READERS' COMMENTS ABOUT SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL

Nothing makes an author happier than to hear from readers how much they liked their book. I am gratified by the good response I continue to get from readers of my book SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL: Growing Up in the 1950s at North East Neighborhood House, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Some of the comments are from friends and classmates, but many are from people I have never met. Some grew up in Northeast Minneapolis like I did, but many grew up elsewhere but share similar experiences. Here are just a few of the comments:

North East Neighborhood House

Your book allowed me to relive precious moments of my childhood. I loved every word and didn’t want it to end.

Your early life experiences, although unique from the Settlement House aspect, mirror many of our own--a stamp collection, a Schwinn bike, a Brownie camera, June Allyson paper dolls, the corner store for sweet treats and the freedom we had to just hop on our bikes and go anywhere.

I loved all the photos!

Another glowing facet of the book is that her parents' dedication as social workers is beyond admirable.

Throughout the book I was struck by the riches to be discovered in the memories of a modest life.

I learned so much about you—but also about the Settlement House!

I can relate to playing outside until the streetlights came on, shopping at a small neighborhood grocery store, ice skating on an outdoor rink in the park…

As I read, there were many eureka moments…. And of course the skating—all day long—entirely on our own—no parents hovering to make sure we didn’t fall.

For me, Camp Bovey provided father figures, learning to appreciate nature, camping, canoeing, and swimming…

I too am a Hodagger!

The Hodag, mascot of Camp Bovey (formerly Camp Hodag).

WHAT ABOUT BACK MATTER? HOW MUCH TO INCLUDE: A Look at the Back Matter in SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL

I love back matter. At my recent children’s nonfiction picture book group meeting we discussed how back matter is used to expand the main text—from author’s notes, time lines, vocabulary lists, websites, further reading, and more. In some books the back matter was clearly for a parent, teacher or older reader, whereas in others it was at the same level as the main text. Each book we discussed had its own approach.

In my own books for children I have always liked to include back matter and my memoir, SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL (for adults), is no exception. In fact, one quarter of the 200 pages of the book is back matter. The main text of the book is written in first person present tense and meant to be read as a story. The back matter (written in past tense) is intended to fill in the names, context, and other historical details that are relevant but would slow down the pace of the story. When the two are read together it creates a richer narrative.

Author’s Note

The back matter of SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL begins with an author’s note in which I explain the roots of the story, how it grew out of a children’s book called CHILDREN OF THE SETTLEMENT HOUSES (Carolrhoda Books, 1998), about early settlement houses and their impact on children in immigrant communities. My memoir is “a story about me and my family set in the context of a functioning settlement house” and “a window on childhood and social customs of the 1950s.” In the author’s note I am explaining myself to you, the reader.

End Notes

The next section of the back matter is End Notes, a chapter by chapter listing of pertinent facts and other relevant material. In an early version of my manuscript these were footnotes, but I found them cumbersome and decided to move them to the back of the book. A major resource for the book was a collection of letters written by my parents and other documents they had saved. The end notes were my solution for including this source material in the book.

Appendix

The appendix is my catch-all for things I want to share with the reader but don’t fit in the main part of the book. To begin with I felt it was important to include the history of North East Neighborhood House. When I found a newspaper article that described all the activities at the settlement house at the time I lived there, I wanted to include it too. My short story, Growing Up, written when I was in high school, provides insight into my life at home with my brothers. And the final section, The Beginnings of Camp Bovey, written by my father, I felt was important to include as background for the four chapters in the book about my years at Camp Bovey.

About the Author

The final item of the back matter is a short biographical paragraph, About the Author. I also included a photo of myself as I look today—in contrast to the historical photos in the book. (As a reader I am always curious to see what authors look like.) I did not create an index for this book. The dedication and photo credits are at the front of the book along with a Table of Contents.

Whether you are writing a children’s nonfiction book or a nonfiction book for adults, the inclusion of back matter increases its value for the reader. How much or how little to include depends on your subject, your preferences, and the number of pages you have available.

North East Neighborhood House, Minneapolis, MN.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS from CAROLINE ARNOLD ART AND BOOKS

Scheaffer family Christmas in apartment at NENH, 1950.

"On Christmas Eve, after my brothers and I are asleep, my parents arrange “Santa’s” gifts under the tree. On Christmas morning, after everyone is awake, my father turns on the tree lights and gives the signal to enter. We rush in, each going straight to our own pile. Santa’s gifts are unwrapped and it is obvious who they are for—a doll for me, a train for Steve, stacking blocks for Peter, a stuffed toy for Tom."  

