Essays, interviews, and images of West Philadelphia history created by students and residents of West Philadelphia, spearheaded by the Institute for Global Education and Service Learning, 2001
This book was a true community effort. The project was spearheaded by the Institute for Global Education and Service Learning, which compiled the images and text for publication in 2001. Such knowledgable local residents as Ruth Branning Molloy, Bob Koch, and Robert Skaler wrote historical essays. Teachers and students from a number of local public and parochial schools conducted interviews of senior citizens at senior centers and nursing homes in the neighborhood. Local businesses as well as staff members from the City Planning Commission and a number of Philadelphia archives and museums also lent a hand. The book was edited by Jason A. Breinin, Dan P. Groucutt, Ciara A. O'Connell, and Amanda Smolka; the design editor was Kanako Kawai. The result is a remarkable picture of the wonderfully rich and varied life found in West Philadelphia during the twentieth century.
The contents of this book may be viewed and searched in PDF format. All 110 pages are available as one very large PDF file or in the three sections displayed in this exhibit.
Introductory Material
Cover, preface by Ciara O'Connell, acknowledgements by Amanda Smolka, and table of contents
Section One: Neighborhood Histories and Photographs
"The People and Places of West Philadelphia" by Dan Groucutt
"History of West Philadelphia and its Neighborhoods" by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission
"An Old Postcard from West Philadelphia" by Robert Skaler
"Historic Hoagies" by Bob Koch
"Gently Down the Stream" by Ruth Molloy
Section Two: Student and Senior Interviews
"Introduction to Intergenerational Histories" by Ciara O'Connell
"University City High School and Mercy Douglass Smith-Shepard Senior Center"
"Students and Senior Citizens at the West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance"
"Sulzberger Middle School and Haddington Multi-Services Center"
"Our Mother of Sorrows School and West Philadelphia Neighborhood Senior Citizens"
"University City High School and West Philadelphia Neighborhood Senior Citizens"