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Levittown, White Picket Paradise?
Background Information for Teachers

The 1950s were a dynamic time period in history. The development of suburbia was on the rise and the civil rights movement was defining itself with key historical moments. For example, on September 1957 nine students in Little Rock, Arkansas, were blocked by the state governor from entering Central High School because they were African American. These students, now known as "the Little Rock Nine," were supported by federal troops as they again tried and succeeded to enter the high school. These students brought the highly controversial issue of desegregating schools to the forefront of our nation's conscience. In Pennsylvania the planned-community of Levittown offers an excellent example where both early suburbia development and integration can be studied. Built in the 1950s, this community ended up with over 17,000 homes and was a shining example of the American Dream to some. To others–its detractors–it was a burgeoning example of over-planning and the destruction of small communities. The community was white only at first, but in 1957, the same year as the Little Rock incident, an African American couple bought a home on Dogwood Hollow and moved in. Students will read about the community's reaction to this.

Reading all the Student Handout documents will greatly assist you with discussions. In particular these Student Handouts are given to add information and historical perspective to your background knowledge:

marker Student Handout 1-Leavitt or Leave It

marker Student Handout 2-Revisiting Levittown

Also, the markerLevittown marker page will provide basic background information.

Online resource extremely informative:

Levittown PA: Building the Suburban Dream http://server1.fandm.edu/levittown/default.html [Last accessed June 29, 2008.]

Incredible online exhibit from the State Museum of Pennsylvania; this site allows visitors to examine Levittown from its beginnings to the "modern" kitchens promoted to attract mothers. Visitors may choose from such interesting topics as "Electronic Hearths" to "Kidsville USA" or can simply go "through" the exhibit step by step. Includes many pictures, advertisements, and other relevant documents


Primary Sources (Images/Original Documents)

Images

Levittown-aerial view
Levittown Advertisement
Levittown Features
General Electric Advertisement
Anti Myers Letter
Pro Myers Letter
Photo of Myers" Home


Student Handouts

marker Student Handout 1-Levitt or Leave It
marker Student Handout 2-Revisiting Levittown

marker Student Handout 3-Philadelphia

marker Student Handout 4-Pittsburgh

marker Student Handout 5-Levittown

marker Student Handout 6-A Sign of the Times Part 1

marker Student Handout 7-A Sign of the Times Part 2

marker Student Handout 8-Letter Transcripts

Student Worksheets


marker Student Worksheet 1-Activating Activities

marker Student Worksheet 2-Cause and Effect-Levittown

marker Student Worksheet 3-Philadelphia

marker Student Worksheet 4-Pittsburgh

marker Student Worksheet 5-Levittown Matrix

marker Student Worksheet 6-Controversy

marker Student Worksheet 7-Myers Discussion Guide

marker Student Worksheet 8-Persuasive Letter

Teacher Guides


marker Teacher Guide to Student Worksheet 1-Activating Activities

marker Teacher Guide to Student Worksheet 2-Cause and Effect

marker Teacher Guide to Student Worksheet 3-Philadelphia

marker Teacher Guide to Student Worksheet 4-Pittsburgh

marker (No text or KID specified)Teacher Guide to Student Worksheet 5-Levittown Matrix

marker Teacher Guide to Student Worksheet 6-Controversy

marker Teacher Guide to Student Worksheet 7-Myers Discussion Guide

Further Reading

Conrad, Pam. Our House: The Stories of Levittown. New York, NY: Scholastic, 1995.

In this historical fiction, the author uses fictional characters" experiences to show what life was like in Levittown through six short stories based on the six decades since 1940. (Grades 4-8)

Fradin, Dennis B. and Judith B. Fradin. The Power of One: Daisy Bates and the Little Rock Nine. New York, NY:: Clarion Books, 2004.

This expository text is a biographical look at the Daisy Bates" fight to support the integration of Arkansas schools. Based on primary sources such as newspaper articles, archival photographs, and the interviews with participants, this text offers a griping look into one of the earliest Civil Rights struggles to gain national prominence. (Grades 6-8) The Power of One: Daisy Bates and the Little Rock Nine. New York, NY: Clarion Books, 2004. This expository text is a biographical look at the Daisy Bates" fight to support the integration of Arkansas schools. Based on primary sources such as newspaper articles, archival photographs, and the interviews with participants, this text offers a griping look into one of the earliest Civil Rights struggles to gain national prominence. (Grades 6-8)

Gans, Herbert. The Levittowners. Irvington, NY: Columbia University Press, 1982.

The author examines the lives of residents in Levittown through the development of social groups, churches, politics, and other aspect of suburban life.

Kallen, Stuart. A Cultural History of the United States Through the Decades- The 1950"s. Chicago, IL: KidHaven Press, 2003.

Characterized by many photographs and maps, this grade-appropriate text covers the issues that made the 1950s such a dynamic time of change. (Grades 5-8)

Levine, Ellen. Freedom's Children: Young Civil Rights Activists Tell Their Own Stories. New York, NY: Putnam Juvenile, 2000.

This book is a compilation of 30 narratives written by children and teenagers during the Civil Rights movement. For example, a young high school junior named Claudette Colvin was arrested months earlier than Rosa Parks for refusing to move to the back of a bus. (Grades 6-8)

Web Sites

About.com. Geography, "Levittown," http://geography.about.com/od/urbaneconomicgeography/a/levittown.htm

Site offers background and the interesting perspective of Herbert Gans, a sociologist who lived in Levittown as a "participant-observer

History of Jim Crow http://www.jimcrowhistory.org/history/history.htm

Website that offers abundant information on the segregating Jim Crow Laws. The actual address above is the section giving various essays about Jim Crow issues. In addition, further investigation will yield online simulations (http://www.jimcrowhistory.org/resources/simulations.htm) and online image galleries (http://www.jimcrowhistory.org/scripts/jimcrow/gallery.cgi)

Levittowners.COM. Welcome to Levittown, PA http://www.levittowners.com/Default.htm

This is a "scrapbook" site that offers pictures, newspaper clippings, and maps of various aspect of Levittown, Pennsylvania. Examine the specific models or learn about how the land was purchased on this site.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania, "Levittown PA: Building the American Dream," http://server1.fandm.edu/levittown/default.html

Incredible online exhibit from the State Museum of Pennsylvania; this site allows visitors to examine Levittown from its beginnings to the "modern" kitchens promoted to attract mothers. Visitors may choose from such interesting topics as "Electronic Hearths" to "Kidsville USA" or can simply go "through" the exhibit step by step. Includes many pictures, advertisements, and other relevant documents.

Video

Philadelphia Life and Times Film Library. DVD. The Historical Archive, unknown date A series of short features on towns surrounding Philadelphia. Includes a 21 minute, black and white feature on Levittown, Pennsylvania, in 1954.

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