Gli Stati Uniti d'America: l'emigrazione italiana [The United States of America: Italian Emigration]. Milano: Fratelli Treves, Ed., 1912.

Gli Stati Uniti d'America: l'emigrazione italiana [The United States of America: Italian Emigration]. Milano: Fratelli Treves, Ed., 1912.

Despite a title that suggests that the book is principally about Italian immigration to the U.S., in fact two thirds of the book is about the US generally (including some chapters about other immigrant groups). Only about one third is about Italian immigrants to the U.S.

The Italian colony of New York gets separate treatment, the author noting first that Italian immigration constitutes a number greater than that of any other nationality, though of recent origin. He notes that in 1820 only 30 Italians disembarked in the U.S.; but in 1870, it had reached 30,000 and in 1900, it exceeded 100,000. Finally, in 1906, it reached the "enormous number" of 292,059. A little less in 1907, because of the "crisis"(earthquake?), it reached only 70,000, but rebounded in 1909 to 246,000. Villari also supplies significant repatriation numbers, putting repatriation at about 38% of the immigrants.

Villari (1876-1959) was an Italian historian, traveler and diplomat. He served as Italy's Vice-Consul in three American cities: New Orleans (1906), Philadelphia (1907) and Boston (1907-1910).

Luigi Villari

Fratelli Treves, Ed.

1912

19.5 x 13cm; 314 p.

Italian