From Chapter 7: Family Christmas at NENH, SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL: Growing Up in the 1950s at North East Neighborhood House, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

 I have fond memories of celebrating Christmas when I was a child growing up in Minneapolis. Now, many years later, from my home in California, I send best wishes to you and all my faithful readers.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

2024

 

 

WHY DID I SELF-PUBLISH MY BOOK? The story behind publishing SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL

Caroline Arnold and Settlement House Girl

Why did I self-publish SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL? I tried to find a traditional publisher for it but was unsuccessful. I became discouraged when my agent told me that publishers are most interested in memoirs of famous people. (Although I am known by teachers and children's librarians for my 170 books for children, that's apparently not famous enough.) So I decided to do it myself.

I already had experience republishing some of my out of print children's books on Amazon and I had helped a friend self-publish her memoir. So I knew how to format and upload a manuscript for a book. The advantage of Amazon is that there is no cost to publish, but you have to do all the work yourself. Alternatively, there are lots of companies that will help you publish your book for a price. 

I am happy with the print and paper quality of my books on Amazon. The books are print on demand. (If you order a copy of my book you will see for yourself.) I chose a standard size for the pages, which means that the book can be ordered by bookstores through Ingram and sold for a profit like any other book. Most bookstores won't carry my book on the shelves, but customers can order it and the store can get it within a few days. I can also order books from Amazon at a discount and sell them myself. Some independent bookstores will take books on consignment.

However, what I've learned is that writing and publishing the book is the easy part. The hard part is promotion--getting the book known. I am realizing that I never really appreciated what my publishers do to promote my children's books. It is important to get the book reviewed. I have paid for reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus and BlueInk Review (recommended by BookList.) Customer reviews on Amazon and on Goodreads also help. It is also important to get the book into libraries. Although libraries don't normally buy self-published books, they will consider them, especially if there is a personal connection with the author or the subject matter. So, little by little, one library at a time, I am getting my book into libraries across the country. 

More and more authors are self-publishing these days and it no longer has the stigma it once did. (The book must still read and look professional in every way.) The competition for getting a book accepted by an established publisher is getting tougher and tougher. Sometimes self-publishing is the best alternative. For one thing, it puts you in control of the finished product. And, if you are using a print-on-demand service like I do, the book will never go out of print!

·         SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL: Growing Up in the1950s at North East Neighborhood House, Minneapolis, Minnesota

·         By Caroline Scheaffer Arnold

·         Independently Published (Amazon; available at Ingram)

·         Published December 1, 2023

·         Paperback, 207 pages

·         Illustrated with black and white historic photos

·         $14.99

ISBN 97998864903285

BOOK CLUB and WRITING GROUP TALKS: Sharing the Inside Story of SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL

In the last several weeks I have had the opportunity to speak about my memoir SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL: Growing Up in the 1950s at North East Neighborhood House, Minneapolis, Minnesota--to my women’s book discussion group and to a local writing group. It was a chance to share the book and talk about the process I went through in the creation of it, and also to get feedback from the audience. (Most people had read the book in advance.) In both instances I gave the talk on Zoom, which worked well, although I have also done it in person, as I did at the book launch in Minneapolis earlier this spring.

In the course of the talk I discuss why I wrote the book, a little bit about the historical background of settlement houses, my own personal history as a writer, the role of memory and the research process, choices in the presentation of the material, and some of the recurring themes in the book—books and reading, travel and curiosity, my love of arts and crafts, nature, my parents. At the end I always leave time for questions from the audience. I am always impressed by the memories that are sparked after reading my book. While we all have our own unique childhoods, there are many things we share.

To schedule a talk to your book group, writing group, or community organization, please contact me by email. (A link to my email is on the home page of my website www.carolinearnold.com .  SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL is available at Amazon as both a paperback and as a Kindle ebook.

Review of SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL in Publishers Weekly July 8 Issue, p. 188

If you subscribe to Publishers Weekly, look in the July 8th issue for an excellent review of SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL: Growing Up in the 1950s at North East Neighborhood House. It is in the back of the magazine in BookLife, in the memoir section, at the top of page 188. While the review has been available online since the beginning of June, this is the first time it has appeared in print. I'm hoping that this will help spread the word to an even wider audience.

