On Sunday, October 18, 2015, the Cheng Library hosted one event as part of the University’s Homecoming Weekend. Paterson and Its People, the latest documentary by Prof. Vincent Parrillo, Sociology Department, was shown in the Library Auditorium. Nearly one hundred alumni and guests gathered to watch this recently produced documentary.
Nancy Weiner, Assistant Director for Access and Information Services, welcomed those attending. “We are very excited to see all of you here today, and we are even more excited to have the documentary producer here as well. Vince Parrillo, Professor of Sociology, will give an introduction to the film and will stay for questions and answers afterwards.”
Of the documentary, Prof. Parrillo said he “wanted to tell the story of the ordinary people of Paterson who became the fabric of the city.” Parrillo felt that the genuine history of the city of Paterson could be told from the perspective of the citizens – fourteen generations individually and collectively – who contributed to the narrative of the city. The documentary uses interviews, historic photographs and significant events to tell this story.
Before the arrival of the Europeans, the area of Paterson was inhabited by the Native American tribe of the Lenape. Sam Beeler, a Lenape tribal leader, is featured in an interview in the film. The Lenape subsequently sold a large portion of the area surrounding the Great Falls to the Dutch.
Paterson was the first planned industrial city of the United States. In 1791, Alexander Hamilton helped found the Society for the Establishment of Useful Manufactures (S.U.M.), which sought to harness the energy of the Great Falls and construct a manufacturing foundation for the nation. The city was named for William Paterson.
Until 1830, textile manufacturing was the main industry in Paterson with 121 factories of textiles and silk. The city was an attractive destination for immigrant laborers who sought work in its factories. In 1892, the city celebrated its centennial, and retail businesses became part of the social fabric.
Over the years, waves of immigrants settled in Paterson drawn by the opportunity of secure employment. Early groups were the English, the Scots, the Irish, the Germans, the Italians, the French, and the Jews. These ethnic groups were later supplanted by African Americans, Hispanics, Muslims and others.
Following the documentary, Prof. Parrillo answered questions from those attending. In response to one question, he commented, “You have to be from Paterson to understand the strong, lasting bond the city leaves on its inhabitants.”
One person in the audience asked, “What is the future of Paterson from a sociological point-of-view?” Prof. Parrillo replied, “I am optimistic about the future of the city. The improvements surrounding the Great Falls National Park are having a ripple effect.”
During the reception, Nancy Norville, Director of Annual Giving, remarked that the film seemed to touch many of those attending in personal ways. “One could hear murmurings among the audience at different parts of the film when historic or monumental events were mentioned,” she commented.
Prof. Parrillo credited the Alumni Association for providing the funding for the project. The University’s department of Instruction and Research Technology also extended technical support, and Rod Holliday, Production Services Engineer, served as assistant producer.
Prof. Parrillo is the producer and writer of three previous documentaries: Gaetano Federici: The Sculptor Laureate of Paterson; Smokestacks and Steeples: A Portrait of Paterson; and Ellis Island: Gateway to America.
November 09, 2015
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