Social Life in Late 1970s East Baltimore
The photographers of the East Baltimore Documentary Photography Project aimed to capture the everyday lives of East Baltimoreans through their work. Specifically, they were interested in how residents socialized and how their surroundings affected their ways of life. The aspects of social life that Linda Rich, Elinor Cahn, and Joan Netherwood were particularly interested in were street life, taverns as gathering places, churches, festivals, parades, and other celebrations.
Residents often had a general feeling of safety in their neighborhoods. Many people found opportunity for social interaction on the streets outside their homes. It was typical to see people sitting out on their front stoops, conversing with whomever passed by.
Historically, taverns were often used as a gathering place for unionizing workers in the late 1800s and early 1900s. As working conditions in Baltimore improved through the progression of the 20th century, taverns transformed into a more social, communal place of gathering.
Many families of East Baltimore socialized through means of religious life. Many churches held regular events that were widely attended by the community. Judge Carl Bachrach, associate judge of the district court of Maryland and former state legislator, claimed “going to church was a real way of life.”
Festivals, parades, and celebrations were common within the neighborhoods of East Baltimore. The East Baltimore Documentary Photography Project focused significantly on the “I Am An American Day” Parade, an annual event spanning from Patterson Park to Fells Point commemorating and inspiring American patriotism.
