Name: Farming in Carroll County
Brand: Lyndi McNulty
SKU: 9780738568331
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Farming in Carroll County

9780738568331

$24.99

Carroll County's road signs are a testament to the farm families who settled here. Bollinger, Hoff, Roop, Baugher, Royer, Bushey, and many more are road names that honor those who have produced food for themselves and the nation in times of peace, war, and the Great Depression. In 1917, when the first county agricultural agent arrived, 96.6 percent of the land was held in 3,384 farms. By 1926, Carroll County, Maryland, led the state in corn, swine, and poultry production. It was second in dairy and beef, and it was the world leader in wormseed oil production. A prominent feature of Carroll County's landscape has always been the red barns, and they still are today. The photographs in this book were collected from farm families and historical organizations, portraying a unique insider's view of the history of farm life in Carroll County.

Cover image for Farming in Carroll County, isbn: 9780738568331

Around Dryden

9781467129657

$23.99

Centrally located between Ithaca and Cortland, New York, Dryden was once part of the Iroquois hunting grounds and lands until General Sullivan led a campaign to rid the area of hostile Indians during the Revolutionary War. Settled in the spring of 1797 by Amos Sweet and named for playwright and poet John Dryden, the town has become a leader of agriculture and business, with experimental agriculture fields and state-of-the-art dairy farms located on large tracts of land throughout the Dryden township. Dryden is surrounded by hubs of higher education, innovative industry, and agriculture.

Around Dryden cover with a large scripted title and a vintage marching band on a town street.

Latinos in the Washington Metro Area

9781467121750

$24.99

The Latino presence in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area has diverse roots and a rich history. The earlier residents were relatively small in number, but the Latino population increased dramatically in the late 20th century. Today, this unique Latino community is the 12th largest in the nation. While people of Salvadoran origin are the most numerous, this area is also home to those who hail from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, Uruguay, and many other nations and cultures. This book highlights the early days of the Hispanic Festival, the Central American peace movement, the struggle for civil and immigrants' rights, and notable residents. With a shared immigrant experience and broad cultural bonds, these and many other Latino residents have transformed the Washington, DC, area.

Cover image for Latinos in the Washington Metro Area, isbn: 9781467121750

Lower Coast of Algiers

9781467128377

$23.99

Algiers is the second-oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans and stretches 12 miles from Riverview to the Cut Off. A rural area, in comparison to the inner city of New Orleans, Algiers's land was cleared by African slaves, and plantation homes were built along the riverfront for the original French colonists. The lower coast of Algiers is often known for its slave pens, plantations, farms, and citrus groves, but there is an even greater story of the people who overcame such subjugation. The Cut Off, a rural village in the Lower Coast of Algiers, tells a story of struggle and triumph in the midst of scientific, institutional, and structural racism. Presented through themes of historic faith-based institutions, community leaders, businesses and landmarks, schools, and residential development, the Lower Coast of Algiers focuses on the people who shaped the Cut Off community spiritually, culturally, politically, economically, and socially.

Cover image for Lower Coast of Algiers, isbn: 9781467128377

Jacksonville's Gullah Geechee Heritage

9781467163347

$24.99

Jacksonville, Florida’s Gullah Geechee heritage is an integral part of the city’s story.

Gullah Geechee people, descendants of west and central Africans forcibly brought to the southeastern coast of the United States, have retained many of their indigenous African traditions through architecture, food, culture, religion, and occupations. This legacy, combined with northeast Florida’s unique blend of Indigenous, French, Spanish, and English colonial history, has contributed to the African American journey in Jacksonville. Today, Jacksonville is the largest city in the federally designated Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, which stretches from Wilmington, North Carolina, to St. Augustine, Florida.

Ennis Davis is a Gullah Geechee descendant, urban planner, heritage advocate, and writer. Adrienne Burke is a historian, urban planner, and heritage advocate. Together they own Community Planning Collaborative, a firm working to assist communities with heritage-based urban planning solutions. Drawing from archival photographs housed in the Library of Congress, State Archives of Florida, National Archives, Jacksonville Public Library, University of Florida, University of North Florida, the Ritz Theatre & Museum, and the Jaxson magazine, each image illuminates the unique stories of the past that continue to shape Jacksonville’s character today. The foreword is provided by Saundra Morene with the Jacksonville Gullah/Geechee Nation Community Development Corporation.

Cover image for Jacksonville's Gullah Geechee Heritage, isbn: 9781467163347

Palmetto Women

9780738500355

$24.99

Women have played a prominent role in shaping South Carolina's history through active participation in many aspects of the state's development, from securing state appropriations for public libraries to helping to establish the South Carolina Board of Social Services. While many of their achievements have been documented by various organizations, a number of these irreplaceable records have been lost or discarded. Winthrop University, for years one of the largest women's colleges in the nation, strives to preserve these important documents that tell the story of South Carolina women and the contributions they have made. The images in this volume are from the extensive collection of the Winthrop University Archives, which includes the records of the university and state women's organizations as well as numerous personal letters, scrapbooks, and diaries. Within these pages, you will discover the impact that women have made on education, politics, religion, sports, business, and the arts, and learn first hand about their lives and individual accomplishments.

Cover of Palmetto Women with women painting at easels in a studio

Women's Baseball

9780738533803

$24.99

In 1866, just one year after the end of the Civil War, the first documented female baseball players took to the field at Vassar College.

Those early pioneers paved the way for women who would play baseball as both amateurs and professionals up to the present day. Some were headlining stars on barnstorming teams, while others organized and operated their own teams, and from the 1890s through the 1930s they were known as Bloomer Girls, due to the baggy pants created by Amelia Bloomer. In 1988, the American Women's Baseball Association began play in the Chicago area. With play starting in 1990, the Washington (DC) Metropolitan Women's Baseball League is now the oldest operating women's amateur baseball league in the country. In 2001, a true baseball World Series was held in Toronto, Canada, with women's baseball teams from the United States, Canada, Japan, and Australia. That event will celebrate its fifth season in 2005.

Cover of Women's Baseball book featuring vintage photos of women playing baseball.

Nevada State Prison

9780738585451

$24.99

A bloody palm print, footprints of monster men, the nation's first legal lethal gas chamber--all of this and more are at the heart of the Nevada State Prison story. Founded in 1862, before Nevada was "battle born," the prison is the oldest continuously operated penal facility in the state. Over its 150-year history, the prison has been home to some of Nevada's most notorious criminals as well as some of the state's stranger events. Fossilized footprints of a "giant race of man" were found buried deep within the prison quarry. The prints gave rise to the infamous Homo Nevadensis, a supposed lost branch of the human evolutionary tree. On the more macabre side, the prison hosted the nation's first state-sanctioned execution by lethal gas. While dutifully and vigilantly serving its penal function, the Nevada State Prison has periodically garnered international attention and amassed a history worthy of study.

Nevada State Prison cover showing a sepia photograph of men gathered around a gambling table.

Auburn Correctional Facility

9780738572529

$24.99

What is now called Auburn Correctional Facility has been open in Auburn since 1817, and it is the oldest continually operating prison in the country. Auburn's claim to being the preeminent American prison is bolstered by its many firsts. Auburn was the first prison in the world to house convicts in individual cells and the first prison in the country to employ a chaplain and put a matron in charge of the women prisoners. Auburn Prison developed the widely duplicated system of inmate management that became known as the Auburn System, a totally silent regimen of forced labor and complete control. Auburn was the first prison to separate mentally unstable inmates from the general population and was the site of the world's first use of the electric chair for capital punishment. The prison was at the front line of the prison reform movement in the early 20th century when Thomas Mott Osborne was voluntarily incarcerated and helped found the Mutual Welfare League in Auburn Prison in 1913.

Cover image for Auburn Correctional Facility, isbn: 9780738572529

Wisconsin State Reformatory

9780738577159

$24.99

In 1897, the Wisconsin state legislature approved the creation of the Wisconsin State Reformatory on a 200-acre site between Green Bay and De Pere. It was born during a period of profound change when liberal reformers began to question the traditional punitive approach employed in American prisons. The result was a shift from a punishment-based system to one that favored progressive rehabilitation within the framework of the traditional prison model. Elmira, New York, may have served as the reformatory model, but no other state embraced the idea more fully than Wisconsin. For more than 50 years, the Wisconsin State Reformatory remained faithful to the reform mission, adapting to changes when necessary but always maintaining a strong link to its past.

Cover image for Wisconsin State Reformatory, isbn: 9780738577159

Sedalia

9781467104050

$23.99

Sedalia’s rich architectural history began when visionaries erected wood-frame buildings prior to the Civil War. Stately brick structures later lined its downtown streets, signifying Sedalia’s status as Queen of the Prairie. Throughout Sedalia’s history, new generations have brought fresh ideas to enliven the city’s commerce and culture. This book is a tribute to Sedalia’s visionaries, past and present, and their legacy.

Cover image for Sedalia, isbn: 9781467104050

Anamosa Penitentiary

9780738577791

$24.99

In 1868, with Iowa fast outgrowing its only prison in Fort Madison, state lawmakers began thinking about building a new penitentiary. Several cities around the state vied for the prestige and economic benefits the new prison would provide. Anamosa, a rapidly growing town of 2,000 in east-central Iowa, was ultimately awarded the prize, in no small measure because of its proximity to some of the largest and finest dolomite limestone deposits in the world, coveted as the perfect building material for the massive institution. From 1873 until major construction ended in 1943, inmate workers literally built walls around themselves, slowly erecting a structure from the Iowa prairie whose imposing and magnificent architecture would continue to command respect and awe even to the present day. From Wild West bad man Polk Wells and boy-murderer Wesley Elkins to heinous mass murderer John Wayne Gacy, many have passed through Anamosa's iron gates and, with the quietly dedicated men and women who managed them, have contributed to the rich tapestry of Anamosa prison history.

