Book

From steerage to suburb: Long Island Italians

Center for Migration StudiesNew York • Published In 1988 • Pages:

By: LaGumina, Salvatore John.

Abstract
This is an excellent comparative study of six Long Island, New York Italian-American communities: Inwood, Port Washington, Glen Cove, Westbury, Copiague and Patchogue. Work opportunities and the Long Island Railroad drew Long lsland's first Italian-American settlers from New York City. They worked in the sand mines of Port Washington, the lace mills and shipbuilding industry of Patchogue, and in construction in the growing New York suburbs of Glen Cove and Westbury. LaGumina documents the similarities and differences among the communities with respect to their settlement patterns, work opportunities, community and institutional development, discrimination, and interethnic conflict. He is particularly good outlining their respective political development and leadership. LaGumina also examines mutual aid societies, civic associations, and parish development. One overriding incentive for families to move out of New York City was the opportunity in the suburbs for families to own their own homes and land, fulfilling an age-old objective.
Subjects
External migration
Settlement patterns
Real property
Age stratification
Ethnic stratification
Classes
Sodalities
culture
Italian Americans
HRAF PubDate
2000
Region
North America
Sub Region
Regional, Ethnic and Diaspora Cultures
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Historian
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Ian Skoggard; 1999
Field Date
1979-1985
Coverage Date
1880-1985
Coverage Place
Long Island, N.Y., United States
Notes
by Salvatore J. LaGumina
Includes bibliographical references (p. 260-268) and index
LCCN
87020842
LCSH
Italian Americans