Welcome to Delco Doctorate
A local history and commentary newsletter from the mind of historian and newly returned Delco girl Kelly O'Donnell.
Kelly, what?
What does that title even mean and what is this all about? Good questions.
On one level, I am literally a Delco (Delaware County, PA) person who holds a doctorate.
Additionally, I am a history professor who will be writing up some local history and cultural studies content here while I begin to develop a new seminar for next spring semester. It will be a "History of Delco" class, using local history as a way to understand both this unique place and broader trends in modern U.S. history. (While Bryn Mawr College is not in Delaware County, it is the place that hired me. So that’s who’s getting this pedagogical experiment.)
It is also entirely possible that by following along, you may be able to earn an honorary doctorate in Delco Studies. Maybe there will be swag. Who knows!
Some ideas for posts that I brainstormed to be on the lookout for:
Why everyone loves Wawa
The secular spring holiday and ritual of Free Water Ice Day
Depictions of Delco womanhood in popular culture
How much of "Delco" is actually Southwest Philly, culturally?
Delco people down the shore
Writing up local histories that I read while prepping this class
Chronicling my upcoming move to Wayne and whether or not that still counts as Delco, really
Planning field trips for the Delco class - where to go?!
I will maintain this Substack as a motivational side hobby for now. But I also have a lot of other stuff to write (like my book!), so I am not sure how regularly I will post initially.
Perhaps after my move, I will introduce premium content for paid subscribers. For now, feel free to subscribe for free - but if you feel motivated to financially support this work overall, it is deeply appreciated and will probably go towards buying books.
Again, welcome!