Anamosa Penitentiary book cover showing prisoners in striped uniforms sitting along a stone wall with a guard nearby.

Ocean City Baby Parade

9780738565033

$24.99

The Ocean City Baby Parade is the longest continuously held baby parade in the nation, tracing back to August 10, 1901, when the city's first baby show was held. From its beginning with 46 babies in the prettiest, cutest, and fattest baby categories, it has grown into a boardwalk extravaganza with 300 entrants, bands and bugle corps, professionally decorated commercial floats, homemade baby floats, grand marshals, and cartoon characters. Many families plan their vacations around this well-known event, and they are among the thousands of spectators lining the boardwalk each year.

Crowd gathers along a boardwalk for a seaside parade on the Ocean City Baby Parade cover

Jews of Rhode Island

9780738590158

$24.99

Although the fact is seldom recognized, Jews have been a part of the American experience since the early colonial days.

They brought to these shores skills and traditions that America has welcomed and rewarded. They have made major contributions to this country's social, scientific, and cultural fabric. Despite their small numbers, the Jews of Rhode Island can claim two governors and many lawyers, physicians, scientists, manufacturers, businessmen, artists, and educators in state history. The Jews of Rhode Island 1658-1958 is the first comprehensive pictorial history of the Rhode Island Jewish experience. It provides a broad sweep of the first 300 years of Jewish history in Rhode Island beginning with the very first Jewish settlers in Newport in 1658 and includes images of their lives in all parts of the state.

Cover showing a large sepia group portrait for Jews of Rhode Island 1658 1958

Jewish Detroit

9780738519968

$24.99

In 1762, Chapman Abraham became the first Jew to set foot in Detroit, and the Jewish community has played a significant role in Detroit's history ever since. Sarah and Isaac Cozens formed the Beth El Society in 1850, when the census showed 51 Jewish adults living in Detroit. The cholera epidemic of 1854 claimed the life of the rabbi of Detroit's only Jewish congregation. But the community continued to grow, and to serve. Two-hundred and ten Jewish soldiers from Michigan served in the Civil War-more than one per family.

Jewish Detroit chronicles in photographs the history of this remarkable community in Detroit, from its growth within the city to its migration to the suburbs, from its battles against anti-Semitism at the hands of Henry Ford and others to celebrating its own heroes like Hank Greenberg, the all-star first baseman of the Detroit Tigers.

Vintage street scene with columned building and a black red framed label reading Jewish Detroit

Jewish Community of Solano County

9781467132084

$24.99

This book contains images and stories of some of the Jews who have impacted Solano County. It is not a record of every Jew to pass this way, some of whom may have come intending to shed their Jewish identity by changing their names or converting. Wonderful stories emerged about extraordinary people who made their marks here with few suspecting their Jewish roots, yet they were traceable often because in death they chose to reclaim their heritage. Others came to live as Jews and built an enduring community. The story within these pages travels from the Old World to the edge of Gold Country, where there lives a tenacious, though often invisible, Jewish community.

Jewish Community of Solano County cover from Images of America with a vintage group portrait in front of a storefront

Jewish Community of Long Island

9781467116077

$24.99

Jews have lived on Long Island since the Colonial era and had begun developing organized Jewish communities there by the late 1800s. The earliest communities were in Lindenhurst, where Congregation Neta Tzarschea incorporated a cemetery in 1876; Glen Cove, where Congregation Tifereth Israel has operated since 1897; and Sag Harbor, where Temple Adas Israel's original 1898 building still houses its congregation. Other initial Jewish communities formed in Kings Park, Patchogue, Bay Shore, and Greenport. Despite periods of threat from the Ku Klux Klan, the pro-Nazi bund, and social discrimination, the Jewish community flourished in a variety of local businesses, the military, and politics. After World War II, Jewish communities expanded and developed as the region suburbanized. Long Island became home to a multitude of synagogues, Jewish day schools, and local branches of national Jewish organizations. The Jewish community continues to enrich the culture of Long Island over 100 years after its humble beginnings.

Cover image for Jewish Community of Long Island, isbn: 9781467116077

Jews of Sarasota-Manatee

9780738590677

$24.99

In 1539, explorer Hernando de Soto landed near Sarasota, Florida, but centuries passed before the Sarasota-Manatee area saw many settlers. By the late 1840s, a few pioneers had arrived, but it was not until 1913 that the first Jewish person settled here. Other Jewish families followed, but no organization connected them until the Jewish Community Center of Sarasota was established in 1925. For early Jewish settlers, the biggest problem was isolation rather than discrimination. By the 1950s, when the region was experiencing a post-war population boom, some of Sarasota's most prominent citizens were Jewish. They played an enormous role in creating Sarasota's businesses, charitable organizations, and cultural assets, including the David Cohen Hall and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. The Jewish Community Council, a precursor of the Jewish Federation, formed in 1959. Sarasota-Manatee now has 13 Jewish congregations and a thriving Jewish population. While the Jewish people of the area cannot be thanked for the sunny weather, they can be thanked for helping the community shine.

Book cover Jews of Sarasota-Manatee featuring a vintage beach scene and a dark title banner.

The Jewish Community of South Philadelphia

9780738549552

$24.99

The Jewish Community of South Philadelphia is a tribute to tradition and pride that will serve as a valuable tool in teaching the history of Jewish immigrants in America.

For many Jewish immigrants to America, Philadelphia's row houses provided an instant community of neighbors where they were able to combine the traditions of the Old World with new American ideals. In their flight to a new land and a new life, Jewish immigrants found a place to call home in South Philadelphia. This unprecedented collection of images celebrates the people and places of this community, from their struggles to their triumphs and the family bonds that provided their strength along the way. Join Allen Meyers in this exploration of the past that will be enjoyed for generations to come.

Vintage street scene of a Jewish community parade in South Philadelphia on a book cover.

Napa Valley's Jewish Heritage

9780738588988

$24.99

As the world rushed in to profit from California's gold strike of 1848, many Jews joined the throng, not necessarily to mine but to sell merchandise to prospectors. Some settled in Napa Valley, a basin of rich agricultural land nestled between two mountain ridges. These pioneers conducted business, making significant contributions to the development of the Valley. Participating in cultural life, holding public office, and leading organizations, many also made fine wines, something perfected thousands of years ago as commanded in scripture. They continue to do so, and this is their story told through photographs.

Napa Valley's Jewish Heritage book cover showing a vintage street scene with people and a horse.

Jewish Albuquerque

9780738579771

$24.99

Albuquerque, founded by Spanish colonists in 1706, seems an unusual place for Jewish immigrants to settle. Yet long before New Mexico statehood in 1912, Jewish settlers had made their homes in the high desert town, located on the banks of the Rio Grande River. Initially, business opportunities lured German Jews to the Santa Fe Trail; during the expansive railroad days of the 1880s, Jewish citizens were poised to take on leadership roles in business, government, and community life. Henry Jaffa, a Jewish merchant and acquaintance of Wyatt Earp, served as Albuquerque's first mayor. From launching businesses along Central Avenue, to establishing the Indian Trading Room at the famed Alvarado Hotel and founding trading posts, Route 66 tourist establishments, and the Sandia Tram, Jewish businesspeople partnered with their neighbors to boost Albuquerque's already plentiful assets. Along the way, community members built Jewish organizations—a B'nai B'rith chapter, Congregation Albert, and Congregation B'nai Israel—that made their mark upon the larger Albuquerque community.

Cover image for Jewish Albuquerque, isbn: 9780738579771

Jews of Tampa

9781467110624

$24.99

Spanish explorers arrived in Tampa Bay in the 16th century.

Jews were first allowed to live in Florida in 1763 and less than 100 years later, Tampa became a city. The arrival of the railroad and the cigar industry in the 1890s attracted immigrants. Many were Jews, who helped propel growth, especially in Ybor City, where they owned more than 80 businesses. Over the decades, Jews participated in civic and Jewish organizations, the military, politics, and in developing Tampa as a sports center. Today, with about 23,000 Jews in Tampa, there are fifth-generation residents who represent the continuity of a people who contribute vibrancy to every area of the community.

Cover image for Jews of Tampa, isbn: 9781467110624

Pueblo Indians of New Mexico

9780738548364

$24.99

Beginning about 1900, tourism greatly increased in the American Southwest, chiefly a response to the combined promotional efforts of the Santa Fe Railway and the Fred Harvey Company. Postcard images of Southwestern Native Americans in particular became a mainstay of a widespread advertising campaign to promote the region to potential travelers. Postcards also quickly became popular with visitors as collectibles and for expedient communications with friends and family back home. In New Mexico, hundreds of published images portrayed the beauty of the Pueblo villages, as well as views of economic and domestic activities, arts and crafts, and religious aspects of the various Pueblo communities in the northern part of the state.

Postcard History Series cover Pueblo Indians of New Mexico featuring a sepia toned photograph of Pueblo people

Mexican American Baseball in Sacramento

9781467102698

$24.99

Mexican American Baseball in Sacramento explores the history and culture of teams and players from the Sacramento region. Since the early 20th century, baseball diamonds in California's capital and surrounding communities have nurtured athletic talent, educational skills, ethnic identity, and political self-determination for Mexican Americans. The often-neglected historical narrative of these men's and women's teams tells the story of community, migration, military service, education, gender, social justice, and perseverance. Players often became important members of their communities, and some even went on to become professional athletes—paving a path for Latinos in sports. These photographs serve as a lens to both local sports history and Mexican American history.

