Scranton's Story

Our Nation's Story

Through the course of this project, we have explored the aspirational journey to fulfill our national ideals through the lens of Scranton, Pennsylvania, an iconic American city that has experienced many of the key elements of our nation’s experience: industrial era growth and decline, waves of immigration past and present, and Black and Indigenous experiences.

Programs in a variety of formats have covered eight distinct themes and engage participants in discussions and story-sharing about founding debates, local and national identity, and our role as citizens in a democracy. 

The project culminated in fall 2023 with the release of 25 Scranton Stories oral histories of 33 local residents that can be viewed at www.scranton.edu/stories or via YouTube. The project is ongoing as the stories continue to be shared to generate public conversation and dialogue and the themes explored provide launching points for further programming and initiatives to expand Scranton's Story and fostering greater belonging in our community and strengthen includsive democratic practices in our nation. 

View the Scranton Stories Oral Histories