IMMIGRATION STORIES FROM OUR MEMBERS – 2017
One focus of study of the International Concerns Section has been the issue of global immigration. At the March 4th Branch Meeting, we asked members to write about the immigration story of their family. Although our histories are varied and diverse, one thing that every narrative shared was the promise of hope and opportunity that the United States provided. It was also about hard work and the value of education combined with a determination.
By Helen Jewell
My grandparents (on my father’s side) emigrated from Sweden in1907. I am a second generation American.
My grandfather and grandmother came to Northern California in 1920 from Guanajuato, Mexico-the same place as Diego Rivera. My mother was born in Westwood, CA. I thank my grandparents for their journey and their wonderful example of being decent, hard-working human beings.
My maternal grandparents came up through the mountains from Mexico to Los Angeles. My grandfather fought with Pancho Villa and lived with the Indians on their way here. I loved the stories my grandpa told me when I was a child.
My grandfather is from Guanajuato, Mexico and worked for the railroad in Mexico. The U.S. government brought him to the USA, made him a citizen so that he could work for the USA railroad and use his inventions. My grandpa was the inventor of the corn tortilla maker currently being used all over the USA.
I’m a 4th generation Californian…but my family immigrated to escape potato famine in Ireland and from Germany for religious reasons. I had women ancestors who were missionaries in Europe and suffragettes here in the United States.
My father came to this country, by himself, at the age of 13. He came from Lithuania through Ellis Island and was sponsored by his uncle, who lived here. We were able to obtain a photo of the book he signed upon entry to Ellis Island. He later became a naturalized citizen while maintaining much of his culture and traditions. We still enjoy the special pancakes he made for us.
My maternal grandparents came from Norway as young adults, separately, to join their family in North Dakota where they met. My paternal ancestors came on the Mayflower. I’m related to Constance Hopkins, daughter of Stephen Hopkins.
My ancestors came from Wales in 1640 as indentured servants. After landing in Nevis (West Indies) and completing 5 years of servitude, they moved to Maryland where they started their family.
I am the daughter of an immigrant. My mother met my father in England during WWII-he was a US GI working on planes as a mechanic. He swept her off her feet and she moved to the US after the war. My father’s folks were potato famine Irish who worked the coal mines of Pennsylvania for generations and suffered hard during the Depression. Through the GI Bill, my father earned an engineering degree and was very proud to have a long career in the aerospace industry.
My maternal grandparents emigrated from Bohemia in the 1870’s. My grandmother learned to read after her husband died. In the Austro-Hungarian Empire, girls were not educated.
My father was born in the Netherlands. His father was a graduate of University of Amsterdam and came over as an officer in the Salvation Army and was stationed in the Citadel Building in downtown Detroit. My Dad was born in the Netherlands and became a citizen when I was young. Becoming a citizen was quite an occasion in our family.
Both of my parents were born and raised in Denmark. My father went to sea at age 13. He came to America when he was in his late 20s. My mother came to America around the same time. They met at the Danish Lutheran Church and the Danish Cheer Committee. My parents belonged to the DCC for years and were presented to the king when he came to L.A.
My grandparents are from Ireland. My grandfather came to America and worked for 3 years to pay for my grandmother’s passage. When she landed they went to the Catholic Church and were married right away. They lived together until my grandmother died-always talking about the struggle they had to come together and the joys of living in America.
My grandfather fled Latvia and my grandmother fled Romania because they were rounding up Jews. They went to Canada where my father was born. Father joined the air force because he wanted to pay back the U.S.A. for coming to America. He met my mother in England. I was born in England and came to the U.S.A. when I was 6 months old. I became a U.S. citizen when I was 18 years old. Love the U.S.A.!