Leading Immigration Scholar Dead At 81
Monday, June 23rd, 2008
Rudolph J. Vecoli, an Italian-American researcher, was among the country’s top immigration scholars. Vecoli dedicated his life to preserving the history of immigrants to the United States, as well as researching the ways in which they maintained their immigrant identity while living and working in American culture. After serving in the Navy and earning his Ph.D., he joined the University of Minnesota’s Immigration Research Center, and served as the director for many years. Vecoli also authored multiple books including “The People of New Jersey” and “A Century of Immigration, 1884-1984.”
In both books, and in his other works, Vecoli denounced the notion of mass assimilation of immigrants. Rather than hastily abandoning their old traditions and customs for those of America, Vecoli argued that immigrants went to great efforts to hold onto their heritage.
Vecoli was born to Italian immigrants in Wallingford, Connecticut. He died June 17th due to complications of Leukemia. For more information please click here.
Click here to read Vecoli’s recent article: “Mass Amnesia Makes Americans Forget The Story Behind May Day”