Calabrese Immigrants to Chicago

Richard J. Klarchek Information Commons, 4th Floor, Loyola University Chicago

This research is an attempt to capture some qualitative traits of Italian emigration in Chicago, with regard to that originated from Calabria and particularly from the province of Cosenza, by means of the analysis of biographical profiles contained in a sample (realized with the word of mouth) of people who have emigrated to Chicago. Sample formed in part by persons who have returned to their villages of origin after a long stay in U.S. (26 units), and in part by persons still living in the Chicago area (20 units). This research, because the small number of questionnaires and also for the way the people were contacted does not claim a statistical analysis of the phenomenon, however the answers contained in the questionnaires allow to catch some of the causes and effects of Italian emigration after World War II, and also could reach out and touch aspects of the migratory chain that was formed between the city of Chicago and a group of municipalities located close of the city of Cosenza (Castrolibero, Rende, Marano Marchesato, San Fili and Piane Crati). This is an open attempt to collect qualitative data of the process of calabrese emigration in the U.S. that will continue over time as we will have availability of other persons who have emigrated to be interviewed. The paper is structured in three parts. In the first we presented the framework of the Italian and calabrese emigration to the U.S. In the second we analyze the responses to the questionnaires, with the intent to seize the most important migration dynamics. In the third we examined in depth the interviews done at two personalities of the calabrese community in Chicago, representing a paradigmatic example of Italian emigration of success.