See my post of June 7, for the full review. Here is my favorite paragraph:

"Settlement House Girl is engaging, tracing Arnold’s growth from a young girl to an adult journeying into being a writer in her later life, but it’s also a valuable contribution to the social history of 20th-century America, offering urban history enthusiasts a wealth of information about the daily lives of families living in mid-century cities. The detailed accounts of Arnold's experiences provide a unique glimpse into the fabric of community life during this era, highlighting the interactions and shared experiences that defined the settlement house environment."

Cover of July 8, 2024 Publishers Weekly

The July 8th issue is the Fall 2024 Children's Preview issue of PW, focusing on the new books for children. It is the perfect issue for the review of my memoir, which, although written for adults, shows how children's books and my love of reading provided the background for my future career as a children's book author.

CAMP BOVEY 75 YEARS: Poster and Cards

"Ho,ho,ho, ho, I'm a Hodagger--rowing, fishing, swimming in the sun..." Camp Bovey, the ESNS camp in northern Wisconsin founded by my father is celebrating its 75th year! My brother Thomas Scheaffer created a wonderful painting, now available as a poster and as greeting cards. You can order them at the Camp Bovey Canteen Zazzle site. Every item you buy at the Camp Bovey Canteen helps to support Camp Bovey!

Cards are also available at the Zazzle site of Tom's beautiful painting of a moonrise over the lake at Camp Bovey.

This Saturday from 4-8 pm, Beats4Bovey is a free family party celebrating Camp Bovey's anniversary at ESNS in Minneapolis. I wish I could go. If you live in Minneapolis, come help celebrate! For more info go to the Camp Bovey Facebook page.

Camp Bovey is a small, rustic campground in northwestern Wisconsin that offers nature education in an exciting summer camp setting. We make learning about the environment fun while also helping campers feel confident about their outdoor skills and their ability to learn new things. Since 1949, campers have been calling Camp Bovey their summer home. From fishing in our private lake, to camping across our 200-acre property, to singing songs around campfires, Camp Bovey has helped thousands of youth build lifelong connections with friends and lasting connections to our Hodagger community.

BookLife (PW) Review of SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL: "Touching, informative account"

The BookLife review of my memoir, SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL: Growing Up in the 1950s at North East Neighborhood House, Minneapolis, Minnesota, has just come in and is everything I hoped for—selected details illustrating the scope and focus of the book, an overview of its place in history, and the recognition that the book is more than just a family document, that it has a wider audience. The reviewer writes:  Settlement House Girl is engaging, tracing Arnold’s growth from a young girl to an adult journeying into being a writer in her later life, but it’s also a valuable contribution to the social history of 20th-century America, offering urban history enthusiasts a wealth of information about the daily lives of families living in mid-century cities.

The full review is below. BookLife is the review service of Publishers Weekly. The review of SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL is now available online. It will also be included in the print copy of the July 8, 2024 issue of Publishers Weekly. If you subscribe, be sure to look for it.

Many thanks to the BookLife reviewer for the perceptive comments about my book. I hope that they will help SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL reach a wider audience.

Arnold tells the compelling story of a 1950s childhood spent in the North East Neighborhood House (NENH) in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Offering vital services like “child care, job training, medical and dental care,” and classes in English and citizenship, settlement houses, Arnold notes, emerged during the late 19th and early 20th centuries to help recent immigrants transition to American life. Arnold’s social-worker family moved to the NENH in 1948 when her father became its director. Through vivid recollections and much clarifying historical context, the author paints a picture of life among a diverse community. Her memories range from being a flower girl at a neighbor’s wedding, taking her first train ride, making prank phone calls with friends, to first trying that “exotic foreign food,” pizza.

Arnold’s detailed descriptions of NENH life include charming anecdotes, such as going skating with friends in winter, only to later realize that the sweet liquid given to them by a friend’s grandmother to keep them warm was actually brandy. Arnold also pens a touching paean to her stamp collection, and she fondly recalls her summers at Camp Bovey—a northern Wisconsin escape for NENH children—where she progressed from camper to kitchen aide, crafts counselor, and finally cabin counselor. Moreover, her transition from living in a settlement house to moving to her family’s own house offers insight into how challenging it is for children to uproot themselves from a community and start again.