Cover image for Mexican American Baseball in Sacramento, isbn: 9781467102698

El Viaje

9780738538495

$24.99

Although few people know its history, Philadelphia is the third-largest Puerto Rican community in the United States. Thousands have made el viaje, or the journey, from Puerto Rico to Philadelphia, beginning before 1898 and continuing today. Puerto Ricans came as political exiles, merchants, and workers and built vibrant everyday lives and community organizations. By the 1970s, the Puerto Rican community was strong and diverse. El Viaje is a photographic journey of Puerto Ricans in Philadelphia, and it refers to a popular local radio program.

Sepia-toned cover of El Viaje Puerto Ricans of Philadelphia featuring a guitarist performing at a table with diners.

Chicago Latinos at Work

9780738577937

$24.99

The Latino community of Chicago is a rich ethnic tapestry, not a monolithic group. Latinos have had a presence in Chicago since the early 1900s and came seeking a better life for themselves and their children. As early as 1916, a sizable number of Mexicans settled in Chicago to plant roots and secure a foothold in the city's heavy industries. Puerto Ricans first came to the city in the late 1940s, their migration to the city peaking during the 1950s and 1960s. In subsequent decades, other Latino groups, like Cubans, Guatemalans, and Salvadorans, arrived and called Chicago their home. They too immigrated to Chicago seeking work. Since the 2000 U.S. census, there are now over one million Latinos in Chicago. Latinos undoubtedly shape the character of the city, including its politics, its neighborhoods, and its economy. Chicago Latinos at Work puts a face on the Latino worker in Chicago. It shows many of the jobs they have held in the past and continue to hold in the present.

Cover image for Chicago Latinos at Work, isbn: 9780738577937

Mexicans in Scottsdale

9780738548265

$24.99

Though their role in the history of Scottsdale's development has been marginalized over the years, Mexicano residents made many important contributions to the city's establishment and growth. In the early 1900s, businessman E. O. Brown recruited Mexicanos from Arizona border towns to work in the area's cotton fields and on the farms. These laborers were the first people to live in the neighborhood that now makes up the center of Old Scottsdale. Some called it the barrio, but Scottsdale Mexicanos called the area home. Today only a few buildings remain that can attest to the neighborhood's original inhabitants, most notably the Old Adobe Mission and Coronado School, now the home of the Scottsdale Historical Museum. The preservation of these buildings and the more than 200 photographs included in this book are just a few of the testaments to Scottsdale's fascinating Mexican heritage.

Cover image for Mexicans in Scottsdale, isbn: 9780738548265

Latinos in Milwaukee

9780738540306

$24.99

I didn't know there were Latinos in Wisconsin is one of the
more frequently heard comments when visiting outside of the state. In fact, more than 100,000 Latinos live in Milwaukee, and the continued growth of this community is visible in every segment of the city. Milwaukee's Latino community began humbly as a Colonia Mexicana in the 1920s, when Mexicans were recruited to work in the city's tanneries. Subsequent waves of workers came from Texas to work in Wisconsin's agricultural fields. In the early 1950s, Puerto Ricans began arriving to the area, and the population doubled in the 1990s.

Cover image for Latinos in Milwaukee, isbn: 9780738540306

Rochester's Latino Community

9780738575100

$24.99

The Rochester region traces its roots back to pioneers like Puerto Rican Domingo Delgado, a key Eastman Kodak executive of the 1890s. Like many immigrants before them, Latinos arrived in search of the better opportunities Rochester offered and by the 1950s had an established community with churches and businesses. The 1960s and 1970s brought the development of the Latino identity and foreshadowed the growing political and economic power the community wields today.

?La region de Rochester tiene sus raíces en pioneros tales como puertorriqueño Domingo Delgado, un ejecutivo de Eastman Kodak de la década de 1890. Al igual que muchos immigrantes antes que ellos, los latinos llegaron en busca de las mejores oportunidades que ofrece Rochester y a llegar la década de 1950 había una comunidad establecida con iglesias y las empresas. Los años 1960 y 1970 trajo el desarrollo de la identidad latina y presagió el creciente poder político y económico de la comunidad ejerce hoy en día.

Cover of Rochester's Latino Community bilingual edition with a large vintage group photo.

Mexicans in North Central Washington

9780738548791

$24.99

The first Mexicans to the region of North Central Washington were braceros (Mexican nationals) brought to Wenatchee, Okanogan, Moses Lake, and later Quincy to work under contract during World War II. The late 1940s witnessed the arrival to the region of Mexican American families who came from south Texas following migratory routes established in the 1920s to the Pacific Northwest. In the early 1950s, Mexican American families from the Yakima Valley moved north seeking economic opportunities. By the late 1980s, as Mexicans in such places as Wenatchee, Quincy, Brewster, and Moses Lake began to settle down and integrate into the community, they started businesses, bought homes, and many moved into a more diverse economic market.

Book cover for Mexicans in North Central Washington showing a vintage classroom with Mexican students

Ukrainians of Chicagoland

9780738540993

$24.99

Ukrainians arrived in Chicagoland in four distinct waves: 1900-1914, 1923-1939, 1948-1956, and 1990-2006. At the beginning of the 20th century, immigrants from Ukraine came to Chicago seeking work, and in 1905, a Ukrainian American religio-cultural community, now officially named Ukrainian Village, was formally established. Barely conscious of their ethnonational identity, Ukraine's early immigrants called themselves Rusyns (Ruthenians). Thanks to the socio-educational efforts of Eastern-rite Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox priests, some Rusyns began calling themselves Ukrainians, developing a distinct national identity in concert with their brethren in Ukraine.

Cover image for Ukrainians of Chicagoland, isbn: 9780738540993

Italian Milwaukee

9780738533537

$24.99

Milwaukee's Italian families have a distinguished heritage, one that began in a great rush to the city shortly before the turn of the 19th century. Seeking a way out of the economic misery of their homeland, tens of thousands of Italians made their way to the Midwest, lured by the promise of Milwaukee's well-paying factory and service industry jobs. The emigres brought their colorful traditions and culture with them, making themselves at home in close-knit neighborhoods. Arrivals from various villages settled into specific blocks, with a widespread Sicilian contingent living in the old Third Ward, while Italians from the north settled in Bay View. Others moved into the Brady Street area. Not afraid to work, at first the Italians were railroad employees, fruit peddlers, refuse collectors, shopkeepers, tavern owners, or skilled craft workers in the masonry and stone trades. Today, the descendants of those first arrivals make up an extraordinary share of Milwaukee's business leaders, politicians, clergy, restaurateurs, and educators, while others have become police officers and military personnel. The Italian Community Center and Festa Italiana continue to provide marvelous opportunities to socialize.

Cover image for Italian Milwaukee featuring a crowded classroom of children in a sepia tone

Chicago Italians at Work

9780738561875

$24.99

For more than a century, Italian immigrants and their descendants contributed their labor and talent to building the city. Chicago Italians at Work focuses on a period from 1890 to 1970 when industry was king in this midwestern metropolis. Generations of Italians found work in companies such as U.S. Steel, Western Electric, Pullman, Crane, McCormick/Harvester, Hart Schaffner and Marx, and other large industrial corporations. Other Italians were self-employed as barbers, shoe workers, tailors, musicians, construction workers, and more. In many of these trades, Italians were predominant. A complex network of family enterprises also operated in the Chicago Italian community. Small shopkeepers generated work in food services and retail employment; some of these ma-and-pa operations grew into large, prosperous enterprises that survive today. Finally, Italians helped develop trade unions, which created long-term economic gains for all ethnic groups in Chicago. This book chronicles the labor and contributions of an urban ethnic community through historic photographs and text.

Sepia street scene of Chicago Italians at work with Italian workers by horse drawn wagons in front of bakery storefronts.

Italian-Americans in Rhode Island

9780738549408

$24.99

Rhode Island residents greeted the 1997 publication of a photographic history of their state with much
enthusiasm. The first volume of Italian-Americans in Rhode Island chronicled the Italian-American community's rising significance in the state's development--in government, business, religion, and civic affairs. The author of that volume, Joseph Muratore, has worked again to produce a second book on Italian-Americans in Rhode Island that includes many new images. Italian-Americans in Rhode Island Volume II covers the history of the early Italian settlers, who quickly established themselves in the jewelry business, the manufacturing field, and construction business, thus creating thousands of jobs for the immigrants who followed. With their aggressive ingenuity, Italian-Americans developed, manufactured, and assembled machinery and equipment capable of mass production. In this book, the author captures in photographs the primitive plants and equipment used, the local businesses that the immigrants committed themselves to, and the results of the Italian-Americans' contributions to the economic development of Rhode Island.

Cover of Italian-Americans in Rhode Island Volume II showing a large sepia group portrait of Italian-American families

Greek-American Pioneer Women of Illinois

9780738508252

$24.99

Produced through the Greek Women's University Club, this is a collection of the struggles and triumphs, the pathos and joy of five women who immigrated to the United States.

Greek women pioneers faced a difficult life when they arrived in the xenia (""strange land"") from the rural farms of Greece. They did not speak English, were bewildered by crowded Chicago and the alien culture, and unlike their male family, often did not have opportunity to work outside the home. Yet these brave, spirited women triumphed over adversity and embraced their adopted country to become exemplary citizens. Chronicling the stories of Georgia Bitzis Pooley, Presbytera Stella Christoulakis Petrakis, Theano Papazoglou Margaris, Venette Tomaras Askounes Ashford, and Senator Adeline J. Geo-Karis, this book showcases the life stories of immigrant pioneer women, their families, friends, and the emerging Greek-American community of Illinois.

Book cover Greek-American Pioneer Women of Illinois shows a group of women in traditional attire posed together.

