The Italians are responsible
for one of the largest exoduses in history.
From 1876 to 1924, more than
four and a half million Italians arrived in the United States.
A vast majority of immigrants
came from Southern Italy, who were leaving to escape economic hardships at that time.
Italians were very impoverished,
they worked mainly as Sharecroppers, Artisians, Farmlabors, and Shoemakers.
They worked in collective units
to survive in the dismal atmosphere of Southern Italy.
Children didn't receive an
education after the third grade.
Because of the poverty, childern
were often sent away as young as ten years old to learn a trade.
They had to fend for
themselves.
Introduction ---
The Purpose of this Web Site
is to preserve and procure The Paglia Family Heritage.
Every one has a story to tell,
and it is the personal history of each and every one of us that makes this project much more than a search for cold hard data.
It is these stories that give
us a feeling of connectedness to something far greater than ourselves, and the sense of being "anchored" indeed, "rooted in
time."
Our indiviual heritage's fascinate
most of us. We're interested in our ancestors, where they lived, how they lived, and their journey to America for a
better life.
As we understand the history
and cultures of Italy, we will soon learn the motivations behind our ancestors.
With this in mind, our ancestors
will become much more than nameless faces, they will become family.
