University of Connecticut |
The immigrant experience in AmericaThese materials will focus on the immigrant experience upon arriving in America and the conflict that immigrants faced and continue to face between preserving their own culture and assimilating, or joining, American culture. By in large these materials are based on immigrant experiences in Connecticut during the height of immigration in America. They focus primarily on various European immigrant experiences. While it is possible to focus on one particular ethnic group, i.e. Irish, the materials provided are drawn from various groups to highlight that despite the fact that immigrant groups formed their own ethnic communities they developed civic and cultural organizations, worked side by side in industrial jobs and lived in adjoining neighborhoods. It is our hope that through the use of this topic students will develop an understanding of what types of materials are available at research centers, methods for acquiring and analyzing them, and how to incorporate them into their research. Note: Before beginning your work with these materials it may be necessary to conduct background information on American immigration, as this will be useful for understanding the context of the materials presented. Ethnic Population TrendsAn example of the type of document that provide context would include this report on the
ethnic origin (414KB PDF) of Connecticut's population from the
Peoples of Connecticut Ethnic Heritage WPA Writers Project from the 1930s. It contains countries
represented in reported United States census data from 1910, 1920 and 1930. A census is
conducted every 10 years of people living in the United States and includes information on
ethnic origin. More information on census data can be found at the
U.S. Census Bureau
website. Using this document you can develop an idea of where emigrants were coming from
before their arrival in America. Additionally, there is information available on the specific
ethnic origins of Connecticut residents in the 1930s.
The map (2KB JPEG) of the dominant ethnic group based on foreign-born population in each town in Connecticut may also be useful. Ethnic Classification and Immigrant History in ConnecticutThe second group of documents provides a synopsis of immigrants according to their ethnic group. In Bessie Bloom Wessel's study of "Ethnic Factors in Population of New London" (127KB PDF) a classification of immigrants is provided according to their status as immigrants. Additionally, there are summations of major ethnic groups in Connecticut as part of the "Peoples of Connecticut Project" begun in 1974 under a grant from the Ethnic Heritage program, Office of Education, Department of Health, Education and Welfare. The goal of this program was to increase awareness, within Connecticut secondary schools, of different ethnic groups. Using curriculum guides and other instructional materials, the project endeavored to provide teaching and learning tools for discovering the cultural diversity of Connecticut's residents. Secondary source summaries on two major Connecticut immigrant populations, Italians (851KB PDF) and Irish (796KB PDF) , are also available. Cultural Identity and Organizational InvolvementMainstream publications can also provide useful information, such as the July 31, 1973, Wall Street Journal article by Roger Ricklef entitled, "A Sense of Identity: Small Ethnic Groups Enjoy Revived Interest in Cultural Heritage." As part of the Peoples of Connecticut Project, Frank A. Stone, professor in the School of Education at the University of Connecticut, provided curriculum material on various ethnic groups, including the Armenians in Connecticut (372KB PDF). Resources such as these provide a context of cultural identity. Organizations were also prominent forces in immigrant communities and provided a place for continued cultural connections. For example, these excerpts about Polish organizations (323KB PDF) and societies (313KB PDF) in Stamford, CT, from the WPA studies conducted in the 1930s illustrate the role of ethnic organizations and information on their incorporation. This photograph of
Immigrant EmploymentThough there was not a large amount of documentation of labor groups based solely on ethnicity, it is apparent through the materials that immigrants joined various occupations and unions with their native born counterparts. This excerpt from the recruitment magazine "Miracle Workers" (4.4MB PDF) was completed by for the Cheney Mills in Manchester, CT. Acknowledging the role that immigrants played in the Cheney's operation, information about resources available specifically to immigrants is provided within. This employment card (423KB PDF) from the Cheney Mills is an example of the information that workers provided in order to gain employment at the mills. At the height of production nearly one-fourth of the town of Manchester was employed for the Cheney Mills. Additionally, this list (354KB PDF) of occupational unions provides information on the dominant ethnic group in each of those unions, as compiled in the WPA study in Hartford, Connecticut. Culture in Conflict: Preservation versus AssimilationAs part of the Peoples of Connecticut Ethnic Heritage project conducted in the 1930s are unpublished manuscripts by Samuel Koenig and D. Rodnic on "Ethnic Factors in Connecticut Life: A Survey of Social, Economic, and Cultural Characteristics of Connecticut Population."