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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 " ; The Bulletin" ; in 1925 as a police reporter in South Philadelphia. " ; The Philadelphia Bulletin" ; ; 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 " ; Temple University at the North East Corner of Broad Street and Montgomery Avenue," ; 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. " ; The Philadelphia Bulletin" ; ; 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 " ; Smedley Butler destroying kegs of beer," ; 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 " ; AROUND THE NATION ; Philadelphia Waiter Held In Mob Leader's Death," ; 1982. The New York Times. 529 Commercial vice spreads though the city And, uh, Bill Meade told what happened. He said, " ; If you took a ball of mercury and held it in your hand it would just stay there, but if you squeezed it," ; he said, " ; it would run out." ; 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 " ; Excavation at Locust Street and W 13th Street," ; 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 " ; Philadelphia Police standing next to a seized distiller," ; 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 (" ; Old Christ Church," ; 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 " ; Christ Church Steeple," ; 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 " ; Delaware Avenue-North to Delaware River Bridge," ; 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 " ; Historical Marker for Smedley Butler's service to Philadelphia," ; 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 " ; Police escort liquor to distribution center," ; 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 " ; Shoey" ; 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 " ; Photo of Broad Street taken from City Hall," ; 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 " ; Police oath ceremony," ; 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. " ; The North American" ; (newspaper) ; " ; The Philadelphia Bulletin" ; ; " ; The Philadelphia Inquirer" ; ; 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 " ; Federation of Jewish Charities, Philadelphia Leaders Dinner, 1943, (J. David Stern pictured far right)" ; 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 " ; colored districts" ; 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. " ; Bill" ; 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 " ; Mayor Bernard Samuel taps the Liberty Bell in response to D-Day news," ; June 7, 1944. " ; The Philadelphia Evening Bulletin" ; 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 " ; gangsters" ; 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 " ; The Bum" ; Fogleman ; Boise Penrose ; Broad Street ; Delaware River Bridge ; Gambling ; Hahneman Hospital ; Lenox Hotel ; Max " ; Boo Boo" ; 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. " ; English" ; 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 " ; Philadelphia Sesquicentennial entrance," ; 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 " ; Big Nose" ; 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 " ; Police train with shotguns," ; 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 " ; Germantown High School opened 1915," ; 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 " ; Prohibition bootlegging," ; 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
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0008
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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>
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https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/05b3c3f7deb89d36dee44d04d45c657f.jpg
38a21b0f0e3f2e5c4d932cf4bba66bf7
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
Nicholas Heydeman
Interviewee
The person(s) being interviewed
Abolaji Amosu
OHMS Object
https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh0151_irw0082_ohm.xml
Interview Keyword
Food habits
Nigerian culture
Nigerian traditions
Rituals
College environment
OHMS Object Text
5.2 2019oh0151_irw0082 Interview with Abolaji Amosu, March 16, 2019 2019oh0151_irw0082 irw I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Philadelphia (Pa.) Families. Immigrants Education College students--Social conditions Universities and colleges. Emigration and immigration. Lagos (Nigeria) Childhood Food habits Nigerian culture Nigerian traditions Rituals College environment Abolaji Amosu Nicholas Heydeman 2019oh0151_irw0082_amosu_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2019oh0151_irw0082_amosu_acc001.mp3 Other NULL audio 24 Introduction Interview with Ms. Abolaji Amosu. The interview begins at Northeast Regional Library in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The interviewer says both his and Amosu's names. Amosu notes her age to the interviewer. Nigerian immigration ; Northeast Regional Library 40.050535, -75.061279 15 Northeast Regional Library http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/4a77c3f32651700dfaf02bb128670ea7.jpg A portrait photo of Abolaji Amosu. Image courtesy of Abolaji Amosu. 78 Nigeria as her homeland / Ethnicity Where did your family come from? Amosu says that her family originally lived in Lagos, Nigeria. Also, she explains that her African ethnicity is Yoruba, one of the main/populous ethnic groups in Nigeria. Finally, she explains how her father is originally from Benin, but speaks Yoruba. Africa ; Age ; Benin ; Ethnicity ; Homeland ; Lagos, Nigeria ; Yoruba Families. ; Lagos (Nigeria) 6.547324, 3.300445 13 The city of Lagos, Nigeria, home city of Amosu's family. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/cc759bff8ec8c9582dff92d332ccb1b1.jpg Ulf Ryttgens, c. 2000-2006, An image of Lagos, Nigeria's " ; Golden Plaza" ; in Ikoyi, Lagos. Licensed by a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 1.0 Generic license. 180 Why her family left Nigeria Why did your family come over? Amosu recalls how, at age six, her uncle registered for the Diversity Visa Lottery, which stipulates that annually a certain number of applicants will win a United States Permanent Resident Card. Her family won the lottery, which allowed foreign residents to immigrate to America. She also explains that the trip to America wasn't planned due to challenges in her homeland, but instead an opportunity for immigration to a new country. Her family was wealthy, what she describes as “higher middle class,” and her father wanted the family to embark on a new adventure in life, while Amosu believed the family was on vacation. Diversity Immigration Visa ; Family ; Immigration ; Permanent residents Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/0519665fc6544b0c67e68f5c73ce5268.jpg Amosu's uncle, his family, and her mother during her uncle's wedding day in 2014 in Lagos, Nigeria dressed in Yoruban wedding garb. From left to right: uncle's stepmother, a relative of Amosu, her uncle, and mother. Image courtesy of Abolaji Amosu. 257 Childhood in Nigeria / Graduation party Could you recall any part of your childhood in Nigeria? Amosu remembers her 3rd grade graduation party on a yacht when she was around age 5. Despite the occasion, Amosu refused to listen to her mother's warnings and fell into the water, spending the rest of the night sitting down as punishment. Celebrations ; Childhood ; Private education Families. ; Lagos (Nigeria) 17 329 Naming ceremony and getting lost as a child So, do you remember any other social gatherings or-- Amosu recounts her brother's naming ceremony in Nigeria which celebrated his birth. She explains that it's a part of her culture's tradition to choose names for their meaning rather than for how the name sounds. She explains that her name means " ; Woke up with wealth." ; She shares the meanings of the names of her sisters as well. She also remembers the ceremony involved a huge celebration in the form of a block party. During the party, Amosu followed her older cousin until she lost her way, later found by her neighbor, and was sent to her room. Celebrations ; Naming ceremony ; Nigerian culture ; Nigerian traditions ; Rituals Childhood ; Families. ; Lagos (Nigeria) 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/eb17ae25b44d4c807dfc98d0442bc0e4.jpg Afolabi Amosu during his second birthday. Image courtesy of Abolaji Amosu. 523 Family size / Characteristics So how big is your family? Amosu recalls that three of her siblings were born in Nigeria, and her youngest sister was born in America. She also describes in detail what each member of her family looks like, saying that she and her siblings are variations of their parents ; she resembles her father due to their shared " ; mahogany" ; skin tone. Familial relations ; Family size ; Skin tones Childhood ; Families. ; Lagos (Nigeria) 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/4154d986c84a1ee7cfa18262d8d34259.jpg Image of Amosu's youngest sister, Tumise Amosu, during her 1st birthday. Image courtesy of Abolaji Amosu. 638 Food traditions Would you happen to have a food tradition? Amosu describes in detail the food tradition and culture of the Yoruba ethnic group in Nigeria, including eba, afang soup, and various grains. She describes eba as a paste made from the cassava root. She recalls her family's version of jollof rice, in which the rice cooks in a seasoned tomato soup until done. She comments that the longer the jollof rice cooks in the soup, the better the meal will be. Afang soup ; Cassava ; Cultures ; Eba ; Food traditions ; Fried rice ; Jollof rice ; Regional food competitions ; Spinach ; Yuroba Childhood ; Families. ; Food habits ; Lagos (Nigeria) 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/84a2d6504e047252d7108a1e7a2b830d.jpg Segun Famisa, Jollof rice is a popular way of making rice in West Africa, this (as seen in this picture) is garnished with vegetable sauce, and a boiled egg. Licensed by a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 1.0 Generic license. 862 Eating together / Cultural hybrid cuisine Uh, how does, uh, how does the average kitchen table go in your family? Amosu notes that when she and her siblings were younger, it was easier to come together to have family meals. Now, due to everyone having their own schedules, it's much harder to sit down and eat together. She also describes that her mother decides what will be on the dinner table, determinant on how she feels or craves. Amosu notes that her food preferences for Yoruba or American cuisine vary from day to day. Her youngest sister only grew up in the United States, so they acquiesce to some of her “American” food preferences, like adding hot dogs to fried rice because she does not like beef. Amosu describes how she thinks taste for food changes as her family combines American and Nigerian cuisines. Cooking ; Family ; Family meals ; Food Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Food habits ; Immigrants ; Lagos (Nigeria) 17 1130 Nigerian music and influences What sort of music do you like? Amosu recalls that her musical preferences in Yoruba music came from her mother during her childhood, although she also listens to contemporary Yoruba music. Contemporary Yoruba music resembles R& ; B, while older songs use drums and flutes, allowing the listener to focus more on the story in the lyrics. Amosu utilizes this music in order to write stories of her own as a means to draw inspiration or meaning to her words. " ; Ife Eji Owuro" ; ; Cultures ; Musical traditions ; Nigerian music ; Songs ; Yuroba music Childhood ; Families. ; Lagos (Nigeria) 17 1326 Americanization through music I think when we first came here, listening to a lot of like Disney Channel music and all--Nickelodeon music, I think a lot of this help me feel more quote unquote American than like being in school did. Amosu recalls that when her family arrived in America, the music of TV channels like Disney and Nickelodeon allowed for her to feel American. When her school didn't provide the satisfactory assimilation of her culture, music allowed her to adjust to American culture and her fellow classmates. So music served a crucial function in her growing up in America. Americanization ; Immigration ; Music Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 1371 Transition from Nigerian to American school When did you start school? Amosu remembers that everyone starts school around age one or two in Nigeria in order to socialize children. Because of this early start she was ready for third grade upon immigration, but she was seven years old, much younger than third graders in the United States, so the school wanted to put her in first grade. Her father had to convince the school that African schooling was not inferior to American, and demanded that his children take a test to pass into the correct grade. Amosu recalls being bored and falling asleep because she had to repeat things that she had already learned. The school made Amosu repeat the third grade again. African stereotyping ; American education ; Childhood ; Education ; Nigerian education ; Stereotypes Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Lagos (Nigeria) 17 1679 First day in America and the perception of the United States Going back to your arrival to the United States, uh, could you recall your first day? Amosu recalls her first day in America when she was six years old. She thought the trip to America was a vacation, especially when the plane landed in Philadelphia Airport. She saw snow on the first day—knowing what it was from Disney films—but did not know how cold it would be. Her family's friend allowed them to stay at his home while they searched for an apartment of their own. Amosu knew what America was based on the movies she watched, but she never thought of the nation. First day ; Immigration journey ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Social networks Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 39.874594, -75.242638 17 Philadelphia International Airport 1916 Leaving things in Nigeria / First meal in America Uh, were there any conundrums besides the, uh, difficulty with, uh, housing? Amosu recalls being disappointed that her family wasn’t able to bring their dog along. Her first meal was the familiar Yoruba food composed of jollof rice, soup, and eba. First meals ; Immigration journey ; Leaving Nigeria ; Yoruba Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Lagos (Nigeria) ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 2022 Parents finding work So, after your parents settled, um, how did they find work? Amosu remembers that although her father was highly educated, he had to repeat some education to become a child psychologist. Similarly, Amosu's mother, previously a Nigerian nurse, had to work as a hotel housekeeper and as an attendant in a nursing home because she did not have a college education. She now is in school and works as a nurse. Amosu believes that her parents finding work depended on their connections with the neighborhood or places that employ their skill sets. Having connections helped her parents find work. Adult immigrant education ; Employment ; Job hunting ; Social connections Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 2141 First house Uh, so where did you settle? Amosu recounts her family's first home in Philadelphia being an apartment on Champlost Ave., four blocks from Fern Rock Train Station in North Philadelphia. Her home was a two bedroom apartment with a combined living room and apartment. She notes that her mother used plenty of Febreze air freshener in conjunction with plug-in wall air fresheners. Champlost Ave ; Febreze ; Fern Rock Train Station Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 40.044462, -75.143781 17 Champlost Avenue http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/ef8ab84b6eba65e323e442109a0838a0.JPG li2nmd, Septa Broad Street Line at Fern Rock Train Station in February 2018. Licensed under a GNU Free Documentation version 1.2 or later version license. 2278 Exploring and connecting to Philadelphia How did your family explore Philadelphia? Amosu notes that her family went on expeditions across the Philadelphia area to explore their new home. In order to adjust to life in Philadelphia, the family went to places including Dorney Park or Center City to become familiar with their new city. The family asked around for recommendations from friends in their social circle to learn what places they wanted to go to and developed their own preferences. Center City (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Dorney Park ; Exploring ; Old Country Buffet Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 40.580470, -75.534696 17 Dorney Park Amusement Park 2429 Making friends and friend preferences How did your family establish connections within the--I want to say apartment complex because, you know-- Amosu recalls her siblings and she finding the family's connections and social circle figures through their interaction with other children. Her apartment complex served as a miniature neighborhood and the children formed friendships and then introduced the parents to each other. Amosu notes that some of her neighbors were immigrants, including a couple “Spanish” families (Puerto Rican) and connected through kindness and their children going to the same school and apartment. Her family preferred other Nigerian immigrants as friends because they shared a worldview. She remembers that she preferred to listen to other people with accents, since she also had an accent. Apartments ; Connections ; Friendships ; Julia Ward Howe School (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Neighborhoods ; Social networks ; Socializing Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 2602 Losing her accent and fitting in during elementary school How did you lose your accents? Amosu explains that, over her time spent in America, she lost her formal British accent in order to adjust to her peers' own dialect. Although her British-like Nigerian accent was formal, her peers didn't understand her. Thus, around the fourth grade, Amosu tried to remove her accent to form friendships at school. Amosu recalls attending Julia Ward Howe School from third to fifth grade, which is close to the Fern Rock Septa Station. Although Amosu was frustrated that she had to repeat the third grade, she acknowledges it allowed her to better socialize and make friends. She recalls a friend by the name of Daniella or Danisha with whom she bonded over BRATZ dolls. Accents ; Biro pens ; British accents ; Dialects ; English language ; Julia Ward Howe School (Philadelphia) ; Peer pressure ; Socialization ; Socializing Childhood ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 40.041707, -75.142319 17 Julia Ward Howe School on 5800 N. 13th Street, where Amosu attended elementary school. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/b2ddd43551a30939081b7b23cb0aac42.JPG Smallbones, the Front of Julia Ward Howe Building, 2010. Image holder released the copyright to the public domain. 