rhapsody in Blue ; Tramp of March ; Victor Symphony Orchestra ; Victor Talking Machine Company ; Vinyl records Recreation ; Sound--Recording and reproducing ; Stores, Retail. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/fullsize/f04b8a5ab0cb8749c64d928907fcf1d6.jpg Automobile Reference Collection, &quot ; Raymond Rosen &amp ; Co. Inc., 32nd and Walnut Streets, Philadelphia. Ford 1936 or 1937?&quot ; , Photographic Prints, Courtesy of the Free Library of Philadelphia, (Accessed Feb 11, 2018) 2599 Best selling records of the 1920s When you were a kid then, can--do you remember what were the best selling records from, from your father's store? DiStefano says that the best selling records from his father's record shop were the classical records versus the popular songs back in the 1920s. Their record shop was known for their classical record selection throughout the city. He also recalls that the five and dime stores would have singers, such as Russ and May Morgan, come in and play their sheet music live. Arturo Toscanini ; Clarence Furman ; Classical recordings ; Department stores ; Enrico Caruso ; Five and dimes (stores) ; Fritz Kreisler ; Italian singers ; Jack Denny ; Jack Steck ; Mae Morgan ; Mischa Elman ; Popular recordings ; Radio programming ; Radios ; Record shops ; Russ Morgan ; Sheet music ; Woolworth's Musicians ; Radio--History. ; Recreation ; Sound--Recording and reproducing ; Stores, Retail. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/fullsize/a4aa1ced346073017fbee42ffec576b2.jpg Temple Sheet Music Collections, &quot ; When The One You Love Loves You : waltz song - Paul Whiteman &amp ; Abel Baer Sheet Music &quot ; , Circa 1924, Courtesy of the Temple University Library Archives 2940 Memories of movies he saw as a child How about movies? Do you remember-- DiStefano recounts the many movies he saw as a child, including Salome, and refers to Theda Bara as &quot ; the vamp&quot ; . He was a movie buff and frequently visited the Olympia Theatre on Broad Street with his family. His childhood heroes were Jack Holt, Conrad Nagle, Lloyd Hughes, Mary Pickford, and Tom Mix. Although he considers himself to be a romantic, he doesn't model his behavior after the movie heroes. He tries to associate the old movie actors/actresses and relate them to his life. Albert Rosco ; Broad Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Buck Jones ; Carpenter Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Childhood heroes ; Christian Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Cinema ; Conrad Nagle ; Elma Lincoln ; Entertainment ; Jack Holt ; Mary Pickford ; Milton Stills ; Olympia Theater (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Prize fights ; Richard Dix ; Rita Hayworth ; Salome ; Tarzan ; Theaters ; Theda Bara ; Tom Mix ; Western movies Childhood ; Feature films. ; Motion pictures. ; Recreation 39.942127, -75.165506 17 Original site of the Olympia Theatre at 711-719 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/fullsize/23c482078b85747fe7911b64d3761be8.jpg J. Gordon Edwards (director), &quot ; Theda Bara in Salomé circa 1918&quot ; , Public Domain 3194 Differences between movies of childhood and today What, um--do you remember modeling your behavior after any of these, uh-- DiStefano comments that movies today are different. He says in his childhood, going to the movies was a family affair and entertaining for everyone. He feels that today's pictures are not realistic because they portray realism on the darker side. He talks about sports and how much he dislikes professional football. Ben Herr ; Cinema ; Entertainment ; Family ; Ideals ; Life associations ; Movie actresses ; Movie pictures ; Realism ; Road shows ; Romance ; Rudolph Valentino ; Theaters Childhood ; Feature films. ; Motion pictures. ; Recreation 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/fullsize/f99a3a0c2fc68a78cc163a02a3968d0d.jpg Irvin R. Glazer Theater Collection, &quot ; The New Olympia, 711-719 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pa.&quot ; , Circa 1921, Courtesy of the Athenaeum of Philadelphia interview Armand DiStefano (1912-1987), the son of Italian immigrants, grew up in a small row house in South Philadelphia. There, his father instilled in him the value of hard work and a love of opera. In his 1984 interview, DiStefano shared the story of how his father opened a record shop in 1917 and then converted it to a restaurant during the Great Depression. Today, The Victor Cafe still operates at 1303 Dickinson Street, and the wait staff still sings opera to dining patrons. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. audio Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 http://www.nunncenter.net/ohms/render.php?cachefile=2017oh247_irw015_distephano_ohm.xml 2017oh247_irw015_distephano_ohm.xml https://oralhistory.uky.edu/catalog/xt7m901zgq96 Indexed By Denise Meikle Sort Priority 0015 OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2017oh247_irw015_ohm.xml Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Interview: Armand DiStefano Description An account of the resource Armand DiStefano (1912-1987), the son of Italian immigrants, grew up in a small row house in South Philadelphia. There, his father instilled in him the value of hard work and a love of opera. In his 1984 interview, DiStefano shared the story of how his father opened a record shop in 1917 and then converted it to a restaurant during the Great Depression. Today, The Victor Cafe still operates at 1303 Dickinson Street, and the wait staff still sings opera to dining patrons. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2017oh247_irw015 Subject The topic of the resource Childhood Families. Neighborhoods. Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. Recreation Stores, Retail. Restaurants. Sound--Recording and reproducing Radio--History. Musicians Motion pictures. Feature films. