Steel Valley Voices

In the beginning, the Institute offered the basics to people who had little to nothing at all. The institute set up a “bath night,” because many immigrants could not afford to rent rooms with access to bathtubs.  Russians, Italians, and Slovaks were the primary clients of the Institute in its early days. In 1934, 92,503 people out of a total population of 170,002 in Youngstown were immigrants. For each immigrant who entered the Institute, a general information report was created to keep track of arrival dates and family members.

The Institute set up programs in the form of  classes, clubs, foreign community activities, and individual services, including help with naturalization, housing, deportation, financing, and other issues. To better serve the community, the institute opened a headquarters at 25 North Walnut Street as well as seven other centers throughout Youngstown. Centers were even located at steel mills so the men could take English and citizenship classes after their shifts or before they found a job.

The Institute worked with 36 local, international, and government agencies such as the Department of Labor, naturalization court, the Red Cross, churches, schools, and relief centers.
Many foreign people saw the institute as a “haven” and a source of aid. Clubs in the early days and throughout the Institute’s time were mother’s clubs and sewing clubs who put together dances, bingo nights, and field trips for families. English classes met twice a week at various locations for both children and adults.

Club Roll Book Cover

Pamphlets were provided as study materials for tests, such as the John Hancock, Abraham Lincoln, the United States Flag as well as booklets on the  Social Customs and Manners in the United States: A Guide for Foreign Students. These classes and support from teachers helped immigrants gain citizenship quickly. At the time, no other agency offered all of these necessary services in one location, so the institute was crucial in the development of Youngstown.

To see related clubs and articles, click here.

Citizenship and naturalization classes helped immigrants learn the laws of the United States.  Institute staff also they helped with affidavits of support for family members and documents needed for transfers. Immigrants received a checklist detailing the materials needed to complete the citizenship process.

To see some examples of the Nolasco family’s documents  needed to secure citizenship, click here.

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