3099 Opinions on school subjects You said that your family expected high grades, correct? Amosu recounts that she had issues in learning mathematics while in school. However, her parents encouraged her to keep studying the subject in order to overcome it, thus pushing her engrossment into the subject. Despite this, Amosu easily excelled and enjoyed subjects such as English and History as she loved the stories found in literature and history's continuation of its own story. She contributes her competitive nature in school to proving others wrong about her ethnicity, showing that she was an intelligent, capable individual who could achieve high academically. Education ; Interests ; Subjects Childhood ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 3614 Transition to middle school So, how was the tradi--transition to high school? Oh, from middle school to high school. Amosu remembers that after she graduated from elementary school, her family moved to the Northeast portion of Philadelphia. She attended Woodrow Wilson Middle School, where she found herself as the new kid in class. Being new, Amosu faced difficulties in making new friends, but devoted her attention to her studies. Amosu recalls that in middle school she didn't participate in many extracurricular activities. She found a literature club and new friends through her love for stories, but that was it. " ; New kid" ; ; Education ; Middle schools ; Socializing ; Solomon Solis-Cohen Elementary School (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Transitions ; Woodrow Wilson Middle School (Philadelphia, Pa.) Childhood ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 40.052435, -75.069047 17 Location of Woodrow Wilson Middle School http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/a79170f06052b5f5c105323c884a2bfe.png Woodrow Wilson Junior High School, Cottman Avenue 1800 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111, now known as Woodrow Wilson Middle School. Image holder released the copyright to the public domain. 3820 Trying to suppress her African identity Did your identity ever come into-- Amosu comments on how she dealt with her identity as an Nigerian immigrant during school. She remembers wanting a nickname, trying to curse, dressing, and using slang like an American in order to fit in better, yet she maintained an African identity at home with her family. Amosu remembers that she tried to suppress her African identity to distance herself from a stereotypes, like that Africans lived in huts and did not wear clothes. She also did not want to be the token “African” to her classmates. She chose clothing, make-up, and hair styles that made her seem more American, and she and her sister coached each other on how to act. By high school, she finally embraced her identity and accepted the fact that she would never be a full American. African culture ; African history ; American dress ; Americanization ; Coaching ; Cultural identity ; Cultures ; Education ; Identity ; Make-up ; Nicknames ; South Park Childhood ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 4336 Transition to high school How was the transition to high school then? Amosu recounts her transition to Northeast High School was one where she retained her friend/peer group, but realized how hard it was to be a freshman after ruling the middle school in eighth grade. She looked up to the older students, especially the seniors because she thought of them as close to adults. However, despite entering the high school together, Amosu's friends changed, finding different friend groups due to differing schedules. She also had to train new friends and teachers to correctly pronounce her name, which was almost always the first alphabetically on the role list. Education ; High schools ; Northeast High School (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Woodrow Wilson Middle School (Philadelphia, Pa.) Childhood ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 40.056847, -75.069118 17 Northeast Regional High School http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/ead732a6a53e8841001b0a4221160ce8.jpg Northeast High School, 2019. Image courtesy of Dr. Charles Hardy. 4647 Technology in education / Education programs available to students Uh, another thing about me is that, uh, I grew up in Delco and I go to--went to Ridley Township or Ridley High School and, uh, thankfully, uh, Boeing pretty much donated a bunch of iPads-- Amosu remembers that her school utilized technology in their curriculum, but they didn't trust or allow freshmen to carry or use their laptops. Also, she recalls that there were three tracked programs in Northeast High School based on their academic excellence: Magnet, International Baccalaureate, and Avid. She had not applied for the Magnet program, because she did not know to do so, even though she excelled at school. Amosu notes how technology in education allowed her to access new information and involved her classes using games like Kahoot. Computers ; Curriculum ; Education ; High schools ; Northeast Avid program ; Northeast International Baccalaureate program ; Northeast Magnet Program ; Technology Childhood ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 5167 Selecting a college / Attending Temple University Uh, throughout high school, did you, uh, look at colleges? Amosu recalls that, during her junior and senior years, she began to investigate in-state colleges including Holy Family University, University of Pennsylvania, and Temple University. Due to the closeness of the campus to her home and its well regarded English department, Amosu chose Temple, where she entered as " ; undecided." ; This allowed her to explore different subject paths, and she ended up selecting an English major. Amosu notes being empowered by college by allowing her to schedule her own classes based on what she wanted to pursue. In her time at Temple University, she found two notable professors which bolstered her desire to learn: Dr. Tristen Samuels and Clarissa Howards. College life ; College of Liberal Arts, Temple University ; Colleges ; Family ; Finances ; Holy Family University ; Penn State University College choice ; College environment ; College students--Social conditions ; Education ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Universities and colleges. 39.981122, -75.155432 17 Temple University of Pennsylvania http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/30cec6769ab2277df8bc0895f46a4b00.JPG Dorevabelfiore, Front of Samuel Paley Library on the main campus of Temple University Libraries in Philadelphia, PA. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. 5487 Expectation to attend college / Finances So what drew you to attend college, specifically? Amosu recounts that, due to her family's history with being highly educated, it was a familial expectation to go to college. Along with societal expectations for her to attend college, her education enforced this throughout her years in school, making it seem like college was the only option. She reflects on how tuition costs affected her choice to go to Temple University. She mentions the opportunities such as study-abroad programs offered at Temple compared to more expensive universities. Colleges ; Drexel University ; Holy Family University ; Social expectations ; STEM ; Temple University ; Tuition College choice ; College environment ; College students--Social conditions ; Education ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Universities and colleges. 17 5760 Jobs Did you have a job during high school? Amosu never had to get a job during high school. Instead, she got money from her parents through request or allowance. However, she found a work-study job through the Free Library of Philadelphia partnership with Temple University at the Northeast Regional Library. She loves working with books. First job ; Free Library of Philadelphia ; Jobs ; Northeast Regional Library ; Work study College environment ; College students--Social conditions ; Education ; Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Universities and colleges. 17 5884 Oral history project / Advice for other immigrants So how did you come across the, uh, oral history pr--uh, project? Amosu remembers that her supervisor at Northeast Regional Library introduced her to this oral history project after looking for immigrant patrons to tell their life stories. At first, she was reluctant to participate because she doubted her childhood memories were worth recording. Despite this, Amosu chose to participate in the project. Amosu concludes that recent immigrants shouldn't abandon or neglect their homeland's culture or language, because the language is an advantage and enables college students not to study a second language if they choose not to. Americanization ; Child's perspective ; Foreign languages ; Immigration ; Northeast Regional Library ; Oral history Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 interview Abolaji Amosu, born in Lagos, Nigeria in 2000, came to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at age 6 in 2006. In this interview, Amosu discusses her childhood in Nigeria, her family’s immigration into the U.S., and life growing up in the U.S. In addition to this, she mentions how her homeland’s culture affected her life, media and educational preferences, and social relationships. Finally, she shares her opinion on the interview, explains how she found the oral history project, and provides advice for fellow immigrants coming to the U.S. 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 https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh0151_irw0082_amosu_ohm.xml 2019oh0151_irw0082_amosu_ohm.xml https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7m901zgq96
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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
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Interview: Abolaji Amosu
Description
An account of the resource
Abolaji Amosu, born in Lagos, Nigeria in 2000, came to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at age 6 in 2006. In this interview, Amosu discusses her childhood in Nigeria, her family’s immigration into the U.S., and life growing up in the U.S. In addition to this, she mentions how her homeland’s culture affected her life, media and educational preferences, and social relationships. Finally, she shares her opinion on the interview, explains how she found the oral history project, and provides advice for fellow immigrants coming to the U.S.
Identifier
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2019oh0151_irw0082
Subject
The topic of the resource
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Families.
Immigrants
Education
College students--Social conditions
Universities and colleges.
Emigration and immigration.
Lagos (Nigeria)
Childhood
Format
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audio
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WCU, HIS 399/HON 451 Oral History of Philadelphia Immigration, Spring 2019
Date
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March 16, 2019
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Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries
Relation
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<a href="/exhibits/show/abolaji-amosu/fully-american" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Explore an exhibit on Abolaji's life</a>
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https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/e6bcdef6df439f0e631550e238d54b5c.jpg
506db67e47a2974a974fb53a83a9bfd1
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
Isatu Kallon
Interviewee
The person(s) being interviewed
Algassimu Bah
OHMS Object
https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh0155_irw0086_ohm.xml
Interview Keyword
Community
Religion
Food habits
Culture
Assimilation
Adaptation
Fire fighters
OHMS Object Text
5.2 2019oh0155_irw0086 Interview with Algassimu Bah, March 17, 2019 2019oh0155_irw0086 irw I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Immigrants Emigration and immigration. Families. Liberia Philadelphia (Pa.) Gambia Michigan State University Occupations Employment Austin (Tex.) Community Religion Food habits Culture Assimilation Adaptation Fire fighters Algassimu Bah Isatu Kallon 2019oh0155_irw0086_bah_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2019oh0155_irw0086_bah_acc001.mp3 Other NULL audio 1 Introduction My name is Isatu Kallon and I am interviewing today Algassimu Bah. Bah describes that he was born in Liberia and grew up during the country's civil war. He describes moving from Liberia to the United States when he was 11 years old, in 1998. They moved to Gambia before arriving in Michigan in 1999. Gambia ; Immigration journey ; Liberia ; Liberian Civil War (1989-1997) ; Michigan ; Refugees ; Second Liberian Civil War (1999-2003) Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 106 Living in Liberia So what were the condition in the country when you left? Bah describes the violence and lawlessness in Liberia during the civil war when he was a child. His family lived in Gambia for a year where he attended school and got settled, anticipating that they would soon immigrate to the United States. His father had immigrated to the United States in 1996 or 1997 and was able to prepare for the rest of the family's arrival. Bah immigrated with his mother, older brother and younger sister, traveling by airplane from Gambia to Senegal to the United States. Chain migration ; Gambia ; Immigration journey ; Liberian Civil War (1989-1997) ; Refugees ; Second Liberian Civil War (1999-2003) ; Senegal Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Liberia 6.335445, -9.441391 6 Liberia http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/651f70e32e14d7718998850512f10f59.jpg A technical in Monrovia during the Second Liberian Civil War 299 First impression upon arriving to the United States So how did other people treated you when they knew you guys were travelling to America? Bah recalls that people in Gambia treated his family kindly. He remembers his first impression of arrival in New York City and eating KFC, which he loved. His family came to Philadelphia and again everyone treated the family well. He quickly learned that he needed to speak English rather than his native language, Fula. He recalls how different it was not hearing the Muslim call to prayer or seeing mosques on every corner. But he observes that children are all the same in each country. First impressions ; Fula (Language) ; Immigration journey ; Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) ; Language acquisition ; Mosques ; Muslim call to prayer ; New York City (N.Y.) Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Gambia ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 476 Educational differences / Expectations of and reactions to the United States So education-wise, how was--like, how did the kids treated you at school? Bah recalls that when he began school in Michigan after moving from Philadelphia he was the first African kid in his middle school, so he kept quiet and did not run into any trouble. When in Africa, he imagined the United States would be like heaven with money growing on trees. In Michigan it first snowed in October, and he had never seen snow in his life or experienced such cold. Bah has few memories of school in Liberia as he only attended elementary school, but notes that parents beat children for poor grades ; there they had to stand in the school assembly and say prayers before going to class. He remembers the school in Michigan as very big, with students having their own lockers, rather than students staying in one room all day as they did in Liberia. He has attended middle and high school in the United States and attended Michigan State University studying Media Arts, interning at a TV station. Soccer and wrestling are other hobbies he enjoys. African ; Education ; Liberia ; Media arts ; Michigan State Spartans ; Scholarships ; Soccer ; Sports ; Teachers Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Michigan State University ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 1252 Current job So, um, where do you work right--presently? Bah describes the kinds of work he has done in Austin, Texas, including as a coach, substitute teacher, and currently as a firefighter in Manor, Texas. He talks about how much he loves helping other people, and shares that he volunteers for Habitat for Humanity. When he was younger, he was in the national society so he always wanted to be a firefighter. He likes teaching and helping the community. He says that he likes the hours at his work as a firefighter ; 24 hours of work and 48 hours off, which gives him plenty of time for other pursuits. How much work he did at the fire station will determine what he does on his day off. If they had more fire calls at work, he will just stay home on his day off and sleep, but if they had fewer calls, he will assist with coaching at the school, or playing soccer. Austin (Tex.) ; Austin, Texas ; Coaches ; Community ; Firefighters ; Habitat for Humanity ; Manor (Tex.) ; Manor, Texas ; Michigan State University ; Occupations ; Referees ; Soccer ; Substitute teachers ; Volunteers Austin (Tex.) ; Employment ; Fire fighters ; Immigrants ; Occupations 17 1471 Community and neighborhood Describe your neighborhood where you live. Bah says that since he moved to Texas, he has been living in the same area/neighborhood. Next to his two-bedroom house is a police station, which makes him feel safe. He likes the quiet of central Austin because when he comes home from work, he needs a quiet place to go to sleep. He says he talks to his neighbors once in a while. He shares that he has made friends with a neighbor from Spain who shares his love of soccer. Austin, Texas ; Neighbors ; Police stations ; Soccer ; Spain ; World Cup Austin (Tex.) ; Community ; Immigrants 17 1580 Hopes and dreams / Religion So what are some of your hopes and dreams in the future? Bah shares that he aspires to be promoted within the ranks of firefighters, as there are different positions including captain, or lieutenant, which he hopes to be in the next ten years. He also thinks about owning his own business or moving back to Africa if possible. He talks about how important his Islamic religion is in his life. He reports that he fasts during Ramadan and prays his five daily prayers, except if he is fighting fires, and goes to the mosque every Friday. Fasting ; Firefighters ; Islam ; Mosques ; Muslim ; Prayers ; Ramadan ; Religion Austin (Tex.) ; Employment ; Fire fighters ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Religion 17 1731 Relationship with his family So describe your relationship with your family. Bah describes his relationship with his family is as close. After the family moved to Michigan, his older brother moved to Texas and he and the rest of his family followed. It takes him three hours to travel to where his mother lives and he visits her often. During the interview, he is in Philadelphia visiting family and friends. Detroit, Michigan ; Texas Austin (Tex.) ; Detroit (Mich.) ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 1822 Muslim holidays and ritual celebrations So what holidays do you celebrate? Although Bah states that there are not many holidays in the Muslim religion, he goes on to describe Eid Mubarak, the Muslim holiday that is celebrated after breaking the fasting during Ramadan. During this time is when everyone comes together to cook, eat, and celebrate. He compares it to the American holiday of Thanksgiving. He says that for Eid, everyone calls or sees family members who they haven't seen in a long time. He explains that he fasts during Ramadan from sunset to sundown, which is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The pillars are fasting, believing in God, prayers, going to Mecca and Zak-at, and donating to charity. He discusses that he has done four of the five pillars and that going to Mecca is the only one he has left. Christianity ; Eid Mubarak ; Fasting ; Mecca ; Muslims ; Pillars of Islam ; Ramadan ; Religion ; Zak-at Immigrants ; Religion 21.410319, 39.859569 17 Mecca, Saudi Arabia, where Bah hopes to go for Hajj. https://blog.britishmuseum.org/hajj-pilgrimage-to-mecca/ Hajj, where Bah wishes to go in the future. 2008 Feelings about the United States / African food So looking back, how do you feel about the United States? Do you regret it or no-- Bah states that coming to the United States was the best thing that ever happened to him. Although he laughs and says he was joking, he said coming here has opened new doors and opportunities. He does not know what would have happened if he had not immigrated. He describes some African food, but says that he is not the perfect cook. He lists several African foods, including cassava leaf, potato leaf, and peanut butter stew, which he knows how to cook. His mom sometimes cooks for him when she comes to visit, and his brother’s wife cooks African dishes as well. He jokes that he is ready to get married so his wife can cook African cuisine. Cassava leaf ; Hakor bantara ; Hakor putteh ; Jollof rice ; Mafeh Tiger ; Peanut butter soup ; Potato leaf ; Senegal Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Food habits ; Immigrants 17 2192 United States citizenship So are you a U.S citizen? Bah talks about how he became a citizen in either 2007 or 2008. His family arrived with a visa that his father obtained because he worked for the United States Embassy. Then his father helped the rest of the family come here to the United States. After they arrived, they went through the process of naturalization in which he took a test to become a citizen. American Embassy ; Citizenship ; Liberia ; Naturalization ; Visa Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 2261 Challenges in the first six months in the U.S. So what challenges did you face in the first six months? Bah says that the primary challenge upon immigrating was the weather, which was already cold once he arrived in Michigan. He had to acquire snow boots and a heavy jacket. Another challenge was the lack of fresh African foods. His mom bought the ingredients, but it did not taste the same because it was not fresh. In Detroit where he grew up, kids misbehaved and did not get beaten up, in contrast to back home where the teachers hit students if they misbehaved. As a soccer lover, he was surprised that in Michigan people played soccer and other sports inside homes because it was too cold outside. He was surprised by taking a school bus. The way houses were built in the U.S. is different than Liberia. African cuisine ; Detroit, Michigan ; Liberia ; Michigan ; New York ; School buses ; Soccer ; Weather Detroit (Mich.) ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 2545 Advice and solving problems / Comparing Detroit, Michigan and Liberia So who do you go to for advice and solving problems? Bah describes that when he moved here, he went to his dad for advice or his teachers since they have been here longer and they knew more about the culture than he did. He said in Detroit most of the kids in the school were black so there was less discrimination, except when they asked to copy his homework and he refused, then they called him “African booty scratcher." ; He adapted to the name calling and didn't get into fights. He comments on how in the United States he had to do homework after school, and could not run around and play soccer. His father gave him other reading to do as well, or he had to watch the news with him. Bullying ; Detroit, Michigan ; Discrimination ; Harassment ; Homework ; Name-calling ; Schools ; Soccer Detroit (Mich.) ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 2815 Cultural adaptation and lifestyle changes So what lifestyle changes have you made since you came to the U.S.? Bah says he learned to adapt with school and kids in school because they did things differently. In Detroit, he ate in the cafeteria. In contrast, in Liberia children bought food in the street or people came to the school’s fence to sell food. Here, he eats at the table rather than on the ground. He also changed the way he dresses. When driving here you needed to be careful he said, and do not argue with the cops. He observes that some of these changes are because he has grown up, not necessarily related to emigrating from Liberia to the United States. Adaptation ; Assimilation ; Culture ; Detroit, Michigan ; Liberia ; Police ; Schools ; Teachers Detroit (Mich.) ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 2910 Cultural differences Which place have you found that reminds you most of your home country? Bah reminisces that Philadelphia and New York reminded him of home in Liberia because of the way the houses are built closer to each other and how people come out to play outside, as compared to Texas where the houses are far apart from each other. He has been to Philadelphia visiting family and friends, and when he first arrived to the U.S. He said the hardest thing for him to get used to was the weather. The summer in Texas is way too hot for him, but that reminds him of Africa. Adaptation ; America ; Assimilation ; Culture ; Food ; New York ; Schools ; Sports ; Texas Austin (Tex.) ; Detroit (Mich.) ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 30.273938, -97.742510 17 Austin (Tex.) 3131 Speaking with an accent / Thoughts on returning to Africa And to get used to, I guess the people. Bah talks about the challenges he has experienced when native born Americans can't understand him due to his accent. Bah says he did not care, because he was there to get an education and avoided getting in fights. He recalls " ; embarrassing" ; classmates who made fun of his accent by excelling at soccer and running faster than them. He again discusses the weather, both the cold in Michigan and the heat in Texas, not liking either. His final complaint is traffic and the increase in toll roads. He then reflects on why he might in the future want to move to Liberia, perhaps when he retires, if Liberia is in a more stable state. Adaptation ; African culture ; Assimilation ; Culture ; Education ; English language ; Michigan State University ; Soccer ; Traffic Austin (Tex.) ; Detroit (Mich.) ; Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants 17 3486 Involvement with the African Student Union at Michigan State University Is there anything else you would like to share that I haven't asked you already? Bah closes by praising the Spartans of Michigan State University, and mentions being involved with the African Student Union (ASU). In high school he hung out with African American friends, but in college he began hanging out with African students and started dressing like an African. He enjoyed college by being active with international students and playing sports. He notes that there were many Nigerian students. He discusses the events the ASU held at MSU, including eating African foods, having fashion shows, and hosting a gala. African culture ; African Student Union ; College life ; Ghana ; Michigan State University ; Nigeria College environment ; College students--Social conditions ; Detroit (Mich.) ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Immigrants ; Universities and colleges. 42.701895, -84.482075 17 Michigan State University https://msu.edu/~asu/ Michigan State University African Student Union interview Algassimu Bah and his family left Liberia when he was 11 years old, they went to Gambia and later, at 13, he and his family relocated to the United States because of the war. His father wanted the best education for him and his siblings. When they were about to leave for the United States, people were really nice to them because they wanted them not to forget about them when they arrived. The way he imagined the USA was different as compared to reality. Back home when he heard of America, he thought of no suffering, have anything you want, as if it is a second heaven. 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 https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh0155_irw0086_bah_ohm.xml 2019oh0155_irw0086_bah_ohm.xml https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7m901zgq96
Indexed By
Isatu Kallon
Sort Priority
0005
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: Algassimu Bah
Description
An account of the resource
Algassimu Bah and his family left Liberia when he was 11 years old, they went to Gambia and later, at 13, he and his family relocated to the United States because of the war. His father wanted the best education for him and his siblings. When they were about to leave for the United States, people were really nice to them because they wanted them not to forget about them when they arrived. The way he imagined the USA was different as compared to reality. Back home when he heard of America, he thought of no suffering, have anything you want, as if it is a second heaven.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
2019oh0155_irw0086
Subject
The topic of the resource
Immigrants
Emigration and immigration.
Families.
Liberia
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Gambia
Michigan State University
Occupations
Employment
Austin (Tex.)
Format
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audio
Publisher
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WCU, HIS 399/HON 451 Oral History of Philadelphia Immigration, Spring 2019
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
March 17, 2019
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries
Relation
A related resource
<a href="/exhibits/show/algassimu-bah/firefighter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Explore an exhibit on Algassimu's life</a>
-
https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/630d6805e585d1ef15a287d2f8bfa6e7.jpg
b9d5bc9e168bd05999d2053164af6cae
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
Bryce Evans
Interviewee
The person(s) being interviewed
Ana Maria Roldan
OHMS Object
https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh0153_irw0084_ohm.xml
Interview Keyword
Children
Lawrence (Mass.)
Culture
Community
Food habits
Abuse
OHMS Object Text
5.3 2019oh0153_irw0084 Interview with Ana Maria Roldan, March 16, 2019 2019oh0153_irw0084 irw I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Philly Immigration Childhood Emigration and immigration. Families. Immigrants Philadelphia (Pa.) Puerto Rico. Santurce (San Juan, P.R.) Education Boston (Mass.) Employment Occupations Children Lawrence (Mass.) Culture Community Food habits Abuse Ana Maria Roldan Bryce Evans 2019oh0153_irw0084_roldan_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2019oh0153_irw0084_roldan_acc001.mp3 Other NULL audio 6 Introduction / Moving to the mainland United States from Puerto Rico Alright. So I am here with Ana Maria Roldan in the, uh, Lillian Marrero Branch Library in Philadelphia. Roldan explains how she came to the mainland United States after living in Puerto Rico for the first 13 or 14 years of her life. She recalls that she moved all up and down the East Coast, from Boston to South Carolina and then how she finally ended up in Philadelphia for the last 9 years. Boston (Mass.) ; Brothers ; Children ; Fathers ; Grandfathers ; Grandmothers ; Kidnapping ; Marriage ; Mothers ; Moving ; North Carolina ; Parental figures ; Syracuse (N.Y.) ; Uncles Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Puerto Rico. 39.9928, -75.1424 17 Lillian Marrero Branch Library, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 237 Parent figures and sibling relationships What can you tell me about your grandparents growing up? Roldan discusses the parent figures in her life, her grandma and her grandpa who were very prominent adult figures for her while she was growing up. She talks about some of the most important life lessons that her grandpa taught her, like how to be strong and to not let any man dictate what she does. She also discusses her relationships with all of her siblings on both of her parents' sides and how, as the oldest of them, she protected them and cared for them when they were injured or sick. Asthma ; Handiwork ; Orphans Childhood ; Families. ; Puerto Rico. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/87c62b1911118617486e9660d332975f.png " ; Ana Maria Roldan's Grandparents," ; c. 1980s. Courtesy of Ana Maria Roldan 655 Life in rural Puerto Rico Um, so what was a typical day--before you decided to move over to Massachusetts, what was a typical day like in your hometown? Roldan remembers her childhood growing up in the countryside of Puerto Rico. She recalls how she used to pick fresh mangoes and wild berries off of the trees on her land and how it was always warm in Puerto Rico. The weather in Boston was a shock to Roldan since in Puerto Rico, it's mostly warm and she wasn't used to the cold weather. She briefly talks about what school and the education system was like back in Puerto Rico. Mango ; Santurce, Puerto Rico ; Swimming ; Tropical weather Childhood ; Education ; Families. ; Puerto Rico. ; Santurce (San Juan, P.R.) 18.4665, -66.1057 17 Santurce, Puerto Rico 1062 High school education in Boston September came. I went to school. I was lost, it was very different, I didn't have no friends. Roldan remembers what her high school experience was like in Boston and how she went to three different high schools until she was finally able to graduate and get her high school diploma, even though it was kind of a bumpy road getting there. She recalls that South Boston High School was a dangerous school, with police needing to escort the children from the school bus, and fights regularly breaking out among students of various racial and ethnic groups. Because of this dangerous environment, she transferred to Madison Park High School. She then talks about a couple of the part time jobs that she held while she was finishing up school, like working in a nursing home on the weekends and then at Harvey Industry where they made windows. She talks about how she met her now-ex-husband and had her two kids, Joanna and Abraham. Boston, Massachusetts ; Children ; Husbands ; Jamaica Plain High School ; Language acquisition ; Madison Park High School ; Marriage ; South Boston High School Boston (Mass.) ; Childhood ; Education ; Families. ; Immigrants 42.3331, -71.0449 17 South Boston High School https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/mt/2016/03/AP_578859834926/lead_720_405.jpg Bus Segregation, Boston, MA, September 14th, 1974. The Atlantic 1401 Struggles living with a tough mother And when I was raising them, I raise them with love, not like the way my mom used to hit me a lot. Roldan explains how she grew up with her mother who was a very tough person and who would hit and otherwise abuse her children if they acted out. These experiences with her mother are what drew Roldan closer to her grandma as a mother figure because she was treated with respect and kindness from her. Roldan says that even in her mother's old age, it's hard for her to go back to her and stay with her because she knows that her mother will still treat her the same way as she did when she was a child. Abuse ; Accidents ; Butterfly stitches ; Divorce Childhood ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 1680 Dealing with other abuse in her family What can I say? Roldan recalls how she had to intervene in her daughter and her granddaughter's life because of her daughter's abusive boyfriend. She had to go to Lawrence, Massachusetts to make sure that he wasn't a threat to her family and she had to keep them safe, no matter what. Now that he is no longer a threat to her family, her daughter is able to work and try to go to college so that she can financially support her daughter. Abuse ; Billing departments ; Diabetes ; Fathers ; Granddaughters ; Hospitals ; Lawrence, Massachusetts ; Psychology ; Trains Abuse ; Children ; Education ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Lawrence (Mass.) 42.7070, -71.1631 17 Lawrence, Massachusetts 1976 First time in Philadelphia So what was your first day like in Philadelphia? Roldan recounts her first couple of days in Philadelphia, when she and her partner stayed with her partner's cousin while she was supposed to be visiting Puerto Rico. Roldan describes taking the bus and elevated train in Philadelphia, getting to know the city, learning to call it " ; Center City" ; instead of " ; downtown." ; She remembers going to the PennDot's Drivers License Center to become official residents in Philadelphia. She also talks about some of her favorite places and historical monuments she has seen in Philadelphia so far and what else she wants to go see in the future. " ; Partner in life" ; ; " ; The old city" ; ; American History ; Benjamin Franklin ; Center City (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; City Hall (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Concerts ; Drivers License Department ; Drug addiction ; Elevated rail ; Independence Hall ; Liberty Bell ; Marijuana ; Netflix ; Old City (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Orianna St. (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Parkway Central Library ; Paul Revere ; PennDot ; Rocky Statue ; San Juan, PR. ; Social Security Disability ; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) ; Swann Fountain ; Syracuse, New York ; White House Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Puerto Rico. ; San Juan (P.R.) ; Syracuse (N.Y.) 2526 Museums in Philadelphia / Current employment What are--what's the one museum you really want to go see? Roldan talks about some of the places in Philadelphia that she would like to go to soon. Some of these places include the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the African American Museum because she loves history and the feeling of " ; traveling through time" ; when she looks at all the paintings. She explains that she currently collects Social Security Disability Insurance, but also has a part time job at Amazon, directing where packages will be delivered, and describes the work she does in the warehouse. She has made some new friends working at Amazon, which is good for her. She says that as a child she wanted to become a doctor or MP (military police) by joining the military reserve. Amazon, Inc. ; Arch Street and 7th Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Bin audits ; Doctors ; Military Police (MP) ; Social Security Disability (SSDI) ; The African American Museum in Philadelphia ; The Philadelphia Museum of Art Employment ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 39.9656, -75.1810 17 The Philadelphia Museum of Art http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/19ffc0d5e108e57e8ed87019b7740651.jpeg " ; Rocky Statue," ; Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia 2776 Living in Philadelphia / Favorite holidays How did--once you finally moved into your own, uh, apartment or house--was it