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio Relation A related resource <a href="/exhibits/show/armand-distefano/victor-cafe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Explore an exhibit on Armand DiStephano's life&nbsp;</a> https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/050ecb41417b038d8e618cf04c54e8f0.jpg bb866c0d0b0213a5956d1ccfb470319d Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Philadelphia Immigration Project Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Charles Hardy Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Dennis Clark Interview Keyword Kensington (Philadelphia neighborhood) Labor disputes Labor movement Labor unions Textile mills Working conditions Health Recreation Women--Employment. Child labor. Childhood Crime. OHMS Object Text 5.1 2017oh243_irw011 Interview with Dennis Clark, September 22, 1981 2017oh243_irw011 ohirw I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Collection irw001 I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries (Exhibit) Philadelphia (Pa.) Employment Dwellings Housing. Neighborhoods Families. Neighbors. Immigrants Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. Health Diseases. Race relations Depressions--1929 World War, 1939-1945 World War, 1914-1918 Kensington (Philadelphia neighborhood) Labor disputes Labor movement Labor unions Textile mills Working conditions Health Recreation Women--Employment. Child labor. Childhood Crime. Dennis Clark Charles Hardy 2017oh243_irw011_clark_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2017oh243_irw011_clark_acc001.mp3 Other audio 0 Bromley's Mill --mix of industrial devastation, uh, and, uh, barely, uh, adequate housing. The opening of the interview has Dennis Clark discussing the area in which they are standing for the interview. He also notes that this is the area where Bromley's Mill used to be located. Clark provides a brief description of the influence that this family-owned mill had locally. B Street and Lehigh Ave (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Bromley Mill ; Inadequate housing ; Industrial devastation ; Quakers (Society of Friends) Dwellings ; Employment ; Housing. ; Neighborhoods ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 39.9903891,-75.1292271 17 The Corner of B Street and Lehigh Avenue in Kensington. Location of the start of this interview. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/95353685b8e2930379ee3e0279b1cf86.jpg &quot ; North and West walls of Bromley Mills,&quot ; July 31, 1950. PhillyHistory.org, Fred R. Twers. 57 Kensington neighborhood post-Civil War Uh, in the 1870s and '80s, uh, I guess as part of the big expansion of Philadelphia after the American Civil War... Clark discusses the environment of the neighborhood of Kensington and gives a quick background to what type of people lived there and their skill sets, including workers like skilled native-born Americans, farm-born craftsman, and unskilled immigrants, particularly from Ireland. The two and three story row houses created some economic mix, with professionals like physicians living there who provided services to the working families. Depression of 1893 ; Expansion of Philadelphia ; Irish Americans--Philadelphia ; Kensington (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Manufacturing ; Row houses ; Skilled workers ; Social classes ; Textile mills ; Unskilled workers Dwellings ; Employment ; Families. ; Housing. ; Immigrants ; Neighborhoods ; Neighbors. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/83b9ff796ac636ada948df033242a9a3.jpeg D. Alonzo Biggard, &quot ; Kensington and Allegheny,&quot ; 1915. Used by permission of PhillyHistory.org, a project of the Philadelphia Department of Records. This street scene shows the mix of two story and three story row houses, along with retail and entertainment. 153 Working conditions in the textile mills Um, even more important, uh, was the price that these working families paid, uh, in industrial accidents... Clark describes in detail the working conditions within the textile mills in Kensington. He describes the hazardous work conditions in the mills caused by moist air, floors, poor ventilation, and contagious illnesses that would plague the workers. He notes the Irish immigrant population was particularly susceptible to tuberculosis. The lint in the textile mills also caused Brown Lung Disease. Boarding houses ; Boardinghouses ; Brown lung disease ; Fire hazards ; Irish Americans--Philadelphia ; Kensington (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Occupational hazards ; Spinning mills ; Textile mills ; Tuberculosis ; Women in the mills ; Work conditions ; Working conditions Diseases. ; Employment ; Health ; Immigrants 17 http://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/archive/industrial-neighborhoods/ Charlene Mires and Jacob Downs, &quot ; Industrial Neighborhoods&quot ; The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia, 2014. 342 Women working in the mills Beyond that, you had the terrible problem of, uh, noise in these textile factories. Clark discusses the impact of working in the mills on the life of women in the Kensington area. Women worked in noisy and dangerous conditions and this impacted their married lives, family, and future. He jokes that by the time women had a suitor who could afford to marry them, they could not hear them propose due to years of factory work. Girls frequently began work in the mills as early as age 10, quitting work when they were married to run the household, sometimes also operating informal lodging houses for male workers. Boarding houses ; Boardinghouses ; Deafness ; Factories ; Factory ; Looms ; Noise ; Social Security ; Textile mills ; Work conditions ; Work schedules ; Working conditions ; Working women Child labor. ; Childhood ; Employment ; Health ; Marriage ; Women--Employment. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/915b71bfb2db23e8f829a11dd1969cb0.jpg &quot ; Carpet Making, c. 1882. The Workshop of the World-Philadelphia. 632 Available work in Kensington How many mills were in the area? Clark talks about the textile mills in the area of B Street and Lehigh Avenue. From where Clark and Hardy stand, they can see 6 former mill sites. He then shares that small streets in the area were populated by workers living in the surrounding area, building tradesmen, ship fitters in Cramps Shipyard and railroad workers. Clark points out a lodging facility for freight train workers on the corner of East Lehigh Avenue and Kensington Avenue. B Street and Lehigh Ave (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Bromley Mill ; Cramps Shipyard ; Kensington Avenue (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Railroad workers ; Shipyards ; Textile mills Dwellings ; Employment ; Housing. ; Neighborhoods 39.989912, -75.125447 17 East Lehigh Avenue and Kensington Avenue http://www.phillyliving.com/blog/buildings-then-and-now-kensingtons-kings-of-the-textile-industry.html Admin, &quot ; Buildings Then and Now: Kensington’s kings of the textile industry,&quot ; Phillyliving.com, December 8, 2012. 