IMMIGRATION
The People Behind The History
The Dream & The Reality.
Immigration and Assimilation in the Slate Valley of New York and Vermont, 1840 to Present.
Through the themes of culture, economics, and education, explore the reasons that thousands of immigrants from Wales, Ireland, Slovakia, and Italy came to work in the slate quarries in the Slate Valley of New York and Vermont.
Trace the impact of these three themes throughout the exhibit, beginning in the old country at the time of immigration, shifting to the immigrants' new lives in the Slate Valley villages, and following the next generations, including descendants still involved in the slate industry today.
Learn the compelling stories of each immigrant group--told through photographs, objects, manuscripts, and oral histories--that weave together religion and traditions, work skills and higher education, language and literacy, and world economics and politics.
Examine why immigrants left their homeland; why there was so much disparity in income among new immigrants; what beliefs encouraged assimilation or cohesion; what role religion played in the relationships between immigrant groups; why some descendants stayed in the boom and bust slate industry while others moved away; and, finally, why for some the difference between the dream and the reality was acceptable.
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Research & programs by appointment only
The Slate Valley Museum's programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.