Italians of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania

By Nicholas P. Ciotola

Book Overview

The uplifting story of what pioneering Italian immigrants brought to Pittsburgh and how they laid a foundation for future generations to build on and preserve.

By 1930, one out of every six Pittsburgh residents was an immigrant. More came from Italy than from any other country in the world. Drawn by chain migration and the prospect of work in coal mines, steel mills, railroads, and other local industries, Italian immigrants contributed greatly to the growth and development of western Pennsylvania and endowed the region with a rich and vibrant ethnic culture that has endured to the present day.

In this unprecedented volume, nearly 200 photographs collected from Italian-American families still living in the Pittsburgh region illustrate aspects of the Italian immigrant experience in western Pennsylvania, including work, community, leisure, religion, and family life.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0738537780
• ISBN13: 9780738537788
• Release Date: May 2005
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (SC)
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.67 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.5" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Emotive images that tell the story

Nick Ciotola's beautiful tribute to the Italians of Pittsburgh and Western Pa uses photographs to tell the story of a bittersweet past. Joyful occasions, sad occasions and hard work are carved in the faces of the photos. I must tell you how I found the book. I saw it on the Book shelf at the History Center and opened to a page. On that page was an image of my Aunt as a child in the "procession" of the Blessed Virgin. I looked at the name and saw it was contributed to my late Father. (Himself an immigrant and photographer) It is masterfully edited together by Ciotola in to segments of life; Church, Work, Family, sports etc. The words kept to a minimum because; there is little need for them. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand the Italian immigrant experience Bravo!