THE AMERICANIZATION OF THE ITALIAN-AMERICAN IMMIGRANTS IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA

Research herein provides a description and discussion of the Americanization process of the Italian-American immigrants and their offspring in Omaha, Nebraska. Facts are presented about the educational, professional, economic, and political status of these Italian-Americans. The discourse defines the allegiance of the Omaha Italian-Americans to the United States, its customs, institutions and educational process. The dissertation is the product of research and study in existing literature regarding many aspects of Italian immigration, and investigations conducted by the writer among hundreds of Italians in Omaha. The investigation depicts the Americanization process of the Italian people and their offspring in their new environment and the effect of the educational and cultural process on this movement. Through historical and ethnographic research the investigator conducts a systematic search for documents and other sources that contain facts related to the colony known as Little Italy in Omaha, Nebraska. The researcher establishes an account of past and present persons, events, thoughts, institutions and other sources pertinent to the Americanization process of an immigrant community. Immigrants from Carlentini and Lentini, Sicily, who chose to live in Omaha, Nebraska, established a viable colony which has come to be known as Little Italy . These Sicilian immigrants would not despair, although living was sometimes hard. They and their descendants are a joyous, industrious people who are not afraid of hard labor. The Church and their family remain the unshatterable center of their strength