Baltimore Neighborhood Heritage Project       ( BNHP)

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Table of Contents

From 1978 through 1980, the Baltimore Neighborhood Heritage Project (BNHP) collected tape recorded oral histories from longtime residents of six Baltimore neighborhoods: Highlandtown, Hampden, Little Italy, South Baltimore, Sandtown-Winchester, and the Jewish Community Center around Park Heights. These oral histories attempt to uncover information about select aspects of neighborhood life and the experience of neighborhood residents from the perspective of the residents themselves. They include recollections on such topics as immigration and migration and adjustment to life in Baltimore, residential patterns, neighborhood institutions, work experiences, family and social life, housing conditions, the impact of local and national events on the neighborhood, and perceived changes in the neighborhood over time.

In 1986, Oral Historian Linda Shopes critiqued the project in an essay, Oral History and Community Involvement: The Baltimore Neighborhood Heritage Project for the Anthology Presenting the Past. This is the best available critical analysis of the project as a whole.

Each oral history interview in the collection represents considerably more than a single interaction between interviewee and interviewer. All were collected by Project staff as part of a one year involvement in the social and institutional life of the neighborhood, aimed at uncovering and promoting it's history. Each interviewer was "based" at a neighborhood "Eating Together" site, a local lunch program for senior citizens. There he or she became acquainted with neighborhood residents, learned about neighborhood networks, and in general, gained a "sense" of the neighborhood social and cultural identity. Although many interviews were conducted with Eating Together participants, interviewers were also encouraged to seek out other community residents not affiliated with Eating Together, including business, political and religious leaders. In addition to interviewing, Project staff conducted historically oriented activities in each community, again based at the Eating Together site, but not limited to it. These activities have included film showings, old time sing alongs, and tours of neighborhood landmarks. The goal of these activities was to stimulate interest in local history and sensitize residents to topics that were pursued in the interviews.

Before doing any interviewing, interviewers were trained in the methods of oral history. In addition, each worked with a professional historian who used the oral material uncovered in conjunction with written source materials to write a neighborhood history. The historians then alerted interviewers to relevant areas of inquiry to pursue in interviews. Finally, each interview itself is preceded by at least one pre-interview conversation between interviewee and interviewer to establish rapport and a basic outline.

Series I. Oral Histories

Alphabetical listing of Interviews

A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Click on the letter above to take you to the table containing a list of names of those interviewed whose last name begin with that letter.

Interviews arranged by Site

The site number is a code for an area of Baltimore City where those interviewed lived. To find a complete list of individuals interviewed who lived in one of the neighborhoods or were part of a particular group click on that site below:

1. Highlandtown
2. Hampden
3. Park Heights
4. Little Italy
5. South Baltimore
6. Old West Baltimore
7. East Baltimore
8. Working Baltimore