REMINDER, Houston: I’ll be speaking at Rice University on Monday about the Galveston Immigration Movement. It’s free and open to the public, and details are below. I hope some of you might be there!
But what is the Galveston Movement? Well, keep reading.
events.rice.edu/#!view/event/e…
But what is the Galveston Movement? Well, keep reading.
events.rice.edu/#!view/event/e…
Between 1907 and 1914, more than 9,000 Russian-Jewish immigrants arrived in the United States through the Port of Galveston, Texas, bypassing the more familiar but badly overcrowded Jewish neighborhoods in New York.
These were Yiddish-speakers literally "fresh off the boat."
These were Yiddish-speakers literally "fresh off the boat."
The Galveston Movement was an organized effort by national (i.e., New York) Jewish leaders to divert the growing stream of Jewish immigration from Russia away from New York and into the “American hinterland”— their endearing term for the rest of the country.
They weren’t wrong. More than 2 million Jews had come to the U.S. since 1880. At least 75% of them stuck in New York. The Lower East Side, where most of them lived, was desperately overcrowded.
Meanwhile there were thriving, if smaller, Jewish communities — and jobs — elsewhere.
Meanwhile there were thriving, if smaller, Jewish communities — and jobs — elsewhere.
Jacob Schiff, a Jewish banker and philanthropist in New York, contributed $500K of his own money to initiate a diversion plan, to direct potential immigrants to Galveston, match their skills with specific jobs, and pay their rail fare to their pre-selected destinations.
A network of local agents — business owners, rabbis, or social service professionals where available — was maintained to greet the immigrants, help them settle in, and get them to work.
Local committees varied widely on the quality of care they could (or would) provide.
Local committees varied widely on the quality of care they could (or would) provide.
This map, based on data for all but the last six months of the movement, shows the 236 communities that received Galveston immigrants.
Texas got the most, with about 26% of the total. Kansas City and Minneapolis-St. Paul received more than any other cities, 700-800 each.
Texas got the most, with about 26% of the total. Kansas City and Minneapolis-St. Paul received more than any other cities, 700-800 each.
The Galveston Movement is pretty familiar to American Jewish historians, but apparently not much known generally. The best book about it is Bernard Marinbach, “Galveston: Ellis Island of the West.”goodreads.com/book/show/2163…
I've also written about it in both of my books. Most recently, I edited the memoir of one of the immigrants, Alexander Gurwitz, who came through Galveston with his family in 1910 and settled in San Antonio.
goodreads.com/book/show/2783…
goodreads.com/book/show/2783…
Traditionally, historians' focus has been top-down, focusing on Schiff and the plan’s managers & administrators, their goals, ideologies, internal conflicts, etc.
I’m working on a bottom-up approach -- to see the GIM as the story of 9,000 immigrants and 236 communities.
I’m working on a bottom-up approach -- to see the GIM as the story of 9,000 immigrants and 236 communities.
I’ve shared some of what I’ve found on Twitter already, so check out the links below to threads I've posted if you're interested.
And if you’re in the Houston area, I’d love to meet you Monday at Rice!
And if you’re in the Houston area, I’d love to meet you Monday at Rice!
Michael Leshing, who immigrated through Galveston in 1907.
Chaim Gendel, who came to Dallas through Galveston in 1907.
Ike Katz, who came through Galveston and ended up running a store in St. Petersburg, Florida.
And Sarah Zdanowski, whose immigration/deportation travails will ring a few contemporary bells.
