Family Structure in Late 1970s East Baltimore

The creators behind the East Baltimore Documentary Photography Project were inspired by a number of values held by the people in East Baltimore, one of the most exemplary being the importance of family. This can be seen through the photos and interviews from the collection, with a common emphasis placed on children, the elderly, and neighbors as family.  

Many families living in Baltimore saw hope for the future in their children. A significant motivation for many Eastern Europeans immigrating to the United States was a promise of a better quality of life for their children. Families often times invested in private schooling and encouraged their children to participate in community organizations.

The first area of concern listed in the project’s proposal was “the elderly and first generation immigrants who came to the United States as young adults and who have now lived here most of their adult lives: what impact has living in East Baltimore all of this time had on these people? …” Elderly family members were held in high respects in most East Baltimore families, and a priority was placed on taking care of them throughout old age. In the words of Ronnie Conley, a fifty-two year old resident of Canton, “People in this neighborhood don’t believe in aged homes or senior citizen homes. They just believe in keeping your parents with you and taking care of them, do for them what you want done for yourself, in later years.” The value placed on taking care of the elderly has debatably been in decline over recent decades.

The concept of neighbors as family was common within the neighborhoods of East Baltimore. Many neighbors were already related, as families tended to live on the same block. Regardless, community members tended to maintain a tight-knit environment towards their own demographic groups. However, some residents were so concerned with feeling safe that there was often a divide between new and long-time residents of many neighborhoods. Chris and Craig Russell, a couple who had recently moved into East Baltimore, described this relationship: “...the interaction has been limited with the people who have lived here for a long time. With the newcomers, like ourselves, we’ve formed a close bond, and have become very good friends with a number of people in the area. The interaction with the people who have been here for a period of time... Is a very slow warming up process.” Residents tended to be distrustful of change due to its threat of their established security.