New Immigrants Initiative collection


Collection 3442

1976-2004
(4.0 Linear feet 22 boxes)
© The Historical Society of Pennsylvania1300 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA, 19107
215-732-6200

Summary Information

Repository
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Creator
Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies.
Creator
Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
Title
New Immigrants Initiative collection
ID
3442
Date [inclusive]
1976-2004
Extent
4.0 Linear feet 22 boxes
Author
Finding aid prepared by Sarah Newhouse
Sponsor
This collection was processed during the Digital Center for Americana Project Phase II, which was funded by grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Richard Lounsbery Foundation.
Language
English
Language of Materials note
Materials are primarily in English but also in a wide variety of other languages.
Abstract
This collection contains the records of the New Immigrants Initiative, a multi-year series of projects started by the Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies and completed by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, which explored the history and experience of non-European immigrant communities in the Philadelphia area. The purpose of these projects was to document these communities for the historical record and to create interpretive exhibits, publications, and programs that educate about the recent immigrant experience. Five communities were initially part of the project, with four being fully finished: Indian, Arab, African, Latino, and Korean (started but not completed). Included in the collection are oral history transcripts, photographs, printed material, ephemera, and correspodence. There are also numerous audio cassette tapes and VHS tapes.

Preferred Citation note

[Indicate cited item or series here], New Immigrants Initiative collection (Collection 3442), The Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

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Biographical/Historical note

The Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies operated from 1972 until 2002 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In January of 2002, it merged with the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and its collections were integrated into HSP's. The New Immigrants Initiative was a multi-year series of projects initiatied by the Balch Institute and continued by HSP that explored the history and experience of non-European immigrant communities in the Philadelphia area. The projects involved a combination of documentation and outreach, intended to document these communities for the historical record and to create interpretive exhibits, publications, and programs that educate various audiences about the recent immigrant experience. Five communities were initially part of the project, with four being fully finished: Indian, Arab, African, Latino, and Korean (started but not completed).

The African project resulted in publications that educated the general public about the African immigrant community and compiled community resources for immigrants. The project also produced an exhibit, Extended Lives, which was on display at the Balch Institute in 2001. This exhibit and the publications were the result of two years of fieldwork in the African communities in Philadelphia. Anthropologist Leigh Swigart collected oral histories from community members, and photographer Vera Viditz-Ward documented community activities.

The Arab project compiled mostly photographs of local Arabic communities and families in the Philadelphia area between the years 1999 and 2000.

The South Asian project produced a book of photographs by David H. Wells called Live Like the Banyan Tree, which documented the South Asian communities in Philadelphia. Another result of this project was a notebook created from ephemera donated to the Balch Institute, similar in scope to the community resource material produced for the African project. This notebook of resources and ephemera was also called  Live Like the Banyan Tree.

The Latino project was the last project completed for the New Immigrants Initiative and resulted in an exhibit, Latino Philadelphia: Our Journeys, Our Communities / Filadelfia Latina: Nuestros Caminos, Nuestras Comunidades. This exhibit was installed at Taller Puertorriqueño's Lorenzo Homar Gallery from October 25, 2003 to February 15, 2004. Most of the photographs in this exhibit were taken by Philadelphia photographer Tony Rocco. Oral history interviews for this project were conduced by Joseph Gonzales, a Ph.D. candidate at Temple University, in 2001-2003.

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Scope and Contents note

This collection is arranged based on the chronology of the projects, and the contents date from 1976 to 2007. The New Immigrants Initiative initially was supposed to document five immigrant groups: African, Arabic, South Asian, Latino, and Korean, but the Korean project was never completed and there is no material about Korean immigrants in this collection. The projects that are documented here include oral history audiocassette tapes and transcripts, photographs, video tapes, digital materials and computer disks, printed material, and ephemera.

Series I. The African Project is divided into five subseries: Oral history interviews, Publications, Ephemera, Photographs, and Video and digital materials. This project has the greatest number of oral history interview tapes and transcripts out of all the New Immigrants Initiative projects. Most transcript files include duplicates, often with notes written by interviewers or project staff. These tapes and transcripts are arranged alphabetically by the last name of the interviewee. The publications present in this series were compiled by the Balch Institute, partly from materials found in the Ephemera subseries. The original arrangement of the photographs has been retained and they are alphabetical by subject.