720 Heterogeneity of Kensington Uh, but many of the local men, uh, worked in the coal yards, on lumber yards, that were part of the, uh, uh, the siding for the railroad. Clark continues the tour through the predominantly Catholic neighborhood of Kensington, noting the current parish of Visitation Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, which superseded St. Cecilia's Catholic Church. He describes the Kensington of early 20th century as heterogeneous ethnically, including English weaving families and German craftsmen, in addition to Irish immigrants. Catholic parishes ; Coal yards ; Demographics ; Disston Saw Works ; Irish Americans--Philadelphia ; Plumb Tool Company ; St. Cecilia's Parish (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Visitation Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Visitation Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic School (Philadelphia, Pa.) Dwellings ; Housing. ; Immigrants ; Neighborhoods ; Neighbors. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Race relations ; Segregation. 39.994400, -75.125860 17 Visitation Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church http://www.visitationbvm.net/ Visitation Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church Website 827 Walking through Kensington Uh, this is Potter Street. As Clark and Hardy walk through Kensington, Clark describes the history of buildings and streets, including the Star Movie Theater, and mom-and-pop businesses on the corners. They discuss the location nearby where part of the movie &quot ; Rocky&quot ; was filmed. Clark notes the significance of the destruction of the Bromley Mills factory on the neighborhood. He comments on how few brick-paved streets are left in Philadelphia, and the economical nature of the row house stock in the neighborhood. Bromley Mills (Adams Ave., Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Craftsmanship ; Ed Kirlin ; Family businesses ; German-Americans--Philadelphia ; Irish Americans--Philadelphia ; Jewish ; Kensington (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Kensington Avenue (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Potter Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Rocky (motion picture) ; Star Movie Theater ; Visitation Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic School (Philadelphia, Pa.) Dwellings ; Housing. ; Neighborhoods ; Neighbors. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 40.008517, -75.091568 17 Adams Avenue and Kensington Avenue 1055 Effects of the Great Depression on Kensington In the thirties, the, uh, quality of everything deteriorated. Clark starts off by describing the effects of the Great Depression on Kensington, including the closing of mills, the housing of unemployed men in old factory buildings, and migrants coming through on railroad boxcars. He recalls a Catholic physician debating communist radicals and labor agitators at McPherson Square. He also remembers the death of union leader Carl Mackley. Carl Mackley ; Communism ; Eddie McLean ; Great Depression ; Helen Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; International Workers of the World (IWW) ; McPherson Square (Philadelphia park) Depressions--1929 ; Dwellings ; Employment ; Housing. ; Immigrants ; Labor disputes ; Labor movement ; Labor unions ; Neighborhoods ; Neighbors. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 39.994808, -75.118888 17 McPherson Square https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Mackley_Houses Wikipedia Page of the Union worker, Carl Mackley. He was murdered during the Aberle Company strike in 1930. His death prompted the Union to name housing after him. 1261 Improvements and change after the Great Depression As the neighborhood grew, uh, it lost its community quality due to the coming of two things. Clark discusses Kensington's upward swing following the Great Depression, which included the Elevated Line (&quot ; El&quot ; ) running through the neighborhood, new movie theaters, and parish dances. He recalls the act of 'rushing the duck'-- filling a bucket with beer at the local taproom. The neighborhood's social life included picnics, block parities, local sports teams, and community life centered around the local parish. The El and the increase in automobile ownership after World War II changed the community as its populace became more mobile. &quot ; Rushing the duck&quot ; ; 1920s ; Athletics ; Automobiles ; Catholic parishes ; Entertainment ; Philadelphia Elevated Line (EL) ; Saloons ; St. Anne's Parish (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Visitation Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; World War II Alcohol ; Depressions--1929 ; Dwellings ; Housing. ; Neighborhoods ; Neighbors. ; Recreation ; World War, 1939-1945 39.982710, -75.118598 17 St. Anne's Parish &amp ; St. Anne's Rectory http://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/archive/subways-and-elevated-lines/ John Hepp, &quot ; Subways and Elevated Lines&quot ; , The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia, 2013. 1493 Family and life during the Great Depression In talking to a lot of older citizens, I was trying to ask them something about the quality of life... Clark comments on the differences in the quality of life during the Depression and the current day. He thinks some look back romantically on those days despite the prevalence of illegitimacy, domestic violence, alcoholism, and other social ills. Alcoholism ; Broken families ; Domestic violence ; Family life ; Nostalgia ; Pay night Depressions--1929 ; Families. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 17 1604 Challenges of industrial work So that, uh, very serious social problems: bad health histories in the families, terrible victimization of people, uh, by ignorance, uh, and, uh, exploitation, uh, in the workplace. Clark discusses the conditions and challenges of industrial work in some of the surrounding mills. Workers came home with skin rashes and dye-covered skin and clothes, resulting in childhood taunts about the color of their father's skin following a day of work. Clark also mentions types of injuries that workers in different mills suffered, many of which would get treated at the Episcopal hospital on Lehigh Avenue. He talks about how workers would be treated by the company if they were injured on the job. Accidents ; Amputations ; Barrett's Chemical Company ; Disabilities ; Dye houses ; Episcopal hospitals ; Gurney Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Illnesses ; Jobs ; Metal shearing ; Occupational hazards ; Positions ; Temple University Episcopal Hospital ; Textile mills ; Work conditions ; Working conditions ; Workplace injuries Diseases. ; Employment ; Health 39.990998, -75.128950 17 Temple University Episcopal Hospital http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/ac8bc5f396cf4040b4f64814392dc55c.jpg &quot ; Quaker City Dyeworks,&quot ; 2007. Workshop of the World. 1951 Childhood railroad activities / Pollution Uh, I would walk to school along this street here. Clark discusses some activities that younger kids participated in near the railroads in the 1930s, including fights and catching rats. He talks about the amount of pollution created by the railroads and factories. Bridges ; Coal ; Fights ; Nuns ; Pollution ; Railroads ; Rats ; Schools Childhood 17 2082 Clark family political debates During the 1930s, uh, there were, uh, people who, uh, were sort of prophets of the times and one of these was Father Coughlin. Clark discusses the political arguments within his own family, more specifically his father's hatred for Roosevelt and Father Charles Couglin. Also he remembers debates between his father and his uncle who was a Marxist and International Workers of the World supporter. Alfred Smith (Presidential candidate, 1926) ; Bruce Barton ; Democratic Party ; Father Charles Coughlin ; Franklin D. Roosevelt ; Franklin Delano Roosevelt ; International Workers of the World (IWW) ; Marxism ; Marxists ; Og Mandino ; Politics ; Priests ; Radio programs Families. ; Politicians ; Politics and government 17 2251 World War I bonuses Uh, among the strange, um, episodes of distress in the 1930s was a, uh, small panic at one time in public opinion about something called the Black Legion. Clark mentions fears of an underground organization called the Black Legion during the Great Depression. Clark remembers the celebrations that occurred when the federal government finally paid World War I veterans their bonuses. He recalls the streets and families being filled with joy, as it was more money than anyone had seen in a while. Black Legion ; Bonus March ; Celebrations ; Great Depression ; Veteran pensions ; World War I Depressions--1929 ; Immigrants ; World War, 1914-1918 ; World War, 1914-1918--Veterans 17 2424 Entertainment in Kensington One of the, uh, resorts for entertainment was the Cambria A.C. Clark describes various recreational activities which the residents of Kensington participated in, including prize fights, baseball games, and drinking establishments. [This segment ends abruptly.] Activities ; Alcohol ; Baseball ; Boxing ; Cambria Athletic Club ; Drinking clubs ; Drinking establishments ; Entertainment ; Men ; Prize fights ; Saloons ; Shibe Park ; Sports ; Women Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. ; Recreation 17 2650 Driving tour through Kensington I lived on a number of streets around here. Clark and Hardy seem to be driving around the Kensington area and while doing so, Clark discusses the history and importance of places and things that he sees. He talks about his father's employment, businesses in the area, his classmates who passed away from tuberculosis, the Philadelphia Elevated Line, race relations in Kensington, and the history of various parishes. [Several interruptions in taping occur during this segment.] Anti-Catholic Riots of 1844 ; Delicatessens ; Fishtown (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Front Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Houses ; Kensington (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Kensington Action Now ; Kingdom Baptist Church ; Marian Anderson ; Pawn shops ; Philadelphia Elevated Line (EL) ; Public baths ; Public swimming pools ; Restaurants ; St. Michael's Parish (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Swimming ; Tuberculosis ; York Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) Dwellings ; Housing. ; Neighborhoods ; Neighbors. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 39.973525, -75.138494 17 St. Michael's Parish http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/3514f1c30ba8d972f70d288b0af57a7f.jpg &quot ; Construction of the Elevated Line&quot ; , October 16, 1916, PhillyHistory.org. 3406 Social classes and professions of Kensington Was there any hierarchy? If you were richer you would live on a--one of the larger streets? As the men drive further south, Hardy asks Clark about the class hierarchies and professions within the neighborhood. Large homes on some streets housed professionals like physicians, skilled craftsmen, civil servants, and white collar workers. Good trades in the 1920s included cabinet makers, copper-smiths, carpenters, machinists, typographers, or skilled factory jobs like piano makers. Unions protected these jobs since early in the twentieth century, leading to little need to switch professions. Carpenters ; Craft unions ; Craftsmanship ; Disston Saw Works ; Episcopal hospitals ; Machinists ; Occupations ; Priests ; Skilled workers ; Social classes ; Spring Garden Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Typographers Dwellings ; Employment ; Housing. ; Labor movement ; Labor unions ; Neighborhoods ; Neighbors. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 17 3613 Illicit night life Now from Noble Street all the way south to Arch Street was the whorehouse area in the 1880s and '90s. Clark discusses the entertainment and illicit activities that occurred in Philadelphia's &quot ; cat house&quot ; district, from Noble Street at the north to Arch Street at the south, from 4th at the east to 6th at the west. He describes the location of the 'red light district' and the distribution of illegal drugs and alcohol in relation to this area. Clark theorizes that the Chinese immigrants ran the drug trade that was located adjacent to the red light district. [The interview concludes abruptly.] Arch Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Brothels ; Chinese-Americans--Philadelphia ; Noble Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Prostitution ; Red Light District ; Tenderloin District (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Vice District Alcoholic beverage law violations ; Crime. 