Kupchyk, Areta

Abstract Her interview provides excellent details of domestic life for women, work life for women, and how women socialized together; for example, with the Public Athletic League. There are brief anecdotes about racial encounters between whites, blacks (“coloreds”), and Chinese. There is one story of a white child’s first encounter with racial difference. Other major topics covered include Baltimore industries (shipyards, slaughterhouses, etc.), Prohibition, Patterson Memorial Hall, female...

Abstract On tape 1, she discusses family excursions, social life, neighborhood composition, and religion. Here she talks about family picnics at the cemetery where her father was buried, “pound parties,” (everyone brought a pound of any food item), and how all her relatives lived on her same block. She describes how she went on “The Last Ride”—a bus ride to Cedar Hill Cemetery. Also, she participated in church shows with her father at Cross Street Market (1909-1910). She also provides an account...

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This interview provides details of the social conditions of married women who maintained home and worked outside of the home. It also discusses the extended family (kinship) network of borders and gives examples of different forms of community support.

Abstract On Tapes 1 and 2, he discusses growing up in Baltimore during the Depression and his family’s general living conditions (housing, clothing, food). His education was cut short by the Depression and by poor relationships with teachers (feelings of alienation and discrimination). Later, he pursued an education and graduated from night school in 1942.The narrator believed that he did not have the opportunity to get training as a skilled laborer; he also felt discriminated against by his Irish...

Abstract Manning provides a wealth of details about many facets of life in South Baltimore, especially neighborhood life in Locust Point. He retells a ghost story known as “the Ghost of Baltimore City.” According to his version, the ghost was a headless rider that used to ride through the swamp area behind PS#76. He also talks about how the neighborhood was first settled by German seamen, then Polish, and later Italian immigrants. In addition to very detailed accounts of social activities, he...

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This interview provides information about women entering the labor force during WWI, unionized labor, and local politics. There is some discussion of local politics and neighborhood life.

Abstract This interview discusses the impact of the B&O Railroad on the Riverside neighborhood during the Great Depression, especially a program called B&O Relief (reduced mortgages). It goes on to explain the role of building and loan associations throughout South Baltimore. It then provides the narrator’s view of how the two world wars affected the overall living conditions of Baltimoreans. He makes mention of neighborhood activities like block parties, yard parties, and recreational...