Sunday, July 08, 2007

Coming to America: Local immigrants record sagas for Ellis Island museum

Some very interesting recollections of 18 people who went through Ellis Island and settled in Pittsburgh. DP

By Sally Kalson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

post-gazette.com: Roughly 14 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954 on their way to becoming Americans -- and, in some cases, Pittsburghers. Now, just in time for the Fourth of July, the Ellis Island Immigration Museum has added 18 of their stories to its archives.

This new batch of recordings is the fruit of a 10-day visit to the city by Janet Levine, the museum's oral historian. She came to town June 18 and set up shop in the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill. There she interviewed immigrants for whom Ellis Island was the portal to the New World. Most were in their 80s or 90s, and one was 100.

"I consider these people national treasures," said Ms. Levine before heading back to New York last week. "I think I've really added to the collection by coming here."

The digitally recorded hourlong interviews will be available to the public in the Ellis Island Library listening room, which has 20 computer stations outfitted with headphones.
Be sure to read the rest of this story! This is only a small part of it.

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