a house? Roldan talks about how Philadelphia looks a lot different than Boston because of the rowhouses in Philadelphia, and that this was a big surprise for her. She also explains a little about where she and her partner hope to move and how her job commute fits in with their current life. She describes her favorite holidays in Puerto Rico and how holidays, such as Three Kings Day, are much different in Puerto Rico compared to other parts of the United States. Boston, Massachusetts ; Conshohocken (Pa.) ; Conshohocken, Pennsylvania ; King of Prussia (Pa.) ; King of Prussia, Pennsylvania ; Las Vegas (Nev.) ; Las Vegas, Nevada ; Manayunk (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Mother's Day ; Rowhouses ; The 3 Kings ; Three Kings Day Boston (Mass.) ; Employment ; Holidays ; Immigrants ; Occupations ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 3114 How Philadelphia is similar to Puerto Rico You said that living in Philadelphia, it's kind of like Puerto Rico and the States together. Roldan explains how Philadelphia and Puerto Rico are similar, with Puerto Rican culture thriving. She mentions neighbors playing dominoes outside, flying Puerto Rican flags, and the Philadelphia Puerto Rican Parade. She describes walking one block and seeing about 5 Puerto Rican flags waving from houses. She says that a man on 3rd Street cooks and sells barbecue pork on the street in the same way it is prepared in Puerto Rico. The smell of burning wood on the street reminds her of the smell of Puerto Rico. This culture makes her feel proud, and it feels like she never left home. Boston did not have a similar feeling of a strong Puerto Rican culture. Barbecue pork ; Boston, Massachusetts ; Dominoes ; El Barrio (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Independence Day ; Mt. Rushmore ; Philadelphia Puerto Rican Parade ; United States citizenship ; United States Constitution ; Washington Monument ; Yellowstone Park Boston (Mass.) ; Community ; Culture ; Food habits ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/443c0ba1ad77cd483ababb021c28439e.jpg " ; Puerto Rican Parade," ; Uwishunu Philadelphia, Sept. 20th, 2015 3518 Staying in touch with family How do you keep in contact with, uh, your family that's still over in Puerto Rico? Roldan reports that she calls her father to keep in touch, and uses Facebook to communicate with other family members. She writes and texts her family still in Arecibo, PR. She mentions a cousin that recently died. She also says she has an aunt in Washington state who passed away. Arecibo, Puerto Rico ; Communication ; Facebook Arecibo (P.R.) ; Families. ; Immigrants 18.4442, -66.6464 17 Arecibo, Puerto Rico 3645 Improvements to Philadelphia / Family staying in Puerto Rico Um, what surprised you the most about Philadelphia when you came here? Roldan was most surprised by the number of Puerto Ricans and the dominance of Puerto Rican culture in Philadelphia. She thinks there are too many bars in Philadelphia. Roldan mentions the current mayor of Philadelphia, Jim Kenney, and credits him with improving aspects of the city, including the economy, street cleaning, and drug abuse. She then goes on to talk about her family in Puerto Rico, and while they would love to be closer to her, they are so closely tied to Puerto Rico and can't leave. Bars ; Center City (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Drug addiction ; Higher rates ; HIV/AIDS ; Jim Kenney (Philadelphia mayor, 2015-present) ; Market Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Mayors ; Penn's Landing (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Puerto Rican migration Community ; Culture ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) https://www.phila.gov/2018-05-23-mayor-kenney-participates-in-mayor-exchange-program-in-puerto-rico/ Mayor Kenny participates in " ; Mayor Exchange," ; City of Philadelphia, zmsy 23rd, 2018 3906 Final reflections on her immigration experience Um, if--is there anything you would change about your, your journey into the States? While Roldan has had a positive experience overall, she says that if she could have done anything different, it would have been to not leave her grandparents behind in Puerto Rico, but she respects that her mother made the best choice for her. Other than that, there isn't much else that Roldan would change about her migrant experience. She has found a home in Philadelphia. Boston, Massachusetts ; Puerto Rican migration ; School systems Boston (Mass.) ; Community ; Culture ; Education ; Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Philadelphia (Pa.) interview Ana Maria Roldan has been living a life full of love, ambition, and hard work to get to where she is now in Philadelphia. From moving away from Puerto Rico when she was 13 years old to Boston, and then up and down the east coast of the United States, and then most recently settling in Philly, she has worked towards her own education and starting a family. After graduating high school in Massachusetts, she married, had 2 children, divorced, and then met her “partner in life,” with whom she lives with happily. Roldan faced challenges with family court, leaving her beloved scenery and family in Puerto Rico, starting school in a brand-new culture, the death of her grandparents who she was incredibly close to, and then trying to find a community in Philadelphia that she swears is just like Puerto Rico. She has worked to overcome all of her struggles so far in life and is excited to move to another part of Philadelphia in the near future. 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 2019oh0153_irw0084_roldan_ohm.xml 2019oh0153_irw0084_roldan_ohm.xml https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7m901zgq96
Indexed By
Bryce Evans
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: Ana Maria Roldan
Description
An account of the resource
Ana Maria Roldan has been living a life full of love, ambition, and hard work to get to where she is now in Philadelphia. From moving away from Puerto Rico when she was 13 years old to Boston, and then up and down the east coast of the United States, and then most recently settling in Philly, she has worked towards her own education and starting a family. After graduating high school in Massachusetts, she married, had 2 children, divorced, and then met her “partner in life,” with whom she lives with happily. Roldan faced challenges with family court, leaving her beloved scenery and family in Puerto Rico, starting school in a brand-new culture, the death of her grandparents who she was incredibly close to, and then trying to find a community in Philadelphia that she swears is just like Puerto Rico. She has worked to overcome all of her struggles so far in life and is excited to move to another part of Philadelphia in the near future.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
2019oh0153_irw0084
Subject
The topic of the resource
Childhood
Emigration and immigration.
Families.
Immigrants
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Puerto Rico.
Santurce (San Juan, P.R.)
Education
Boston (Mass.)
Employment
Occupations
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
audio
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
March 16, 2019
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries
Relation
A related resource
<a href="/exhibits/show/anamaria-roldan/puerto-rico">Explore an exhibit about Ana Maria's life.</a>
-
https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/8bc9db534b7aca5f6134ebc451c8c84e.jpg
1cabfe0585263e561aa737e157523456
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
Judy Levin
Interviewee
The person(s) being interviewed
Anna Aleski
Interview Keyword
Older people
Crime.
Great Depression
Marriage
World War, 1914-1918
Childbirth
Neighborhoods
OHMS Object Text
5.1 2017oh282_irw050 Interview with Anna Aleski, June 7, 1982 2017oh282_irw050 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.)--Social conditions. Employment Families. Emigration and immigration. Immigrants Coal mine accidents Depressions--1929 Older people Crime. Great Depression Marriage World War, 1914-1918 Childbirth Neighborhoods Anna Aleski Judy Levin 2017oh282_irw050_aleski_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2017oh282_irw050_aleski_acc001.mp3 Other audio 0 Interview introduction When I have to put double locks on the door, now it's bad because too many robberies, too many killings. You don't want me to say that? Aleski talks about how contemporary Philadelphia can be very dangerous. Where she lives she has to have double locks on her door because she feels unsafe, and thinks that potential criminals do not care if someone is elderly or not. They will rob and murder anyone, she says. She notes that it was not like this in 1916 when she came to Philadelphia. Wilkes-Barre (Pa.) ; Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Crime. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 17 82 Working as a file cutter When, when did you come to Philadelphia? Aleski explains that her family moved to Philadelphia in 1916 from Wilkes Barre, a coal mining region, where her family had first immigrated to in 1914. When she moved to Philadelphia she got a job as a file cutter, getting paid $5.50 a week, but the second week she had to give the foreman $5 of her pay, as a “tip” for getting hired in the first place and in order to have better placement within the factory. Coal mining ; Employment offices ; File cutters ; Machine operators ; Wilkes-Barre (Pa.) ; Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/228fba0d17486a80a8dcda564afda9d9.jpg Young men working in coal mines like Aleski's two brothers did. This was a very dangerous place to work ; one brother was killed in the mines and the other lost both of his legs. 200 " ; It was tough back then." ; I work till I got married up there. Aleski shares that she lived with her brother and his six children in Wilkes Barre until his leg got cut off in the mine in 1916. At that point, she moved to Philadelphia and got her job as a file cutter. The second woman being interviewed recounts that she immigrated from Poland to Trenton in 1913, then moved to Burlington, New Jersey in 1917 to work in the silk mill, and then moved to Philadelphia in 1949 to work as a housekeeper. The second interviewee calls it a “tough life” ; once she got thrown off a trolley car in Trenton because she did not have five cents to pay the fare. Burlington (N.J.) ; Burlington, New Jersey ; Mining accidents ; Polish Americans ; Silk mills ; Trenton (N.J.) ; Trenton, New Jersey Coal mine accidents ; Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/thumbnails/409abd87dffae6ed3299c424b2707c7a.jpg Aleski's friend was thrown off a trolley car in Trenton because she did not have the five cents fare. 406 Working as a housekeeper When I, uh, I was only 14 years old and I couldn't get a job in Wilkes-Barre, that was coal mine. Aleski recalls getting a job working for a butcher and his family, the Sundays. She worked for them for years and eventually worked in the butcher shop, earning $5.50 per month. She recounts an anecdote about finding 50 cents in the Sundays’ house, and giving it to her boss. She remembers walking to work rather than spending a dime on the trolley fare. Butchers ; Domestic servants ; Domestic work ; Domestic workers ; Housework ; Wilkes-Barre (Pa.) ; Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Employment ; Families. 17 613 The Great Depression / The perils of growing old In 1921 was a depression. People have no job. Aleski discusses living during the Great Depression in Philadelphia. The two women discuss how living as an elderly person was extremely tough during that time because there was no pension or Social Security. People who had no food went to a charity to get soup as a meal. Aleski switches to talking about how welfare and pension systems function in the present day. She and the other interviewee complain about “crooks” and drug dealers in Philadelphia, wishing there was capital punishment. As this segment ends, the second interviewee asks to be done with the conversation, while Aleski continues. Great Depression ; Pensions ; Senior citizens ; Social Security ; Welfare Crime. ; Depressions--1929 ; Employment ; Families. ; Older people 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/thumbnails/b7be32bbc3151ad62a376641b2366cff.jpg During the Great Depression, people would wait in lines for soup. This is at the Kensington Soup Society in Philadelphia, PA. 939 Moving from Wilkes-Barre to Philadelphia Okay, so you came to the city in nineteen-- Aleski recalls a terrible storm which collapsed the mine where her brother worked in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. She did not have a job in Wilkes-Barre. She and her brother then moved to Philadelphia, where they lived with their landlords. Their house was extremely small and everything had to be done by hand. She compares the way of life as " ; working like the Indians" ; . Chain migration ; Coal mining ; Cyclones ; Hurricanes ; Wilkes-Barre (Pa.) ; Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Dwellings ; Employment ; Families. ; Housing. 41.245, -75.881 17 Coordinates of Wilkes Barre, PA. This is where Aleski lived with her brother before moving to Philadelphia. 1050 Aleski gets married 1920 I got married, and I have 7 children. Aleski recalls that she got married and had 7 children of her own, but also raised her goddaughter. The household was living with 10 people on only $35 a week from her husband's job. Her husband worked as a glazer in a shop that made leather shoes. Aleski learned sewing to make the children clothing and provide for them. She cut her own patterns from paper. She comments on how her children are doing in the present day. Arthritis ; Glazers ; Godmothers ; Home sewing ; Orphans Employment ; Families. ; Marriage 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/thumbnails/6ea0d52a3efe25ecd260c9eaf510bd6a.jpg The type of neighborhood in Philadelphia that Aleski would live in with her husband, seven children, and goddaughter. 1188 Visiting Poland I have my sister in Poland. Aleski talks about her older sister who helped raise her and still lives in Poland. She has visited Poland to see her sister twice, first in 1963. She discusses how she is happy she moved to the United States and became a citizen, and thinks people today have good lives. Citizenship ; Family ; Naturalization ; Poland ; Polish Americans--Philadelphia Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 1262 Now vs. then I love it, only like I say, those young people go nuts anymore. Aleski discusses how much times have changed from when she was growing up in Philadelphia. She says that the kids today are too greedy, nothing like they used to be. Modernization ; Young people ; Youth Crime. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 17 1323 On meeting her husband How old were you when you got married? Aleski recalls that she met her husband, Peter, when he was in Philadelphia for a funeral. He was a cousin of someone with whom she shared a house. He went back to Massachusetts because he needed to register for the draft during World War I. They wrote to each other, with him sending her letters to the machine shop where she worked as a file cutter. She remembers receiving a card with a sailor and a girl kissing in the picture, but she was bothered by this. Eventually she responded to his card, and he broke off a relationship with another woman who his mother wanted him to marry. They eventually got married. They spent 39 years together before he died of a heart attack. Fitchburg (Ma.) ; Fitchburg, Massachusetts ; Heart attacks ; Military draft ; Servicemen ; World War I Employment ; Families. ; Marriage ; World War, 1914-1918 42.583, -71.802 17 Fitchburg, Massachusetts, where Aleski's husband was from. He went back after meeting her to register for the draft there. 1652 Living frugally in the Port Richmond neighborhood What did your husband--where did your husband work? Aleski discusses her life in Port Richmond, Philadelphia where she raised her children. She had 7 children. 2 were born in hospitals and 5 were born at home with help of a midwife. The midwife would charge $10 and stay for a week, whereas the doctor would charge $15. The midwife was educated and someone from the neighborhood. She also touches on how hard it was to live on their small income, and she could not purchase nice things for her children. Aramingo Avenue (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Birth certificates ; Finances ; Home births ; Lehigh Avenue (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Midwife ; Midwives ; Port Richmond (Philadelphia, Pa.) Childbirth ; Families. ; Health. ; Neighborhoods ; Physicians ; Poverty 39.981, -75.117 17 Corner of E Lehigh Ave and Aramingo Ave in Philadelphia, PA, 19125. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/thumbnails/d0b8d739eed2448cd77c6ba0bde20313.jpg A photo showing Kensington and Lehigh Avenue. Aleski lived on Lehigh Avenue. 1869 Neighbors were much better than now Did people, did people take care of each other when they were sick then instead-- Aleski remembers that her neighbors in the early 1900s were much more friendly than in the present day. They stuck together and all took care of each other in hard times. Life was tough for immigrants, especially if they could not speak English well. She remembers going to night school where others called her “Greenie” because she could not speak English. She recalls working at a cigar factory in Camden, New Jersey, where an Irish woman made fun of her language skills. She liked living in the Port Richmond neighborhood in Philadelphia around many other Polish speakers. Camden (N.J.) ; Camden, New Jersey ; Cigar factory ; European ; Poland ; Polish ; Polish Americans--Philadelphia ; Telephone booths Communities. ; Families. ; Immigrants ; Neighborhoods ; Neighbors 17 interview Anna Aleski (born circa 1902) emigrated from Poland to Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania and eventually moved with her brother to Philadelphia. She recalls in this 1982 interview details from her work life as a teenager, her family life as she raised eight children in the predominantly Polish neighborhood of Port Richmond, and struggles of living in poverty and assimilating into American culture. 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=2017oh282_irw050_aleski_ohm.xml 2017oh282_irw050_aleski_ohm.xml https://oralhistory.uky.edu/catalog/xt7m901zgq96
Indexed By
Jordin Glover
Sort Priority
0003
OHMS Object
https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2017oh282_irw050_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 Aleski
Description
An account of the resource
Anna Aleski (born circa 1902) emigrated from Poland to Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania and eventually moved with her brother to Philadelphia. She recalls in this 1982 interview details from her work life as a teenager, her family life as she raised eight children in the predominantly Polish neighborhood of Port Richmond, and struggles of living in poverty and assimilating into American culture.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
2017oh282_irw050
Subject
The topic of the resource
Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions.
