History Commons^™

Interview Of Richard Monastra, Richard J. Monastra, Pamela Johnson

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Richard Monastra is of the “baby boom” generation, having been born in 1946 in Philadelphia. He is the eldest of two children. He remains very close to his sister to this day. Mr. Monastra grew up in South Philadelphia in the 1950’s and 1960’s. He describes South Philly at the time as “magical”. He described his neighborhood as being made up of Euro-Americans who settled in South Philly after the Civil War. He attended St. Edmond’s Parochial Elementary School where there were as many as 60 kids in a class. After elementary school, he attended Bishop Neumann High School. While …

Interview Of Dominic Galante, Dominic Galante, Lewis T. Mladjen

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Mr. Dominic Galante was born in 1944 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The youngest of three children and a first-generation Italian-American, the majority of his life, both professional and private, was spent in Philadelphia. As a child Mr. Galante was raised in a devout Catholic home and attended Catholic grade school in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia. Upon graduating from Northeast Catholic High School in 1962 he planned on joining the workforce, as attending college was not financially possible. In the fall of 1962, with the help of his high school typing teacher, he was interviewed and hired at LaSalle College …

Interview Of John J. Mcgoldrick, F.S.C., Ph.D., John J. Mcgoldrick F.S.C., Ph.D., Christine M. Thieme

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Brother John Joseph McGoldrick (b. 1948), grew up in Southwest Philadelphia with his parents and older brother. Attending Most Blessed Sacrament School and later West Philadelphia Catholic High School for Boys, Brother John was part of a strong Catholic community. It was here at West Philadelphia Catholic High School, where Brother John was introduced to the Christian Brotherhood. It was at this time that he realized that the life of service with the Brotherhood was the type of life he’d like to lead. At the age of fifteen, Brother John attended the junior novitiate and after graduating high school entered …

Interview Of Finn Hornum, Finn Hornum, Michael Laskowski

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Finn Hornum was born in 1932 in Copenhagen, Denmark. His father was a businessman and his mother a homemaker and civil servant. He attended the University of Copenhagen. He moved to the United States in 1955 and graduated from Haverford College with a degree in Sociology. He enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Sociology and Criminology at the University of Pennsylvania and completed his coursework but not the dissertation thesis (ABD). He started teaching at La Salle University in 1967, was promoted to Assistant Professor, and served as Department Chair for many years. He retired in 2005.

Obituary:

Passed away …

Interview Of Michael R. Dillon, Ph.D., J.D., Michael R. Dillon, Ph.D., J.D., John A. Prendergast

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Dr. Michael Richard Dillon (1942-2020) was a Professor and Chair of the Political Science Department at La Salle University in Philadelphia. He grew up in Wilmette, Illinois, a suburb just outside of Chicago, where he spent many years before opting to attend the University of Notre Dame for his undergraduate and, later, his graduate and doctoral degrees. Dr. Dillon first came to La Salle in 1968, where he spent 17 years as a member of the Political Science Department under the Chair at the time, Robert Courtney. After obtaining a J.D. from Temple University, Dr. Dillon left La Salle in …

Interview Of Sidney J. Macleod, Jr., M.F.A., Sidney J. Macleod Jr., M.F.A., Amy E. Brooks

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Sidney MacLeod (often called Sid) was born in 1933 in Chicago, Illinois. He is the oldest of three children and the only boy. He earned his M.S.S. at Saint Mary’s College in Winona, Minnesota and his M.F.A. at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. After graduate school he was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served two years on several domestic military bases. He began working at La Salle in 1959. In 1961 he married his wife, Mary Jane. They have four children (three sons and one daughter). He continues to work at La Salle full-time. When he retires he …

Interview Of Helen Gidjunis, Helen Gidjunis, Paula Gidjunis

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Interview topic: Mrs. Helen Gidjunis is a life-long resident of Philadelphia. The majority of her life she spent growing up in the shadow of La Salle College – now University. She moved to Uber Street in 1934, while La Salle’s groundbreaking occurred on February 29, 1928 at its fourth and current location at 20^th Street and Olney Avenue. She has observed the neighborhood change for seventy-nine years. When she married in 1949, she moved one street west to 20^th Street. She has been her block captain for many years and still retains that position and as such has …

