The Boardinghouse in Nineteenth-Century America

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The study delves into the contrasting experiences of individuals residing in urban boardinghouses during nineteenth-century America, a time marked by significant urban growth and evolving economic models. It highlights how these spaces served as homes for a diverse range of people, including the old, young, married, single, rich, and poor, challenging the era's ideals of family and virtue associated with bourgeois homes. Wendy Gamber examines the social dynamics and personal stories within these communal living environments, shedding light on a pivotal aspect of urban life.