American Studies Commons^™

Interview Of Margaret Mcguinness, Ph.D., Margaret Mcguinness Ph.D., Stephen Pierce

All Oral Histories

Dr. Margaret McGuinness was born in 1953, in Providence, Rhode Island. She went to an all-girls Catholic high school called St. Mary’s Academy Bayview in Providence where she graduated in 1971. McGuinness went on to major in American Studies and Civilization as an undergraduate at Boston University graduating with a B.A in 1975. She continued her work at Boston University where McGuinness earned a master’s of theological studies (M.T.S) focusing on Biblical and Historical Studies in 1979. She would move to New York to work on her dissertation at Union Theological Seminary finishing with her Ph.D. in 1985 concentrating on …

Interview Of Richard Kestler, F.S.C., M.A., Richard Kestler Fsc, Alexandria Moraschi

All Oral Histories

Brother Richard Kestler, FSC. was born John Kestler on January 8, 1942 to John and Alice Kestler. He grew up in the Oxford Circle section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Brother Richard attended elementary school at his parish of St. Martin of Tours and went on to La Salle College High School, graduating in 1960. By this time, he made the decision to join the Christian Brothers and began this process for about a year before attending La Salle College. He graduated in 1965 with a Bachelor’s in Mathematics and gained a Master’s in Theology soon after. Brother Richard also has Master’s …

Interview Of Alice L. Hoersch, Ph.D., Alice L. Hoersch Ph.D., Selena Bemak

All Oral Histories

Alice Lynn Hoersch was born in 1950 in Abington, PA to Albert and Alice Hoersch. She moved to Honey Brook, located in Chester County, PA at two-years-old. Hoersch lived in Honey Brook until she finished graduate school in 1977. She attended Honey Brook Elementary School. She graduated as valedictorian from Twin Valley High School in 1968. Hoersch studied geology at Bryn Mawr College, graduating in 1972. She received both her master’s and Ph.D. in metamorphic petrology from Johns Hopkins University in 1974 and 1977, respectively. The same year she obtained her Ph.D., Hoersch began teaching as an assistant professor of …

Interview Of Frank Mckee, M.A. English, M.A. Ed. Admin., Frank Mckee M.A., Paul Daley

All Oral Histories

Frank McKee was born in Philadelphia, PA in 1948. His father was a World World II veteran and battery worker, his mother a key-punch operator and homemaker. Growing up in Olney, only fifteen minutes from La Salle’s campus, Frank attended Catholic schools his entire childhood. In 1967 he enrolled at La Salle as an English major but always knew that education was his true passion. Frank lived off campus and worked throughout his undergraduate experience, however, La Salle remained a social hub for him. In 1971, Frank graduated and shortly thereafter was hired to teach at North Catholic High School. …

Interview Of Richard Mshomba, Ph.D., Richard Mshomba Ph.D., Daniel Miller

All Oral Histories

Dr. Richard Mshomba is an economics professor at La Salle University. He was born in Tanzania and spent his early adult life working for the Tanzanian government. When he was 27 he came to the United States to attend school at La Salle College. While attending La Salle he lived with the brother of a local Bishop who helped to get Richard accepted to La Salle. Richard spent three years at La Salle College earning his degree in Economics. After talking with his professor Richard Garrison, he decided to apply to graduate school at the University of Delaware. While he …

A City Invincible? The Transition Of Camden, Nj, From Industrial To Postindustrial City, Patrick C. Coulter

HON499 projects

The primary topic of this essay is the causes for disinvestment that occurred during the deindustrialization of Camden, NJ, between 1960 and 1980. The paper constructs a framework based on the industrial history of Camden, which is composed roughly of the years between 1900 and 1960. This basis explains Camden’s transition from a small town with the purpose of ferry terminal to an industrial powerhouse city. The main portion of the essay discusses the economic and social events that affected Camden between the transformative years of 1960 and 1980, as the industrial era was concluding. The events that transpired in …

Interview Of Brian Henderson, F.S.C., M.A., Brian Henderson F.S.C., Rebecca Oviedo

