The National Context

In 1918, the United States government created International Institutes in large urban areas with many immigrants, ease the process of attaining citizenship. While immigration to the U.S. was declining at the time, immigrants kept coming to the Mahoning Valley looking for stable jobs in mills and factories. Due to the public reactions to WWI both nationally and locally, including the East Youngstown strike of 1916, conflicts over class, race, and ethnicity between “native” Americans and immigrants had begun to rise. The public began to view immigrants as possible threats to their way of life, which lead to legislation to restrict immigration. The Immigration Act of 1917 and the Anarchist Exclusion Act of 1918 enforced restrictions on the number and ethical standards of immigrants allowed to enter the U.S. As immigration became more difficult, International Institutes helped immigrants gain citizenship quickly and safely, so they wouldn’t be viewed as dangers or threats to jobs and opportunities. Navigating the legal aspects of immigration and naturalization was almost impossible for immigrants who did not know the language or the process, and without help these immigrants would remain “illegal aliens” open to exploitation and harassment. It was here that the International Institute aided Youngstown’s immigrants.

1940 International Institute Winter Report,

“What the Institute did for Americans”