Series II. The Arab Project is entirely photographs except for a single oral history interview on audiocassette tape. The photographs are housed in several boxes and arranged alphabetically by subject. There is a lot of duplication in this series and photos of a location or individual may be present in all three boxes. The photographs in Box 12 appear to be smaller groups of photographs selected from the ones in Boxes 13 and 14. Researchers interested in a specific location, topic, or individual should be sure to check all boxes.

Series III. The South Asian Project is entirely ephemera collected for the project and video tapes. Researchers interested in oral history interviews of South Asian immigrants should see the Balch Institute's South Asian Immigrants in the Philadelphia Area Oral History Project (Collection 3211) at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Portions of this collection are available online.

Series IV. The Latinos Project is divided into four subseries: Oral history interviews, Ephemera, Photographs, and Video and digital materials. The oral history interviews include both tapes and transcripts and are arranged alphabetically by last name of interviewee. Photographs are arranged alphabetically by subject. Most of the photographs were taken by Tony Rocco.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

 The Historical Society of Pennsylvania 2012 March 15

1300 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA, 19107
215-732-6200

Conditions Governing Access note

This collection is currently being digitized and parts of it may be unavailable for research. When digitization is complete this finding aid will be updated.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Part of this collection was acquired when the Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies merged with the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in 2002. The remainder was create by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania or collected from a variety of community sources.

Processing Information note

Administrative files that document the planning and management of the New Immigrants Initiative projects, such as staff field notes, contracts, and loan files, have been separated from the collection and retained as part of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania/Balch Institute institutional archives. These files may be restricted.

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Related Materials

Related Archival Materials note

At the Historical Society of Pennsylvania:

South Asian Immigrants in the Philadelphia Area Oral History Project (3211).

Balch Instutite for Ethnic Studies manuscripts.

Chinatown Oral History Project interviews (collection D0447).

Jaipaul family photographs (PG083).


At other institutions:

The South Asian Oral History Project at the Univeristy of Washington.

Immigrant Oral Histories at the Minnesota Historical Society.

The Immigrant Archives Project.

Nationalities Services Center Records, 1923-1987. In the Temple University Urban Archives. Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations Records, 1952-. In the Philadelphia City Archives.

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Controlled Access Headings

Subject(s)

  • Immigrant families--United States--Economic conditions.
  • Immigrant families--United States--Social conditions.
  • Oral history interview.
  • Oral history transcript.
  • Oral history.

