Oral History Immigration 

Oral History Immigration Project

One major theme of the first few weeks of this course is immigration/migration (and identity). Who could enter the country? How were immigrants being received in general by the American public? Or, how were Black migrants, for example, received, too? Who gets to “be” an American? Were immigrants discriminated against and if so, how? What kind of legal restrictions were being created for the first time?

These same questions continue to be relevant today, more than 100 years later. In this assignment, you are being asked to explore your own immigration/migration history or someone that you know, whomever and whatever that might be, and analyze it within the context of what we have been learning about in class.

There are two parts to this assignment:

PART 1: ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW

Conduct an oral history interview of a family member or friend about his or her immigration or identity “story.” Why did that person (or the person’s family) come to (or migrate within) the United States and, if recently, what were these experiences like? If a long time ago, what can you learn about a family’s ancestry? As the historian, it’s your job to have a conversation about these experiences, which will require you to prepare for this interview. Topics that might be discussed include:

Reasons for im/migration to the United States, including dates and details (if known)

Experiences coming to and/or living in the United States as an immigrant Feelings or thoughts about immigration policy in the past Unknown “things” about this person’s immigration past or family ancestry Experiences interacting with immigrants or anyone within the United States Discussion about the historical context of the era that this person came to the U.S.

Any accomplishments or discrimination that this person (or family) went through *References to historical events learned in class/textbook/documents to discuss during the interview, as they relate to your interviewee’s story or to create conversation

The goal of the interview is learn the story of this person or family (again, it can be your family or another person’s). To conduct a high quality interview, you must be prepared with a list of topics to discuss and a framework of which questions to ask. Here are some tips download about how to conduct an oral history interview.

Part 1 Requirements:

Draft preparation notes for the interview (i.e., list of questions and themes you are going to discuss)

DON’T FORGET TO TURN THIS IN! This does NOT have to be formal — a picture of notes on a notebook is fine, for example. Record the interview at a length of minimum 8 minutes It does not have to be “perfect” or edited, as it is a conversation

++++ You don’t need to record or make a video, you just need to create a handwritten interview within 8 minutes. (the interview will between sisters)

PART 2: SHORT ESSAY ANALYSIS

Analyze your oral history interview in the context of class and histories of immigration/migration/identity in the late 1800s and early 1900s. You do not have to formally “cite” any evidence, but you should feel free to refer to documents, lectures, and the textbook in your analysis. Your analysis should discuss how the immigration or migration story that you recorded is similar or different than what immigrants experienced during these time periods, in the context of history. Think about different themes and topics discussed in class, such as:

Issues of identity and/or acceptance (or lack of) by the majority of Americans

Issues of language (i.e., californios reading) in California

Discussions about “nativism” during these time periods

Important laws or restrictions from lecture

Certain themes that are cyclical (they repeat) throughout history

Racial discrimination

Part 2 Requirements:

Must be in essay form, in paragraphs

Approximately 300-500 words, but there is no minimum or maximum

Paper should be size 12 font, Times New Roman Refer to at least one source from class (you do not need outside research), and refer to historical events/laws/experiences in your essay

In addition to lecture and the textbook, there are also various sources here that link to primary sources and other documents that can help you compare immigration historically to the stories of your interviewee.

—- Immigration Project Resources

Hi there! As you work on your immigration project and make comparisons, you may be curious to read some more sources from the time period. What were the experiences of immigrants in the 1920s? Well, here are a few places you can look for primary sources (“stuff” from the actual time period!):

Debates about immigration in the 1920s (http://americainclass.org/sources/becomingmodern/divisions/text7/colcomnativeforeign.pdf

.)

Political cartoons of the 1920s (http://americainclass.org/sources/becomingmodern/divisions/text7/colcomnativeforeign.pdf

)

Short audio interview of Puerto Rican migrant worker in New York City (http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/121)

Short written interview with Polish immigrant in the 1920s (http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/36/.)

Interactive website about 1900s immigrants (htm#tab4-content” title=”http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/immigration/tour/stop2.htm#tab4-content”>http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/immigration/tour/stop2.htm#tab4-content.)

Document about Jewish immigrants in the early 1900s (http://americanexperience.si.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Immigration-in-the-Early-20th-Century_.pdf

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