Settlement House Girl is engaging, tracing Arnold’s growth from a young girl to an adult journeying into being a writer in her later life, but it’s also a valuable contribution to the social history of 20th-century America, offering urban history enthusiasts a wealth of information about the daily lives of families living in mid-century cities. The detailed accounts of Arnold's experiences provide a unique glimpse into the fabric of community life during this era, highlighting the interactions and shared experiences that defined the settlement house environment.

Takeaway: Touching, informative account of life in a Minneapolis settlement house in the 1950s.

Comparable Titles: Ellen Snyder-Grenier's The House on Henry Street, Jane Addams’s Twenty Years at Hull House.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-

[Note: North East Neighborhood House (NENH) became East Side Neighborhood Services (ESNS) in 1963.]

BOOK SALES BENEFIT CAMP BOVEY, Article in the Northeaster Newspaper

Many thanks to reporter Alex Schlee for his excellent article in the May 3rd issue of the Northeaster Newspaper in Minneapolis about my book signing event on April 18th at East Side Neighborhood Services. (See my post of April 29th on this blog for my report of the event.)  Alex's article begins:

Of all the things Caroline Scheaffer Arnold remembers from her youth living at the Northeast Neighborhood house, the recreation programs offered there stand out the most. Among the memories of her childhood, those of Camp Bovey shine particularly bright. The settlement house’s summer campground in northern Wisconsin occupies a joyful place in her mind as well as in several chapters of her recently published memoir, “Settlement House Girl” (featured in the April 3 edition of The Northeaster). 

Camp Bovey is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, coinciding neatly with the release of Arnold’s book in December last year. Though “Settlement House Girl” doesn’t predominantly focus on Camp Bovey, Arnold still regaled fans with tales from her time there at a book signing and celebration of the camp at East Side Neighborhood Services (ESNS) on the evening of April 18. 

For the rest of the article click HERE. As Alex points out, celebration of Camp Bovey's 75th year continues, including an outdoor dance party at ESNS called "Beats for Bovey" scheduled for June 15th. Check the ESNS/Camp Bovey website for updates and more information.

Settlement House Girl is available online at Amazon, or you can buy copies of the book at Eat My Words bookstore on 13th Street in Northeast Minneapolis.

Signing books at ESNS. Photo by Alex Schlee, Northeaster Newspaper

SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL Book Launch in Minneapolis and Camp Bovey 75th Celebration

Book launch of SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL at ESNS. Photo of Les Scheaffer, ESNS Director 1948-1966.

I was pleased to have a good crowd at my book launch of SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL a week ago Thursday (April 18th) at East Side Neighborhood Services in Minneapolis. Many thanks to everyone who came. And thanks to my husband Art for being my official photographer!

Gathering for the program at ESNS.

As people arrived I had the chance to chat and, in some cases, catch up on more than seventy years of memories! Some people there were connected to Camp Bovey, others from my grade schools (Holland and Windom) and junior high (Ramsey) and high school (Washburn.) Some of the attendees were from the surrounding Northeast neighborhood, including some from Margaret Barry House, the other settlement house in Northeast Minneapolis, started about the same time as North East Neighborhood House (1915). Margaret Barry House and North East Neighborhood House merged in 1963 under the direction of my father and became East Side Neighborhood Services.  Both the Margaret Barry building and the North East Neighborhood House building have now been converted to apartments and the ESNS programs have moved to a new building down the street at 1700 Second Street Northeast.

Books for sale.

The event was held in the large meeting room at ESNS where tables and chairs had been set up along with refreshments (cookies and cake), a table for book sales, another table for Camp Bovey special 75^th anniversary t-shirts and sweatshirts, and a kids craft table.  

75th Camp Bovey anniversary t-shirts.

Many thanks to Mary Anstett, Lindsay Walz, Inge Melius, and Debi Krause for coordinating the book and shirt sales, and for making sure that everything ran smoothly. All proceeds from the sales went to support Camp Bovey. A reporter from the Northeaster Newspaper came to take notes and will include his report in the May 1 issue.  The April 17 issue of the paper featured an excellent article about the history of Camp Bovey and plans for the coming summer and anniversary celebration.

Presentation and reading of book.

I had created a rotating slide show depicting the 75 years of Camp Bovey’s history and that played on the screen while people gathered. Then, after introductions by Mary and Lindsay, I gave a talk (with more slides) about the creation of my book, followed by reading one of the Camp Bovey chapters from my book. I then opened it up to questions from the audience. I was glad to find people were so interested! And finally, as people lined up for their turn, I signed books that they had purchased.