39.954687, -75.149502 17 This is the general area that Clark describes as the 'red light district' during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. interview Dennis Clark (1927-1993) grew up in the Kensington neighborhood in north Philadelphia during the Great Depression. A glazer by profession, Clark's father could rarely find employment during the 1930s, so the family struggled to afford rent or food and moved from one row house to the next to avoid the rent collector. Clark went on to get his doctorate in history at Temple University and to write histories of the Irish in Philadelphia. In his two 1982 interviews, Clark shared memories of his childhood in an Irish community and a history of Kensington's shops and mills. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. audio Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 http://www.nunncenter.net/ohms/render.php?cachefile=2017oh243_irw011_clark_ohm.xml 2017oh243_irw011_clark_ohm.xml https://oralhistory.uky.edu/catalog/xt7m901zgq96 Indexed By Dominic Consolo Sort Priority 0012 OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2017oh243_irw011_ohm.xml Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Interview: Dennis Clark (2nd interview) Description An account of the resource Dennis Clark (1927-1993) grew up in the Kensington neighborhood in north Philadelphia during the Great Depression. A glazer by profession, Clark's father could rarely find employment during the 1930s, so the family struggled to afford rent or food and moved from one row house to the next to avoid the rent collector. Clark went on to get his doctorate in history at Temple University and to write histories of the Irish in Philadelphia. In his two 1982 interviews, Clark shared memories of his childhood in an Irish community and a history of Kensington's shops and mills. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2017oh243_irw011 Subject The topic of the resource Philadelphia (Pa.) Employment Dwellings Housing. Neighborhoods Families. Neighbors. Immigrants Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. Health Diseases. Race relations Depressions--1929 World War, 1939-1945 World War, 1914-1918 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio Relation A related resource <a href="/exhibits/show/dennis-clark/childhood" title="Clark exhibit">Explore an exhibit about Clark's life</a> https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/592fad3ce9c30e0dbe5eb171aa61d73e.jpg 5b45a45c1394542e6b023ed1515a3c05 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Philadelphia Immigration Project Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Charles Hardy Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed John Calpin Interview Keyword The Philadelphia Bulletin Vice Bootlegging Smedley Butler Gambling Murder Brothels OHMS Object Text 5.1 2017oh240_irw008 Interview with John Calpin, July 7, 1982 2017oh240_irw008 ohirw I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Collection irw001 I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries (Exhibit) Newspapers. Journalism. Reporters and reporting. Prohibition Distilling, illicit Distillation Police. Crime. Alcoholic beverage law violations Police corruption. Politicians Political corruption The Philadelphia Bulletin Vice Bootlegging Smedley Butler Gambling Murder Brothels John Calpin Charles Hardy 2017oh240_irw008_calpin_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2017oh240_irw008_calpin_acc001.mp3 Other audio 4 Starting as a police reporter in 1925 Okay, um can you give me--start with a brief history of how you became a reporter? Calpin shares how he began his career as a reporter after graduating from Temple University. He accepted a position at &quot ; The Bulletin&quot ; in 1925 as a police reporter in South Philadelphia. &quot ; The Philadelphia Bulletin&quot ; ; Police reporters ; South Philadelphia ; Temple University Journalism. ; Newspapers. ; Reporters and reporting. 39.980248, -75.157508 17 Temple University, at the north east corner of Broad Street and Montgomery Avenue. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/0831319613ed8b0bf87241da58ebfc3f.png &quot ; Temple University at the North East Corner of Broad Street and Montgomery Avenue,&quot ; December 7, 1925. Sack Collection. Phillyhistory.org. 81 Prohibition enforcement and police corruption under Smedley Butler Do you want me to tell them about Smedley Butler at that time? Calpin discusses Smedley Butler's background and his vision for reforming the city. Calpin talks about the liquor rings and the police raiding squads tasked with shutting them down. At the remaining police stations, they had evidence throughout the room and the stations smelled of fermenting liquor/mash. &quot ; The Philadelphia Bulletin&quot ; ; 20th and Fitzwater Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; 24th and Wolf (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; 4th and Snyder (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; 7th and Carpenter St (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Confiscated liquor ; Liquor rings ; Phillip Testa ; Police and fire station matrons ; Prostitution ; Raiding squads ; Smedley Darlington Butler ; Stills Alcoholic beverage law violations ; Crime. ; Distillation ; Distilling, illicit ; Police corruption. ; Police. ; Prohibition 39.922504, -75.153434 19 The former site of the 4th and Snyder police station. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/e3d41644b3ba933aa88d88597b17faf0.jpg &quot ; Smedley Butler destroying kegs of beer,&quot ; c. 1924. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. 