Polish American History before 1939: Polish-American History from 1854 to 2004, Volume 1

The book explores the history of Polish immigrants in the United States, focusing on their private lives, migration processes, neighborhoods, work, daily lives, parishes, and tensions. It also depicts the relations between Polish migrants and other ethnic groups and the changes in their self-identity through cultural activities. The book ends in 1939 with a new period of transformation during the war.

Format: Hardback
Length: 450 pages
Publication date: 20 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The history of the private lives of the first and second generations of Polish immigrants in the United States is explored from the perspective of the migrants themselves. The book delves into various aspects of their experiences, including their actions, behaviors, and how they portrayed their journey through their own words. It compares their experiences with another group to shed light on the complexities of migration.

Migration processes, the formation of neighborhoods, work experiences, daily and family lives, the functioning of parishes, and the tensions associated with them are all discussed in the book. It also explores the construction of peoples' identities and the constant reformulations that occur throughout their lives.

Migrants formed mutual-aid societies that played significant economic, ideological, and political roles. The experiences of immigrant children at home and school are presented primarily through their own words and perspectives, offering a deep insight into their lives.

Cultural activities reflect the constant changes in the self-identity of these groups. The book also depicts the complex relations between Polish migrants and members of other ethnic groups in various contexts, including the streets, public spaces, politics, and within the Catholic church. People lived in pluri-cultural, culturally diverse contexts, leading to intricate relationships with "the others."

The panorama of this history came to an end in the year 1939, when the group entered a new period of transformation during the war. This period marked a significant turning point in their lives and the broader community they were part of.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032343518