Autographing books.

It was a very busy evening and I wish there had been more time to chat longer with each and every one of the people who came. 

At ESNS.

Since last Thursday, I have heard from numerous people, and they all say that my book has brought back many of their own memories.  I am glad. One of the reasons I wrote the book is to write those memories down and keep them from getting lost. They are my memories, but they are also part of Northeast Minneapolis history.

Display of Camp Bovey and Hodag memories.

 

SCHOOL VISITS IN MINNEAPOLIS—5 Schools, 4 days!

I had a busy week in Minneapolis, April 16-19, while I was there to promote my new memoir SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL. That book, for adults, was celebrated at a program at East Side Neighborhood Services in Northeast Minneapolis, where I grew up, on Thursday evening, April 18^th.  (Report in a coming post.) Meanwhile, I did a number of author visits to schools, including one of the schools I had attended as a child.

My first visit was at St. John Paul II Catholic School, in Northeast Minneapolis, where I spoke to all the students, kindergarten through eighth grade in four sessions. I thank Principal Tricia Menzhuber for coordinating and promoting my visit and for buying a copy of one of my books for each classroom. It was a pleasure to visit the school that many of my neighborhood friends attended when I was growing up. (I went to a nearby public school, Holland Elementary, now closed.)

On Wednesday I was at East Side Neighborhood Services where I spoke to children in the preschool and shared with them my new books and the story of the Hodag—the mascot of the ESNS camp, Camp Bovey. Many years ago I was a child at the ESNS nursery school, then in a different building down the street. I also spoke to a group of high school students at the Menlo High School, an alternative school at ESNS. I shared with them some of my background and the process of writing. I thank their teacher Cat Bonaventura for organizing the visit and for coming to my book signing Thursday evening with one of the students.

At Waite Park Elementary School

Thursday morning was a visit to two groups of enthusiastic kindergarten and first grade students at Waite Park School, another public school in Northeast Minneapolis. I thank librarian Erin Redlin for organizing the visit and for the great photos. 

At Windom School singing the Wiggle and Waggle song with Kindergarteners and First Graders.

And on my final day in Minneapolis I visited Windom Elementary, the school that I attended in 5^th and 6^th grade after my family moved from Northeast to South Minneapolis. Much of the school building is the same, but the library now is much bigger and is in what used to the gym. (Now there is a new gym added on to the school—taking up part of what used to be the playground where we went for recess.) I thank librarian Carey Cappuccio for organizing the visit and the tour of the school. It brought back many memories! I spoke to two groups of students, first K-1, and then 2-5. Before I left I signed the author chair, adding my signature to other authors that have visited the school.

Signing the Author Chair at Windom School.

 

BOOK REVIEW of SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL in BlueInk Review

With thanks to BlueInk Review for the very nice review of my memoir SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL. (Reviewed in March 2024). 

From 1948 to 1966, Caroline Scheaffer Arnold's father served as director of the North East Neighborhood House (NENH), a settlement house offering a social center for students and the surrounding community. Here, Arnold recalls those years, encompassing the students, employees, and her friends, while also exploring NENH’s impact on her adult life. 

Arnold’s family lived in an apartment on the top floor of the NENH bordered by a long hallway. Across the hall was a kitchen, a community dining room where all residents and staff ate family style, and a resident living room. The lower floors housed dormitories for staff and other occupants (typically students from the nearby university), an auditorium, gym, and offices. NENH also served as a community hotspot hosting sports, clubs, and social resources. 

Pulled from her remarkable memory but supplemented by research, the book captures the unique settlement house lifestyle. Arnold recounts, with a dramatized but endearing voice, moments of heartwarming tenderness: a wedding where everyone chipped in, collecting popsicle wrappers to earn gifts for loved ones; her father's attempt to invest in stamps, only to wind up gifting her pages of below-value stamps and a note "hope your envelopes are large enough," and summers spent at NENH's project Camp Bovey. 

The book is episodic with each section acting almost like a short story, anchored by a clear emotional core. One of the more touching recollections is when Arnold returns home as an adult after her father's passing to discover letters and memos showcasing the joy he had running NENH and founding Camp Bovey, which became a beloved institution. The book captures life in colorful anecdotes, and Arnold draws the intriguing settlement house residents with a loving hand. 