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Collection Inventory

I. African project 1992-2002 

Oral history interviews 2000-2001 
Box

Audiocassette tape: Ahonkhai, Bernadine 2001 February 2 

 1

Audiocassette tape: Anyanwu, Cyprian 2000 July 17 

 1

Audiocassette tape: "C.D." (in French) 2000 December 13 

 1

Audiocassette tape: Coulibaly, Seydon 2001 March 3 

 1

Audiocassette tape: Dayrell, Joe 2001 February 8 

 1

Audiocassette tape: Doumbouya, Mamaday 2000 July 29 

 1

Audiocassette tape: Gandy-Williams, Joan 2000 December 7 

 1

Audiocassette tape: Hadi, Siddiq 2000 December 7 

 1

Audiocassette tape: Henok, Belaynesh 2001 February 4 

 2

Audiocassette tape: Kanga, Alfred 2000 December 11 

 2

Audiocassette tape: Kidane, John 2000 July 27 

 2

Audiocassette tape: Mapeok, Kuot 2001 February 10 

 2

Audiocassette tape: Musonye, Jayne 2000 December 1 

 2

Audiocassette tape: Omar, Alwiya 2000 December 13 

 2

Audiocassette tape: Osei, Suzette 2001 January 26 

 2

Audiocassette tape: Sanogo, Ibrahim 2000 December 2 

 2

Audiocassette tape: Senbeta, Aklilu 2001 February 11 

 2-3
Box Folder

Audiocassette tape: Senbata, Aklilu 2001 February 11 

 3 1

Audiocassette tape: Sow, Adja Astou (in French) 2000 July 19 

 3 1

Audiocassette tape: Sow, Mamadou undated 

 3 1

Audiocassette tape: Testa, Nebiat 2001 February 4 

 3 2

Audiocassette tape: Washington, Massa 2000 June 18 

 3 2

Transcripts: Interviewee biographies 2000 June 18 

 3 3

Transcripts: Ahonkhai, Bernadine 2001 February 2 

 3 4-5

Transcripts: Anyanwu, Cyprian 2000 July 17 

 3 6

Transcripts: Anyanwu, Cyprian 2000 July 17 

 4 1

Transcripts: Coulibaly, Seydon 2001 January 30-31 

 4 2-3

Transcripts: Dayrell, Joseph 2001 February 8 

 4 4

Transcripts: Doumbouya, Mamady 2000 July 29 

 4 5

Transcripts: Gandy-Williams, Joan 2000 December 7 

 4 6

Transcripts: Haddi, Siddiq 2000 June 13 

 4 7

Transcripts: Henok, Balaynesh 2001 February 4 

 4 8

Transcripts: Kanga, Alfred 2000 December 11 

 5 1

Transcripts: Kidane, John 2000 July 27 

 5 2-3

Transcripts: Mapeok, Kuot 2001 February 10 

 5 4

Transcripts: Musonye, Jayne 2000 December 1 

 5 5

Transcripts: Omar, Alwiya 2000 December 13 

 5 6

Transcripts: Osei, Suzette 2001 January 26 

 5 7

Transcripts: Sanogo, Ibrahim 2000 December 2 

 5 8

Transcripts: Senbeta, Aklilu 2001 February 1 

 5 9

Transcripts: Testa, Nebiat 2001 February 4 

 6 1

Transcripts: Washington, Massa 2001 February 4 

 6 2-3

Publications 2000-2001 
Box Folder

African Immigrants Directory: A Guide to Community Resources in the Greater Philadelphia Area 2000 

 6 4

Extended Lives: The African Immigrant Experience in Philadelphia 2001 

 6 5

Extended Lives: The African Immigrant Experience in Philadelphia: Educational Guide 2001 