Italians in Haverhill

9780738508559

$24.99

Italian immigrants became permanent residents of Haverhill in the 1870s. The original Genoese first drew their relatives and friends from their home area to join them. Over the next few decades, they were joined by families from the central province of Abruzzi and from the towns and villages around Naples. Immigrants from parts of southern Italy, such as Calabria and Apulia and Sicily, settled here. All of the Italians, whether northern or southern, brought with them their culture, their vitality, their love of music, and their close family ties. Using over two hundred thirty vintage photographs, Italians in Haverhill takes a photographic walk through the exciting history of these immigrants. The images bring back to life representatives of more than two hundred families, whose descendants still live in the area. Here are the fruit sellers and shoe workers, the mothers and their children, the ball players and the musicians, the lawyers and doctors, and the bankers and civic leaders who make up the rich heritage of this important ethnic group.

Cover image for Italians in Haverhill, isbn: 9780738508559

Worcester County's Polish Community

9780738554549

$24.99

Polish settlement in Worcester County had humble beginnings: a small group of German Poles in the 1870s. Over the next decades, thousands of Russian and Austrian Poles, fleeing economic and political hardship, pinned their hopes for a better life on jobs in the burgeoning industries of central Massachusetts. Practicing their religion in their native tongue was vital to these devout Catholics. New England's first Polish parish was founded in Webster, with others following in Worcester, Gardner, West Warren, Clinton, Southbridge, and Dudley. Polish clubs served as central gathering places in Gilbertville, Uxbridge, and South Grafton. Worcester County's Polish Americans share an intricate web of relationships--family, religious, business, social, cultural, educational, political, and athletic--that celebrates their heritage and sustains them today as one of the region's largest ethnic groups.

Vintage photo of Polish American musicians posing with drums and brass on the cover of Worcester County's Polish Community book.

Spring Grove

9780738519494

$24.99

Spring Grove: Minnesota's First Norwegian Settlement is a tribute to the state's earliest Norwegian emigrants, and to generations of Norwegian Americans who have made this small farming community amongst deep valleys, fjord-like bluffs, and winding streams their true vesterheim. It is a tale told through striking historic photographs, many previously unreleased, and personal narratives, often humorous and always insightful.

The area was first settled in the 1850s by pioneers like James Smith, who, inspired by the landscape, named the place Spring Grove. Smith was followed by the likes of "Big" Ole Gulbransgutton, who chased crooked land surveyors out of town with his bare fist; by the innovative Mons Fladager, whose business acumen earned him the title of "Father of Spring Grove"; and by the 20th-century cartoonist Peter J. Rosendahl, whose work gave a comical voice to the challenges of cultural assimilation. Spring Grove: Minnesota's First Norwegian Settlement also conveys the universality of the Norwegian immigrant experience, and anyone with Norwegian roots who desires to learn more about their ancestors will find it an enjoyable read.

Cover image for Spring Grove, isbn: 9780738519494

Staten Island's Greek Community

9780738538686

$24.99

In the early part of the 20th century, Staten Island experienced an influx of Greek immigrants drawn to America by the promise of abundant opportunities. They settled in the farms of New Springville and Bulls Head and in the busy life of Port Richmond. Staten Island's Greek Community highlights traditional aspects of Greek culture and exults in the Americanization, accomplishments, and contributions of this group. The historic images in this book capture familiar scenes such as Greek farms and roadside stands overflowing with succulent vegetables, truck farmers venturing into Manhattan to bring their produce to the Washington Market, and the Candy Kitchen in Port Richmond.

Cover of Staten Island's Greek Community featuring a large group photo in front of a church.

Filipinos in Chicago

9780738518800

$24.99

The pictorial history of Filipino immigration to Chicago encompasses 100 years, moving from the Philippines to this country of unknown landscapes and uncertainties.

The pioneering Filipinos came in the early 1900s to seek the land of ""milk and honey."" They were mostly pensionados-government-supported students-and self-supported students who settled in the Garfield Park, Hyde Park, and Near North Side neighborhoods of Chicago. From the close of World War II to the present day, the Filipino American population became the largest urban group of Asians in Chicago Through the medium of historic photographs, this book captures the evolution of the Filipino community of Chicago from the early 1900s to the present day.

These pages bring to life the people, events, and industries that helped to shape and transform the Filipino community of Chicago. With more than 200 vintage images, Filipinos in Chicago includes many photographs from personal albums of Filipino American families. This book depicts the many faces of the Filipino American in various facets of American life interwoven with Philippine traditions from the homeland.

Cover of Filipinos in Chicago showing a large group portrait in formal attire

The Chinese Community of Stockton

9780738520537

$24.99

Stockton, referred to as Sam Fow by its Chinese community, was the third largest metropolitan area leading to the goldfields of California at the turn of the 20th century. The Chinese immigrants came from Kwangtung, China, to find their fortune, and instead found a series of restrictive laws aimed at keeping them from participating in the development of the burgeoning frontier town. Their story is here, in over 200 vintage images of community life and resilience.

Despite legislation such as the Foreign Miners' taxes and the California Alien Land Act, and most recently the construction of the Crosstown Freeway combined with the redevelopment project that disseminated the heart of Chinatown, the Chinese of this area were major contributors to California and Stockton's economy. They have maintained a balance between their heritage of familial and religious obligations and western education and activities. Included are photographs dating from the late 1920s of traditional Chinese associations and more recent community activities. These images showcase once thriving businesses, educational and religious efforts, and familial milestones.

Cover image for The Chinese Community of Stockton, isbn: 9780738520537

Thais in Los Angeles

9780738581842

$24.99

Los Angeles is home to the largest Thai population outside of Thailand. With a relatively recent history of immigration to the United States dating to 1965, reports estimate that 80,000 Thais make their home in Southern California. In spite of its brief history in the United States, the Thai community in Los Angeles has already left its mark on the city. While the proliferation of Thai-owned businesses and shops has converted East Hollywood and some San Fernando Valley neighborhoods to destinations for cultural tourism, the Thai community in Los Angeles County reverberates still from global attention over the 1995 El Monte human trafficking case. The great popularity of Thai cuisine, textiles, and cultural festivals continues to preserve, enrich, and showcase one of Asia's most distinctive cultures.

Cover image for Thais in Los Angeles, isbn: 9780738581842

Cambodians in Long Beach

9780738556239

$24.99

A relatively new immigrant group in the United States, Cambodians arrived in large numbers only after the 1975 U.S. military withdrawal from Southeast Asia. The region's resulting volatility included Cambodia's overthrow by the brutal Khmer Rouge. The four-year reign of terror by these Communist extremists resulted in the deaths of an estimated two million Cambodians in what has become known as the "killing fields." Many early Cambodian evacuees settled in Long Beach, which today contains the largest concentration of Cambodians in the United States. Later arrivals, survivors of the Khmer Rouge trauma, were drawn to Long Beach by family and friends, jobs, the coastal climate, and access to the Port of Long Beach's Asian imports. Long Beach has since become the political, economic, and cultural center of activities influencing Cambodian culture in the diaspora as well as Cambodia itself.

Book cover for Cambodians in Long Beach featuring a vintage photo of Cambodian children outdoors

Another Ann Arbor

9780738540528

$24.99

A fascinating look at Ann Arbor's heroic African-American communitiy's journey and progress. A must-have for African-American and Michigan history enthusiasts.

The black community in the Ann Arbor area includes Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Second Baptist Church, Brown Chapel, theAnn Arbor Community Center, the old Jones School, and other well-remembered places.

The photographs representing this history follow the progress of the African American community from 1857, when the Rev. J. M. Gregory gathered together a small congregation at 504 High Street, to 1996, when Dr. Homer Neal assumed leadership of the University of Michigan as its interim president. This integral but little-known part of Ann Arbor area history is preserved in Another Ann Arbor.

Cover image for Another Ann Arbor, isbn: 9780738540528

St. Petersburg, Florida

9780738515175

$24.99

These pictorial images illustrate the people, places, and events that have shaped the African-American culture and history of St. Petersburg.

St. Petersburg's African-American community enjoys a rich history that is evidenced within these pages of treasured images and detailed captions. Captured are the people, places, and events that have shaped this community from its earliest days to the present. Highlighted are the city's first black settlers John Donaldson and Anna Germain, former slaves, employees of Louis Bell Jr., and true pioneers. Acknowledged is the impact that the blacks who migrated here in the late 1800s had on the city's development. Shared are fond memories of black neighborhoods like Methodist and Pepper Towns that no longer exist, but can never be forgotten. Remembered is the community's fight for racial equality-using both peaceful and militant means.

Black and white photo of a group of women in vintage dresses on a porch, cover of St. Petersburg Florida in Black America Series.

Lexington, Kentucky

9780738514376

$24.99

Lexington's African-American community has survived and flourished despite obstacles that may have proven insurmountable to some.

Enriched by diversity and filled with fortitude, the Black community of Lexington has made their mark on history as well as the Bluegrass State's heritage. In Black America: Lexington, vintage images from archives and personal collections showcase the people, places, and events at the very heart and soul of the Black communities over the generations. Rare photos of civil rights demonstrations in the downtown area highlight Lexington's contributions to the local movement and to our nation's continued search for equality.

Lexington Kentucky cover from the Black America Series depicting a formal group portrait at a banquet.

African Americans in Pittsburgh

9780738544878

$24.99

Pittsburgh is a working city, in no small part thanks to its strong African American community.