Employment
Families.
Emigration and immigration.
Immigrants
Coal mine accidents
Depressions--1929
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
audio
-
https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/495ed57dc7c52795b4c1e0babdce9310.png
c5228c9148120576183103807343ee64
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 Farris
Anna Van Dyke
Josephine Glowacki
Cecilia Boucher
Interview Keyword
Working conditions
Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions.
Education
Childhood
OHMS Object Text
5.1 2017oh271_irw039 Interview with Anna Farris, Anna Van Dyke, Josephine Glowacki, and Cecilia Boucher, October 22, 1981 2017oh271_irw039 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 Families. Child labor. Emigration and immigration. Immigrants Labor disputes Labor movement Labor unions Marriage Working conditions Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. Education Childhood Anna Farris Anna Van Dyke Josephine Glowacki Cecilia Boucher Charles Hardy 2017oh271_irw039_farris_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2017oh271_irw039_farris_acc001.mp3 Other audio 1 Introductions, schooling, and first jobs --and age, if that's not being too personal? Hardy collects names and ages of the women he is interviewing: Anna (Bahleda) Farris, 72 ; Anna (Wagner) Van Dyke, 77 ; and Josephine Glowacki, 72. Glowacki states her parents emigrated from Poland, and she was born and raised in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania until the mines closed in 1939 and she moved to Philadelphia. Van Dyke shares she got a job at age 14 and went to continuation school until age 16. They were able to get jobs just by walking down the street and seeing the sign at 16 years old. Their pay ranged from three to six dollars per week. Careers ; Carlisle (Pa.) ; Carlisle, Pennsylvania ; Continuation schools ; Jobs ; Kensington High School (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Mount Carmel (Pa.) ; Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania ; Polish Americans--Philadelphia ; Silk mills ; Vine Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Work Child labor. ; Childhood ; Education ; Employment ; Families. 39.984221, -75.126332 17 Kensington High School: 2051 East Cumberland St. Philadelphia (Pa.) http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/3cfa4fd149806bd3f5738ef7ad7497e6.jpg " ; Kensington High School," ; July 25, 1917. PhillyHistory.org, a project of the Philadelphia Department of Records. 199 Challenges for immigrants to find work I had the same experience like you, my mother and father were the first from Europe. Farris's parents came to Ohio from Slovakia in 1906 or 1907. Her father, a machinist, came to Philadelphia and got a job as a sheet metal worker at Budd's and then Durham's Body Works, where he worked for 35 years until he died. Careers ; Durham's Body Works ; First generation immigrants ; Jobs ; Sheet metal work ; Slovakia ; Steel work ; The Budd Company ; Work Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 370 Van Dyke’s father's adoption and life in Philadelphia My father was born in Boston but his parents came from France. Van Dyke’s father was born in Boston, although his parents were from France and lived in New York. His father took sick while in Boston working on the canal, and eventually died there, while his mother gave birth to him there while caring for him. He was adopted at six weeks old by a family who came to Philadelphia. As an adult, his mother wrote to the Boston Times and found out that he had a brother. He worked as a machinist at Budd's and another place she cannot recall the name of. Boston (Ma.) ; Boston, Massachusetts ; Machinists ; Migration ; New York City (N.Y.) ; New York City, New York ; The Budd Company Adoption ; Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants 40.008417, -75.169083 17 The Budd Company 488 Role of trade unions Did either, did either of your fathers ever tell you what it was--you know, what, what their work was like? The women's fathers worked very hard and long hours. They note how especially hard the bosses were and how strict the rules were. When they worked they had to do what the floor lady said. One woman’s husband was a toolmaker who worked at 17th Street and Cambria Street. They note unions and the difference between working conditions then and the conditions now. 17th Street and Cambria Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Electric Service Supply ; Work conditions ; Working conditions Employment ; Labor disputes ; Labor movement ; Labor unions 17 570 First jobs You're, uh--I want to include you in on this. Cecilia Boucher joins the conversation giving her name and age of 74. She says she worked at the Bayuk Cigar Factory, then in a rope factory, and later at a candy factory. As a child at 14 she walked in and asked for a job and started work as a winder, but only worked during vacation before going back to school. Farris recalls having to lie about her age to get work when she was only 14, saying she was 19. They talk about how easy it was to get a job but how very hard the work was. Boucher shares she also worked at Plumb where they made hatchets and hammers. 3rd Street and Spruce Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Bayuk Cigars, Inc. ; Introduction ; Thomas Henry and Sons Child labor ; Childhood ; Employment 17 728 Working conditions Well what, what were the conditions like in, in the different fields? Continuing to discuss jobs, Van Dyke says the silk mill was the best place she ever worked. She was a quill winder, but had to operate many spools at a time, which made her keep “on her toes.” At Pine Tree, which produced silk, velvet, and satin, she worked her way up to cleaner and then weaver, which paid better. At Pine Tree, Van Dyke worked 7 am to 6 pm with no lunch. Farris, who worked at Curtis, remembers having no coffee breaks, but only bathroom breaks, although during the lunch hour they could go to the nice rest room on the 7th floor, which had a bank and books to read. During work, the workers would be sent home for talking during their shifts. Bayard's ; Bayuk Cigars, Inc. ; Dan and Allegheny Street ; Job tasks ; Parental fear ; Pine Tree Silk Mill ; Silk mills ; Weaving ; Women in the work field ; Work conditions ; Work hours ; Working conditions Employment 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/aac219a3cba633faf18c9da2bdc74609.jpg " ; Pine Tree Silk Mill," ; 1909. Robert M Skaler Postcard Collection, Athenaeum of Philadelphia. 966 Outlook on work life So then I says, well--then they said, " ; Well, what else do you know?" ; Boucher tried to get a job as a cigar maker but was told " ; we have machines for that now" ; . Curtis had a lot of Scottish people working at that factory. The women describe their attitudes toward work as " ; you had to do it so you did it." ; One father told his daughter she had to pay him back for keeping her. The entire 18.78 payment per week she received from work she had to give to her father. Cigar factory ; Curtis ; Work ethic Employment ; Families. 39.969648, -75.143011 17 Cigar Factory on N 4th Street Philadelphia, PA 1084 Family size and fathers' work Well, what else can I say? Van Dyke grew up in Richmond in Philadelphia. Her father worked in a paper mill. Another woman says her father worked as a miner until he died. Mining ; Mount Carmel (Pa.) ; Mount Carmel, Philadelphia ; Old Richmond (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Paper mills ; Work experience Employment ; Families. 17 1155 Hard work and long days What did you all do if you had grievances? The women didn't go to the bosses if they had grievances. They note particularly the long hours and work weeks. Only making about three dollars per week, one woman came home and asked her brother to fetch shoes for her and he replied no, and she said, " ; Well go ahead, I'm working to keep you." ; A quarter or fifty cents for spending went pretty far per week going for makeup or to fund a trip home in the middle of the day to get extra food. One woman worked at the sweatshops until they would figure out her age. " ; You couldn't stop and talk and couldn't go for breaks." ; The women would come home and be almost too tired to eat. 7th and 10th Street ; 7th Street ; Grievances ; Pay ; Sweat shops ; Work hours ; Work weeks Employment ; Families. 39.989741, -75.144486 17 North 7th Street Philadelphia, PA 1426 Memory--Nostalgia versus the realities of life So, um, in--there have been a--in talking to a lot of, of, of people, there, there seem to be, you know--everybody has basically... There are two views of the past: not too bad or very bad. The women say they wouldn't want their sons to work like that and describe being raised on soup every day. This was common among the foreign families. They are nostalgic about sitting outside during the summer on the step with their parents or not having to close or lock the door during the summer. The different nationalities lived together coexisting in their experiences ; people worked together then unlike the young people of today. Diet ; Good times ; Inter-race relations ; Nursing ; Reminiscing Employment ; Families. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Race relations 17 1716 Marriage--Escaping control of fathers It seemed that--the w--um, the last time I was here, the women I talked to... Van Dyke describes marrying at 17 to get away from her father. She didn't know her husband very well and only knew him from hanging out with her brothers. They married in Elkton, Maryland and she describes sitting up all night long on their wedding night because she was worried she married a " ; bad man." ; Farris describes a Marine coming to see her and her father taking him by the neck and pushing him out. A woman of 17 or 18 years old was considered an 'old maid.' Eloping ; Mammoth Movies ; Relationships ; Sex Families. ; Marriage 39.970872, -75.146169 17 Mammoth Theatre, 529 West Girard Avenue Philadelphia, PA 1902 Parents' involvement in relationships How about you Cecilia? Boucher married at 21. Her mother had encouraged her to wait to marry so she could continue to work and earn money. She knew her husband from the neighborhood. Another woman describes being upset when a boy said he would come on a Wednesday but didn't come until the following day but hung out with her father eating kielbasa and drinking beer. She describes being afraid of her father and running away and getting married. Eloping ; Relationships ; Supporting the family Families. ; Marriage 17 2045 The parents' reaction to marriage I started with nothing, 1929. One woman's father lost everything in 1929 when the banks crashed at the start of the Great Depression and wasn't able to give her any money for her wedding. Some parents were not happy about their daughters running away and marrying or marrying outside of the ethnic group. Father-daughter relations ; Great Depression Depressions--1929 ; Families. ; Marriage 17 2159 Marriage and wedding culture How, how common was this for, for people to run away and get married? The women describe eloping as being quite common at that time but others say getting married in a wedding was also quite common in the tighter ethnic communities. The mothers would cook for three or four days and the friends and family would all come together for the wedding. They say we would describe the weddings as " ; extravagant" ; . Eloping ; Weddings Families. ; Marriage 17 2248 Farm animals in the city If you all lived in the city, where, where were the chickens kept? The families kept their farm animals in their yards. They had open land behind their houses that kept chickens, cows, and horses. One father would go out to sell his baked goods and get robbed and he would buy a new horse with no money. The mothers " ; got headaches" ; from the fathers' behaviors. 28th and Oxford Street ; Community layout ; Farm animals ; Finances ; Richmond (Philadelphia neighborhood) ; Row houses Communities. ; Dwellings ; Families. ; Family farms. ; Housing. ; Livestock. ; Neighborhoods. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 39.980455, -75.180560 17 Intersection of West Oxford and North 28th Street in Philadelphia, PA http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/2314020d4a874010c621d0f2d3e0fb67.jpg " ; Woman and Man in a Row House," ; c. 1928. City Archives of Philadelphia. 2341 Drinking among the men My mother did too, my father drank too. Fathers drank to excess. One father came home from work every night drunk. The women also describe the plumbing, with one father only buying a toilet when the son was born because he put more emphasis on him. The fathers would especially drink on the weekends and stay up all night gambling. Often their conversations consisted of times in Europe, but some fathers got violent when drinking and the family would have to " ; hide the knives." ; Boucher tells of her father coming to Philadelphia from Poland working for contracting and banking but spending all of his money on drinking. 2nd and Girard Ave (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Abusive behavior ; Alcoholism ; Gambling ; Vices Alcoholism ; Families. ; Immigrants 39.969834, -75.139540 17 Intersection of West Girard Ave and North 2nd Avenue Philadelphia, PA http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/720c8a0bcfba9bf565898bc2f3ca26ff.jpg " ; Girard Avenue looking west on 2nd Street," ; September 4, 1926. William A Gee, PhillyHistory.org, a project of the Philadelphia Department of Records. 2555 Reflecting on their home countries and the immigration experience Did your fathers, did your fathers--how did your parents feel about being in the country? Looking back on the decision to come to America, the families didn't want to return to their home countries because of the work and life conditions that existed back home. America contained more work opportunities and the families could get food easier. One father even came as a stow away in the Navy. FBI investigations ; Illegal immigration ; Immigration experience ; Stowaways Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 2749 A mother's role and duties Did your mothers work? The women describe their mothers' work at home raising the family and taking care of the household and children. No housework was easy, especially the laundry having to be done by hand. Most of the families were quite large and the mothers worked night and day sometimes sewing for other people to make extra income for the family during the day and taking care of the house and family at night. Gender roles ; Housework ; Mothers Employment ; Families. 17 2978 Taking care of the family, a full time job How many hours a day would you say your mothers worked? Mothers worked from day until night and never complained. Taking care of the kids during the night if they were sick and then working the entire next day in the house. The women note how their mothers never complained and say today's men aren't men because men then were the bosses of the house and the woman was the worker. The women didn't want the habit of the men having the women doing the chores continuing into their households. The women describe everyone being " ; tickled to death" ; to earn their pay and not complaining about their work because it was what they had to do. A mother's work ; Children ; Full time jobs ; Gender roles ; Housework ; Mothers ; Polish schools Employment ; Families. 17 3180 Ways of life I often spoke to my granddaughter... When the women tell their grandchildren about their lives they say they are " ; old fashioned" ; or question " ; why should I listen?" ; when the generations are so far apart. In order to learn the language and learn how to read, the women would imitate their parents. Many of the parents taught themselves how to read and write using the newspapers. Children ; Education ; Language ; Life lessons ; Literacy ; Retelling ; Social status ; Younger generations Employment ; Families. 17 3316 Conclusion This has been very fascinating. The interview closes and the women sign release forms for the interview to be used as part of a radio show. 17 interview In this group interview conducted at the St. Anne’s Senior Center in the Port Richmond neighborhood of Philadelphia, women of Eastern European descent recall growing up in this immigrant neighborhood, recounting episodes from their childhoods, working as teenagers, courtship, and marriage. 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=2017oh271_irw039_farris_ohm.xml 2017oh271_irw039_farris_ohm.xml https://oralhistory.uky.edu/catalog/xt7m901zgq96
Indexed By
Arianna Denison
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0017
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https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2017oh271_irw039_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 Farris, Anna Van Dyke, Josephine Glowacki, and Cecilia Boucher
Description
An account of the resource
In this group interview conducted at the St. Anne’s Senior Center in the Port Richmond neighborhood of Philadelphia, women of Eastern European descent recall growing up in this immigrant neighborhood, recounting episodes from their childhoods, working as teenagers, courtship, and marriage.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
2017oh271_irw039
Subject
The topic of the resource
Employment
Families.
