Division street runs eastwest through chicago, ending at lake shore drive. The best of studs terkel brings you a midcentury doubleheader with two trailblazing cultural icons. Studs terkel is 93 years old and still resides in chicago. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Division street is studs terkel s attempt to make sense of chicago.
Studs terkel was born in the bronx on may 16, 1912, the third son of samuel terkel, a tailor, and the former anna finkel, who had emigrated from. Nov 26, 2004 there is indeed a division street in chicago, and the voices that terkel captured were chicagoans cabdrivers, police officers, hot dog sellers, local activists, men, women, black, white but. Terkel published his first book, giants of jazz, in 1956. America isnt the first title that would pop into most peoples minds when they think of terkel, but i think it should be. In 1967 studs terkel published this series of interviews of chicago residents. Studs terkel american author and oral historian britannica. One of the greatest oral historians of the 20th century, pulitzer prizewinning author, actor, and broadcaster studs terkel was a national treasure and a beloved institution in his native chicago. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. In 1952, terkel began studs terkels almanac on radio station wfmt in chicago. Asked if she feels italian or american, she says, my loyalty is. America is studs terkels look at twentieth century urban life in and. When she was studs terkels guest in 1964, they took turns reciting her intense, iconic prose. Division street, studs terkels first book of oral history, established his reputation as americas foremost oral historian and as one of those rare thinkers who is actually willing to go out and talk to the incredible people of this country in the words of tom wolfe viewing the inhabitants of a single city, chicago, as a microcosm of the nation at large, division street. Division street, studs terkels first book of oral history, established his reputation as.
He never tired of the stories of ordinary people and in his second book and first book of oral history interviews, division street. Chicago by studs terkel meet your next favorite book. Chicago to celebrate studs terkel during let s get working festival feb 28, 2014 the university of chicago and the reva and david logan center for the arts will host lets get working, a threeday festival honoring the life and work of louis studs terkel, a chicago legend and uchicago alumnus. But here in chicago, division street is a living, breathing metaphor, and from time to time on this blog, i like to check in with it to see what it says about our city, our lives, our nation for example, division street separates wicker park from east village east of damen and ukrainian village west of damen. America, a metaphorical title that derived from chicago s true division street, terkel captured 20th century urban life as told to him by those ordinary folks living in and around chicago. The family moved to chicago in 1922 and opened a rooming house. Welcome to division street, nbc5s blog about chicago news and politics. Whites bestselling here is new york, here is a tribute to the second citypart history, part memoir, and 100 percent studs terkelinfused with anecdotes, memories, and reflections that celebrate the great city of chicago chicago was home to the countrys first skyscraper a tenstory building built in 1884 and marks the start of the famed route 66. Authorradio hostactoractivist and chicago symbol louis studs terkel died friday afternoon in his home on the north side. Although there is a division street in chicago, he writes, the title of this book is. From 1926 to 1936 they ran another rooming house, the wellsgrand hotel at wells street and grand avenue. Although there is a division street in chicago, writes studs terkel in the introduction to his book and there is, a major eastwest one, the title of the book is. He was born louis terkel on may 16, 1912 in new york city.
Division street is both an homage to the studs terkel book about the divisions in american politics as well as a metaphoric nod to the real street in chicago that stretches from the infamous rush street entertainment district through the gentrifying arts district of wicker park and largely hispanic and african american neighborhoods on the. Mike royko and herman kogan talk with studs terkel the. Division street is studs terkels attempt to make sense of chicago. He included interviews with immigrants from other lands, like george drossos from greece, and those who migrated to chicago looking for work such as eva barnes from rural illinois and mrs. America 1967 this remarkable book, which in turn astonishes, dismays. Jun 01, 2006 division street, studs terkel s first book of oral history, established his reputation as americas foremost oral historian and as one of those rare thinkers who is actually willing to go out and talk to the incredible people of this country in the words of tom wolfe. America by studs terkel and join the book club on monday, february at the book cellar in lincoln square to discuss the book. Viewing the inhabitants of a single city, chicago, as a microcosm of the. Division street begins in the gold coast neighborhood near lake shore drive, passes through polonia triangle at milwaukee avenue into wicker park and continues to chicago s city limits and into the citys western suburbs. There is indeed a division street in chicago, and the voices that terkel captured were chicagoans cabdrivers, police officers, hot dog sellers, local activists, men, women, black, white but. At the age of eight, he moved with his family to chicago, illinois, where he spent most of his life. Although there is a division street in chicago, the title of this book is.
Studs terkel life stories, based on personal interviews, of some seventy selected residents of chicago, ill. Whites bestselling here is new york, here is a tribute to the second citypart history, part memoir, and 100 percent studs terkelinfused with anecdotes, memories, and reflections that celebrate the great city of chicago. Division street, studs terkels first book of oral history, established his reputation as americas foremost oral historian and as one of those rare thinkers who is actually willing to go out and talk to the incredible people of this country in the words of tom wolfe viewing the inhabitants of a single city, chicago, as a microcosm of the nation at large, division street chronicles the. America is studs terkels look at twentieth century urban life in and around chicago. Terkel constructs division street in the oralhistory style that he used in so many of his other works. The book has an interesting link to a significant work in the citys literary history, though that alone still might not make it worth reading. Viewing the inhabitants of a single city, chicago, as a microcosm of. Apr 16, 2015 what is the greatest ever chicago book. America, a book consisting of 70 conversations he had recorded with people in the chicago area. Studs terkel s chicago is a rambling prose poem about his city, and the changes, in a thousand vignettes. Long division chicago magazine chicago magazine april 2006.
