Helping Others, Helping Ourselves: Power, Giving, and Community Identity in Cleveland, Ohio, 1880-1930

“This study dramatically opens the door to view philanthropy in terms of who gives, the nature of those gifts, and the motivation of the givers. It becomes clear that no group could claim a monopoly on giving and that the poor, working class and middle classes had their own agendas for giving that differed… from the wealthy benefactors.” —James Borchert, Cleveland State University

Individuals and communities have historically reinforced values and shaped society in ways that best fit their o...