Co-author of book on Strouss’ store to lecture

Staff report

BOARDMAN

Tom Welsh, a local author and historian, will give a presentation based on his 2012 book “Strouss’: Youngstown’s Dependable Department Store,” at 10 a.m. Saturday at Boardman Library, 7680 Glenwood Ave. Welsh co-authored the book with Michael Geltz. Admission to the program, which is sponsored by Boardman Historical Society, is free, but reservations are suggested; call Dona Hammond at 330-726-0651.

A question and answer period will begin after the 45-minute program.

Welsh grew up in Youngstown. He is the author of “Closing Chapters: Urban Change, Religious Reform, and the Decline of Youngstown’s Catholic Elementary Schools” (Lexington Books, 2011), which describes factors that led to the collapse of an urban parochial school system.

He also co-wrote “Classic Restaurants of Youngstown” (History Press, 2014), with Gordan Morgan. The book tracks changes in the community’s restaurant industry.

His newest publication, “A History of Jewish Youngstown and the Steel Valley” (History Press, 2017), was co-authored with Joshua Foster and Gordon Morgan. It describes the roots and growth of Jewish immigrants and their descendants.

Before completing a doctorate in Cultural Foundations of Education at Kent State University in 2009, Welsh worked as a journalist in the United States, South Korea and Cambodia. He has recently served as outreach coordinator of Etruscan Press, a nonprofit literary press that works in collaboration with the Youngstown State University Poetry Center.

The Boardman Historical Society maintains a museum of Boardman and local artifacts at Boardman Park, in the historic Detchon House. For information, contact BHS president Richard S. Scarsella at 330-726-8277.