On this week’s program we will take an in depth look at immigrants: where they came from, why they came to New York, and how their communities impacted the City in everything from our economic ethos to our political culture. We also will look at how one particular kind of institution, the Settlement House, met the needs of immigrants, and we will explore the history of one of New York’s early settlement houses, the Henry Street Settlement on the Lower East Side. My guests will be Robert Snyder, Professor Emeritus of American Studies and Journalism at Rutgers University and the Manhattan Borough Historian, who co-authored the book All The Nations Under Heaven; and national award winning curator Ellen Snyder-Grenier, author of The House on Henry Street: The Enduring Life of a Lower East Side Settlement.

Segment 1

Jeff introduces his first guest Dr. Robert Snyder the Manhattan borough historian, a professor at Rutgers, and an author. Jeff asks Robert if he was initially born in New York, which leads him to discuss his upbringing. Jeff then has Robert tell him when he became interested in history, which Robert has been passionate about since he was young. Robert talks about how his books were helpful in getting him elected as the Manhattan borough historian. Jeff asks Robert how he became involved in writing his book All the Nations Under Heaven and his research. Jeff and Robert discuss immigration and the qualities of the first Dutch settlers in New Amsterdam. They go back before the Dutch to bring up the Spanish immigrant Juan Rodriguez, who settled on Governor's Island.

Segment 2

Jeff asks Robert about “the rule of twos,” an idea in his book that talks about how every significant immigration surge involves two groups of immigrants. He credits the rise of Irish immigrants to the famine of the 1840s. Jeff asks whether there were any of the Irish that became part of the nativist movement. They move on to the next wave of immigrants; the Italian and Jewish people. Robert mentions how adept the Irish became about joining the American political scene and setting the stage for the following immigrants. Jeff and Robert bring up the effect World War I and World War II had on immigration in New York and how congress at the time began to limit immigration.

Segment 3

Jeff introduces his next guest Ellen Snyder-Grenier author of the House on Henry Street: The Enduring Life of a Lower East Side Settlement. Jeff first asks Ellen how she became interested in history, which she inherited from her very encouraging parents. He then asks when her work as a curator started, and Ellen talks about how her college experiences led her down this path. Ellen discusses the joys of her work and working with designers and creative people. Her work has taken her to museums everywhere, from Alaska to Philadelphia. Jeff brings up the settlement house and asks how it is different from other social service houses. Jeff asks when and where the first settlement house is, which first was built in London in 1887 and was created to help solve poverty. Ellen talks about how, by 1910, there were four hundred settlement houses in the city. Ellen mentions Lillian Wald, the nurse who founded one of the city’s most popular settlement houses. 

Segment 4

Jeff and Ellen go into depth about how Lillian Wald became involved with helping the disenfranchised. She was inspired by seeing young girls home in the Lower East Side, which had terrible conditions back then. Ellen talks about the programs Lillian created for immigrants and how accepting she was of other cultures. Jeff asks about the services Lillian’s Henry Street Home offered. Jeff brings up the changing Lower East Sides neighborhoods and asks how the Henry Street Home has changed over the years.