288 Butler attacks police corruption And, uh, he did--Smedley Butler did, uh, pull the police department together. There had been many small scandals. Before Smedley Butler brought reform to the Philadelphia Police, they were involved in protecting crime rings. Any leads relating to the murders of prohibition era gang members were dead ends because none of the other gang members talked. However, Ted DiPtretoro eventually talked and changed everything. Central Philadelphia ; Gambling ; Gang murders ; Grand Jury Investigation of 1928 ; Liquor rings ; Prohibition era gangs ; Prostitution rings ; Scandals ; Smedley Darlington Butler ; South Philadelphia ; Ted DiPretoro ; Ward leaders Alcoholic beverage law violations ; Crime. ; Organized crime. ; Police corruption. ; Police. ; Prohibition 39.921267, -75.182810 19 Phillip Testa was murdered in his home at 2117 West Porter St. Philadelphia, PA. His home was located directly behind what is now the Girard Academic Music Program. https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/11/us/around-the-nation-philadelphia-waiter-held-in-mob-leader-s-death.html &quot ; AROUND THE NATION ; Philadelphia Waiter Held In Mob Leader's Death,&quot ; 1982. The New York Times. 529 Commercial vice spreads though the city And, uh, Bill Meade told what happened. He said, &quot ; If you took a ball of mercury and held it in your hand it would just stay there, but if you squeezed it,&quot ; he said, &quot ; it would run out.&quot ; Calpin explains how when Smedley Butler cracked down on vice in the Tenderloin it spread out all over the city. He explains that even the police and politicians were in on the illegal vices, because business was business. 13th and Locust (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Drug trafficking ; Gambling ; Gambling rings ; Liquor rings ; Prostitution ; Speakeasies ; Vices Alcoholic beverage law violations ; Crime. ; Police corruption. ; Police. ; Political corruption ; Politicians ; Prohibition 39.948194, -75.162350 17 The corner of 13th and Locust Street. One of the infamous street corners in the former Tenderloin District. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/6bb3ed11498c9cee15ddc5fc9ce6ea5b.png &quot ; Excavation at Locust Street and W 13th Street,&quot ; July 2, 1931. Charles A. Lamb Collection. PhillyHistory.org 616 How Philadelphians circumvented Prohibition Uh, uh, p--the Prohibition Amendment, the Volstead Act, was a thing that, that hurt every city that, that had a police department that could be venal. Calpin shares how Prohibition hurt every city by corrupting police departments. He shares how people made liquor in bathtubs and little stills. He says that South Philadelphia politician Bill Barrett was the biggest bootlegger downtown. He says that after Lemuel Schofield became Director of Public Safety, “things opened up again.” Bootlegging ; Liquor ; Stills Alcoholic beverage law violations ; Crime. ; Distillation ; Distilling, illicit ; Police corruption. ; Police. ; Political corruption ; Politicians ; Prohibition 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/dd2c5a4ce151cccd13c23da5bb5a670f.jpg &quot ; Philadelphia Police standing next to a seized distiller,&quot ; c. 1920. George McDowell Collection. Temple University. 780 Gang violence leads to the Grand Jury Investigation of 1928 And, uh, the, uh--how the grand jury investigation really started in 1928, that was--there had been an abortive one earlier, but this was the big one. After a smaller grand jury investigation, a major investigation took place in 1928. Calpin explains how the investigation started after investigators found thousands of dollars in police captains’ homes. After a botched shooting investigation, a grand jury investigation was opened into the police department. 10th and Summer (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; 11th and Winter (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; 1728 North Park Avenue (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; 2817 North Park Avenue (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Arch Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Christ Church (&quot ; Old Christ Church,&quot ; Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Grand Jury Investigations (1927, 1928) ; Hughie McLoon ; John Boyle ; Magistrate Edward Carney ; Park Avenue ; Roundhouse (Philadelphia Police Headquarters) ; Samuel Rotan ; Temple University ; The Roundhouse ; Thomas Jefferson Hospital Crime. ; Police corruption. ; Police. 39.978662, -75.156754 17 Site of the shooting and botched investigation, which was a catalyst in the Grand Jury Investigation of 1928. The shooting occurred on North Park Avenue. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/c74e574d519721c24e4703d26b66cb63.png &quot ; Christ Church Steeple,&quot ; c. 1968. Philadelphia Historic Commission Collection, Phillyhistory.org. 1186 Discontent of citizens lead to investigations Uh, things were not going so well in the city right at then. Calpin says that after spending too much money on the Delaware River Bridge (now the Benjamin Franklin Bridge) and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the city council had to take the heat off of themselves. Whenever the council needed to draw attention away from themselves, they would open an investigation into the police. He also talks about how policemen paid to move up in the ranks. Alex Leftwich ; Art museums ; Benjamin Franklin Bridge ; Committee of 15 ; Delaware River Bridge ; Germantown ; Philadelphia city council ; Philadelphia Museum of Art ; Vice squads Crime. ; Distillation ; Police corruption. ; Police. ; Political corruption ; Politicians 39.965866, -75.180977 17 The Philadelphia Museum of Art, which the city built in an attempt to improve the city. