The meaning of Johns Hopkins (Baltimore, Annapolis: crime, houses, neighborhoods)

[barante]

The Ghosts of Johns Hopkins, a new book coming out in a few days, chronicles Baltimore history, with philanthropist and his bequest always in the background. The book describes Hopkins as a First World exception, a global medical brand, in a city increasingly exhibiting Third World dysfunctions.

The first part of the book describes Johns Hopkins, the founder, and how he became one of America's all-time moneybags. The attached is based on research for that part When Baltimore Medical Students Were Free to Rob the City's Graves | Essay | Zócalo Public Square

The second part describes how Baltimore's racial dynamics came about. Among chapters, aside from ethnic and racial rotation of neighborhoods in a city that enacted America's first residential segregation law, are several probes into the traditions of corruption in the police department. Such as a six-year period in the 1950s, when James Hepbron, the police commissioner, was in the pocket of Gambino mob. Also, political policing under Donald Pomerleau, who spied on aspiring black leaders. No wonder. The Baltimore Black Panthers branch was created by an agent provocateur from the National Security Agency.

The third part deals with the changing landscape of East Baltimore, where a neighborhood reconstitution is getting rid of the Lumpenproletariat. Long-time mayor, governor and state comptroller William Donald Schaefer is profiled, and so are Du Burns and Kurt Schmoke.


Did you know of the several attempts to fill in the Inner Harbor?

http://www.anteropietila.com

[westsideboy]

Welcome back.

[barante]

Thank you, westsideboy. Good to be back

More book news. A group of local historians has written Baltimore Revisited. I take it to be a follow-up on the 1991 Baltimore Book: New Views of Local History. Coming next year from Rutgers University Press. (The original Baltimore Book was published by Temple University Press).

Ida B. Jones will release her book on Victorine Adams early next year. Adams was the first woman of any race to be elected to the City Council. Her political organization, Woman Power, Inc., still exists. A former school teacher she sold fashions that patrons could try on--unlike downtown stores which refused blacks--at her Pennsylvania Avenue store, Charm Centre, where she also taught social manners. She was married to William L. Adams, whose life was chronicled in Mark Cheshire's They Call Me Little Willie.

[turkeydance]

Johns Hopkins did uncompensated medical research on poor blacks back in the day.
Henrietta Lacks is the most famous case.

[bufflove]

Originally Posted by turkeydance

Johns Hopkins did uncompensated medical research on poor blacks back in the day.
Henrietta Lacks is the most famous case.

That's not a particularly accurate summary of Hopkins or Lacks. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a great read, if anyone's interested.

[barante]

Baltimore is such a one-party town that no Republican has been elected to the City Council since the late 1930s. Candidates of other strips have tried--without better success. Among the latter was Elisabeth Gilman, the daughter of the first Johns Hopkins president, Daniel Coit Gilman.

Despite her class background, she was a socialist. Now Ross Jones, a retired Hopkins vice president, has written her biography. Should be interesting to anyone wanting to fill some of the blank spots of local history. Here is a Baltimore Magazine article about Jones's book https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/20...ustice-heroine

[debold4215]

Originally Posted by barante

baltimore is such a one-party town that no republican has been elected to the city council since the late 1930s. Candidates of other strips have tried--without better success. Among the latter was elisabeth gilman, the daughter of the first johns hopkins president, daniel coit gilman.

Despite her class background, she was a socialist. Now ross jones, a retired hopkins vice president, has written her biography. Should be interesting to anyone wanting to fill some of the blank spots of local history. Here is a baltimore magazine article about jones's book https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/20...ustice-heroine

what has the city counsil done about crime ? I know they at least examine who should get a liquor license. Are they worth their cost ?

[barante]

The City Council has nothing to say about liquor licenses, the liquor board, controlled by state senators in Annapolis, does that to the degree that they do.

Over lots of years, the City Council has gone many transmutations. Early on it consisted of two chambers, for checks and balances, I guess.

The City Council is the mechanism through which the city is governed. Considering the mess in which we find ourselves, the council is doing a p-ss-poor job. For Exhibit A, let's marshal the absence of regular audits of the police department, public works and education, a dereliction that leads to outright theft in overtime and other rackets.

[DubyaM]

Hyman Pressman where are you now that we really need you?

[barante]

Go and see for yourself whether the Hopkins hospital area reconstitution is a glass half-full or half empty. I fear many Baltimoreans are too jaded to visit the area and recognize the sprouts of renewal emerging there. There is a long way to go but good things are happening. Just last week, I was surprised to spot three blueish Adirondack chairs on the sidewalk at Broadway and Preston. They belonged to Cups, a coffee house with java and eats--and easy chairs and a case of books to read and trade. This column by Jacques Kelly should trigger further interest. Jacques Kelly: Legacy of 'Tony' Deering, the Oliver community's reticent donor, comes to light - Baltimore Sun