About Me: Chris Koester
My name is Chris Koester. I am a senior history major at the University of Dayton. I am originally from Defiance, Ohio. The reason as to why I became a history major is because I have always found a fascination in the subject. My older brother was a history major and is now a high school history teacher, so him along with my father instilled a great interest in history from a young age.
I plan on going on to graduate school and pursue a degree in higher education administration. But until then I will fill out the rest of my college career spending quality time with friends and watching a lot of UD Basketball.
I am a big sports fanatic, especially Notre Dame football, and my other hobbies include playing the piano in my spare time, watching miscellaneous sports, and absorbing pub trivia knowledge.
The topical history I wrote was African Americans and the Arcade. The reason why I decided to choose this for my project is because I had become aware of the segregationist patterns of the city of Dayton. Dayton had become the 14th most segregated city in America.
What I had realized through my research is the vibrant cultural history in the Westside. I felt by working on this project I could aid in bringing community voice forward. My favorite aspect of this project was conducting the interviews.
Along with my interview partner, Hannah Kratofil, we were able to interview two great senior citizens of Dayton. Below is a slide of interesting photos related to my project.
Below is a video of me explaining what I found most challenging about writing the essay on the relationship of African Americans and the Arcade.