Presentation Archive: Benvenuto in America:
An Italian-American Immigration Story- March 3, 2010, 12:05 p.m.

Benvenuto in America:
An Italian-American Immigration Story
Joe Baker
Wednesday, March 3 at 12:05 p.m.
(rescheduled from February 10) This presentation focused on the history of the great wave of Italian immigration in the first quarter of the 20th century and it’s role in the establishment of Central Pennsylvania’s substantial Italian-American community. Presenter Joe Baker will explore the economic, political, and societal factors that filled the holds of steamliners sailing from Naples, Italy, with millions of people bound for Ellis Island, New York; the role that the Pennsylvania Railroad played in bringing a substantial number of those new arrivals to the Commonwealth; and how the children of the mezzogiorno (the land of the noonday sun) changed and were changed by life in the Susquehanna Valley. Much of this story will be seen through the eyes of Baker's mother, her siblings, and her parents, all who came here from a small village in the Abruzzo. This illustrated presentation resulted from a recent project completed by Mr. Baker for the National Park Service at Ellis Island National Historic Site. CLICK HERE.

Joe Baker is an archaeologist, writer, and editor currently employed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Located within the Capitol Complex, across from the State Capitol Building, Hearing Room #5 in the Commonwealth Keystone Building was the setting for this event from the Pennsylvania State Bookstore.