13 / 2001

Dan Shiffman

Louis Adamic and the Metaphor of Immigrant Generations

The paper discusses Louis Adamic’s writings on the spiritual and cultural alienation experienced by the children of immigrants to the United States during the 1930s and 1940s. In contrast to the notion of second-generation “betrayal” of ethnic origins popularized by the historian Marcus Lee Hansen, Adamic characterizes how immigrant children are marked by feelings of inferiority and rootlessness–feelings that often cut across generations. Although the second generation aspired to full inclusion in American life, they struggled with the limitations of an ethnic identity that was often attributed to them by the mainstream society. The paper considers both Adamic’s fictional and journalistic treatments of the second-generation problem, with particular attention to his novel Grandsons (1935) and his portraits of ethnic American experiences in From Many Lands (1940) and What’s Your Name? (1942). Ultimately, Adamic’s discussion of the second-generation problems is part of his larger argument for a new American genealogy that fully accounts for the nation’s immigrant heritage.

13 / 2001

Dan Shiffman

Louis Adamic and the Metaphor of Immigrant Generations

The paper discusses Louis Adamic’s writings on the spiritual and cultural alienation experienced by the children of immigrants to the United States during the 1930s and 1940s. In contrast to the notion of second-generation “betrayal” of ethnic origins popularized by the historian Marcus Lee Hansen, Adamic characterizes how immigrant children are marked by feelings of inferiority and rootlessness–feelings that often cut across generations. Although the second generation aspired to full inclusion in American life, they struggled with the limitations of an ethnic identity that was often attributed to them by the mainstream society. The paper considers both Adamic’s fictional and journalistic treatments of the second-generation problem, with particular attention to his novel Grandsons (1935) and his portraits of ethnic American experiences in From Many Lands (1940) and What’s Your Name? (1942). Ultimately, Adamic’s discussion of the second-generation problems is part of his larger argument for a new American genealogy that fully accounts for the nation’s immigrant heritage.

10 / 1999

Tine T. Kurent

About the material compiled by professor Christian for a monograph on Louis Adamic

ABSTRACT
His premature death prevented Professor Henry A. Christian from publishing his monograph on life and work of Louis Adamic. However, he has left a rich legacy - his research material of Adamiciana - as a basis for the continuation of his work. His daughthers, Judith Christian and Carolyn Needham, have donated his papers to the Immigration History Research Center (IHRC) at the University of Minnesota. Professor Rudolph J. Vecoli, head of the IHRC, has added the new acquisition to the archives of the IHRC, andestabilished »The Louis Adamic/Henry Christian Fund for Slovene American Studies«. This fund would provide research assistance for graduate students, either American or Slovene, who would help process Slovene-American materials in the IHRC, includingthe Christian papers, and at the same time, pursue graduate studies related to Slovene-American history and culture.

10 / 1999

Tine T. Kurent

About the material compiled by professor Christian for a monograph on Louis Adamic

ABSTRACT
His premature death prevented Professor Henry A. Christian from publishing his monograph on life and work of Louis Adamic. However, he has left a rich legacy - his research material of Adamiciana - as a basis for the continuation of his work. His daughthers, Judith Christian and Carolyn Needham, have donated his papers to the Immigration History Research Center (IHRC) at the University of Minnesota. Professor Rudolph J. Vecoli, head of the IHRC, has added the new acquisition to the archives of the IHRC, andestabilished »The Louis Adamic/Henry Christian Fund for Slovene American Studies«. This fund would provide research assistance for graduate students, either American or Slovene, who would help process Slovene-American materials in the IHRC, includingthe Christian papers, and at the same time, pursue graduate studies related to Slovene-American history and culture.

10 / 1999

Michael Stammers

‘A Working Man’s Paradise’ - English awareness of emigration and New Zealand in the Age of Sail

ABSTRACT
Migration was a major phenomenon in the demographic history of Europe in the 19th century and Britain played an important role with an estimated 16 million emigrants out of a European total of 44 million. A series of ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors were at work including rural unemployment, rising population and the growth of European coloniesand the development of steam transport. Whatever the macro causes individuals were motivated by belief and perception and these were influenced by the availability of information. This information took many forms including recollections of past visits, letters, books, new spapers etc. and this paper explores how potential emigrants found out about New Zealand.

10 / 1999

Michael Stammers

‘A Working Man’s Paradise’ - English awareness of emigration and New Zealand in the Age of Sail

ABSTRACT
Migration was a major phenomenon in the demographic history of Europe in the 19th century and Britain played an important role with an estimated 16 million emigrants out of a European total of 44 million. A series of ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors were at work including rural unemployment, rising population and the growth of European coloniesand the development of steam transport. Whatever the macro causes individuals were motivated by belief and perception and these were influenced by the availability of information. This information took many forms including recollections of past visits, letters, books, new spapers etc. and this paper explores how potential emigrants found out about New Zealand.

10 / 1999

Igor Maver

Irena Birsa: An Australian poet and scholar of Slovene descent

ABSTRACT
The article analyzes the academic and artistic work of Irena Birsa, who was born in Australia to Slovene parents. Her premature death in 1991 meant that her research on the Slovene emigrant community in Australia, particularly in the state of Victoria, was not completed. In 1994, however, a book of her articles, essays and papers, entitled Slovenians in Australia appeared posthumously. This book represents a valuable source of data for researchers into this area. The second half of the article discusses some of Irena Birsa’s rare poems which though in manuscript form are subtly perfected and practically unknown to the general public.

10 / 1999

Igor Maver

Irena Birsa: An Australian poet and scholar of Slovene descent

ABSTRACT
The article analyzes the academic and artistic work of Irena Birsa, who was born in Australia to Slovene parents. Her premature death in 1991 meant that her research on the Slovene emigrant community in Australia, particularly in the state of Victoria, was not completed. In 1994, however, a book of her articles, essays and papers, entitled Slovenians in Australia appeared posthumously. This book represents a valuable source of data for researchers into this area. The second half of the article discusses some of Irena Birsa’s rare poems which though in manuscript form are subtly perfected and practically unknown to the general public.

10 / 1999

Irena Milanič

Mary Jugg Molek - an American writer and poet with Slovene roots

ABSTRACT
The article aims to give an overview on the literary works of Mary Jugg Molek (1909-1982). The author of the article investigates in particular her poems published between 1932 and 1943 in Mladinski list - Juvenile and her book Immigrant Woman published in 1976. Insight is given as to how this second-generation poet and writer dealt with her Slovene background.

10 / 1999

Irena Milanič

Mary Jugg Molek - an American writer and poet with Slovene roots

ABSTRACT
The article aims to give an overview on the literary works of Mary Jugg Molek (1909-1982). The author of the article investigates in particular her poems published between 1932 and 1943 in Mladinski list - Juvenile and her book Immigrant Woman published in 1976. Insight is given as to how this second-generation poet and writer dealt with her Slovene background.