All Oral Histories

Brother Brian Henderson was born in 1959 and grew up in Southwest Philadelphia. He graduated from West Catholic High School for Boys in 1977 and La Salle University with a B.A. in Religion and Psychology in 1981, and later earned a Masters Degree in Pastoral Studies in 1992. He has been a De La Salle Christian Brother since 1979, taking final vows in 1987. All of Brother Brian’s apostolic assignments have placed him serving inner city youth. His first assignment was as a youth care worker and religion teacher at Saint Gabriel’s Hall in Audubon, PA, a residential treatment facility …

Interview Of Mary Butler, Mary Butler, Zach Bower

All Oral Histories

Mary (King) Butler was born in 1942 in King and Queen County, Virginia. Her parents are Hayes and Blanche King. Her father’s parents were Archie King, Sr. and Rossie King. Her mother’s parents were Joshua and Peggie Whiting. Mary is the oldest of four children. Her two brothers were born in 1943 and 1951, and her sister was born in 1961. Her nuclear family lived close to her father’s parent’s farm in Plainview, VA. Her family was active in both Union Prospect Baptist Church and First Baptist Church.

Butler worked often on her grandparent’s farm as a child. Butler and …

History 650 Interviews: Disclaimer And Note On Use, Barbara Carol Allen

All Oral Histories

No abstract provided.

Interview Of Gerard Molyneaux, F.S.C., Ph.D., Gerard Molyneaux, Megan Crowe

All Oral Histories

Gerard Molyneaux was born in 1935 in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania to John and Anne Elizabeth Molyneaux. He graduated from West Catholic High School in 1951 and began his novitiate in the Christian Brothers, taking final vows in 1953. He graduated from La Salle College in 1958 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and in 1959 with a Master of Arts in Theology. He taught at St. John's High School in Washington, DC, Cumberland School in Maryland, Southville Catholic School in Pittsburgh, PA, and in the English Department of Lewis University. He received his Master of Arts degree in English …

Interview Of Cherylyn Rush, Cherylyn Rush, Linda Sago

All Oral Histories

Cherylyn Landora Edwards Rush was born in 1959 in Shirley, Massachusetts. Mrs. Rush moved to Pennsylvania at a very young age. Her father, Lester Edwards, was in the military. After her parents divorced, Cherylyn’s mother Pearl developed ovarian cancer and passed away when Cherylyn was about seven years old. Her grandmother Louise Jackson then cared for Cherylyn until she went to live with their father. Mr. Edwards had remarried. When Cherylyn’s father and her stepmother divorced, she returned to Philadelphia, PA and attended William Penn High School. Cherylyn earned her high school diploma although she was pregnant with her son. …

Interview Of James T. Dever, James T. Dever, William Gold

All Oral Histories

James T. Dever was born in 1945 in the Kensington section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Walter and Ruth Dever. He attended North Catholic High School in Philadelphia and joined the Order of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales while still in High School. He majored in Theology and English at Catholic University and Allentown College, then received his Master of Arts in English at Villanova University. He taught English at North Catholic High. Ordained as a priest in 1973, Father Dever has been a parish priest, hospital chaplain, and most recently campus minister of the University Ministry and Service …

Interview Of Edward J. Sheehy, F.S.C., Ph.D., Edward J. Sheehy, Lauren De Angelis

All Oral Histories

Edward J. Sheehy was born in 1946 to Edward and Rosemary Sheehy. His father was a naval commander and later the head of an aerospace company called Hercules. He entered the novitiate of the Christian Brothers in 1963, received his undergraduate degree in history from La Salle College in 1968, his Master of Liberal Arts from Johns Hopkins University in 1973, and his Ph.D. in History from George Washington University in 1983. He worked at St. Gabriel's Hall, Calvert College High School, Hudson Catholic High School, Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, PA, and La Salle University. A specialist on …

Interview Of Minister Rodney Muhammad, Rodney Muhammad, Venold Johnson

All Oral Histories

Minister Rodney Muhammad (born Rodney Ellis) was born in 1952 in Chicago, Illinois, where he grew up in the South Shore neighborhood. His father, Jim Ellis, played football for Michigan State University, graduated from there with a degree in sociology, played for the Chicago Bears, and was a social worker. His mother, Kathryn Ellis, attended Roosevelt University, was the first black model for Ford in Detroit, Michigan, and achieved a Ph.D. in Public Administration. Rodney Muhammad majored in business administration at DePaul University and worked as an estate planner before he entered the Nation of Islam. At the time of …