Interview Of Peter J. Finley, Ph.D., Peter J. Finley Ph.D., Meghan Bassett

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Peter J. Finley Sr. was born an only child to parents John J. Finley and Margaret Francis Dunn in 1931, in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. He grew up in the Fairmount section of Philadelphia. Peter attended St. Francis Xavier School for grade school, La Salle Prep School afterwards—located at 1240 North Broad Street at the time—and La Salle College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology in 1953. Peter’s connection to La Salle began early in his childhood; his father, John J. Finley, was in the College’s graduating class of 1924. Peter earned a master’s degree at the College …

Interview Of Eugene Colucci, Eugene Colucci, Robert G. Seelhorst Jr

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Abstract

Mr. Eugene Colucci (b. 1948) is a Spanish teacher at Buena Regional High School in Atlantic County, New Jersey. This is his twentieth year as an educator at BRHS in the New Jersey public school system. Before this, Mr. Colucci spent nineteen years teaching in the Catholic school system of Philadelphia (St. Peter’s Elementary, Bishop Neumann High School, and St. Maria Goretti High School). He has a unique perspective because he spent so much time in both the public and private school environments. He describes his youth in the Catholic school system of Philadelphia and describes growing up in …

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

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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

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

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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

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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 Bertram Strieb, M.S., Bertram Strieb, Daniel Falcone

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Bertram Strieb was born in 1938 and spent the first five years of his life in North Philadelphia, near 22nd and Venango. He then moved to West Oak Lane, where he lived from the time he was about 5 until he entered college at age 17. Among the elementary and high schools he attended were Rowen, Logan, Wagner Junior High, and Central High School. Strieb studied physics at the University of Pennsylvania on a Mayor's Scholarship and continued in graduate work at Penn, where he studied under world-renowned physicist Herbert Callen. He began teaching physics at La Salle in 1964 …

Interview Of John Mccloskey By John Fallon, John Mccloskey, John Fallon

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John McCloskey was born in 1920 in Philadelphia’s Olney section. Born into a working-class Irish Catholic family, McCloskey moved to Cornwell Heights, Pennsylvania, in Bucks County, in 1924. He graduated from Northeast Catholic High School in 1938. He held several jobs before settling in at Crown Cork & Seal’s seamless can manufacturing plant located at I Street and Erie Avenue in Philadelphia’s Kensington section. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942. He was selected to instruct future pilots in the operation of B-17 Bombers. He attained the rank of First Lieutenant. Following his time in the Army, McCloskey …

Interview Of Thomas Lorandeau, M.B.A., Thomas Lorandeau, Eric Lorandeau

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Thomas Lorandeau was born in 1952 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For the first four years of his life, Thomas lived in the Wissinoming section of Philadelphia, directly across from Wissinoming Park. When Tom was four, he and his family moved to the Juniata Park section of Philadelphia. Tom has four siblings, all brothers; he is the second child in the family. Tom, and all of his brothers, attended Holy Innocents for elementary school and Northeast Catholic High for Boys for their secondary education. In 1970, Tom began his undergraduate studies at, then, La Salle College (University). During his time at La …

Interview Of Steven J. Stahley, Steven J. Stahley, Kate Ambrose

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Steven J. Stahley was born in 1951 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. He spent his childhood growing up in the Catholic school system, eventually moving to Cardinal Dougherty in 1965 to attend high school. It was in high school that Mr. Stahley decided he would enter the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity. During his first year with the Missionary Servants, a decision was made that all men would attend college and receive the “full college experience.” This brought Mr. Stahley to LaSalle University in 1970. After three years, Mr. Stahley graduated and worked his way through the process of becoming …

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

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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

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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 …

Themes In American History (His 155) City As Classroom Project Report, Lisa Jarvinen Phd

City as Classroom Projects

This introductory survey course covers United States history through the lives of representative Americans. A series of biographies of major figures who confronted the pivotal issues and challenges of their times structure the course. Themes include colonial life, the emergence of American national identity, the founding and preservation of the republic, the struggle against slavery and racism, the spread of capitalism and industrialization, the rise of foreign affairs, the influence of immigration, the growth of the federal welfare state, and the creation of an inclusive society.

