Legally Stolen is a 3-episode podcast produced by the National Public Housing Museum exploring Inequity for Sale, a virtual and physical exploration of homes sold on Land Sale Contracts, by social justice artist Tonika Lewis Johnson.

Episode One is a deep dive into the history and research that sparked Tonika’s idea to create Inequity for Sale. Featured guests include co-author of the Plunder of Black Wealth in Chicago report Amber Hendley, author of Family Properties Beryl Satter, author of The Color of Law Richard Rothstein, and housing activist Athena Williams.

Read the transcript here.

In this episode of Out of the Archives, "'My Heart Was in It': Holidays in Public Housing," narrators share a range of stories about their memories of the end of year holidays in the projects. You’ll hear about hallway decoration competitions in New York City Public Housing, special gifts, and a family’s decision to donate to those who have less. 

The narrators in this episode include Deonte Black, who has lived in the Cabrini-Green Homes in Chicago  from 1988 to the present day, Lynn Bowens who has lived in the Rangel Houses in New York City from 1964 to the Present day, Ida Brantley who has lived in ABLA in Chicago from 1970 to the present day, Katherine Davis who lived in the Cabrini-Green Homes in Chicago from 1957 to 1967, Sunny Fischer who lived in the Eastchester Projects in New York City from 1949 to 1960, Carol and Diane Rizzi who lived in ABLA in Chicago from 1949 to 1957, Brenda Taylor who lived in ABLA in Chicago from 1974-2016, and Kimberly Wellington who has lived in the Lathrop Homes in Chicago from 1974 to the present day.

The stories span from 1949 to the present day.

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In this episode of Out of the Archives, “Our Neighbors Stepped Up,” narrators from Chicago, Cleveland, New York City, Minneapolis, and South Bend share stories about fun competitions between neighbors during the holidays, the stress of public housing waiting lists, and the importance of community centers for youth development.

The narrators in this episode include Troy Gaston who lived in the Robert Taylor Homes from 1989-1999, Cliff Christian who lived in Wentworth Gardens from 1946-1957, Jillian Stewart who lived in the Lasalle Park Homes from 2009-2013, Ladan Yusuf who has lived in the Glendale Townhomes from 2004-Present day, Lynn Bowens who has lived in the Rangel Houses from 1964-Present, and Dante Hamilton who lived in the Garden Valley Neighborhood Houses from 1961-1979

The stories span from 1946 to the present day.

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This episode of Out of the Archives, "'Candyman was a Candyman': People of Cabrini Green," was co-curated by the Chicago History Museum and is set in Chicago’s Cabrini-Green community. Narrators from the community share their experiences of life in Cabrini Green, with stories including residents’ creative aspirations, an uneasy gang truce after the murder of 7-year old Dantrell Davis, the ins and outs of socializing in school, as well as insight to who the infamous Candyman really was.
A special thanks to the storytellers from this episode, all of whom have lived or still live in the Cabrini-Green Homes, including Walter Burnett Jr, Tenika Chew, Katherine Davis, Betty Howard, JR Fleming, Raymond McDonald, Roger Prosise, and Delores Van Pelt, this episode’s co-curators at the Chicago History Museum, as well as the members of the museum’s oral history corps and other oral historians who helped to gather these stories including Hannah Barg, Francesco De Salvatore, Ashley Jefferson and Shakira Johnson.

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In this episode of Out of the Archives, "Mind to Grow," residents share their unapologetic love for their homes, memories of childhood summer fun, and the strength within the community.

A special thanks to the storytellers from this episode, including Nakia Herron of the Robert Taylor Homes,  Doris Johnson and her son Michael Johnson of the Cabrini-Green Homes, Gregory Sain of the Robert Taylor Homes, Carrie Torres of the Castle Hill Houses, and Janet Williams of  Chicago public housing. We'd also like to thank the members of the Museum's Oral History Corps and other oral historians who recorded these stories including Ashley Jefferson and Shakira Johnson.

The stories span from 1952 to the present day.