Interview Of Carl Clayton, F.S.C., Carl Clayton, John Young

All Oral Histories

Brother Carl Clayton was born George Clayton in 1938, the youngest of four boys, whose family resided in Baltimore, Maryland. He attended Calvert Hall High School and received a scholarship to attend La Salle College in Philadelphia, PA, beginning in September 1956. After a brief time as a student, Mr. Clayton decided to enter the Christian Brothers order. He completed his spiritual and intellectual training and took the name Damian Carl. Eventually his name would change to just Carl. Br. Carl reported to Pittsburg Central Catholic in September 1961 and was later assigned to La Salle High School in 1963. …

Interview Of Noyma Appelbaum, Ed.D., Noyma Appelbaum, Daniel Matz

All Oral Histories

Noyma Appelbaum was born in 1928 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was born to immigrant parents, his father being Lithuanian and his mother Ukrainian. Mr. Appelbaum’s parents were politically radical and had involvement in the labor union movement of the early 20^th century. His mother, Esther Kaminsky, was involved in the organizing of workers in the textile industries of New York City and Philadelphia. His father, Meyer Appelbaum was pivotal in organizing workers in Philadelphia’s auto industry and, according to the interviewee, was a founding member of Philadelphia’s Communist Party.

Noyma Appelbaum was heavily influenced by his parents’ involvement in …

Interview Of Robert S. Lyons, Jr., Robert S. Lyons Jr., Christina Becker

All Oral Histories

Robert S. Lyons, Jr. (1939-2013) graduated from La Salle College in 1961. The following is his obituary from McGhee Funeral Home:

"Robert S. Lyons, Jr., of Upper Southampton, died Wednesday, June 5, 2013. He was 73. Born June 29, 1939, in Philadelphia, PA, Bob was the son of the late Robert and Catharine Lyons. Bob is survived by his; beloved wife Joan M. Lyons (nee Lang); children, Joanne Jenkins (Ken), Robert P., M.D. (Renee), Richard (Leanne), David (Julie), and Gregory. He will also be missed by his 11 grandchildren. Bob Lyons, the author of Palestra Pandemonium: A History of the …

Interview Of James Szczur, James Szczur, Christopher Spaman

All Oral Histories

Mr. James Michael Szczur was born in the Kensington section of Philadelphia, PA in 1947. He grew up in close proximity to both his grandparents. He was an only child of his parents, who were also born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. Jim, as he was asked to be called during the interview, attended Catholic grammar and high school in Philadelphia. Upon completion of high school, he attended seminary for about 2 years in western PA. He left the seminary and returned home when his father suffered a heart attack. He was drafted into the army in 1968 during the …

Interview Of Michael Kerlin, Ph.D., M.B.A., Michael Kerlin, Shelton Magee

All Oral Histories

Michael Joseph Kerlin (1936-2007) grew up in a row house in southwest Philadelphia. During High School he decided to join the Christian Brothers and entered La Salle College. Upon graduation he taught high school in Virginia for four years. He pursued his doctorate degree at the Gregorian in Rome and shortly after Graduation in 1966 he became a professor of philosophy at La Salle. He left the Christian Brothers on his 34 birthday but continued to teach at La Salle. He chaired the philosophy department for 28 years and won the Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award in 1986. He married Maryanne …

Interview Of Emery C. Mollenhauer, F.S.C., Ph.D., Emery Mollenhauer, Matthew Deininger

All Oral Histories

Brother Emery Mollenhauer, a product of West Philadelphia, grew up in a good home where his father worked as an interior designer furnishing department stores and manufacturing curtains for the theater while his mother was a house wife. Brother Emery graduated number one in his class from Most Blessed Sacrament grade school. He attended West Catholic High School for boys under the direction of the Christian Brothers. By the time of graduation, Brother Emery was ranked third in his class and decided to become a Christian Brother. He received a Bachelor’s Degree graduating Magna Cum Laude with Phi Beta Kappa …

Interview Of Minna F. Weinstein, Ph.D., Minna F. Weinstein, Jon Saltzman, Nathan Starr

All Oral Histories

Minna F. Weinstein (1933-2008) was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Her parents were both deaf and met at a school for the deaf in Western Maryland. Her father was a major proponent of education, and both she and her brother became teachers. She went on to college and graduate school at the University of Maryland, where she earned her B.A. in History, 1955, an M.A. in History, 1957, and a Ph.D. in History in 1965. During her time in the PhD program, she was a history instructor at Temple University, from 1961 to 1964, becoming an Assistant Professor in 1965. In …