As an integral stop on the Underground Railroad, many enslaved people traveled through Pittsburgh on their way further North, and many still decided to stay. During the Great Migration of the early 20th century, Pittsburgh was again a main destination for African Americans from the rural South; approximately 95% of these men became steelworkers. There was never one centralized neighborhood where a majority of the Black population lived, but Jim Crow discrimination was still rampant, even in a city such as Pittsburgh. Photographs captured by famed Pittsburgh photographer Charles "Teenie'? Harris show the candid experiences of residents, including the achievements and celebrations of people struggling in adversity and finding happiness in their families and community.

Book cover for African Americans in Pittsburgh with a large crowd gathered along a riverside platform.

African Americans in Memphis

9780738567501

$24.99

Memphis has been an important city for African Americans in the South since the Civil War. They migrated from within Tennessee and from surrounding states to the urban crossroads in large numbers after emancipation, seeking freedom from the oppressive race relations of the rural South. Images of America: African Americans in Memphis chronicles this regional experience from the 19th century to the 1950s. Historic black Memphians were railroad men, bricklayers, chauffeurs, dressmakers, headwaiters, and beauticians, as well as businessmen, teachers, principals, barbers, preachers, musicians, nurses, doctors, Republican leaders, and Pullman car porters. During the Jim Crow era, they established social, political, economic, and educational institutions that sustained their communities in one of the most rigidly segregated cities in America. The dynamic growth and change of the post–World War II South set the stage for a new, authentic, black urban culture defined by Memphis gospel, blues, and rhythm and blues music; black radio; black newspapers; and religious pageants.

Cover image for African Americans in Memphis, isbn: 9780738567501

Union County Black Americans

9780738536835

$24.99

Union County Black Americans is a first-time glimpse into the struggles and triumphs of local Blacks from the first days of English rule to contemporary times. Using a wide array of images and concisely written original text, the book juxtaposes Black historical figures, events, and places with mainstream recordings of local, state, and national history.

Cover image for Union County Black Americans, isbn: 9780738536835

Greenville County, South Carolina

9780738543604

$24.99

Cradled at the foothills of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and once known as the "Textile Center of the South," Greenville has evolved into a prosperous hub for corporate development and global commerce. Greenville County's African American community, proud and resourceful, has strong roots dating back to 1770, when blacks helped to carve the county out of an upstate wilderness. The experiences of the black community and its long relationship with whites up to the civil rights movement helped to create the climate for the kaleidoscope of races and cultures in Greenville today.

Book cover for Greenville County South Carolina in the Black America Series featuring a historic crowd photo

African Americans of Harrisburg

9780738536682

$24.99

African Americans of Harrisburg documents the history of the African American community in this town.

Harrisburg served as a refuge and passageway for many African Americans fleeing the South via the Underground Railroad and moving north in search of freedom and a better way of life. African Americans of Harrisburg opens the door to this culturally diverse city of the wealthy, middle class, and poor with every possible race, religion, ethnicity, and lifestyle, which makes the fabric of the community so rich.

Book cover for African Americans of Harrisburg in the Black America Series, featuring a historic group portrait.

Columbia, South Carolina

9780738506654

$24.99

South Carolina's capital city enjoys a strong African-American presence, one that has had considerable influence on the growth and development of Columbia's commerce and culture since the city's creation in the late 1700s. The challenges of the antebellum South, Reconstruction, the Civil Rights era, and even the present have shaped a vibrant and dynamic black community, which supplies a wealth of leaders for the city, state, and nation.

Black and white group portrait of women in formal dresses with a Columbia South Carolina book cover at the bottom

African Americans of Wichita

9781467114813

$24.99

The African American community of Wichita is as old as the city itself, dating back to early pioneers, cowboys, and business figures. Once relatively integrated, Wichita became more segregated as the 20th century unfolded. In response, African Americans developed a lively neighborhood downtown with its own businesses, churches, schools, and organizations. World War II brought new populations to work in the aircraft industry and set the stage for profound changes. In the 1950s, a younger generation of leaders challenged racism and discrimination, unleashing a period of change that was both hopeful and painful. In recent years, the African American community has become more complex, with generations of established families joined by recent transplants, emigrants from Africa, and children of mixed marriages. While challenges remain, African Americans are more visible than ever before in local life, evident in politics, business, sports, and education.

Cover coming soon placeholder for African Americans of Wichita

African Americans in Downtown St. Louis

9780738531670

$24.99

Since the founding of St. Louis in 1764, Downtown St. Louis has been a center of black cultural, economic, political, and legal achievements that have shaped not only the city of St. Louis, but the nation as well. From James Beckworth, one of the founders of Denver, Colorado, to Elizabeth Keckley, Mary Todd Lincoln's seamstress and author of the only behind-the-scenes account of Lincoln's White House years, black residents of Downtown St. Louis have made an indelible mark in American history. From the monumental Dred Scott case to entertainers such as Josephine Baker, Downtown St. Louis has been home to many unforgettable faces, places, and events that have shaped and strengthened the American experience for all.

Cover image for African Americans in Downtown St. Louis, isbn: 9780738531670

Columbus, Georgia

9780738542874

$24.99

The rich African-American heritage of Columbus, Georgia, comes alive in this engaging collection of images and stories.

From the town's early days when pioneers settled along the Chattahoochee River to its present status as a thriving metropolitan community, Columbus boasts an eventful history, one that would not be complete without the hard work and extraordinary achievements of its African-American community. Within these pages, the reader will discover such legendary figures as Eugene Bullard, the first black Aviator; Dr. Thomas Brewer, a champion of the Civil Rights movement; and Alma Thomas, a celebrated and accomplished visual artist.

Columbus Georgia cover from Black America Series showing a group of children outdoors in black and white.

An Oral History of African Americans in Grant County

9780738500478

$24.99

The honesty of the voices within this illuminating oral history will draw you into the Grant County of yesteryear, and leave you feeling as if you were really there.

There's a story that goes like this . . . So begins Delores Betts, one of the dozens of people whose memories and recollections of African-American life in Grant County over the past century and a half are preserved within what may well be the most intriguing and inspiring history you will ever read. We invite you to join Barbara Stevenson and the dozens of others in this delightful journey back in time. It is an experience that we promise you will never forget.

Cover image for An Oral History of African Americans in Grant County, isbn: 9780738500478

Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church

9780738567983

$24.99

Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta was founded in 1886. The name Ebenezer means "rock or stone of help." From a small group of believers, many of whom were former slaves, in a boxlike structure on Airline Alley, Ebenezer has grown to an internationally known church with over 4,000 members. The Gothic architecture of the Heritage Sanctuary on Auburn Avenue, coupled with the influence of the African meetinghouse seen in the architecture of the Horizon Sanctuary across the street, reflects the diversity of outreach of Ebenezer's ministry. Ebenezer has been a beacon of racial pride and social consciousness. The love and cooperation between the members and the pastor have created a family atmosphere that has sustained the growth and expansion of the church.

Cover of Images of America Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church featuring a lineup of men in suits inside a church

Austin's Rosewood Neighborhood

9780738595979

$24.99

Rosewood is a historically African American neighborhood on the east side of Austin. It takes its name from Rosewood Avenue, which runs through the heart of the area. Rosewood was first settled by Europeans in the late 19th century, and beginning in the 1910s, the City of Austin adopted as official policy the goal of segregating African Americans in East Austin. Rosewood has been the official home of Austin's Juneteenth, or Emancipation Day, celebration. June 19th was the day that news of the Emancipation Proclamation reached Texas--two years after the fact. The exact location of the celebration has changed over the years, but whether it was Emancipation Park or Rosewood Park, Austin's major Juneteenth event has always been in Rosewood.

Cover of Austin's Rosewood Neighborhood from Images of America showing workers at long benches in a workshop.

African-American Life in Louisville

9780738553757

$24.99

Louisville's African-American community dates back to the early 1800s. Before the 1850s, many Black churches such as the Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church were founded in the area.

Prominent African Americans, including Whitney M. Young, Woodford Porter, Frank Stanley, and Calvin Winstead, became Louisville's pioneer families in modern business and politics. Within the pages of this volume are many of the families who worked to become institution builders and leaders--in Louisville and around the world. African-American Life in Louisville covers the period from the late nineteenth century to the 1960s and focuses on the people and places in the Greater Louisville area, including Shelbyville. Author Bruce Tyler, Associate Professor of History at the University of Kentucky, Louisville, has created this unique collection of vintage photographs as a tribute to his community.

Book cover for African American Life in Louisville showing dancers in white costumes performing in a line

Black Baseball In Pittsburgh

9780738505312

$24.99

Black Baseball in Pittsburgh chronicles the history of the Negro League in the Steel City from the Homestead Grays in the 1910s to the great Pittsburgh Crawfords teams of the 1930s and through the 1950s.

When the Negro National League was formed in Kansas City in 1920, a new chapter in America's sports history had begun. Here, you will meet legends such as ""Smokey"" Joe Williams, the famed ""Thunder Twins,"" Josh Gibson, the Steel City's Slugger Supreme, and Buck Leonard, the King of Negro League first basemen.

Book cover Black Baseball in Pittsburgh showing a historic player among a crowd in a sepia photo.

Norfolk, Virginia

9780738505640

$24.99

Norfolk has been a center of African-American life since this country's humble beginnings, when indentured African servants arrived in 1619 to the Tidewater region. Since that time, the African-American population has endured the atrocities of slavery, poverty, and inequality, and has emerged, through a remarkable combination of hard work, perseverance, and faith, as a vibrant community and an integral component to the identity and success of Norfolk and surrounding areas.

Historic sepia group portrait on the Norfolk Virginia book cover from the Black America Series

Haywood County, Tennessee

9780738506050

$24.99

Explore the rich history of Haywood County, one of only two remaining counties in Tennessee with a majority African-American population.