Child labor.
Emigration and immigration.
Immigrants
Labor disputes
Labor movement
Labor unions
Marriage
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
audio
-
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 " ; Her sewing keeps the country from coming apart at the seams" ; . 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 " ; Automobile" ; . 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 " ; Vineland, New Jersey" ; . 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 " ; union oriented." ; 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 " ; The exterior of Neziner Synagogue" ; , 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 " ; 2nd Street Market- Meat Stall" ; , 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. " ; Jewish Times" ; ; 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 " ; Washington Avenue Immigration Station" ; . 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, " ; Public Baths and Bathing," ; 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 " ; Citizenship Papers for Anna Lavin" ; 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 " ; Bedroom" ; 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 " ; Trash Collectors" ; . 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 " ; Philadelphia Deaths from Influenza" ; . 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
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Interview: Anna Lavin (1st interview)
Description
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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
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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
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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>
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Title
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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 " ; Benberitchie Street" ; (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 " ; Declaration of Intention of Citizenship for Anna Lavin," ; 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 & ; Spruce, the location of the Home of the Jewish Aged. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/1b731ca9b4f45e456298fbe4ac15d2f2.jpg " ; Patients of the Jewish Sheltering Home for the Aged," ; 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 " ; L-a-v-i-n" ; . 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 " ; Immigrants aboard the S.S Pennland," ; 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 & ; 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 & ; Cherry Street, where Lavin worked. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/a13f052fc3a9faad79fef3c6fb6f0877.jpg " ; Reece Machine," ; 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 " ; Leah Sherman at shirtwaist factory," ; 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 " ; Soupy Island," ; 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, " ; Philadelphia Rowhomes," ; 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, " ; Scarlet Fever Quarantine," ; 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 " ; Girls Playing in Fairmount Park," ; 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 & ; Carpenter Street, the location of the Jewish Federation Building, Torah Hall, where Lavin attended. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/902f00a55e292946314bc319f47cf026.jpg " ; Torah Hall," ; 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. " ; Birds and the bees" ; ; 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 & ; 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, " ; 3 Newspaper Boys," ; 1910. Courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photograph Division. 3704 Girls' clothing, homemade & ; 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 " ; Girls at Hebrew Sunday school," ; 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 " ; Citizenship papers for Anna Lavin," ; 1922, ancestry.com. Courtesy of the National Archives of Philadelphia 3878 Their furniture & ; 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 " ; Sidney Hillman Apartments," ; 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, " ; Philadelphia Deaths from Influenza," ; 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
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https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2017oh259_irw027_ohm.xml
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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 </a>
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https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/4a2c1aae8888f51c8813fefffb4ed7eb.JPG
608a3835246d76ca4d3a0cdcaceaf2f5
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 Van Dyke
Elizabeth Strupczewski
Interview Keyword
Emigration and immigration.
Immigrants
Alcoholic beverage law violations
Crime.
Distillation
Distilling, illicit
Police.
Prohibition
Alcoholism
Dwellings
Housing.
Great Depression
Voting
Politics and government
Women--Suffrage.
Employment
Labor disputes
Labor movement
Labor unions
Religion
OHMS Object Text
5.1 2017oh279_irw047 Interview with Anna Van Dyke and Elizabeth Strupczewski, May 25, 1982 2017oh279_irw047 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 Families. Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. Marriage Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. Depressions--1929 Influenza Epidemic, 1918-1919 Neighborhoods Diseases. Health. Communities. Emigration and immigration. Immigrants Alcoholic beverage law violations Crime. Distillation Distilling, illicit Police. Prohibition Alcoholism Dwellings Housing. Great Depression Voting Politics and government Women--Suffrage. Employment Labor disputes Labor movement Labor unions Religion Anna Van Dyke Elizabeth Strupczewski Charles Hardy 2017oh279_irw047_vandyke_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2017oh279_irw047_vandyke_acc001.mp3 Other audio 2 Immigrating for work Let me get the mic here. Van Dyke and Strupczewski share that their lives were harder when they were young. After sharing their married and maiden names and spellings, Strupczewski shares that she was born in Poland and came to Philadelphia when she was three months old. She speculates that her parents came to Philadelphia to find work. First generation immigrants ; Poland Emigration and immigration. ; Families. ; Immigrants 17 116 Strupczewski's father's employment and her own work as a child What sort of work did your father do? Strupczewski recalls that her father worked on the piers, on the railroad, and at Cramp's Shipyard, where her husband also worked as a riveter. She shares that she began to work at the Wilson Homes worsted mill at the age of 12 in 1904 because she had to: “It was hard times then.” She shares that she is 90 years old now, and raised a family of seven. Cramp's Shipyard ; Pennsylvania Railroad ; Silk mills ; Wilson Homes Child labor. ; Childhood ; Employment 39.975173, -75.109242 17 Cramp's Shipyard http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/ed81ad4b842b187f565d5110a910684e.jpg " ; William Cramp & ; Sons Ship and Engine Building Company," ; August 15, 1917. DOR Archives, PhillyHistory.org, a project of the Philadelphia Department of Records. 189 On children leaving school to go to work When did you, um, when did you start working? Strupczewski, the second of nine siblings, recalls that she went to work at age 12 in 1902 to help the family financially. She shares that she started as a doffer, who removed empty bobbins from the looms. She later weighed the work for the winders and spoolers, until she married, then quit work and raised a family of seven. Wilson Homes Child labor. ; Childhood ; Education ; Employment ; Families. 17 347 Continuation school It was a--pardon me. It was only around my time that you had to go to school 'til you were 14. Van Dyke shares that it was not until 'her time' that children had to go to school until the age of 14. She left school the day she turned 14 to earn $3.65 a week working at Pine Street Silk Mills near Allegheny Avenue and D Street, where her sister also worked. She was so tired when she came home she asked her brother to fetch her shoes. When he objected, she told him, “Go ahead, I’m helping to keep you.” After a short time she got a job across the street at Lupton's on Tulip Street. Van Dyke shows Hardy photographs of Lupton's, the Pennsylvania Railroad on Allegheny Avenue, her brother as a mummer, and her parents. Van Dyke shares that her father worked at a wholesale liquor store, and typically came home drunk every night. Continuation schools ; David Lupton's Company ; Pennsylvania Railroad Alcoholism ; Child labor. ; Childhood ; Employment ; Families. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/fullsize/9b62215b6ce429e7d00ec918d7cdf468.jpg " ; Trenton Avenue Southeast Side-Southwest of Allegheny Avenue," ; May 9, 1900, Phillyhistory.org, a project of the Philadelphia Department of Records. 593 Giving pay to parents, walking to work, and a mountain of buttons on Aramingo Avenue Did you all take your pay home then to your-- Van Dyke and Strupczewski talk about giving their pay to their families to help support them while only keeping out 25 cents for themselves and a nickel to go to the movies. Van Dyke remembers being hungry all the time, and how she spent what remained of her weekly quarter—the ride home on the trolley cost a nickel—on food. The ladies then talk about the transition from horse and wagons or walking to the first appearance of cars on Allegheny Avenue. Strupczewski shares that it took her 45 minutes to walk to work on Somerset Avenue, so she walked through the empty lots of Aramingo and other streets to get to work. Both remember picking through a mountain of discarded buttons on Aramingo Avenue, selecting ones to bring home. Allegheny Avenue (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Aramingo Ave (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Aramingo Street ; Nickel trolleys ; Richmond Street ; Somerset Avenue ; Transportation ; West Mullen Street Employment ; Families. 39.977881, -75.110591 17 Intersection of Richmond Street and East Somerset Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/39fc61ada9892fdce2959e9d8799320a.jpg " ; Richmond and Allegheny Depot," ; September 22, 1921. Print and Picture collection, Free Library of Philadelphia. 743 Neighborhood hucksters / First recollections of automobiles Do you remember--you say there were no cars on Allegheny Street. The women recall their first impressions of cars. Van Dyke tells a story of a Chinese man's reaction to seeing a car in the neighborhood. They then go into discussing the price of produce and food and how it has changed since that time, along with the milkman and various hucksters who brought produce and other items around the neighborhood to sell. Van Dyke also recalls that she worked for Pine Tree Silk Mills. Allegheny Avenue (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Cars ; Horse and wagons ; Hucksters ; Milkman ; Pine Tree Mill ; Pine Tree Silk Mill ; Salesmen ; Silk mills Employment ; Neighborhoods. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Transportation 39.997636, -75.122242 17 Pine Tree Silk Mill, East Allegheny Avenue near Boudinot Street, Philadelphia, PA http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/square_thumbnails/aac219a3cba633faf18c9da2bdc74609.jpg " ; Pine Tree Silk Mill," ; 1909. Robert M Staler Collection, Athenaeum of Philadelphia. 