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/c23f574fc2ee2be06fd864ff23525112.png &quot ; Delaware Avenue-North to Delaware River Bridge,&quot ; 1923. DOR Archives, Phillyhistory.org. 1566 Smedley Butler's effectiveness in curtailing corruption Uh, he was a personal friend of Freeland Kendrick who was the, the mayor then. Calpin says that part of the reason Philadelphia brought in Smedley Darlington Butler was in preparation for the Sesquicentennial of 1926. Many of the changes Smedley Darlington Butler brought to Philadelphia were done away with after he left. Calpin recalls the arrest of Al Capone and how Philadelphia became a haven for criminals. Al Capone ; Marine Corps ; Market Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Redistricting ; Sesquicentennial of 1926 ; Tenderloin District (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; W. Freeland Kendrick (Mayor of Philadelphia, 1924-28) Alcoholic beverage law violations ; Crime. ; Distillation ; Distilling, illicit ; Police corruption. ; Police. ; Political corruption ; Politicians ; Prohibition 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/7a6b3d112ae739e79884ae1e1fc0919a.jpg &quot ; Historical Marker for Smedley Butler's service to Philadelphia,&quot ; c. 1997. Christopher William Purdom Collection, Philadelphia Public Art. 1910 Police captains gain control Tell me, who did, who did Butler then butt heads against? Who was, who was protecting or who was at the top of the rake-off-- Calpin says that as Butler lost effectiveness, the police went into business for themselves, and that many captains collected protection money. He says that the reporters did not ask questions about corruption because they were so in love with their jobs. Director of Public Safety ; Muckrakers ; Payoff ; Police captains ; Smedley Butler ; Traffic control ; Ward leaders Alcoholic beverage law violations ; Crime. ; Distillation ; Distilling, illicit ; Police corruption. ; Police. ; Political corruption ; Politicians ; Prohibition 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/3983947c6d0f01ed3dd19d97b4d622e7.jpg &quot ; Police escort liquor to distribution center,&quot ; September 22, 1933. George D McDowell Collection. Temple University Libraries. 2148 The 1919 city charter introduces civil service But uh, uh, I would like to go back to the, uh, Charter of 1919. The Charter of 1919 put in a new civil service system. According to Calpin, this charter only worked as long as the good people were in. Once the weak mayor, Bernard Samuel, entered into office, Calpin believes the charter was ineffective. Getting power in Philadelphia politics was all about who you knew. 1919 Philadelphia City Charter ; Bernard Samuel (Mayor of Philadelphia, 1948-52) ; Civil service ; Common council ; Fred Garn ; James &quot ; Shoey&quot ; Malone ; Joe Clark ; Samuel Rosenberg ; Select council ; Walter Alzendrone Crime. ; Police corruption. ; Police. ; Political corruption ; Politicians 39.952634, -75.163664 17 Philadelphia City Hall, where Mayor Bernard Samuel held office. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/2b7726a47f31391d9fce01c96bcf5094.jpg &quot ; Photo of Broad Street taken from City Hall,&quot ; November 15, 1927. Philadelphia Department of Records. 2534 Changes in politics shape the city When did you start covering politics in the city? Prior to 1929, Republicans held control of the northern and southern wards. After Republican allegiances broke, S. Davis Wilson and the Democrats gained some power in the city. 26th Ward (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Committee of 70 ; Democratic Party (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Edwin Vare ; Franklin Delano Roosevelt ; George W. Pepper ; Jack Kelly ; John R. K. Scott ; Mayor S. Davis Wilson ; Morty Wickon ; Politics ; Republican Party (Philadelphia, Pa) ; Scottie McDonald ; Ward leaders ; William Scott Vare Political corruption ; Politicians ; Politics and government 39.952540, -75.162500 17 Location of City Hall. This is where the office of Mayor S. Davis Wilson was located. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/bbcb258ce4550505d88a0033bb76c5ac.jpg &quot ; Police oath ceremony,&quot ; March 11, 1933. George D. McDowell Collection. Temple University Libraries. 3121 Media shapes elections But Boise Penrose with all his other connections, and the st--he was a state senator. He wanted to become Mayor of Philadelphia. The newspapers in Philadelphia were able to control the elections in the area based off of their political ideologies. Some of the papers began to follow around politicians looking for them to be breaking the law in order to blackmail them. Owners of these papers used their platforms to sound out their views and control the politics of the city. &quot ; The North American&quot ; (newspaper) ; &quot ; The Philadelphia Bulletin&quot ; ; &quot ; The Philadelphia Inquirer&quot ; ; 1529 North 15th Street ; Boise Penrose ; Brothels ; J. David Stern ; Prostitution ; Warren G. Harding Crime. ; Journalism. ; Newspapers. ; Political corruption ; Politicians ; Reporters and reporting. 39.977336, -75.159693 17 The former site of a notorious house of prostitution at 1529 North 15th Street. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/9f10ee866971d384400517b3d0e51e70.jpg &quot ; Federation of Jewish Charities, Philadelphia Leaders Dinner, 1943, (J. David Stern pictured far right)&quot ; c. 1943. Temple University Libraries. 3379 Getting out the vote How did voting take place in the mayoral election? Philadelphia’s elections, up until 1951, were stacked in favor of the majority party. Calpin discusses how elected officials would get the votes in &quot ; colored districts&quot ; and receive support from immigrants groups. The voting tendencies of the immigrant populations are discussed by Calpin. 1421 Sussex St. ; 39th Ward ; 40th Ward ; Bernard Samuel (Mayor of Philadelphia, 1948-52) ; Charlie Palmer ; Edward Cox ; Edward Hopkins ; John Diamond ; Judge Edwin O. Lewis ; Mayoral elections ; Republican Party (Philadelphia) ; Roth Davis ; South Philadelphia ; W.W. &quot ; Bill&quot ; Roper ; Ward leaders African Americans--Political party affiliation ; African Americans--Politics and government ; Political corruption ; Politicians ; Politics and government 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/d883dc4f1ee14a4c4d68c144c6fd818b.jpg &quot ; Mayor Bernard Samuel taps the Liberty Bell in response to D-Day news,&quot ; June 7, 1944. &quot ; The Philadelphia Evening Bulletin&quot ; Collections. Temple University Libraries. 3940 The Tenderloin District Can you describe for me the Tenderloin District? Calpin says that the Tenderloin District was filled with vices. Prostitution, gang violence, and gambling ran rampant on the streets. There were notorious &quot ; gangsters&quot ; there. There were also several notorious brothels on these streets. 