Surviving slavery, Reconstruction, poverty, and the Civil Rights tensions of the twentieth century, Haywood County's black community has done much to shape the identity of this historic West Tennessee county. This volume, containing over 200 black-and-white images, highlights the county's settlement, the early slave culture, the legacy of its many soulful and talented musicians, such as Anna Mae Bullock (better known as Tina Turner), the hard-fought strides in bringing education to African-American citizens, the importance of church in molding the social and spiritual elements of life, and some of the county's most recognizable faces and names.

Author and historian Sharon Norris has composed a wonderful tribute, in word and image, to the black experience of Haywood County, capturing life of yesteryear in Brownsville and some of the smaller communities, such as Nutbush and Stanton. A visual treasure, Haywood County serves as fitting testimony to a community that has persevered through much of the South's darkest moments and has created a truly special place, full of spirit, fellowship, and melody.

Vintage graduation photo of four young adults holding diplomas with a Haywood County Tennessee book cover design overlay

Georgetown County, South Carolina

9780738503479

$24.99

Located in one of the Palmetto State's most picturesque regions, Georgetown County is a beautiful coastal county full of African-American traditions and the distinct Gullah heritage.

Derived from the West Africans who were brought to the Carolinas in bondage, the Gullah culture is a melting pot of traditions of different African nations, and while the Gullah region once extended from North Carolina and into Florida, today the Gullah area is mostly confined to Georgia and the Lowcountry of South Carolina. An integral part of the identity of the Lowcountry, the Black community has played a prominent role in the successful development of the county since the first Africans' arrival in the 1600s. This volume serves to highlight and celebrate the county's people, their struggles, and their achievements.

Historic group portrait of African American men outdoors on the Georgetown County book cover

Iowa's Black Legacy

9780738503516

$24.99

African Americans make up only a small minority of Iowa's population, but contrary to widespread belief, there is a very rich historical culture of African Americans throughout the state. This photographic history focuses on that heritage, and especially on ten Iowa cities with the largest African-American populations.Through vivid images into the early history, religion, culture, sports, recreation, education, health, law, business, and industry in ten towns in Iowa, Charline Barnes, Ed.D, and Floyd Bumpers clearly show that the African- American community of Iowa has made many significant contributions to the history of that state.

Group of African American graduates in gowns posing on the cover of Iowa's Black Legacy

African-American Life in Preston County

9780738501338

$24.99

Preston County, an area nestled in the northern corner of West Virginia, is bounded on the north by
Pennsylvania and the Mason-Dixon line and on the east
by the state of Maryland. This scenic Appalachian region is primarily a farming community, though mining, timber, recreation, and tourism have also been vital contributors to the county's economy. The small yet vibrant African-American community of Preston County, whose story is told here through family photographs, documents, and memories, is a vital part of the county's heritage. For generations, these families have worked on the land and in the mines; they have raised their children and built their homes in Preston County. Vintage images from as early as the 1860s preserve the
African-American story of the mothers and fathers and
the mine workers and farmers who have played and
continue to play an important role in the history of this beautiful part of the world.

Cover image for African-American Life in Preston County, isbn: 9780738501338

African Americans in Amarillo

9780738571287

$24.99

Amarillo became a town in 1887 when merchants opened stores to cater to railroad workers. The first African Americans in the area were Jerry Callaway, who came to the area in 1888 with a white family, and Mathew "Bones" Hooks, a highly respected cowboy who moved to Amarillo in 1900 and later worked for the railroad. By 1908, five African American families had moved to Amarillo. The black community grew and people established churches, businesses, and schools. With the 1950s and 1960s, Amarillo citizens participated in ending segregation and bringing about equality. Today African Americans in Amarillo are still bound together by their churches but have access to many opportunities both locally and nationally. They are justifiably proud of their rich heritage.

Book cover from Images of America African Americans in Amarillo with a sepia photograph of a large group in front of a wooden building

Northern Kentucky

9780738517650

$24.99

Along the picturesque southern banks of the Ohio River, the African-American communities of Boone, Campbell, and Kenton Counties have provided laborers and entrepreneurs to aid in the economic growth of the region from the earliest settlements to today. Despite numerous obstacles and against seemingly insurmountable odds, African Americans in Northern Kentucky made significant contributions in many fields, ranging from music, medicine, and literature to performing arts, poetry, education, and athletics.

Northern Kentucky book cover from the Black America Series depicting a busy grocery store interior

Durham's Lincoln Hospital

9780738513669

$24.99

Lincoln Hospital opened in Durham in 1901 to serve the community's African Americans as a center for patient care and medical education. With the onset of the Civil Rights Movement, however, Lincoln's competition increased, and it closed in 1976. Still, the hospital is remembered today through the Lincoln Community Health Center and in the hearts and minds of those who contributed to its history.

Durham Lincoln Hospital book cover from Black America Series featuring a large black and white group portrait of hospital staff in uniform coats

Dunleith

9780738542058

$24.99

Dunleith, a community just two miles south of Wilmington, arose in the early 1950s and was the first African American housing development marketed in Delaware. African Americans, many of whom were World War II veterans, teachers, and blue-collar workers, purchased their first homes in Dunleith. During this period of civil rights programs, finding equal education and housing opportunities was a challenge, particularly for African Americans. The school and churches of the Dunleith Estates community encouraged a generation of families to persevere through this difficult period. The rich history of the community is documented through vintage photographs in Images of America: Dunleith.

Cover image for Dunleith, isbn: 9780738542058

Vance County, North Carolina

9780738506630

$24.99

See how the African-American community has played a vital role in the development and success of Vance County, North Carolina.

The African-American community has been an integral part of Vance County's history over the years. From antebellum times, to Reconstruction, to the Civil Rights era, to the present, this community has been through it all. Making a difference in all walks of life--educational, spiritual, commercial, and civic--the black citizens of this historic Tar Heel county share an impressive story, one marked by a determination and undeniable will to succeed through economic hardships and social challenges.

Vance County North Carolina book cover with a black and white portrait of young men in satin jackets

Ellis Island

9780738595726

$24.99

Les Etats-Unis sont considérés comme l'un des principaux refuges dans le monde pour les étrangers et aucun lieu dans le pays ne symbolise cette idée mieux qu'Ellis Island. A travers les salles et les couloirs d'Ellis Island, plus de douze millions d'immigrés de presque toutes les nationalités, entrèrent dans le pays pour vivre de nouvelles expériences en Amérique du Nord. Grace à une collection merveilleuse de photos du XIXe et du XXe siècle d'Ellis Island, le lecteur se laisse guider à travers l'histoire fascinante de cette petite ile du port de New York depuis ses débuts en tant que bassin ostréicole avant la vague d'immigration, jusqu'à ses années spectaculaires en tant que poste du Bureau américain pour l'Immigration et à sa transformation actuelle comme le plus grand musée du Service National des Parcs.

Ellis Island book cover depicting a grand interior with American flags and a central escalator.

Floods of Northern New Jersey

9781467120876

$24.99

Situated between winding rivers and prone to turbulent storms, northern New Jersey has had an extensive and tumultuous history of flooding. The most severe flood occurred in 1903 when three days of nonstop rain, averaging 12 inches per day, melted more than 23 inches of snow and ice—inundating the cities of Passaic and Wallington and splitting Paterson in two. Since 1945, more than 60 documented storms have wreaked havoc and shaken the region. In 2011, the second-worst storm in North Jersey's history, Hurricane Irene, struck with more than 11 inches of rain, displacing 6,000 residents in Paterson alone and hitting Bergen and Passaic Counties with a vengeance. Only one year later, Superstorm Sandy rolled into North Jersey, flooding Moonachie and Little Ferry with surges up to five feet. Floods of Northern New Jersey showcases the rich documentation of flooding through a unique and significant photographic collection.

Cover image for Floods of Northern New Jersey, isbn: 9781467120876

The Great Fires of Lynn

9780738545530

$24.99

No city can be spared the devastating effects of fire, but Lynn has seemingly experienced more than its share. More than most communities, Lynn measures its epochs in terms of these catastrophes. From the Christmas night blaze of 1868 to the conflagration of 1981, generations of Lynn residents have witnessed major fires that have changed the face of the city. Many of the significant fires have occurred in the very heart of the city, the downtown area. While some of these great fires have been more tragic and debilitating than others, each has in its own way contributed to the evolution of the city, making Lynn what it is today.

Cover image for The Great Fires of Lynn, isbn: 9780738545530

Portland Firefighting

9781467128285

$24.99

The city of Portland, Maine, has an extraordinary history as a prominent seaport dating back to early colonial times. Few realize how heavily intertwined this history is with fire and firefighting. The motto of the city, Resurgam, is Latin for I will rise again. The city symbol has long included the phoenix, a mythological bird that is said to arise from the ashes of its predecessor. With over 20 major conflagrations and four different fires that destroyed the majority of the city, both the symbol and the motto directly reference Portland's perseverance despite catastrophic fire. As the Portland Fire Department celebrates the 250th anniversary of the inception of organized fire protection on March 29, 1768, Portland Firefighting takes the reader on a photographic tour encompassing not only the department's history but also the development of firefighting through the centuries.

Cover image for Portland Firefighting, isbn: 9781467128285

The New York State Capitol and the Great Fire of 1911

9780738574004

$24.99

In the early morning hours of March 29, 1911, a fire broke out in the New York State Capitol at Albany. By sunset, the entire western portion of the building had sustained extensive structural damage. Within lay the entire collection of the New York State Library, almost completely reduced to ashes. Founded in 1818, this had been one of the finest research libraries in the country and home to innumerable manuscript and printed rarities. In a particularly bitter irony, the fire struck as the overcrowded library was four months away from moving into new, spacious quarters under construction across the street. Miraculously there was only one fatality, an elderly watchman, Samuel Abbott, whose body was not recovered until several days later. Images of America: The New York State Capitol and the Great Fire of 1911 includes recently discovered photographs documenting the construction of the building, beginning in 1867, as well as eyewitness accounts of its destruction.