969 On 12-hour work days and domestic work They were good days. Van Dyke shares that she worked 12 hours a day, from 7am to 7pm, while Strupczewski worked from 6am to 6pm for $3 a week. Van Dyke shares that her mother came to Philadelphia from upstate when she was 11 and had to “live out” scrubbing and cleaning as a maid in a private home. Women typically came home from working long hours and had to do their own housework. For them, this was a way of life and they accepted it as normal and necessary to living. Van Dyke shares that if she did extra work on Saturday, her mother gave her 15 cents to go to the candy store. Domestic work ; Work ethic ; Work hours Employment ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 39.896120, -75.173921 17 3 Crescent Street Philadelphia, PA, location of Lupton's Metal Company 1135 Work conditions in the mills What was it, what was it like to work in the mills? Strupczewski and Van Dyke discuss work in the textile mills and the conditions they endured. They describe the monitoring by the bosses of the bathroom breaks, the attention the bosses paid to the amount of work done, and the space inside the mill. They recall specific jobs like twister, winder, and weaver. Mills ; Quillers ; Twisters ; Weavers ; Weaving ; Winders ; Work conditions ; Work rules ; Working conditions Employment 17 1221 Van Dyke's elopement at age 17 I didn't work that long, I went and got married when I was 17. Van Dyke discloses that she eloped at age seventeen with one of her brother's friends, George. She usually hid from him in the outhouse, until one day he asked her to go for a ride with him on his motorcycle. They got engaged and ran away to marry soon after that. She states that she didn't actually love him, but got married to get away from her parents. One Saturday night she walked to Kensington Avenue, near the bridge at Trenton Avenue, where he suggested they get married. The next day she pretended to go to work, but instead they drove his motorcycle to Elkton, Maryland to elope. She recalls feeling conflicted about marrying outside of her Catholic parish. In Elkton, the Catholic priest called her parish priest, a German, who said “Leave her come home!” They decided to return home and ask for dispensation from the cardinal. She remembers getting 9 flat tires on the way back from Elkton, and had to wash their hands in gasoline. They got married by the priest, whose housekeeper loaned her a hat. When they got home her mother said she was going to get it annulled. Allegheny Theatre ; Bridge at Trenton Avenue ; Catholicism ; D Street ; Elkton (Md.) ; Elkton, Maryland ; Eloping ; Family relations ; Kensington Avenue (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Relationships ; Weddings Families. ; Marriage ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. ; Religion ; Transportation 39.992329, -75.111493 17 Former location of the Allegheny Theatre on Frankford Avenue Philadelphia, PA http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/square_thumbnails/2eafe15c4c2b3861199aca22eb22ed2a.jpg " ; Allegheny Theatre," ; October 18 1911. Irvin R. Glazer Theater Collection, Athenaeum of Philadelphia. 1620 Strupczewski's marriage story So how, um, how did you meet your husband, Elizabeth? Strupczewski describes getting married at age 22 to a man she knew for only four months. They married at St. Laurentius Catholic Church with a mass, which was very important to her. She met her husband, who lived in Wilmington, Delaware, at lent services at the local church. Her mother bought her a wedding dress. Catholic weddings ; Catholicism ; Lent ; Religious weddings ; St. Laurentius Parish (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Stations of the cross ; Steam rooms ; Wedding dresses ; Wilmington (Del.) ; Wilmington, Delaware Families. ; Marriage ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. ; Religion 39.976707, -75.129744 17 Location of St. Laurentius School on Berk Street in Philadelphia, PA 1818 Father-daughter relationships and the role of alcohol What were your fathers like? The women discuss their relationships with their fathers. Strupczewski recalls sneaking out to attend dances. When her father locked the door, her mother opened the windows so they could climb back in. Van Dyke says that she was her father's " ; pet," ; and that when he became violent when drunk, she often took care of him. After discussing how frequently some men drank, including both of Van Dyke’s husbands, they share stories about local families making beer and wine at home during Prohibition. They remember the raids on illegal taprooms, as well as some of the recipes for making alcohol. Father-daughter relationships ; Fathers ; Moonshine ; Parental authority ; Police raids ; Smedley Darlington Butler ; Taprooms Alcoholic beverage law violations ; Alcoholism ; Crime. ; Distillation ; Distilling, illicit ; Families. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. ; Police. ; Prohibition 17 2205 Family life You say, Elizabeth, that there were eight people--eight children in, in your family? Strupczewski talks about the layout of her house with three bedrooms and two rooms. She describes the bonding that went on in her house, specifically around dinner time. Van Dyke also describes crossed conditions in her house, with nine children and only two bedrooms, resulting in two sisters sleeping in the bathtub. Babies slept in the beds with their parents. Van Dyke notes that parents would go down to the couch in order to get privacy. Strupczewski notes that she lost a home during the Great Depression when the bank went under. Building loans ; Family life ; Great Depression ; Home conditions ; Housing ; Polonia Bank ; Privacy Depressions--1929 ; Dwellings ; Families. ; Housing. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. 39.984432, -75.103021 17 Former site of Polonia Bank on East Allegheny Avenue Philadelphia, PA 2526 Hard times--Flu epidemic of 1918 And, uh, uh, how about the time of the flu? Strupczewski and Van Dyke recall the impact the flu epidemic of 1918 had on their communities. They describe the amount of bodies that piled up and the trouble of burying and taking care of them. The conditions of the neighborhoods during the flu were deplorable, especially with the smell of the dead bodies. Van Dyke notes that most of her family members, including herself, had the flu. Caretaking ; Death ; Disease ; Funeral homes ; Great Depression ; Influenza Epidemic of 1918 ; Rheumatic Fever ; Thompson Street and Allegheny Avenue (Philadelphia, Pa.) Depressions--1929 ; Diseases. ; Families. ; Health. ; Influenza Epidemic, 1918-1919 ; Neighborhoods 17 2737 Good times and holidays So at Christmastime--uh, bef--right before Christmas, we had company and Mom said, " ; Pop, go down in the cellar and get some of that wine and we'll try it." ; Strupczewski talks about Christmastime in her family. She describes how her daughter Helen wanted a nickel, a pocket book, and shoes for Christmas. That Christmas her children received toys, clothes, nickels, and the coach they wanted. Christmastime with the tree, decorations, and food was a special time for Strupczewski and Van Dyke. Budd's Company ; Children ; Christmas ; Christmas gifts ; Christmas traditions ; Presents ; The Budd Company Families. ; Holidays ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. 40.008269, -75.169083 17 Old location of The Budd Company at 2450 West Hunting Park Avenue Philadelphia, PA 2999 Dealing with death in the neighborhood I was just, you know, really fascinated with the whole influenza epidemic. Strupczewski and Van Dyke explain that when someone in the neighborhood died, neighbors helped their families. They recall that neighbors also helped one another out, collecting items to help care for one another. Van Dyke remembers a baby dying, and how neighbors helped out. The women also comment on the role of undertakers when someone died ; they showed up with ice, rather than using an embalming process. Community ; Embalming ; Funerals ; Healthcare ; Infant mortality ; Influenza Epidemic of 1918 Communities. ; Diseases. ; Families. ; Health. ; Influenza Epidemic, 1918-1919 ; Neighborhoods 17 3295 Helping others in the community In your neighborhoods then, people on the block really knew each other and would-- Strupczewski and Van Dyke discuss the role of neighborly support during hard times. They bought food for each other, checked in with one another, and visited each other. Women especially helped to care for each other’s children. Camaraderie ; Community life ; Livingston Street ; Neighbors Communities. ; Families. ; Neighborhoods 40.002010, -75.074214 17 Livingston Street, Philadelphia, PA 3495 Rise of crime Was there much crime in the neighborhoods when you were girls? Van Dyke and Strupczewski discuss the absence of crime they noticed when they were young, pointing out it seemed to rise during the Great Depression. As people became desperate, they stole to feed their families and faced harsh consequences, which the women point out as lacking today for major crimes. Feeding the family ; Great Depression ; Nostalgia ; Rise of crime ; Theft Crime. ; Depressions--1929 17 3717 Impact of women's suffrage and voting in Philadelphia I guess you both grew up before women could vote? Strupczewski and Van Dyke recall when they had the opportunity to vote. Van Dyke remembers voting at age 21, getting to vote for her brother for committeeman. Party representatives at first did not bother persuading women to vote, as they focused on the men. Van Dyke notes that later, political operatives would attempt to go into the polls with women to make sure they voted the right way, and that sometimes the party paid citizens to vote. Suffrage Movement ; Suffragettes ; Voting ; Ward bosses ; Women in politics ; Women's suffrage Political corruption ; Politics and government ; Voting ; Women--Suffrage. 17 3929 Unions in the workplace Well Cramp's Ship yard, everybody worked in it. Strupczewski talks about the work conditions her husband endured at Cramp's Shipyard, including when workers at Cramp’s went on strike. When he tried to get a job elsewhere at other shipyards, he was denied because of fear of unions. The women note that most men in the neighborhood were pro-union. Union members vandalized the houses of “scabs” who worked while others were on strike. Cramp's Shipyard ; Cramp's Strike ; Hunger ; Labor union stigma ; Poverty ; Riveting ; Strikes ; Tool making ; Working conditions Employment ; Labor disputes ; Labor movement ; Labor unions 39.974704, -75.108137 17 Former location of Cramp's Shipyard http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/a81481eb52efb6dc469f308bef934ff6.jpg " ; Bird's-eye view of Cramp's Shipyard, Delaware River," ; 1899, Philaplace.org. 4220 Reminiscing One final question, how did--how--overall, how does, how does life--how do things compare, uh, between when you were young, growing up and now? Van Dyke and Strupczewski reminisce on how life when they were children compares to life now. Van Dyke and Strupczewski describe somewhat of a nostalgic feeling when looking back at the safety of their times versus the large amount of crime that exists today, referencing being able to sit outside on the step or walk down the street feeling safe while now, " ; you're always wondering who's behind you." ; Drugs ; Memories ; Nostalgia ; Reminiscing ; Rise in crime ; Robbery ; Taprooms ; Transforming Society Childhood ; Crime ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 17 interview In this group interview conducted at the St. Anne’s Senior Center in the Port Richmond neighborhood of Philadelphia, women of Eastern European descent recall growing up in this immigrant neighborhood, recounting episodes from their childhoods, working as teenagers, courtship, and marriage. 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=2017oh279_irw047_vandyke_ohm.xml 2017oh279_irw047_vandyke_ohm.xml https://oralhistory.uky.edu/catalog/xt7m901zgq96
Indexed By
Arianna Denison
Sort Priority
0034
OHMS Object
https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2017oh279_irw047_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 Van Dyke and Elizabeth Strupczewski
Description
An account of the resource
In this group interview conducted at the St. Anne’s Senior Center in the Port Richmond neighborhood of Philadelphia, women of Eastern European descent recall growing up in this immigrant neighborhood, recounting episodes from their childhoods, working as teenagers, courtship, and marriage.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
2017oh279_irw047
Subject
The topic of the resource
Child labor.
Childhood
Employment
Families.
Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions.
Marriage
Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs.
Depressions--1929
Influenza Epidemic, 1918-1919
Neighborhoods
Diseases.
Health.
Communities.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
audio
-
https://www.phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/9cc6b098685c774f334d73c98fc6c8bd.jpg
790f533a967b1cc3d77b9d5dda0d3352
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
Antony Catalano
Interview Keyword
Stylepark Hat Company
Family
Stylepark Hats Inc.