11th and Winter St. ; 13th and Spruce ; 15th Street ; 20th and Chestnut ; 20th and Market St. ; 4th and Ray Street ; 68th Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Arch Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Atlantic City (N.J.) ; Atlantic City, New Jersey ; Benjamin Franklin Bridge ; Benny &quot ; The Bum&quot ; Fogleman ; Boise Penrose ; Broad Street ; Delaware River Bridge ; Gambling ; Hahneman Hospital ; Lenox Hotel ; Max &quot ; Boo Boo&quot ; Hoff ; Mickey Duffey ; Prostitution ; South Broad Street ; Spruce Street ; Sylvania Hotel ; Tenderloin District (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Vine St. ; William Meade Crime. 39.957539, -75.162956 17 The site of Hahneman University Hospital. 4417 The end of the Tenderloin District By 1927,1928 at the end of Butler's regime, the Tenderloin as such was no longer the vice district. Calpin talks about how the Tenderloin began changing in the late 1920s. He says that it began to disappear at that time. He talks about the prevalence of gambling. He talks about how the area was affected by the sesquicentennial in 1926. &quot ; English&quot ; Tommy Gilchrist ; American Legion ; Charles Morris Price School ; City Hall Courtyard ; Gambling houses ; Girard Avenue ; Mumia Abu Jamal ; National Shriners Organization ; Prostitution ; Sesquicentennial of 1926 ; South Philadelphia ; South Street ; Spruce Street ; West Philadelphia Crime. 39.947546, -75.162248 17 The corner of Broad and Spruce Street. During Calpin's time as a reporter, vice and gang related crime ran rampant here. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/0ea79babe60b4d900af4972aeac255a1.jpg &quot ; Philadelphia Sesquicentennial entrance,&quot ; 1926. Phillyhistory.org. 4684 Shootings in 1926 When the, when the American Legion parade was going by, one of the gangsters was shot and killed at Broad and Spruce. Calpin says that shootings in the summer of 1926 were commonplace. Gangsters were often shot and killed in broad daylight. One of the shootings even occurred right next to a police station, and another during a parade. 7th and Carpenter St. Police Station ; 7th Street ; 8th Street ; American Legion ; Brothels ; Carpenter Street ; Christian Street ; John &quot ; Big Nose&quot ; Avena ; Passyunk Ave (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Shootings Crime. ; Police. 39.937017, -75.155035 17 Street view of 7th and Carpenter. One of the only police stations in Philadelphia that remained open under Smedley Darlington Butler's regime. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/94cfdbb955021c25d6d0e0a5a68216e3.jpg &quot ; Police train with shotguns,&quot ; Jan. 30, 1924. George D McDowell Collection. Temple University Libraries. 4877 Recollections of South Philadelphia What was it like for, for a young man to, to go into a Italian South Philadelphia or Irish South Philadelphia? Calpin talks about his experiences as a young reporter in South Philadelphia. Most of his interesting stories during his time in South Philadelphia come from the magistrates. 11th and Winter St ; 4th and Snyder Ave (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; 7th and Carpenter St (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Alexander Leftwhich ; Carpenter Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Christian Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Germantown High School ; Magistrate Fitzgerald ; Magistrate O'Brien ; Magistrate O'Connor ; South Philadelphia Journalism. ; Newspapers. ; Politics and government ; Reporters and reporting. 39.922479, -75.153424 17 4th and Snyder Avenue was the site of a former police precinct. In the building was also a court house where magistrates would hear cases. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/46093f96db882c42f2879556faf71138.jpg &quot ; Germantown High School opened 1915,&quot ; c.1915. Germantown Historical Society. 5186 Illegal possession of liquor The society matron had a bottle in her muff, and dropped it on the floor. Calpin talks about sitting in on several cases with Magistrate Fitzgerald, a colorful judge, and how he received a bribe in order to sway his (and Fitzgerald's) opinion on the case. This case was one in which a major manufacturer was arrested for illegal possession of alcohol. 10th Ward ; Illegal liquor ; Illegal possession of firearms ; Magistrate Fitzgerald ; Social registers Alcoholic beverage law violations ; Crime. ; Distillation ; Distilling, illicit ; Journalism. ; Newspapers. ; Police corruption. ; Police. ; Political corruption ; Politicians ; Prohibition ; Reporters and reporting. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/eb75e7a4d344f5732f05b86177e254fd.jpg &quot ; Prohibition bootlegging,&quot ; Feb. 1, 1939. George D. McDowell Collection, Temple University Libraries. interview When he graduated from Temple University with a journalism degree in 1925, John Calpin (1904-1991) became a police reporter for The Philadelphia Bulletin. There, he witnessed first hand the impact of Prohibition on the city of Philadelphia and the vast power of the Republican City Machine. In the decades that followed, Calpin would go on to become a newspaper bureau chief and civic reformer. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. audio Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 http://www.nunncenter.net/ohms/render.php?cachefile=2017oh240_irw008_calpin_ohm.xml 2017oh240_irw008_calpin_ohm.xml https://oralhistory.uky.edu/catalog/xt7m901zgq96 Indexed By Dominic Cardile Sort Priority 0008 OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2017oh240_irw008_ohm.xml Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Interview: John Calpin (1st Interview) Description An account of the resource When he graduated from Temple University with a journalism degree in 1925, John Calpin (1904-1991) became a police reporter for The Philadelphia Bulletin. There, he witnessed first hand the impact of Prohibition on the city of Philadelphia and the vast power of the Republican City Machine. In the decades that followed, Calpin would go on to become a newspaper bureau chief and civic reformer. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2017oh240_irw008 Subject The topic of the resource Newspapers. Journalism. Reporters and reporting. Prohibition Distilling, illicit Distillation Police. Crime. Alcoholic beverage law violations Police corruption. Politicians Political corruption Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio Relation A related resource <a href="/exhibits/show/calpin-john/philly-clean-up">Explore an exhibit about John Calpin's life</a>