[This is another true story from my immigrant oral histories collection. When Wilhelm retold his story–even 65 years later–the emotional level and tears during his narration were quite moving to this listener.] “I came by myself to the United States from Germany in 1910 when I was 16 years old. I had been on small … More True Immigrant Stories_6: A Teenager at Ellis Island
[This is another true story from my oral histories collection of immigrants who came through Ellis Island .] Ida Napolitano was just three years old when her father emigrated from Italy into the United States, with the plan to earn enough money for the family to join him. During the three years it took for him … More True Immigrant Stories_3: Ida and Thomas Jefferson
[If you didn’t read last week’s post (below), I suggest you do so first, as this is a continuation of Tanya Arden’s immigrant experience. As in the first part, this is a true story, told exactly as it happened, without embellishment.] Once their ship docked, Tanya, her family, and other passengers were transported directly to … More True Immigrant Stories_2: Tanya at Ellis Island
[Throughout my career as a college professor, I have collected numerous firsthand accounts from immigrants about their journeys and first impressions and/or experiences in America. This is the first of dozens immigrant oral histories i will post. I’ll begin with my favorite story, without any embellishment, about that wonderful symbol of who and what we … More True Immigrant Stories_1: The Statue of Liberty
Last week’s blog—about the 1890s immigration setting of Guardians of the Gate compared to today—promised next time to give some surprising facts about the impact of immigrants on American society, both past and present. Here goes. Demographers measure the immigration impact in different eras by using an immigration rate. Similar to other rates—the crime rate, … More Immigration Then and Now
In an interview last week, the reporter asked me if the events of the 1890s described in my novel, Guardians of the Gate, can in any way relate to current issues on immigration. The simple answer was “yes,” and some of the details are the topic of this week’s blog. Americans in the 1890s saw … More The Relevance of 1890s Immigration to Today
Vince Parrillo 