9th Annual WML Academic Symposium

Time: 3:00
Room: 224
Presenter(s): Rachel Davis
Title: Portrayal of Conditions of Steerage Travel in the Age of Mass Migration
Developed under the guidance of Dr. Salvatore Mercogliano , History

Immigration rates to the United States skyrocketed from the years of 1850 to 1920, with over 25 million immigrants arriving on American shores. The treatment of the ship’s poorest passengers, is a fascinating topic throughout history, and historical texts about the mass immigration of the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century do little to provide a clear picture. There are certain questions that one must ask each source in order to properly evaluate it: how does each source discuss the crossing? What is the central focus of each source? What region or culture does the source discuss most? Are there certain regional areas that are neglected in terms of the crossing? Then, how do these details tie into the overall portrayal of the third-class in history books?