This research project brings together data on congregations and houses of worship created by early settlers in nine neighborhoods that developed in the Twin Cities near the Mississippi River between 1849 and 1924. It explores a number of topics: community creation, ethnicity and identity, relationships among congregations, intra-congregational interactions, the role of houses of worship, and social class structures. Its goal is to document for future generations the legacy of the historic neighborhoods that were one home to their forebearers.
The project is a collaboration between independent scholar Marilyn J. Chiat, Ph.D. and University of Minnesota Director of Religious Studies, Jeanne Halgren Kilde, Ph.D.
Research assistance has been provided by graduate students Anduin Wilhide, Jeffrey Kerzner, and Molly McDonald.
Undergraduate research assistance was provided by UMN UROP awardee Benjamin Hulett and the following UMN CLA Dean's Freshman Research and Creative Scholars awardees: Jennifer Phillips and Joseph Meinholz (Spring 2016), Annika Heaps and Madeline Chamberlain (Spring 2017), Christina Craig (Spring 2018), Teagan Yedica and Griffin Buswell (Spring 2019), Aslee Addison (Spring 2020), Zuhaib Noor (Spring 2022).
Inquiries may directed to Jeanne Halgren Kilde at [email protected] or Marilyn J. Chiat at [email protected]