Discussion Thread #2

(credit: King’s Handbook of New York City, page 145)

Good morning, everyone. Thanks for a good class yesterday afternoon. As we mentioned, here is Discussion Thread #2. We have discussed the power of the visual image a little bit in class. The images of Jacob Riis, among others, helped spur many of the reforms of the Progressive Era. Above we see a photograph taken of Mulberry Street in Little Italy around 1890. It was published in an illustrated history of New York City in 1892.

Among the reforms in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century was the so-called Settlement House Movement, about which we will talk more in class in the coming days. The photograph below was taken in the library of the Mulberry Settlement House in October 1920, almost exactly 100 years ago. For Discussion Thread #2 explain in 100-300 words what you see in the image. You have wide latitude and can answer however you like. Perhaps you might focus on the children as a group, one child in particular, one or more of the adults, the room, the furniture, the image itself as a piece of photojournalism, or how and what brought them all here. Or, you might write about something else entirely related to the image that you find striking or meaningful in some way. Focus on what you like and give a thoughtful response.

(credit: Children reading in Mulberry Settlement House library, October 1920; Digital NYPL)

Questions for tomorrow’s class, September 15

Headworker Gaylord Starin White and the staff of Union Settlement, Harlem 1912 (credit: unknown author, via Wikimedia Commons)

Good morning, everyone. I hope your weekend was good. Professor Duddy and I have been enjoy reading your discussion threads. A few action items: again, please be ready to speak briefly, no more than ten minutes at the most with 2-3 images, about your site. We will also talk about the reading. Here are a few questions to foster our discussion:

Explain why settlement houses might have been necessary around the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth century.

What services might patrons—men, women, and children—receive from a settlement house?

What type of people might have led the Settlement House Movement? Broadly speaking, what was their class and ethnicity?

What does it say that women were among the leaders of the Settlement House Movement?

How surprised are you that many settlement houses exist today in the twentieth century?

How, if at all, might the services offered by settlement houses differ today than they did a century ago? How, if at all, might the patrons and their needs differ?

What surprised you the most about Wonder Women of History itself?

Who was the audience for the Wonder Women of History series?

Artistically how does the reading work, in terms of both the text and the graphics?

Other takeaways?

Mary Kingsbury Simkhovitch reading

Good morning again, all. Here is slightly different form and with a bit more context is the reading for Tuesday September 15. It is from a series called Wonder Women of History. Ours is #55 and is about social worker and housing advocate Mary Kingsbury Simkhovitch. As I mentioned in the email, I will send some questions on Monday to promote our Tuesday discussion.

Again, our actions items for the coming days include: the posting of Discussion Thread #1 that is due by 11:59 pm Sunday night, preparing to speak and to show a few images of one’s site, and the reading of this installment from the Wonder Women of History series.

Bon weekend.

Greenwich House, 27 Barrow Street, as it is today (credit: Jim.henderson, via Wikimedia Commons)

Discussion Thread #1

Good morning, everyone. I hope you had a good Labor Day Weekend. As we discussed last week, here is discussion thread number one. For the full credit of five points submit your response by 11:59 pm Sunday night September 13.

Stuyvesant Town–Peter Cooper Village seen from Hunter’s Point South Park, Long Island City

The built environment of New York City is all around us. In 100-300 words tell us of a public building or space in your neighborhood (or in the time you spend within New York City if you live outside the five boroughs) – a school, a library, a park, a housing unit, or something else of your choosing – with which you have had even a passing encounter. Tell us briefly how & when the space came to be, and describe how it impacts your neighborhood and your experiences, good, bad, or indifferent.

You have wide latitude. Chose something that interests you. Please respond directly as a comment to this thread. We look forward to hearing your responses.

(image: Tdorante10, via Wikimedia Commons)

Hello from Professor Muchowski

Good afternoon, everyone. It’s me, Professor Muchowski. I am very excited about the fall term and think we are going to have a lot of fun studying the life and times of this controversial figure Robert Moses. To whet your appetite a little bit and for fun I thought I would share this picture I found on NYPL of Jones Beach, which was built by Moses almost a century ago.

I am sending this as something of a test. If you would, please let me know if you get this.

Best,

Professor Muchowski