|
|
Book Details History, Culture of Toledo’s Birmingham Neighborhood |
| By
Deanna Lytle |
|
|
Mar 27, 2003 |
|
 |
| Dr. John Ahern, left, and Dr. Tom Barden show off their book, Hungarian American Toledo. |
In 1892, Hungarian workers arrived on Front Street in Toledo. They came from Cleveland, transferred by the National Malleable Castings Co. From these original 200 workers and their families, the Birmingham neighborhood and culture have arisen. Hungarian American Toledo, a book edited by The University of Toledo’s Dr. Thomas Barden and Dr. John Ahern, is the latest effort to document the Birmingham experience.
 |
| Photo taken at a 1928 neighborhood festival from the collection of William Kertesz. |
The idea for Hungarian American Toledo came out of a conversation between Ahern, professor emeritus in the College of Education, and Barden, associate dean for humanities in the College of Arts and Sciences. Barden felt the book would fit the University’s mission statement. "President Johnson is interested in engaging the community," he said. They wanted to capture the Birmingham experience, "to answer the seemingly simple question — what was it like to be born, grow up and live in the Birmingham neighborhood?" as the two men write in the book’s preface.
After they had established a direction for the book, Ahern and Barden worked on the project for three years. They originally submitted the book to the Bowling Green State University press, but it folded, according to Barden. "We then submitted it to UT’s Urban Affairs Center and got the green light."
Hungarian American Toledo is the first time the diverse stories and research on the Birmingham neighborhood have been combined for a book, according to Barden. Topics range from Birmingham architecture to the Betlehemes játék Christmas play.
Barden wrote a chapter on Birmingham folk narratives, many of which were collected by students in his Introduction to Folklore classes. "The stories I collected helped prove my thesis about the three types of folk narratives — first, they’re about the old country; second, the clash between the old and the new country; and third, being comfortable with American ways of doing things."
Dr. Lynne Hamer, UT associate professor of foundations of education, also contributed a chapter. "Tom [Barden] knew I am a folklorist and thought I should work on this book with them," she said. Ahern "has always been enthusiastic about involving people in the Birmingham neighborhood and cultural center," she added.
Hamer’s chapter, "Recipes and Ethnic Identity," is based on fieldwork she conducted in 1998 at the kitchen and cafeteria of St. Stephen’s Church and School and Holy Rosary Church and School. Hamer rolled dough for nut rolls to learn some of the baking techniques. "In between, I went up and down the long tables, microphone in hand, and interviewed people about their experiences in learning to cook and bake at home and in the community," she said.
State Rep. Peter Ujvagi was interviewed for the book, as well. Ujvagi often tells the story of his family’s escape from Hungary and their arrival in Toledo. "He always wanted to write the story down, so we finally cornered him," Barden said with a laugh. Ujvagi also provided an English translation of the Betlehemes játék Christmas play, which is performed in Birmingham every year.
Hungarian American Toledo may be joined in the future by other books from the Urban Affairs Center spotlighting local ethnic groups and other metropolitan subjects. There are plans for Dr. Seamus Metress, UT professor of anthropology, to put together a book about the Irish in Toledo.
Copies of Hungarian American Toledo are available at the UT Bookstore in the Student Union, Thackeray’s Books at the Westgate Village Shopping Center, the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library’s downtown gift shop, and from the Urban Affairs Center, mail stop 404. The book costs $15 or $17 if it’s mailed. Make checks payable to The University of Toledo Foundation.
For more information, contact the Urban Affairs Center at 419.530.3591.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
