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Section:
Immigrant Information, History
Ellis Island
Immigrants on
Atlantic Liner
Photo Credit: Edwin Levick photo. Library of
Congress Prints and Photographs Division,
Washington, D.C. 20540. LC-USZ62-11202.
Upon being
released from the Ellis Island processing
the newly Italian immigrants would fan out
to the areas of New York City that consisted
of crowded and neglected tenements in the
lower part of Manhattan. Immigrants had to
live in damp smelly cellars or attics, or up
to six or 10 people, men, woman and children
packed into crowded single rooms where
"filth for so many years reigned undisturbed
and pestilence wiping out hundreds of lives
annually.
These tenement buildings were dangerous
firetraps, as well as a breeding place for
murderous rodents that would kill babies in
their cribs. The poor did not have the
luxury of water, especially if they lived on
the upper level. Water had to be carted from
the fire hydrant in the street and carted
upstairs. The Italian immigrants would come
to the dumps to search for rags. They would
bring their food with them, squatting down
in the filth to eat their lunch.
Italian immigrants
tended to do whatever they had to do,
accepting the jobs that other Americans
didn't want to do, just so they could
support themselves. There were many
that were not as fortunate to find steady
work that returned back to their native
Italy discouraged and with empty pockets.
These Italian immigrants, tricked by the
stories told to them in Europe about
plentiful work and big wages, in America,
were induced to leave their native land,
only to find suffering and hunger as a
result of the deception told by the
steamship agents.
Most of the Italian immigrants settled in
cities, establishing their own
communities, where they could be free to
speak their own language, eat their own
ethnic foods, practice their customs and
religion as if back in their homeland,
without any hindrance. These communities
were designated as "Little Italy". The early
Italian immigrants were not welcomed in
America; they would be verbally abused by
name calling such as "wop," "guinea," and "dago."
In the face of such hostility, the Italian
immigrants, disregarding their
differences, would find themselves drawn
together, mingling language, worship
and traditions, thus
creating a sense of security among
themselves, in their new environment.
A large number of southern Italians that
arrived in NYC during the last quarter
of the 19th century from the regions of Basilicata, Calabria and
Sicily established their communities in East
Harlem which became the largest Italian
settlement in the city. The annual
celebration of their patron saint would
become a gala event to all over the decades
and till this day continues to be practiced
faithfully .
In 1901 The Society
for the Protection of Italian Immigrants was
founded. In his annual report, Eliot Norton,
president of the society made this statement
regarding the conditions in which Italians
find themselves on arrival: "These
immigrants are landed at Ellis Island, where
they are examined by United States
officials. From there some go into the
interior of the country and some remain in
New York. Almost all of them are very
ignorant, very childlike, and wholly
unfamiliar with the ways, customs and
language of this country. Hence it is
obvious that they need friendly assistance
from the moment of debarcation at Ellis
Island. Those who go into the interior of
the country need to be helped in getting on
the right train, without losing their way or
money; while those coming to New York city
need guidance to their destination and,
while going there, protection from sharps,
crooks and dishonest runners, and thereafter
to have advice and employment." (excerpt
from Antonio Mangano's article: "The
Associated Life of the Italians in New York
City.")
Immigration Through Ellis
Island-Award Winning Documentary
Italian Street People during 1889-1935 (although these are pictures from a Chicago
area, it gives an insight into how the Italian
people looked and lived during these years) Click on
image to see a larger version.
Pictures:
The Authentic History Center:
Has a collection of
Jacob Riis photographs with articles of how the
early immigrants lived in New York City.
Click
Here
The Authentic History Center is comprised of
artifacts and sounds from American popular culture.
It was created to teach that the everyday objects in
society have authentic historical value and reflect
the social consciousness of the era that produced
them. Authentic also means conforming to fact, and
therefore worthy of trust, reliance, or belief. To
meet this definition by presenting an authentic
interpretation of American history is our ultimate
goal. When a collection is whole enough to be
considered an authentic representation of the
sources produced about an historical event, they are
presented via interpretive essay. Until then,
incomplete collections are presented as digital
archives without comment for individual study.
Additionally, a large audio archive of speeches and
news broadcasts are presented for students to
experience a level of historical authenticity
distinct from written sources. The Authentic History
Center is an ambitious work-in-progress and always
will be.
