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Welcome to Steel Valley Voices

From early in the 19th century through recent years, the Mahoning Valley has drawn new migrants and immigrants seeking economic opportunities and new homes. As those families settled in the area, they created the diverse cultural mix of our present day community. They brought new languages, religious traditions, recipes, viewpoints, and artistic talents to the area. Since the mid-19th century, migrants and immigrants have left their mark here in the Mahoning Valley in many ways, from the onion domes of eastern European churches to delicatessen favorites and Brier Hill pizza to the jazz and blues music of African Americans. More recent arrivals from Puerto Rico, Mexico, and various parts of Asia have added to our cultural mix, bringing new foods and new traditions. We can trace the experience of immigration and migration through family stories, preserved in letters, diaries, photographs, documents, and other materials. The memories held in these materials are of interest not only to local families but also to scholars and students who want to understand the history of immigration and migration, work, language, and the community.

Steel Valley Voices collects and shares the stories and memories of the Youngstown area’s diverse communities.  This digital archive makes letters, documents, photographs, and other materials available to anyone with an interest in Mahoning Valley history and culture.

Can you help us build the archive?  If you have letters or documents, photographs, audio or video recordings, or other materials reflecting the history of your family, church, community group, or neighborhood, we’d like to hear from you.

For more information, please contact: Donna M. DeBlasio dmdeblasio@ysu.edu

 

Steel Valley Voices is a collaboration among the Center for Applied History, University Archives of Maag Library, and the History Department at Youngstown State University.

One Response to “Welcome to Steel Valley Voices”

  1. Ben Lariccia says:

    Here’s Carla’s link on Youtube. She’s a 91-year-old grandmother who cooks meals from the Great Depression, right there in front of the Youtube camera. I know that one of goals of our workshops is to get to those great stories that people have. Here’s a great 5-minute video that’s all cooking and all story telling. If you’re as old as I am, Social Security check due next month, you might remember some of Clara’s recipes as ones your mother made for you. These dishes were made in Youngstown. One of these 4-5minute clips might make a good intro to the March workshop.

    http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=DepressionCooking&view=videos

    Depression Cooking:

    Pasta with Peas
    Peppers and Eggs
    Egg Soup
    Onions, potatoes, and hot dogs
    Cooked Bread
    Depression Breakfast
    Poor Man’s Feast

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