(843KB PDF) This analysis examines the topics of superiority feelings and cultural differentiation in immigrant communities. Conversely, the compiled documents available here examine immigrant protest or opposition to restrictions or differential treatment than the native populations. Examining another side of this same issue are numerous oral histories that were conducted as part of the WPA project in the 1930s. It is important to note that all of the interviews were conducted in English, and thus, only English speaking immigrants participated. They include both 1st generation immigrants as well as 2nd generation who would have been children of immigrants born in the United States. Many of the interviews cover both their family life as well as cultural and social life. 1st Generation Michael Sulviano (1MB PDF), Italian Immigrant-Bridgeport, CT Stanislaus Wlodarczyk (419KB PDF), Polish Immigrant-New Haven, CT (excerpt only) Morris Kavitsky (982KB PDF), Jewish Immigrant-Hartford, CT (excerpts only) 2nd Generation Immigrants-Branford, CT (1.2MB PDF) Children's Literature Influencing Perceptions on ImmigrationUsing the unique materials that are available at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, there is a large collection of children's literature. Comparing perceptions of children's literature on the different immigration movements in the United States can provide an opportunity to analyze perceptions of immigrants. Provided are excerpts or references to suggested books from an array of authors both on early European immigration, including Ellis Island, as well as stories of more modern immigrants from Latin America and East Asia. What trends do you notice in the comparison? Landed by Milly Lee. Excerpt (441KB PDF) from A Place Where Sunflowers Grow by Amy Lee-Tai (used with permission). When Jessie Came Across the Sea by Amy Hest. Excerpt (409KB PDF) from My Diary From Here to There by Amada Irma Perez (used with permission). The Story of Ellis Island by R. Conrad Stein. Modern Movements in ImmigrationThe modern movement in U.S. immigration, circa 1970s to present, has resulted in a shift in composition. Reference this article from the magazine MigrationWorld on "Immigrants Impacts on U.S. Society." (350KB PDF) As European immigration to America decreased it was replaced with increasing numbers of immigrants arriving from East Asia and Latin America. Government and native citizen action committees developed stricter regulatory standards on immigrants and acquisition of U.S. citizenship. The materials below include excerpts from organizations favoring immigrant policies as well as organizations who strongly oppose arrival of new people in America. These political cartoons by the organization Border Watch, date from monthly 1980s and 1990s (1985 120KB PDF), 1989 (90KB PDF), 1989 (105KB PDF), 1990 (49KB PDF), 1990 (80KB PDF), 1992 (74KB PDF)) newsletters that were sent out to their members with articles, cartoons and information on legislation that was being considered by the Congress. This opinion piece, authored by a U.S. legislator, discusses how the United States should attempt "Controlling Immigration (171KB PDF)." Included is an example of an application (428KB PDF) for temporary citizenship by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. This pamphlet (PDF), printed by the Sojourner Truth Organization in the 1970s, argues in favor of giving immigrants rights and benefits by trying to distill misconceptions of the immigration debate. Below is a compilation of articles written in the practitioner journal, Migration Today, on difficulties that immigrants face with access to services, in addition to their disposition toward assimilation.
This voter registration card (892 KB JPEG), circa 2000 is an example of the accommodations provided to non-speaking English voters. The increasing use of Spanish on documents and in public places has correlated with attempts to have the United States adopt English as the official language.
PermissionsUsed with of the publisher, Children's Book Press, San Francisco, CA, www.childrensbookpress.org. [Note: All the materials referenced on this page are available in their entirety in collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center at the University of Connecticut and are used with permission.] This page is maintained by B. Pittman. |
Italians immigrants taking a night class