 6 6

Ephemera 1992-2002 
Box Folder

 1994, 1999, 2000-2002, undated 

 6 7

 1999-2001, undated 

 6 8

 1999-2002, undated 

 7 1

Africa Summit reports 2000 

 7 2

Articles 1999-2001 

 7 3

Anyanwu, Cyprian 1992, 2000, undated 

 7 6
Oversize

Anyanwu, Cyprian campaign poster 

 1
Box Folder

Businesses undated 

 7 4

Community 1998-2001, undated 

 7 5

Political and education events 2000 

 7 7

Radio audiocassette tape of Radio Tam Tam, French program 2001 July 5 

 7 8

Religious 2000-2001, undated 

 7 9

Social events 1999-2001 

 7 10

Photographs c. 2000 
Box

Black and white large prints 

 10
Box Folder

Businesses: Amigo African Market 

 7 11

Businesses: Central Glass 

 7 12

Businesses: Fatou 

 7 13

Businesses: Freetown Market 

 7 14

Businesses: Fruit vendor 

 7 15

Businesses: Massango Hair Braiding 

 7 16

Businesses: Radio Tam Tam 

 7 17

Businesses: Taxi driver 

 7 18

Businesses: Sandaga 

 7 19

Businesses: U.S. Copy Center 

 7 20
Box

Businesses: Slides 

 10
Box Folder

Churches: Christ Apostolic Church 

 7 21

Churches: Christ Asembly Lutheran 

 8 1

Churches: Ethiopian church 

 8 2

Churches: Ghanaian church 

 8 3

Churches: Masdjid Salaam 

 8 4

Churches: Mt. Zion S. L. church 

 8 5

Churches: Trinity Episcopal Church 

 8 6
Box

Churches: Slides 

 10
Box Folder

Community: African leaders dinner 

 8 7

Community: Africom first meeting 

 8 8

Community: Africom steering committee 

 8 9

Community: Asmara Conxion 

 8 10

Community: Cote d'Ivoire fete 

 8 11

Community: Ethiopian picnic 

 8 12

Community: Ivorian naming ceremony 

 8 13

Community: Sierra Leonean party 

 8 14

Community: Sudanese boys 

 8 15

Community: Sudanese boys and Sudanese picnic 

 8 16

Community: Sudanese boys reunion 

 8 17
Box

Community: Slides 

 10
Box Folder

Exhibit photographs 2001 September 18 

 8 18

Exhibit negatives 2001 September 18 

 8 19

Exhibit slides 2001 September 18 

 8 20

Family: Senegalese family 

 8 21

Family: Senegalese tea ceremony 

 8 22

Individuals: Anyanwu, Cyprian 

 8 23

Individuals: Washington, Massa 

 8 24
Box

Oversized photographs 

 9

Portraits 

 10
Box Folder

Schools: Bartram High School 

 8 25

Schools: Ethiopian school 

 8 26

Schools: Liberian senior center 

 8 27

Schools: Sudanese school 

 8 28

Miscellaneous photographs 

 8 29
Box

Miscellaneous photographs and slides 

 13

Video and digital materials c. 2000 
Box Folder

Digital materials: CD ROMs and 3 1/2 inch floppy disks of images and oral history interview transcripts 

 8 30
Box

VHS tapes: African Immigrant Project: Exhibit version 

 11

VHS tapes: African worship services 

 11

VHS tapes: Extended Lives 

 11

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II. Arab project 1998-2000 
Box Folder

Oral history audiocassette tape: Joe and Rose Thomas 1998 

 15 1
Box

Photographs: Al-Alesa restaurant 

 13

Photographs: Al-Aqsa restaurant 

 12

Photographs: Al-Aqsa or Al-Aksa mosque 1999 

 12-13

Photographs: Al-Aqsa or Al-Aksa school 1999 

 12-13

Photographs: Al-Dana 

 12-13

Photographs: Al-sarraj, Raad (engineer) 

 12-13

Photographs: Alsayegh, Majid 

 12-13

Photographs: Al-Warrak bookstore 

 12-13

Photographs: Arab exhibit opening: People 2000 March 3 

 14

Photographs: Bitar's restaurant 

 12-13

Photographs: Chicken Hut 

 12-13

Photographs: Chicken Hut: First night of Ramadan 

 12-13

Photographs: Chinatown 1997 October 

 14

Photographs: Cousin's market 

 13

Photographs: Detroit exhibit and lobby 2000 March 3 

 14

Photographs: Jerusalem Furniture, Palestinian 

 12-13

Photographs: Kanawati, Jihad and family at Ramadan 

 12-13

Photographs: Khorchid, Chukri (7-11 owner, Syrian) 

 12-13

Photographs: Lebanese Festival 1999 September 

 14

Photographs: Maronite Chuch in Newton Square 

 12-13

Photographs: Miscellaneous 

 14

Photographs: Naim Ayoub furniture refinishing 

 12-13

Photographs: Philadelphia exhibit gallery opening 2000 March 3 

 14

Photographs: Swarthmore pizza 

 12-13

Photographs: Syrnian community Ramadan breakfast 

 12-14

Photographs: Z and A Auto (Iraq/Palestine) 

 13

Negatives: Lebanese Festival 1999 September 

 14

Negatives: Detroit exhibit 2000 March 3 

 14

Negatives: Philadelphia exhbit 2000 March 3 

 14

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III. South Asian project 1976-1998 
Box Folder

Ephemera: "Live Like The Banyan Tree" notebook contributions 1976-1998, undated 

 15 2

Ephemera: "Live Like The Banyan Tree" notebook contributions 1992-1998 

 15 3

VHS tapes: "Live Like the Banyan Tree: Images of the Indian American Experience: Edited wedding videos" undated 

 15 5

VHS tapes: "Voices" 1995 December 8 

 15 4

VHS tapes: Various short features 

 16 1

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IV. Latinos project 1998-2004 