Cover image for The New York State Capitol and the Great Fire of 1911, isbn: 9780738574004

Detroit's Holy Family Church

9780738552170

$24.99

The traditions of the Sicilians and Italians have been present in Detroit and Holy Family Church since the early 1900s. The church being the very root of their soul, they have maintained their ancestors' culture and the rituals they brought with them over 100 years ago. Some of these customs date back hundreds of years in their homelands of Cinisi, Terrasini, Trapani, and many other cities. Bonnie Leone was born, raised, and still resides in Detroit. Originally appointed by Gov. John Engler to the position of Wayne County jury commissioner, Leone is a member of several genealogical societies, tracing some of her ancestors as far back as the 1500s. Her strong sense of history, art, and tradition brought her to this church, so that she may help to preserve and protect the traditions of the last 100 years of the Sicilians in Detroit.

Cover image for Detroit's Holy Family Church, isbn: 9780738552170

Cotton

9780738517810

$24.99

In the barbeque joints and plate lunch cafes off Memphis's Front Street, one is easily reminded of the days when cotton was king, of a society of characters and cads; the big time and the small time; the rich and the richer; the hangers-on, anointed, powerful, and busted. Cotton created empires in agriculture, transportation, banking, and warehousing. It also shackled the dreams and lives of those born into slavery and sharecropping. Although many of the day-to-day dealings have moved to manicured office parks and high-rise buildings, cotton's influence still remains at the core of the Southern economy and Southern society. Cotton propelled technological advances that have changed the face and soul of the South. It was the wellspring that gave birth to modern music. Cotton triggered the migrations of millions of blacks and poor whites, shaping the culture of Northern cities. Its allure has called out to writers, artists, and photographers from around the world, attracted by the tragedy, irony, and power of cotton's story. In this book of vivid images and intriguing text, Memphis historian and author William Bearden presents the captivating history of cotton's profound influence on American society.

Cover image for Cotton, isbn: 9780738517810

Arizona's Fire Departments

9781467163088

$24.99

Arizona’s fire departments started forming while the area was still a territory. Early days of firefighting were largely done by residents rushing to help their neighbors with water bucket brigades trying, almost always unsuccessfully, to save houses or businesses.

In 1865, Wickenburg formed the first formal fire department to protect the growing mining town from the constant threat of fire. The next fire departments did not form until 1881 in Tombstone and Tucson. After that, fire departments developed quite rapidly as specific methods of firefighting were instituted. These included using hand-pulled fire wagons with water tanks and hoses and then horse-drawn apparatus with water or chemicals that were now being manufactured. By the time Arizona gained statehood in 1912, fourteen major towns had an official fire department. Today, there are over 140 fire districts and roughly 35 municipal fire departments.

Carol A. Schumacher is the chairperson for Arizona’s Queen Valley Fire District Board of Directors. She is also president of the Queen Valley Historical Society and authored Superior and Queen Valley with Arcadia Publishing. She visited every fire department in this book to research the history and gather photographs of these heroic firefighters. Chief Cecil Fendley, with the Queen Valley Fire District, is the longest-serving fire chief in Arizona, with 38 years of experience as of 2025.

Cover image for Arizona's Fire Departments, isbn: 9781467163088

Mexican American Baseball in Los Angeles

9780738581804

$24.99

Images of Baseball: Mexican American Baseball in Los Angeles celebrates the flourishing culture of the great pastime in East Los Angeles and other communities where a strong sense of Mexican identity and pride was fostered in a sporting atmosphere of both fierce athleticism and social celebration. From 1900, with the establishment of the Mexican immigrant community, to the rise of Fernandomania in the 1980s, baseball diamonds in greater Los Angeles were both proving grounds for youth as they entered their educations and careers, and the foundation for the talented Forty-Sixty Club, comprised of players of at least 40, and often over 60, years of age. These evocative photographs look back on the great Mexican American teams and players of the 20th century, including the famous Chorizeros—the proclaimed Yankees of East L.A.

Cover image for Mexican American Baseball in Los Angeles, isbn: 9780738581804

Mexican American Baseball in Ventura County

9781467117159

$24.99

Mexican American Baseball in Ventura County pays tribute to the legendary teams and players from Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Santa Paula, and other surrounding neighborhoods. From the early 20th century through the 1950s, baseball in Ventura County safeguarded opportunities for nurturing athletic and educational skills, asserting ethnic identity, promoting political self-confidence, developing economic autonomy, and redefining gender roles for women. Outside the ball field, these players and their families helped create the multibillion-dollar agricultural wealth that relied heavily on their backbreaking labor. These extraordinary photographs and remarkable stories shed unparalleled light on the long and rich history of baseball and softball in this celebrated region of California.

Cover image for Mexican American Baseball in Ventura County, isbn: 9781467117159

Niles

9781467163248

$24.99

The Niles History Center has curated images from its photograph collections to showcase the area’s rich heritage, spanning from Fort St. Joseph to the mid-20th century. Christina H. Arseneau and Mollie K. Watson have dedicated nearly a decade to exploring the center’s archives and researching the people, places, and events of Niles.

Long before the city of Niles took shape, this area served as a vital crossroads for Native people traveling by land and water. The colonial era began in 1691 when the French founded Fort St. Joseph. In 1829, a small village was established, and with the arrival of the Michigan Central Railroad, Niles grew into a bustling riverfront city. Niles thrived as an industrial center, boasting the best waterpower in the state of Michigan. Notable figures such as author Ring Lardner, retailer Montgomery Ward, and auto pioneers John and Horace Dodge all called Niles home. Though industrial giants like Kawneer and Simplicity Pattern Company have left, the city remains deeply connected to its history. Niles’s roots are still visible in its distinctive downtown architecture, lush riverfront parks, and enduring institutions and events.

Cover image for Niles, isbn: 9781467163248

St. Mary's Hall and Doane Academy

9780738576718

$24.99

On May 1, 1837, Episcopal bishop George Washington Doane welcomed
52 young women from eight states to his new school, St. Mary's Hall, in
Burlington, New Jersey. Bishop Doane's radical innovation of giving young
women the same mental training as young men motivated people from far
and wide to send their daughters to this new school. Doane's visionary
efforts soon turned many heads and changed many hearts, and the school
grew accordingly. Today, as a coeducational school known as Doane
Academy, the institution carries forward Bishop Doane's passion to push
the boundaries of education. Located along the banks of the Delaware
River, Doane Academy builds and instills character and a sense of duty into
its students and prepares and guides them as they move "Right Onward"
to change the world.

Historic campus scene with a horse-drawn carriage in front of a stately building on the St. Marys Hall and Doane Academy cover.

Akron Women

9780738533698

$24.99

While industrialists were building the great rubber factories, cereal mills, and potteries, Akron women were weaving together the cultural and moral fabric of the city. Women established churches, hospitals, schools, and cultural institutions, even as they nurtured their families and worked in the city's factories, stores, and offices. Even though they were busy holding the fabric of Akron life together, they still found time to enjoy the city's wonderful entertainment and recreational attributes. Akron Women captures the rich diversity, determination, spirit, courage, and energy of this extraordinary population of women through the use of historic photos, rare advertising, and supporting commentary.

Akron Women book cover showing a group of smiling women in vintage satin dresses beside a large Coeds sign.

Women in Lexington

9780738542164

$24.99

Images of America: Women in Lexington is a celebration of Kentucky women at work, in the home, at play, in society, and as part of the larger fabric of women's equality. Women in Lexington were active during World War II: they fought for women's rights, experienced changes within the family, and took advantage of or created new opportunities in the workplace. The 200 vintage photographs featured in this volume were drawn from collections housed in the archive of the University of Kentucky. With nearly 2 million photographs, the collections offer unparalleled coverage of the cultural, social, agricultural, and industrial changes that have shaped Lexington and Central Kentucky.

Cover of Women in Lexington from Images of America featuring a group of people in vintage clothing outdoors.

Women in Atlanta

9780738517452

$26.99

Although Southern women are often portrayed as belles, the photographic record suggests the true diversity, complexity, and richness of their lives. In their roles as wives, mothers, teachers, pilots, businesswomen, and reformers, among others, women contributed greatly to the growth and development of the region. In Atlanta, they helped remake a small railroad hub into the thriving capital of the New South. The photographs in this book, drawn from the collections of the James G. Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center, depict Atlanta women at work and at play from the mid-19th century to the 1970s. In addition to illustrating women's dramatically changing roles during this period, the volume situates these women within the emerging regional and national contexts of their time.

Cover image for Women in Atlanta, isbn: 9780738517452

Western College for Women

9781467110587

$24.99

Western Female Seminary, the first daughter institution of Mount Holyoke College, opened its doors in 1855 as a Christian institution. The seminary, which became Western College for Women, was founded on the Mt. Holyoke plan, with a strong emphasis on academics. Many of its graduates in the 19th century served as home and foreign missionaries, and by the 20th century, young women from many foreign countries attended Western. In the 1950s, the curriculum was expanded to include a strong international emphasis. Western was the first college in the country to have an artist-in-residence, when composer Edgar Stillman Kelley was invited to live on campus. Western attracted national attention when it hosted civil rights training for Freedom Summer 1964. In the 1970s, independent study programs were developed, and the college became coeducational. With its diverse architecture and the early emphasis on landscaping on its rolling campus, the college was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

Western College for Women book cover with a sepia historic group photo on campus steps

Mercy Flights

9781467127936

$7.99

Mercy Flights—America's first not-for-profit air ambulance service—was created in 1949 in direct response to the polio epidemic and medical transportation problems in Southern Oregon and Northern California. At that time, two small general hospitals provided basic medical care for the community of 17,000 residents. The nearest specialty hospitals for injuries and more complex care were in Eugene (167 miles), Portland (274 miles), and San Francisco (363 miles). Since the Interstate Highway System had not yet been built, these distances were very slowly traveled on two-lane roads. George Milligan, a young air traffic controller—and a pilot himself—mobilized the community to create Mercy Flights and recruited volunteer pilots and nurses to staff the service. The story of Mercy Flights is a grassroots account of heroism, service, creativity, tenacity, and strong community leadership.

