The Ville: St. Louis

By John A. Wright Sr.
Arcadia Publishing, $19.99
ISBN 0738508152

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Snapshots of once-proud urban neighborhoods

Letting the pictures tell the story, Arcadia Publishing's regional and local history books speak volumes about the experience of black life in 20th century America. Arcadia's ongoing Black America series, with almost 50 titles in print, offers glimpses of the communities and neighborhoods where black culture once thrived. Each title in the series focuses on a single locale -- ranging from the East Point community near Atlanta to Eastern Long Island, New York -- and shows what life was like for its residents, principally through captivating old photographs. One recent entry in the series is The Ville: St. Louis by John A. Wright Sr., which profiles the urban neighborhood that was the center of black culture in St. Louis for several decades until its decline in the 1950s. From graduating classes in gleaming white dresses to business leaders in formal dark suits, the photographs offer a revealing slice of life. Many of the photos come from private collections, giving the book the feel of a personal scrapbook that captures both a place and a time.