Special Collections
Exhibits
From Immigrant Ship to Citizenship: The Education of the Immigrant
On Exhibit: Spring 2007
Between 1891 and 1930, approximately 25,000,000 documented immigrants arrived in the United States. Most had little or no English language experience. In order to engage in the American economy and culture, these future citizens needed to learn English as well as the customs, laws, rights and responsibilities of their new nation. This exhibit examines the materials used to teach immigrants English language skills and citizenship instruction during the early twentieth century. The exhibition examines textbooks and other printed materials available to instructors of immigrants. In particular, the textbooks used for English-language instruction and the teaching of American civics, history and culture are exhibited. A wide variety of agencies involved in education of immigrants are represented: industry-based programs, public schools, non-profit manual training schools, and community organizations. The exhibit also looks at the curriculum of several programs in more depth.
The exhibited materials are drawn from Gutman Library’s extensive Special Collection of textbooks, public school reports, teaching training books and other educational materials. Many of the exhibited items and additional historical materials are also available for online viewing through the Harvard University Library's digital collection, Immigration to the United States, 1789-1930 (part of the Harvard University Open Collections Program).
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Cover of the bulletin produced by the North Bennet Street Industrial School for the 1921/1922 year. The brochure introduced the school’s wide-range of vocational and other educational programs available for immigrant adults and children. Today, the North Bennet Street School offers a variety of post-secondary programs in traditional crafts including bookbinding, cabinetry, jewelry work and locksmithing. It should be noted that the title of the exhibit was borrowed from this item. |
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Detail from the cover of Manual of American Citizenship edited by Donald Farquharson Stewart, Mary Inez O'Donnell and Frederick Sherman De Galan. The book was printed by the Day’s Work Publishing Company for the Detroit Board of Commerce and the Detroit Board of Education in 1919. In addition to providing an overview of American history and the responsibilities of citizenship, the work also outlined useful information about living in Detroit, Michigan. |
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Cover of Carolyn Sherwin Bailey’s What to do for Uncle Sam: A First Book of Citizenship. Bailey (1875-1961) is primarily known as a prolific author of children’s books, including Miss Hickory, which won the Newberry Medal in 1947. She was also an early childhood educator who taught in New York City’s public schools and served as the principal of the Jefferson Avenue Kindergarten in Springfield, Massachusetts. What to do for Uncle Sam was inspired by a program of community civics outlined by the United States Bureau of Education. Bailey hoped that it would give young people an opportunity to “translate national ideals into everyday civic services…in the home, the school, and the town.” The book was first published in 1918 and was later republished in a second edition in 1923. Both editions are on display. |
For Further Study: Researchers are invited to view the exhibit and to use related collections at Gutman Library. Researchers may also contact library staff with specific questions.
Monroe C. Gutman Library
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