Stetson Hat Company
Hat manufacturing
World War, 1939-1945
Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945
OHMS Object Text
5.1 2017oh241_irw009 Interview with Antony Catalano, June 25, 1982 2017oh241_irw009 irw001 I Remember When: Times Gone But Not Forgotten Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. Employment Fashion. Clothing and dress. Families. John B. Stetson Hat Company Immigrants Emigration and immigration. Labor unions Depressions--1929 Politics and government Politicians Stylepark Hat Company Family Stylepark Hats Inc. Stetson Hat Company Hat manufacturing World War, 1939-1945 Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945 Antony Catalano Charles Hardy 2017oh241_irw009_catalano_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2017oh241_irw009_catalano_acc001.mp3 Other audio 0 Back to work at the Navy Yard We'll be alright. We're gonna get busy. Antony Catalano states the moment he left the hat business due to lack of employment. He then found work on the Navy Yard as a metalworker. G.I. (military) ; GI (military) ; Korean War ; Military service ; Veterans ; Vets ; Vietnam War Korean War, 1950-1953 ; Vietnam War, 1961-1975 39.893, -75.174 17 The Philadelphia Navy Yard 47 His father's work at the Stetson Hat Company You say your father worked for Stetson? Catalano notes that his father, Angelo Catalano, worked in the sizing department at the Stetson Hat Company and Stylepark Hats, Inc. Catalano himself learned the hat making business at Stylepark. Explaining Stetson's unique and effective managerial structure, Catalano brings to life how much Stetson meant to the community, providing homes, holiday bonuses, and health care for his employees. Catalano describes what he believes was responsible for the inevitable decline of the hat industry: prominent men, such as politicians including Kennedy and Nixon, no longer wore hats and the fashion for no hats trickled down to the masses. He explains how the Stetson Hat Company eventually sold its name, with Stetson hats now in production by other manufacturers. He notes that there were families who worked together at Stetson and at Stylepark, recruiting other family members to the industry. Catalano recalls that it took him three months to learn the trade, doing piecework, before earning $12 a week. Angelo Catalano ; Family ; John B. Stetson ; John F. Kennedy ; John Katz ; Kensington (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Labor unions ; Lyndon B. Johnson ; Nancy Reagan ; Piecework ; Punch and Judy ; Richard Nixon ; Ronald Reagan ; Sizing department ; Stetson ; Stetson Hospital ; Stylepark Hat Company ; Stylepark Hats Inc. Clothing and dress. ; Employment ; Families. ; Fashion. ; John B. Stetson Hat Company ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 39.977, -75.143 17 Location of the John B. Stetson Hat Company. http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/0403cc9a7b9773a18b334489abf131cf.jpg Architectural rendering of the Stetson Hat Company factory, 1940. Courtesy of Temple University Libraries. 331 How his father started working at Stetson's Did your father then know--was he a hatter before he came over to this country? Catalano explains how his father ended up working for Stetson. Catalano’s maternal aunt lived in Philadelphia and was married to a barber, and his father had two siblings who had already immigrated to New Jersey. After emigrating from Catania, Sicily, Angelo settled in Philadelphia. His brother-in-law, the barber, cut the hair of the president of Stetson hats, and he asked him to get the recent immigrant a job at Stetson’s. Angelo was too old to be an apprentice, so he lied about his age, but was able to work for $4 a week. In the sizing department (the “backshop”), he worked with other Italians, Polish, and Germans. Apprenticeships ; Bloomfield (N.J.) ; Bloomfield, New Jersey ; Catania (Sicily) ; Catania, Sicily ; Chain migration ; Hod Carrier ; Newark (N.J.) ; Newark, New Jersey ; Orange (N.J.) ; Orange, New Jersey ; Sizing department ; Stetson Hat Company ; Sweatshops Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants ; John B. Stetson Hat Company ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/1d48c5660dd037abb5a91bfa5d590a3d.jpg " ; Sizing Stetson Hat Bodies," ; 1913, courtesy of Hagley Museum & ; Library. 435 Mechanization of the hat business In the old days, everything was hand work, hand work. Then as time went by, they got a lot of machines. Catalano explains that the mechanization of the hat industry resulted in unemployment. A hat went through several departments during its manufacture: sizing department, finishing department, and trimming department. Due to the high quality required for every Stetson Hat, Catalano notes that hats deemed imperfect by an examiner would not be shipped for sale. As a result of the unionization of the hat industry, Catalano notes that it became quality over quantity, which caused increased prices. Catalano explains that the difference in the quantity of hat stores during his employment at the Stetson Hat Company and La Salle Hats. La Salle Hats, which relocated to Sun Berry, Pennsylvania, were the creators of the Champ hat. Lastly, Catalano notes that after the complete commercialization of the hat industry, one supervisor was all that was needed to oversee that machines were working correctly. Champ hats ; Employee pensions ; Examiners ; Finishing department ; Hot room ; La Salle Hat Company ; Machines ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Seasonal work ; Sizing department ; Stetson Hat Company Clothing and dress. ; Employment ; Fashion. ; John B. Stetson Hat Company ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Technological innovations 17 870 Seasonal work and the death of men's hats And then it became seasonal work. Catalano explains the gradual decline of employment in the hat business. Initially, he recalls being employed year-round. Then, as time went by, hat making became seasonal work, starting in September and ending by Christmas. From Catalano’s view, presidents John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Richard Nixon and their tendency to not wear hats aided in the inevitable fall of the hat fad. Christmas ; Hat fads ; John F. Kennedy ; Lyndon B. Johnson ; Richard Nixon ; Seasonal work ; Stetson Hat Company ; Trends Clothing and dress. ; Employment ; Fashion. ; John B. Stetson Hat Company ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 17 1012 Father’s switch from work at Stetson to Stylepark Hat Company How long did your father work at Stetson? Angelo Catalano worked at Stetson for 15 years before a friend convinced him to go and work as a hat finisher at Stylepark Hat Company. A hat finisher shaped the raw body of a hat, simultaneously applying different dyes to give it color. Finally, Catalano explains that Stetson, unlike other hat manufacturers, gave his employees a pension and paid them in gold and silver. Employees ; Gold ; Hat finishers ; Payment ; Silver ; Stetson Hat Company ; Stylepark Hat Company ; Stylepark Hats Inc. ; Union Employment ; John B. Stetson Hat Company ; Labor unions ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/91003fd6b95f932ced341c3c8deb12d9.png Finishing Stetson soft hats, John B. Stetson Company, 1913. Courtesy of Hagley Museum & ; Library. 1165 Stetson after the death of its founder Did the company's reputation stay that high after he died? Catalano explains the downfall of the Stetson Hat Company after the death of John B. Stetson [February 18, 1906]. Catalano notes that ultimately, the gambling issues of one of Stetson's sons led to the bank purchase of the John B. Stetson Company. Banks ; Fires ; Sales ; Stetson Hat Company ; Strikes Employment ; Families. ; John B. Stetson Hat Company ; Labor unions ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/7328cd832c4ca714b1d783afbec3021d.jpg " ; John B. Stetson dies suddenly at his Florida home," ; The Philadelphia Inquirer, Feb. 19, 1906. 1277 Industrial paternalism at Stetson Do you remember any of the, um, any of the cowboy shows or circuses or fairs they had? Catalano explains the different services that John B. Stetson provided to his employees. As a child, he remembers seeing Tom Mix at Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Catalano remembers attending Stetson’s annual Christmas parties held in the hall of the factory. Tours of the Stetson Hat Factory were given to the public. Finally, Catalano tells of the Americanization classes offered at Stetson and how his father gained citizenship after attending the night sessions. Americanization classes ; Annual Christmas party ; Citizenship ; Corporate paternalism ; Fairmount Park, Philadelphia (Pa.) ; John B. Stetson School ; Stetson Hall ; Stetson Hat Factory ; Tom Mix ; Tours Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants ; John B. Stetson Hat Company ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/6e6369580cc25d87a7d27983f8098ae7.jpg " ; Teaching Aliens Good Citizenship," ; Philadelphia Inquirer, Nov 18, 1921. 1454 Life in South Philadelphia / Apprenticing in the hat industry What part of, um, the city did you all live in? Catalano talks about the different parts of South Philadelphia that he called home. Never living north of Morris St., he belonged to the St. Nicholas Parish at 9th St. and Pierce St. before moving to 11th St. where he joined the Epiphany Parish and remained for the rest of his life. As a child, Catalano’s mother wanted him to learn a trade. After serving as an apprentice in a local barbershop, Catalano coaxed his father into getting him a job at Stylepark Hat Company, where he began an apprenticeship at age 16. All of Catalano's siblings worked in the hat industry at some point in their lives. Catalano worked for Stetson from 1947 to 1949 before leaving due to its increased reliance on seasonal work. 2323 11th St. (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; 9th and Pierce St. (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Apprenticeship ; Barbershops ; Churches ; Hat manufacturing ; Larry Catalano ; Real estate ; Seasonal work ; South Philadelphia ; St. Nicholas Church ; Stylepark Hat Company ; Stylepark Hats Inc. Childhood ; Employment ; Families. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Religion 39.927, -75.161 17 St. Nicholas Church in South Philadelphia. 1670 Stetson and its competitors Was there much competition between Stetson and the other hat manufacturers in the city? Catalano explains the competition, or lack thereof, among Stetson and other hat manufacturers. Stetson hats were made from higher quality materials than their competitors. As a result, its product went unmatched. Having factories in Canada and Europe, Catalano recalls that Stetson purchased Mallory and Anderson Hats in an attempt to strengthen their position as the premier hat manufacturer. Anderson Hats ; High quality ; Mallory Hat Company ; Stetson Hat Company Clothing and dress. ; Employment ; Fashion. ; John B. Stetson Hat Company 17 1755 Stylepark Hats Inc. Um, you worked for Stylepark? Catalano explains the various times that the Stylepark Hat Company relocated. After a few decades at several Philadelphia locations, Stylepark then operated in New Jersey for ten years. Finally, it found a permanent home in Chester, Pennsylvania. The frequent moving, according to Catalano, was due to its attempts at benefiting from tax laws. Catalano mentions that, unlike Stetson who had a world-renowned sizing department, Stylepark purchased finished hat bodies from the Peix-McLachlan Company in Danbury, Connecticut. 15th and Wallace (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; 25th and Locust (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; 26th and Reed (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Chester (Pa.) ; Danbury (Conn.) ; Finishing department ; Hat finishers ; New Jersey ; Stetson Hat Company ; Stylepark Hat Company ; Stylepark Hats Inc. ; The Peix-McLachlan Company Clothing and dress. ; Employment ; Fashion. ; John B. Stetson Hat Company ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 39.947, -75.153 17 The original Philadelphia location for the Stylepark Hat Company. 1893 Life of a hat maker What was the reputation of a hat maker? That whole trade when you were a young man. Catalano describes the reputation and lifestyle of a hat maker. Being a hat maker at Stetson meant stability (before The Great Depression) and regularly occurring incentives which were provided by Stetson. When Catalano was a child, he recalls the closeness that once embodied his community. He remembers sharing a single bed with his two brothers for most of his childhood. Catalano describes how he had to go to the bathroom in the backyard while living at his first house, which consisted of only two rooms. He and his siblings knew that, despite their lower-class status, their parents provided the best possible life for them. Catalano states that both his brothers were drafted into the military during World War II. Finally, he expresses the enormous gratitude he had for his parents and their decision to emigrate to the United States. Button hole makers ; Closeness ; Community ; Cramped living conditions ; Hat makers ; Home cooked meals ; Larry Catalano ; Military drafts ; Mothers ; Patriotism ; Reputation ; Stetson Hat Factory ; World War II Childhood ; Emigration and immigration. ; Employment ; Families. ; Immigrants ; John B. Stetson Hat Company ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; World War, 1939-1945 17 2318 Politics and the economy during the Great Depression Let me ask you a little bit of politics. Catalano describes his disinterest in politics. Hinting at Senator William Scott Vare and his 1926 Senate scandal, which involved thousands of illegal paper ballots, Catalano states that he never looked to politicians for help. During The Great Depression, Catalano recalls almost losing his house. Lucky to have worked for three months a year, he remembers when his brother, Larry, paid off their parents' mortgage with the bonus check he received after leaving the military. Angelo Catalano passed away in 1943. Angelo Catalano ; Bonuses ; Congressman William Scott Vare ; Illegal paper ballots ; Larry Catalano ; Senate scandal, 1926 ; The Great Depression Depressions--1929 ; Employment ; Families. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Politicians ; Politics and government ; World War, 1939-1945--Veterans. 17 http://phillyimmigration.nunncenter.net/files/original/44516dd155fabf627fc6964a79bb2ce8.jpg William Scott Vare voting, Philadelphia Record, September 25, 1925. Courtesy of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 2450 Impact of the Great Depression Do you remember when the, uh, market crashed? When The Depression-- In 1928, Catalano left Stylepark Hat Company after his supervisor refused to give him a raise. Along with a few friends from Stylepark, he started working at the La Salle Hat Company, known for its famous Champ Hats. From 1928-1929 he " ; lived large" ; making $60 a week, triple his pay while at Stylepark. After the stock market crashed in 1929, Catalano struggled to find employment and his wife lost $100 that she kept in the bank, only to get about $30 dollars a few years later. Catalano recalls the upward trend of the economy once President Franklin Roosevelt implemented the Works Progress Administration and the Public Works Administration. Champ hats ; Franklin D. Roosevelt ; Franklin Delano Roosevelt ; Great Depression ; La Salle Hat Company ; Public Works Administration (PWA) ; Stylepark Hat Company ; Stylepark Hats Inc. ; The New Deal ; Unemployment ; Works Progress Administration (WPA) Depressions--1929 ; Employment ; Families. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945 17 2585 Keeping the union at bay Did you, uh, at that point, prefer piecework to-- Catalano explains the dominance of piecework in the hat business. Employees had quotas on how many pieces they were allowed to make each day. Once a quota was met, employees were often sent home, as employers attempted to keep as many people employed as possible. Unless you had a special job at Stetson, such as a timekeeper, hourly wages were non-existent. Hourly wages came as a result of unionization, which, as Catalano explains, was deterred by employee incentives such as offering company shares. When employees had a stake in the company, they would be more reluctant to go against managerial motives. The Katz family, which owned Stylepark, ran a strict shop. Lastly, Catalano talks about the company's desire to employ entire families, or groups, so that they would be more hesitant to question their employment. 15th and Wallace (Philadelphia, Pa.) ; Hat business ; Hat making ; Hourly rates ; John Katz ; La Salle Hat Company ; Piecework ; Quotas ; Securities ; Shares ; Stylepark Hat Company ; Stylepark Hats Inc. ; Unionization Employment ; Families. ; John B. Stetson Hat Company ; Labor unions ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. 17 3098 Career changes during and after the Depression Did the Depression hit the, uh--I, you know, had heard that men stopped--started to stop wearing hats during the Depression. Catalano remembers the hat industry declining between 1930 and 1932. As he recalls, things got so bad that instead of taking the trolley car to work, he walked so that he could save about 8 cents. If there were orders, they’d work, if not, they’d be sent home. Once World War II started, Catalano left the hat business and became a barber, working for nickels and dimes. In 1939, he started working as a general helper at the Navy Yard. After some time, he went to school on the yard and became a sheet metal worker. After a heart attack in 1973, Catalano retired. Great Depression ; Metalworkers ; Philadelphia Navy Yard Depressions--1929 ; Employment ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; World War, 1939-1945 17 3298 Remembering political events Do you remember the Al Smith-- Catalano remembers the 1928 presidential election between Al Smith and Herbert Hoover. He also recalls Smedley Butler, Philadelphia's director of public safety during Prohibition. Catalano has respect for law enforcement, and notes that his son was a police officer and also was drafted into the Air Force. He recalls how he and his wife raised their grandson when his son and his wife could not do so, noting some of the challenges the family has faced. 1928 Presidential election ; Al Smith ; Catholicism ; John Dewey ; Military service ; Smedley Butler ; United States Air Force Employment ; Families. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Politicians ; Politics and government 17 3657 Memories of Antony's childhood One final question for you. Can you remember any stories, jokes, um, anecdotes when you were a kid that, that really caught your fancy? Catalano recalls going to the movies as a child, hanging around on street corners, and going to dances. He views his childhood as safer than at the time of the interview. He notes that he learned lots of dirty jokes as a kid, but is unwilling to say them. He remembers when Charles Lindbergh returned from his transatlantic flight. He recalls his first automobile, a 1934 Chevy, and then a 1935 Ford V8. He concludes the interview by stating what his grandchildren are doing. 1934 Chevy ; Charles Lindbergh ; Discrimination ; General Electric (GE) ; Glassborough State College ; Granddaughters ; Lindbergh kidnapping ; Pennsylvania State University ; Safety Childhood ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions. ; Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs. 17 interview Anthony Catalano (b. 1910), the son of a hat maker, grew up in South Philadelphia. Like his father, Catalano worked at John B. Stetson Company and Stylepark Hats. In his 1982 interview, Catalano talked about his life in Philadelphia, his time at The John B. Stetson Company and hardships of hat makers in the 20th century. 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 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/oh/render.php?cachefile=2017oh241_irw009_catalano_ohm.xml 2017oh241_irw009_catalano_ohm.xml https://oralhistory.uky.edu/catalog/xt7m901zgq96
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Interview: Antony Catalano
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Anthony Catalano (b. 1910), the son of a hat maker, grew up in South Philadelphia. Like his father, Catalano worked at John B. Stetson Company and Stylepark Hats. In his 1982 interview, Catalano talked about his life in Philadelphia, his time at The John B. Stetson Company and hardships of hat makers in the 20th century.
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2017oh241_irw009
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Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions.
Employment
Fashion.
Clothing and dress.
Families.
John B. Stetson Hat Company
Immigrants
Emigration and immigration.
Labor unions
Depressions--1929
Politics and government
Politicians
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audio
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<a href="/exhibits/show/antony-catalano/life-as-a-hat-maker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Explore an exhibit on Antony Catalano's life</a>