Mercy Flights

9781467126670

$24.99

Mercy Flights—America's first not-for-profit air ambulance service—was created in 1949 in direct response to the polio epidemic and medical transportation problems in Southern Oregon and Northern California. At that time, two small general hospitals provided basic medical care for the community of 17,000 residents. The nearest specialty hospitals for injuries and more complex care were in Eugene (167 miles), Portland (274 miles), and San Francisco (363 miles). Since the Interstate Highway System had not yet been built, these distances were very slowly traveled on two-lane roads. George Milligan, a young air traffic controller—and a pilot himself—mobilized the community to create Mercy Flights and recruited volunteer pilots and nurses to staff the service. The story of Mercy Flights is a grassroots account of heroism, service, creativity, tenacity, and strong community leadership.

Mercy Flights placeholder cover showing Coming Soon text

Tennessee State Penitentiary

9781467112789

$24.99

As Tennessee grew into a modern state, it found itself increasingly beset by crime. In 1831, the legislature approved the construction of the first penitentiary. The pen world was violent and dark, with several major riots, fires, and escape attempts throughout the years. However, the prison also gave birth to a culture of creativity born from despair, with entertainment shows often featuring the biggest names in country music sharing the stage with inmate bands. The best-known pen, the Castle, has become a familiar icon to filmgoers, being used in productions like The Last Castle and The Green Mile. Today, the building sits abandoned, facing an uncertain future.

Cover image for Tennessee State Penitentiary, isbn: 9781467112789

Lansing Correctional Facility

9781467112468

$24.99

Since 1868, the Lansing Correctional Facility (formerly the Kansas State Penitentiary) has stood watch over what would become the city of Lansing. Designed by Erasmus Carr, architect of the Kansas State Capitol, the prison is the oldest in Kansas. In the beginning, it housed male and female inmates from Kansas and Oklahoma, as well as inmates serving federal sentences. Today, the facility's population of minimum, medium, maximum, and special management custody offenders is approximately 2,400. Leavenworth County has also seen the addition of the United States Disciplinary Barracks, United States Penitentiary-Leavenworth, and Corrections Corporation of America-Leavenworth, making it the only county in the country to host a state, military, federal, and private prison. Images of America: Lansing Correctional Facility features photographs of the early days, when inmates were on the "silent system" and could not speak to one another, to more modern times when rehabilitation has become an important component of prison life.

Front cover of Lansing Correctional Facility from Images of America showing a brick prison entrance and early automobiles

Jewish Community of Chattanooga

9780738501208

$24.99

Chattanooga is truly a city that reflects America's diverse history, possessing a rich, antebellum heritage combined with the energy and determination of the many brave immigrants who transformed this area from a traditional Southern town into a cosmopolitan center of the New South. One of Chattanooga's most important contributors, the Jewish
community has played an integral role in improving and diversifying the life and culture of this historic Tennessee town. In this volume of over 200 photographs, you will enjoy a celebration of the struggles, the stories of heroism and of common life, and the many successes of Chattanooga's Jewish citizens. Touching upon all aspects of Jewish life, the Jewish Community of Chattanooga will take you on an exciting visual tour of the Jewish experience with beautiful and rare photographs of different Life Cycle events, Hebrew-oriented schools, such as the Jewish Day School, Jewish cemeteries, past and present-day synagogues, and its people, including many families, prominent businesspersons, special achievers, and community and civic leaders.

Cover image for Jewish Community of Chattanooga depicting a street procession with banner carriers in a sepia photo.

The Lost Jewish Community of the West Side Flats: 1882-1962

9780738519869

$24.99

Beginning in 1882, many Russian and Eastern-European Jews who fled to the United States settled in the "West Side Flats" in St. Paul, Minnesota. The area once stretched from the banks of the Mississippi River to the cliffs of the West Side Hills, about 320 acres in all, but has since fallen victim to the vagaries of the mighty river and the progress of "urban renewal." The Lost Jewish Community of the West Side Flats: 1882-1962 takes the reader on a pictorial tour down memory lane. The families, houses, businesses, streets, and synagogues-all vanished now-are brought back to life through vintage photographs from the archives of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest, the Minnesota Historical Society, and the private collections of many former residents. This is a memoir of a historic neighborhood that can no longer be visited.

Cover of The Lost Jewish Community of the West Side Flats 1882-1962 with a horse drawn wagon on a historic street.

Jewish Pioneers of St. Paul

9780738518626

$24.99

The roots of the Jewish community of St. Paul, MN, were established in 1849, with the arrival of two American-born brothers from Pennsylvania. From these early pioneers the community grew and spread. Through the medium of historic photographs and stories, this book captures the remarkable evolution of the Jewish people of St. Paul. It is a story of the cultural, religious, economic, and everyday life of St. Paul Jews.

These pages bring to life the people, events, neighborhoods, and institutions that helped shape and transform today's Jewish community. These photographs, derived from the collections of the Minnesota Historical Society and the Ramsey County Historical Society, paint a poignant and vivid picture of Jewish life in St. Paul. In addition to recalling the establishment of Mt. Zion and Sons of Jacob, the first two major synagogues in St. Paul, this book displays the distinct impact that prominent Jews of the community, such as Abram Elfelt, Judge Isaac N. Cardozo, and Isador Rose, had on the shaping of St. Paul.

Book cover for Jewish Pioneers of St. Paul 1849-1874 showing a sepia family portrait

Jewish Pioneers of the Black Hills Gold Rush

9780738577814

$24.99

The very name Deadwood conjures up vivid Wild West images: saloons with swinging doors, brazen dance-hall girls, buckskin-clad Calamity Jane roaming the streets with her erstwhile paramour, Wild Bill Hickok. The setting is the lawless Dakota Territory of 1876 at the start of the Black Hills gold rush, a stampede for the golden pay dirt. One would hardly expect to find a Jewish pioneer grocer named Jacob Goldberg in this scene, yet Deadwood's story is incomplete without Goldberg. And Goldberg's story is incomplete without either Calamity Jane or Wild Bill. Not just Goldberg, but Finkelstein (also known as Franklin), Stern (also known as Star), Jacobs, Schwarzwald, Colman, Hattenbach, and many other Jews joined the throngs. The Jews provided much more than overalls, chamberpots, and the chambers in which to put them. They also became the mayors, legislators, and civic leaders who helped bring sense and stability to this unruly expanse.

Sepia Images of America cover for Jewish Pioneers of the Black Hills Gold Rush depicting a large crowd in period dress along a tree-lined street.

Jewish Family and Children's Service of Greater Philadelphia

9780738538280

$24.99

Jewish Family and Children's Service of Greater Philadelphia (JFCS) resulted from the merger of two important human service organizations in 1983: the Association for Jewish Children of Philadelphia and Jewish Family Service of Philadelphia. Helping one in four Jewish households in crisis and in need as well as thousands of others, JFCS plays a primary role in the Greater Philadelphia community. The earliest predecessor of JFCS, the Jewish Foster Home, opened in 1855 with five children in its care. Established through the leadership of Rebecca Gratz, the foremost American Jewish female leader of her day, it was the nation's first Jewish orphanage and heralded a record of compassion, skill, and innovation in community services. Today, JFCS reaches out to more than 41,000 individuals and families each year with a wide array of programs from adoption to senior services. Jewish Family and Children's Service of Greater Philadelphia is the first illustrated history of this organization. With numerous historic photographs, including images from the 150th anniversary celebration in 2005, this book touches on all aspects of the organization's history: services, programs, staff, and fund-raising.

Book cover Jewish Family and Children's Service of Greater Philadelphia with a large group photo outside a building

Jewish Life in Akron

9780738539683

$24.99

In the mid-1800s, many Jewish families joined the western expansion and emigrated from Germany to Akron, a canal town that also had an inviting countryside. They sought economic security and religious freedom--a new start in a new town. But it was not an easy life. They organized their Jewish community into cultural and religious groups, and by the 20th century, their efforts attracted Central and Eastern European Jews with differing lifestyles. In 1929, the Akron Jewish Center opened and provided a place for all of the diverse Jewish groups in Akron to gather. It also played an enormous role in raising awareness of the richness of Jewish life in the Akron community. Jewish Life in Akron celebrates 150 years of Jewish culture, family, business, and organizational life through vintage images, many never before published, and supporting history.

Cover image for Jewish Life in Akron, isbn: 9780738539683

Jewish Reading and Berks County

9780738576008

$24.99

Reading and Berks County's first documented Jewish settlers, Lyon Nathan, Meyer Josephson, and Israel Jacobs, arrived in the 1750s. Another wave of Jewish immigrants, mostly from Eastern Europe and Russia, came in the late 1800s to escape the Russian army draft or persecution. Many of these early settlers' families still remain, and their established synagogues and organizations are a vital part of the community. Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom, the oldest surviving synagogue, was founded in 1864. On October 18, 1945, the Jewish Community Center of Reading was completed and dedicated. The Jewish community is committed to improving the lives of everyone in the area by sharing their time, talents, expertise, and financial resources with the larger region.