Oral history interviews 2003 
Box Folder

Tapes: City Hall Angel Oritz and Minority Contractors 2003 April 3 

 16 2

Tapes: Community Advisory Committee meeting 2003 February 19, 2003 March 17 

 16 2

Tapes: Community Advisory Committee meetings 2003 June 2, June 23, July 15 

 16 3

Tapes: Community Advisory Committee meetings 2003 July 15 

 17 1

Tapes: Contreras, Margareth 2003 July 5 

 17 1

Tapes: Dalfid, Alexis 2003 

 17 1

Tapes: Eastern University student visit undated 

 17 2

Tapes: Goldstein, Rosa 2003 February 6 

 17 2

Tapes: Grupo Motivos and Tomasita Romero 2003 July 11 

 17 2

Tapes: Guevara, Giovana 2003 January 24 

 17 3

Tapes: Hansel, Luisa Cabello 2003 March 25 

 17 3

Tapes: Iwanyshyn, Ricardina ("Rica") 2003 April 5 

 17 3

Tapes: Iwanyshyn, Ricardina ("Rica") 2003 April 5 

 18 1

Tapes: Lopez, Jorge 2003 June 16 

 18 1

Tapes: Philadelphia School District Latino Conference 2003 April 4 

 18 1

Tapes: Saltar, Jairo and Marta (in Spanish) 2003 July 1 

 18 2

Tapes: Taller Puertorriqueño student focus group 2003 May 12 

 18 2

Tapes: Taller Puertorriqueño and Urban Sanctuaries meeting undated 

 18 2

Tapes: Unknown event undated 

 18 2

Tapes: Vega, Olga 2003 January 22 

 18 3

Transcripts: Cabello, Luisa 2003 March 25 

 18 4

Transcripts: Goldstein, Rosa 2003 February 6 

 18 5

Transcripts: Guevara, Giovana 2003 January 24 

 18 6

Transcripts: Iwanyshyn, Ricardina ("Rica") 2003 April 5 

 18 7

Transcripts: Lopez, Jorge 2003 June 16 

 19 1

Transcripts: Taller Puertorriqueño student focus group 2003 May 12 

 19 2

Transcripts: Vega, Olga 2003 May 12 

 19 3

Ephemera 1998-2003 
Box Folder

 1998, 2003 

 19 4

 2002 

 19 5

Photographs 2001-2002 
Box Folder

Canastilla Marti 2003 

 19 6

Dedication ceremony for new building 2002 

 19 7

Dominican Doctors Association and University of Santo Domingo Alumni Association 2002 February 

 19 8

Good Friday procession 2003 April 18 

 19 9

Good Friday procession, mass, and "alfombra" 2002 March 29 

 19 10

Guadalupana Torch Run 2002 December 10 

 19 11

HACE events 2001 November, 2002 March 

 19 12

La Mafia concert 2001 November 11 

 20 1

Mexican Independence Day 2002 September 

 20 2

Mexican Juntos, Casa de Soles undated 

 20 3

Opera performance undated 

 20 4

Peruvian Independence Day 2002 July 

 20 5

Posada, Genaro Jacinto party 2001 

 20 6

Raices Culturales art workshop 2001 December 4 

 20 7

Rios, Veronica vigil and shrine 2002 August 17 

 20 8-9

Santos, John concert 2002 Feburary 2 

 20 10

Sherwood School family day 2002 

 20 11

Silent Witnesses Exhibit 2003 March 7 

 20 12

Taller Puertorriqueño 2001 

 20 13

La Tienda and a casa de envios undated 

 20 14

Tienda and music store Veracruzana undated 

 21 1

Tierra Colombiana restaurant 2001 November 

 21 2

Vasquez, Victor: New Year's party 2002 December 31 

 21 3

Vieques protest 2002 April 5 

 21 4

Virgin de Guadalupe mass 2001 

 21 5

Young Artists Program 2002 

 21 6

Video and digital materials 2001-2004 
Box Folder

VHS: Gente episode "Historic Latino Community 2004 December 15 

 21 7

Digital materials: CD ROMs of digital photographs undated 

 21 8
Box

Digital materials: CD ROMs of digital photographs 2001-2003, undated 

 22

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