Kevin McGruder was living in Harlem when he became intrigued by the real estate history of that part of New York City. Property had changed hands over the years. He wondered what the underlying factors were which had influenced the progression of real estate activity in Harlem? Eventually he decided to focus on a crucial period, from 1890 to 1920, when there was a gradual transformation in the demographic and racial makeup of Harlem. He delved into the records and discovered some interesting facts. In this interview he describes how his interest in this subject occurred and the research he conducted in the process of undertaking this study.
Kevin McGruder is an assistant professor of history at Antioch College in Yellow Springs.