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In this episode of Out of the Archives,  "'Hidden History America,'" storytellers analyze the state of public housing in New York City, moving out of public housing into Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood, and the tireless efforts of parents working nights to give their children a better life.
A special thanks to the storytellers from this episode, including Roger Prosise of the Cabrini-Green Homes,  Robert Scott of CHA Senior North, Daphany Rose Sanchez of Cooper Park, Charlene Purnell from the Lathrop Homes, Blanche Winston of the ABLA Homes, and Daniel Nicholson of Stateway Gardens. We'd also like to thank the members of the Museum's Oral History Corps and other oral historians who recorded these stories, including Shirley Alfaro, Elena Bulgarella, Shakira Johnson, and Maria Moon.
The stories span from 1954 to the present day.

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In this episode of Out of the Archives, "'Full of Life': Learning and Personal Growth," we feature stories about finding yourself through the arts and recreation, reclaiming and growing after trauma, and more.
A special thanks to the storytellers from this episode, including Ben Baker of the Ida B Wells Extension Homes,  Marquita Gandy of ABLA Homes, Nekia Herron of the Robert Taylor Homes, Olga Molina of the Lathrop Homes from 1969 to 1995, Sokeo Ros lives in affordable Housing in Providence, RI, and Henry Warfield, who lived in Altgeld Gardens and the Cabrini-Green Homes. We'd also like to thank the members of the Museum's Oral History Corps and other oral historians who helped to gather these stories, including Francesco De Salvatore and Shakira Johnson.
The stories span from 1969 to the present day.

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In this episode of Out of the Archives, "Silent Voices Among Us: Stories from Chicago's Henry Horner Homes," which named after our online exhibition of the same name, we share stories from residents of the Henry Horner Homes, known to many of its residents as the Hornets. The stories range from different experiences from the early years of the Henry Horner Homes to moving out during their demolition.

A special thanks to the storytellers from this episode, including Crystal Palmer, Marina Pullom, Patricia Smith, John Pettiford, Sharon Leggitt, and Maria Moon. We'd also like to thank the members of the Museum's Oral History Corps and other oral historians who recorded these stories including Francesco De Salvatore, Raymond McDonald, and Maria Moon.

The Henry Horner Homes were constructed between 1957 and 1959 and contained 920 units. Thousands of residents lived in the Henry Horner Homes between 1957 and 1995 when demolition began. The demolition ran in phases beginning in 1995 until 2008, which made way for the Westhaven mixed-income community, which was established in 1997. The stories in this episode span from 1962 to 2013.

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In this episode of Out of the Archives, "Black is Beautiful Two: Reflections on Family, Activism, and Perseverance" we celebrate Black History Month by continuing the narrative from our June 2020 episode by the same name, which highlights stories from the Black community. You’ll hear about one storyteller’s development as a community organizer, finding strength in family in the face of difficulties, and more.

A special thanks to the storytellers from this episode, including JR Flemming of the Cabrini-Green Homes and the Henry Horner Homes, Michael Miles of Stateway  Gardens, H Demetrius Bonner of Stateway Gardens, Colette Payne of the Ida B. Wells Homes, Dolores Van Pelt of the Cabrini-Green Homes, DaVida Rowley Blackman who lived in a New York City tenement building.

The stories span from 1958 to 2006.

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In this episode of Out of the Archives, "Close to Home: Reflections on the Animal Court," we celebrate the end of 2020 by sharing a selection of stories that are central to the Museum’s future home in Chicago’s Little Italy neighborhood; the Jane Addams Animal Court. You'll hear from residents as they share stories reminiscing on the magical Edgar Miller animal sculptures that served as a meeting ground and landmark for generations of its residents.

A special thanks to the storytellers from this episode, all of whom lived in the ABLA community, including Dwayne Crockett, Byron Dickens, Phron Freeman, Marquita Gandy, JonTia Pegues, James Purgatorio, and  Gloria White. We'd also like to thank the members of the Museum's Oral History Corps and other oral historians who recorded these stories including Francesco De Salvatore and Ashley Jefferson.

The Animal Court sculptures could be found at the Jane Addams Homes from 1937 to 2007.

Read the transcript here.