Urban Metabolism: Greek Immigrants & The Progressive Era in Southeastern PA

Urban Metabolism: Greek Immigrants & The Progressive Era in Southeastern PA

  • December 7, 2023
  • At LancasterHistory & Online via Zoom
  • 5PM Reception | 5:30PM Lecture
  • FREE | Registration Required
Presenter Kostis Kourelis.

On Thursday, December 7, join LancasterHistory as we welcome Franklin & Marshall College’s Dr. Konstantinos Kourelis who will share his research on Lancaster’s Greek community in the early twentieth century.

Greek immigration to the United States was one of the most significant demographic movements for modern Greece. The migration also played an important role in shaping immigrant communities in southeastern Pennsylvania. In Harrisburg, the city’s urban reformers promised better housing and living conditions for all of the city’s residents, but the demolition of the Old Eighth Ward and the construction of more expensive housing between 1910 and 1930 made it harder for new Greek immigrants to make a living and a home in the city. However, Greeks coming to Lancaster during the early 20th century found a relatively stable city that experienced neither the rapid growth nor the major upheavals of urbanization. Kourelis will discuss his research and the demographic and geospatial data for Greek immigrant communities in Harrisburg and Lancaster to highlight the different challenges and opportunities of Greek community during the era of City Beautiful.

Presenter Kostis Kourelis.
Presenter Kostis Kourelis.

Dr. Konstantinos “Kostis” Kourelis is an architectural historian, archaeologist, and Associate Professor of Art History at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA. His fieldwork focuses on settlements, landscapes, and vernacular architecture of migration from the medieval period to the present. He also explores the history of humanitarianism and the relationship between radical art practices and archaeology during the twentieth century. Kourelis’ current fieldwork centers on refugee camps in Greece from 1821 to the present, Japanese incarceration camps in the American West, and Philadelphia’s Greektown.

EVENT DETAILS & HOW TO REGISTER

This event is expected to take place in person at LancasterHistory on Thursday, December 7, 2023. Doors open and the reception begins at 5pm. The lecture will begin at 5:30pm. The lecture will also be streamed to Zoom at 5:30pm for those who wish to join us virtually.

This program is free and open to the public. In-person attendance requires advance registration in order to guarantee a seat. Due to capacity restrictions, tickets may not be available at the door. Virtual attendance requires advance registration in order to receive the Zoom link. Register online by clicking the appropriate link below or by calling (717) 392-4633. Registration will close online on Thursday, December 7 at 5:30pm. The online version of this program will also be recorded and uploaded to LancasterHistory’s YouTube channel after the event.

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Featured Event In-Person Event Lecture Online/Virtual Event Reception