Studs terkel books list of books by author studs terkel. He followed it in 1967 with his first collection of oral histories, division street. America is the book that first made studs terkels reputation as the. Terkel comments and presents division street, america. Mar 31, 2017 studs terkel was born louis terkel in new york on may 16, 1912.
America, studs terkel s first book of oral history, establi. Viewing the inhabitants of a single city, chicago, as a microcosm of the nation at large, division street. First lines selection this week, but i forgot my copy when i was typing up the column. The university of chicago and the reva and david logan center for the arts will host lets get working, a threeday festival honoring the life and work of louis studs terkel, a chicago legend and uchicago alumnus the may 911 festival will introduce terkels legacy to new and younger audiences while highlighting individuals and groups, both local and national, who have been. In the late 1960s, terkel began to use a tape recorder to chronicle his conversations with people outside his radio show. Division street, studs terkels first book of oral history, established his reputation. America 1967, contained interviews with seventy people who had lived in chicago. Indeed, the people in division street were so compelling that terkel revisited many of them for his recent bestseller, race, showing. From a mother and son who migrated from appalachia to a native american boilerman, from a streetwise exgang leader to a liberal police officer, from.
Studs terkels chicago is not among the mustread works of the late radio host, historian and unacknowledged mayor of the city. America, a metaphorical title that derived from chicagos true division street, terkel captured 20th century urban life as. America is the book that first made studs terkel s reputation as the countrys foremost oral historian, as more than a writer. Division street and the transformations of a community. Although there is a division street in chicago, he writes, the title of this book is metaphorical. Long division four decades after it first appeared, studs terkels division street.
He received the pulitzer prize for general nonfiction in 1985 for the good war and is best remembered for his oral histories of common americans, and for hosting a longrunning radio show in chicago. He also served as a distinguished scholarinresidence at the chicago history museum. I didnt know much about chicagos history before i moved here in 1996. Obviously this book has not been written by studs terkel, since ninetenths of it. The groundbreaking book that first made studs terkel a household name. The vigorous 93yearold shares why the book still matters. Viewing the inhabitants of a single city, chicago, as a microcosm of the nation at large, division street chronicles the thoughts and feelings of some seventy people from widely varying backgrounds in terms of class, race, and personal history. Studs terkel was born louis terkel in new york on may 16, 1912. Viewing the inhabitants of a single city, chicago, as a microcosm of the nation at large, division street chronicles the thought. Louis studs terkel may 16, 1912 october 31, 2008 was an american author, historian, actor, and broadcaster. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the us or from the uk, depending on stock availability. In the 1960s terkel became interested in oral history. Studs terkels working takes on isabel wilkersons the warmth of other suns in the reader tournaments championship bout.
Thats what the book is about, sure, but when literature is good, as this is, it captures something else. Division street, studs terkels first book of oral history, establi. His awardwinning books, based on conversations with americans from all walks of life, form a unique chronicle of a nation in the throes of socio. Terkel attended the university of chicago and graduated with a law degree in 1934. Mike royko and herman kogan talk with studs terkel the wfmt. While that may have been an exaggeration, i am grateful to have been introduced to one of chicagos heroes, studs terkel. Ill admit, im totally biased being in chicago, but maybe thats the best way to read this book. Division street is both an homage to the studs terkel book about the divisions in american politics as well as a metaphoric nod to the real. Terkel compiled a series of books based on oral histories that defined america in the 20th century. In 1958 he started his longrunning daily radio programme on wfmt, the studs terkel show. Division street begins in the gold coast neighborhood near lake shore drive, passes through polonia triangle at milwaukee avenue into wicker park and continues to chicagos city limits and into the citys western suburbs.
Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Division street is a major eastwest street in chicago, illinois, located at 1200 north one and a half miles north of madison street. Oct 31, 2008 he never tired of the stories of ordinary people and in his second book and first book of oral history interviews, division street. Studs terkel s working takes on isabel wilkersons the warmth of other suns in the reader tournaments championship bout. Louis studs terkel may 16, 1912 october 31, 2008 was an american author, historian. Division street, studs terkel s first book of oral history, established his reputation as americas foremost oral historian and as one of those rare thinkers who is actually willing to go out and talk to the incredible people of this country in the words of tom wolfe. America is the book that first made studs terkels reputation as the countrys foremost oral historian, as more than a writer. What is important is that it cuts through the center of the city, and, symbolically, into and through the heart of it all. He followed it in 1967 with his first collection of oral histories, division street america with 70 people talking about the effect on the human spirit of living in an american metropolis. Studs terkel was part of a great chicago literary tradition that stretched from theodore dreiser to richard wright to nelson algren to mike royko, mayor richard m. It is a major road, and terkel couldve chosen any avenue to name his book. Someone told me i should read division street and id know everything. Among the major issues are life in chicago, work, racial tensions, vietnam. America, gives us the names of those people on whom those big shoulders rest.
Division street, studs terkels first book of oral history, established his reputation as americas foremost oral historian and as one of those rare thinkers who is actually willing to go out and talk to the incredible people of this country in the words of tom wolfe. As we listen to their voices, the notion grows that these people are characters in a modern morality play, a drama with as many conflicts as life itself, and as many remorseless, kindless villains. Raised in chicago in the 1920s and 30s, gwendolyn brooks stands among the most influential and best known american writers of the 20thcentury. Viewing the inhabitants of a single city, chicago, as a microcosm of the nation at large, division street chronicles the. Chicago to celebrate studs terkel during lets get working.
Terkel comments and presents division street, america the. Hard times terkel interviewed hundreds of people across the united states for his book on the great depression of the 1930s. Discussing the book walter lippmann and the american century with the author ronald steel sep. Chicago, as a microcosm of the nation at large, division street chronicles the. Like edgar lee masters collection of poetic epitaphs, spoon river anthology, terkel titles each chapter with the name.