Part memoir and part time capsule, the author's recollections are supplemented by photographs, letters, journal entries, and newspaper clippings. Endnotes provide even more personal insight, all resulting in an enjoyable encapsulation of one family's experiences as the settlement facility transitioned into modernity. 

Highly recommended for fans of Jennifer Worth's Call the Midwife trilogy.

Settlement House Girl: Growing Up in the 1950s at North East Neighborhood House, Minneapolis, Minnesota

By Caroline Scheaffer Arnold

Caroline Arnold, 208 pages, (paperback) $14.99, 9798864903285

BOOK REVIEW of SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL in the Northeaster, Minneapolis, MN

I thank Cynthia Sowden, editor at the Northeaster newspaper in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for her nice review of SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL: Growing Up in the 1950s at North East Neighborhood House, Minneapolis, Minnesota and for publicizing my book signing April 18th at East Side Neighborhood Services. 

After highlighting major elements of the book, she writes: “Settlement House Girl” is an easy read. Arnold has authored books for children, and she writes in a clear, straightforward manner. If you’re a collector of Northeast history books, it’s a good one to put on your bookshelf.

You can read the whole article HERE.

WHAT IS A SETTLEMENT HOUSE? WHERE DID THE NAME COME FROM?

North East Neighborhood House, settlement house in Minneapolis, MN, founded in 1915.

Whenever I tell people that I grew up in a settlement house, the first question is, “But what is a settlement house? Why are they called settlement houses?”

I try to explain in the introduction to my book SettlementHouse Girl, without going deeply into the history of the settlement house movement. But here, I think, is a better answer.

The following is from the introduction of an article about the history of the National Federation of Settlements by John E. Hansan, Ph.D.:

In 1886, Stanton Coit founded America’s first settlement house, the Neighborhood Guild (later renamed University Settlement) on New York City’s Lower East Side. Over the next 15 years, settlement houses were established in cities as places where socially motivated middle-class men and women could live, or “settle,” among the poor.  Settlement house staff resided in the same buildings in which neighborhood residents participated in programs and activities. Living in close proximity, settlement staff regarded the people who used the settlement as “neighbors,” not “clients.”  Jane Addams founded Hull House in Chicago, Robert Archey Woods founded South End House in Boston, and other civic leaders, including Lillian Wald, John Lovejoy Elliott and Mary K. Simkhovitch, established settlement houses in New York City.

Many of these individuals had been influenced by the founders and staff of London’s Toynbee Hall and other British social activists who believed that students and people of wealth should “settle” in poverty-stricken neighborhoods both to provide services to help improve the daily quality of life, as well as to evaluate conditions and work for social reform. The settlements taught adult education and English language classes, provided schooling for immigrants’ children, organized job clubs, offered afterschool recreation, initiated public health services, and advocated for improved housing for the poor and working classes.

As explained above by Dr. Hansan, settlement houses were often called "neighborhood houses" with settlement house staff, like my social worker parents, regarding the people who came to the settlement house for classes and social services as "neighbors" not "clients".  From the age of four, until I was ten, my family lived at North East Neighborhood House, a settlement house in Minneapolis. Before that, my father had been the director of another settlement house, Neighborhood House in Syracuse, NY. 

While the term "settlement house" is no longer common, many of the institutions that began as settlement houses still exist and have evolved to meet the current social service needs of their communities. North East Neighborhood House, founded in 1915, continues as East Side Neighborhood Services, in a new modern building just a few blocks up the street from the original building. That building has been converted to low-income apartments and has been placed on the National Historical Register. Settlement House Girl: Growing Up in the 1950s at North East Neighborhood House, Minneapolis, Minnesota is a memoir of my childhood there. In the Appendix to the book is a short description of the history of North East Neighborhood House and an article about some of the activities offered when my father was the director.

SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL: INTERVIEW WITH DEBORAH KALB

I was pleased to be interviewed by journalist Deborah Kalb about my new memoir SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL. She has posted it on her blog Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb this week. Deborah Kalb interviews a lot of authors and I am happy to join the list. It is always good to have more publicity! Thank you Deborah!

Here are the questions she asked me. Check out her blog for the answers!

1. What inspired you to write Settlement House Girl?

2. How much of the book comes from your own memories, and how much from research?

3. What do you think are some of the most comment perceptions and misconceptions about settlement houses?

4. What impact do you think growing up in a settlement house had on your life?

5. What are you working on now?

6. Anything else?

North East Neighborhood House, the settlement house in Minneapolis where I grew up.