HIS 155 is a core course, with a cap of 33 students. The size …

Interview Of Richard Grande, Richard Grande, Frank Hopper

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Richard Grande was born and raised in South Philadelphia. He was educated in the Philadelphia Parochial System from kindergarten through high school. He graduated from Bishop Neumann High School in June of 1960. He attended La Salle College from September 1960 through May 1965. In 1964, he was on the team of scholars who brought national recognition to La Salle College through their appearance on the nationally televised quiz program, the GE College Bowl. He majored in English at La Salle College and received his Bachelors degree in May of 1965. He received a teaching assistantship from the University of …

Interview Of Robert Schaefer, Robert Schaefer, Nobu Mcpherson

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Robert Schaefer was born in 1932 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended Roman Catholic High School and La Salle College. He worked at La Salle as Director of Public Relations. His son, also named Robert Schaefer, became a Christian Brother. He discusses growing up in Philadelphia in the 1930s and 1940s, attending college at La Salle in the 1950s, and his military service in Korea.

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

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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

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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 John J. Seydow, Ph.D., John J. Seydow, Frank Hopper

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John J. Seydow was born and raised in Olney section of Philadelphia. He was educated in Philadelphia’s Parochial School System from kindergarten through high school. He graduated from Cardinal Dougherty High School in June of 1959. He attended La Salle College on a full time basis from September 1961 through May 1965. He majored in English at La Salle and received his Bachelors degree in May of 1965. The following September he began a graduate fellowship at Ohio University where he earned his Masters and Doctorial degrees in English by May of 1968. In August 1968, he returned to La …

Interview Of Paul Joslin, F.S.C., Paul Joslin, Donna Sharer

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Brother Paul Joslin was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 3, 1946. He grew up in Colwyn, Delaware Country, Pennsylvania which is adjacent to southwest Philadelphia. He attended West Philadelphia Catholic High School for Boys where he was introduced to the Lasallian Christians Brothers. During the middle of Brother Paul’s junior year of high school, he became a Juniorate and on June 15, 1964 became a Novitiate in the Christian Brothers. Brother Paul studied Spanish at LaSalle University, then LaSalle College, as an undergraduate from 1965 – 1969. He earned a Masters degree in Spanish from Millersville University of Pennsylvania, …

Interview Of John J. Rooney, Ph.D., John J. Rooney Phd, Lauren Woodring

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Dr. John J. Rooney was born in 1923 to a working class family in South Philadelphia. He went to primarily Catholic schools and during his childhood, witnessed three World Series from his house. He started attending La Salle University in 1940, majoring in chemistry. During World War II, he left school to join the Navy as a flight instructor. He came back to La Salle and graduated in 1946. From there, he went to Temple University to get a master’s and then Ph.D. in psychology. During this time, he simultaneously went to school, taught first chemistry and then psychology at …

Interview Of Caroline Wistar, Caroline Wistar, Meredith Valts

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Caroline Wistar was the La Salle Art Museum curator since 1976. The La Salle Art Museum is located in the basement of the Olney building at the main campus of La Salle.

Interview Of Joseph O'Grady, Phd, Joseph O'Grady, Patricia Kissling

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Dr. O’Grady was born in Germantown, formerly Irishtown, Philadelphia, Pa, in 1934. He attended North East Catholic High School and then attended La Salle College beginning in 1952 majoring in History and Education. While at La Salle he participated in the army program, ROTC, the Caisson Club, and several other organizations. Upon graduation in 1956 he attended Notre Dame University to obtain his Master’s Degree. Immediately following Notre Dame he attended the University of Pennsylvania in 1957, where he worked toward his Doctorate Degree. While working on his doctoral dissertation he was offered a job, by the Christian Brothers, to …