Ohio History Journal

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ATTEMPTS TO PRESERVE NATIONAL CULTURES

ATTEMPTS TO PRESERVE NATIONAL CULTURES

IN CLEVELAND

 

By WELLINGTON G. FORDYCE

 

Historically the social activities of the foreign born in Cleve-

land present a somewhat confused picture. Certain of their ac-

tivities represent an attempt to preserve their native culture. Some

of these have the active support of native Americans for the

purpose of exploiting the wealth of culture represented in the

various nationality groups in the city. A second purpose of this

American support has been to speed and to ease the process of

assimilation and naturalization through an understanding of the

immigrant's background. An overview of the history of immi-

grants in Cleveland during the past half century shows the inter-

weaving of these motives.

Five factors have dominated this phase of Cleveland's his-

tory. The first of these is the part played by the actual foreign

colonies themselves.  This has been discussed in a previous

article.1 The other elements working for the purposes discussed,

are the foreign language press, immigrant schools, immigrant in-

stitutions and societies, and certain folk festivals and celebrations.

Cleveland has supported a varied foreign language press.

Since 1900 there have been between one hundred and one hun-

dred fifty foreign-language newspapers and periodicals pub-

lished in the city. There have been dailies, weeklies, triweeklies,

monthlies, and quarterly publications. Humor, local and foreign

politics, religion, and society have been their themes. The num-

ber has fluctuated a good deal. In 1927 twenty foreign publica-

tions were listed in Cleveland.2 Many small publications have

been founded, but the majority of them have lasted only a short

time. Those which have been most successful and influential

1 Wellington G. Fordyce, "Immigrant Colonies in Cleveland," Ohio State

Archaeological and Historical Quarterly (Columbus) XLV (1936), 320-40.

2 Cleveland Year Book (1927), 284-6.

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