Interview Of Thomas Donaghy, Ph.D., Thomas Donaghy Ph.D., Craig Robinson

All Oral Histories

Thomas Donaghy was born in 1928 in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania to Henry and Ann Donaghy. His father worked for Philadelphia Electric and his mother was a homemaker. He attended Catholic schools, including West Catholic High in Philadelphia, and committed to the Christian Brothers in 1946. Having received his B.A. in History at Catholic University in 1952, he taught at St. Francis Vocational School, Pittsburgh Central Catholic, and La Salle College High School. He completed his doctoral dissertation at Pittsburgh University on the history of the Manchester Railway. Hired to teach at La Salle College in the History Department, he attained …

Interview Of John P. Rossi, Ph.D., John Patrick Rossi, Gregg S. Pearson

All Oral Histories

Dr. John Patrick Rossi was born in Philadelphia in 1936 to Gabriel (Al) and Muriel Rossi. He was raised by two aunts, an uncle, and his grandfather in lower Olney. He attended La Salle College High School, received his B. A. in history from La Salle College in 1958, his M. A. from Notre Dame in 1960, and his Ph.D. in History from the University of Pennsylvania in 1965. His dissertation was on the British Liberal Party from 1874 to 1880. He began teaching at La Salle College in 1962; was associate editor of "Four Quarters"; received the Lindback Award; …

John Wister (1829-1900), Active Iron Industrialist, Raymond Dilissio

People and Places

John Wister was born on July 15, 1829 at Belfield (now sometimes called the Peale House), located here on campus. John was born to William Wister and Sarah Logan Wister; Sarah’s father, William Logan Fisher, originally bought the house from colonial painter Charles Wilson Peale. John was the second oldest of six boys in the family.

Peale And Jefferson: Correspondence From Belfield, Dave Tavani

People and Places

The correspondence between Charles Willson Peale and Thomas Jefferson, while Peale lived at Belfield, is a very interesting window into the lives of two great American men. Peale and Jefferson were friends from revolutionary times--in fact Peale painted Jefferson’s portrait. Jefferson initiated the correspondence with a letter to his friend Peale dated August 20, 1811 and also wrote the last surviving letter, which is dated August 26, 1820.

Three Centuries On The South Campus, James A. Butler

Local History Essays

(Reprinted from La Salle: A Quarterly La Salle University Magazine, Fall 1998)

The story of the south campus begins, as any settlement of a new country must, with the land itself. Early in the eighteenth century, the horseback rider exploring his 500-acre "plantation" acutely felt what we in our cars scarcely notice: La Salle’s property, approached from the south, rises as a formidable hill. And the rider observed, as we no longer can, two pristine and swift-moving creeks--one following the line of present-day Belfield Avenue and the other that of Ogontz Avenue.

Charles Willson Peale At Belfield: "Your Garden Must Be A Museum", Kateryna A. Rudnytzky

Local History Essays

Famous colonial portrait painter Charles Willson Peale ("second only to Benjamin Franklin as Philadelphia’s 18^th century Renaissance man") lived at Belfield Mansion—still standing—from 1810 until 1821. Belfield Mansion, partly dating from 1708, is one of the oldest university buildings in use in the country.

Frances Anne Kemble (1809-1893), Natalie Karelis

People and Places

Frances Anne Kemble was born into a theatrical family in London, England, on November 27, 1809. Her roots in the theater were well established at her birth, her aunt being the renowned actress Sarah Siddons and her father, Charles Kemble, the renowned Shakespearean actor.

The National League For Woman's Service, Lydia Stieber

People and Places

St. Mutien’s Christian Brothers’ Residence, located on La Salle University’s South Campus, was once one of the busiest centers in Germantown. In 1917, this building was known as "Little Wakefield" and was a demonstration center for one of most active branches of the National League for Woman’s Service.

Sarah Logan Fisher Wister (1806-1891), Monica Shields

People and Places

Sarah Logan Fisher Wister was born May 18, 1806 in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Her parents were William Logan Fisher and his first wife, Mary Rodman. Little, if anything, is known about her childhood because the authors of the greatest quantity of information known about her were her son and her granddaughter.