dr
nomics and persecution, there were reli- came from all levels of wealth and pover- 0
gious issues that played into how they be- ty just as urban dwellers do here.
"We try to make it clear that there are
came Americanized and to what extent
the extremes of wealth and poverty and
they became Americanized."
LL
Starting with what women brought everything in between," Grossman said.
"We
have
two
mannequins
that
show
peo-
with them, the display moves on to what
1
they made and bought as they fit into their ple who have just arrived at Ellis Island. =- i L T,
"One
is
dressed
as
someone
from
a
new environment. The inevitable gener-
ation clashes about the right and proper shtetl where she did not have a lot of mon- F- )
ey or a lot to bring with her. The other de- Z.-
outfits to wear become apparent.
"In addition to the artifacts, we use picts an urban woman whose family was
quotes from the oral histories of people quite rich.
"It's not a typical Fiddler on the Roof
who offered these items on loan," Gross-
picture
that we have. Because people had
man explained. "The comments really
different
experiences in the Old World,
fleshed out our research.
"Getting out the immigrant story in they had equally different experiences
their own words or as close to their own in the New World."
Detroit is the final stop for the exhibi-
words as possible strikes at the emotion-
tion
that was assembled in Chicago. It has
al core of this experience, and it's advan-
tageous for others to learn history from been at the Ellis Island Immigration Mu-
the words of the people who really lived seum in New York, the National Museum
of American Jewish History in Philadel-
it.
"For the most part, people were telling phia and the Skirball Museum in Los An-
stories that were handed down from their geles.
`These artifacts are often very delicate,"
parents. Some came over as children or
Grossman
explained. "Any undue stress
teen-agers and had their own tales to tell.
"For instance, we wanted to have a won- can cause them to fall apart, so we have
derful hat from the turn of the century, to worry about the lighting levels, tem-
but we also wanted to know something perature and humidity controls.
"We don't like to have artifacts out for
about that hat and the person who owned
too long because we want to be able to pre-
it.
"Did Aunt Bessie buy it from a depart- serve them for future generations. Most 2:
ment store? Did she put the trimmings on are on loan, and we have to return them 0
herself? Was it a traumatic purchase be- to their owners.
"If s been about four years since people
cause it was the first time she was buying
f)
an American hat and maybe giving up have let these items out of their posses-
and
trusted
us
with
their
care.
Be-
sion
wearing a sheitel?"
The Chicago researchers found that cer- cause they are family items, people want
tain objects were given priority as peo- to use them for teaching their own chil-
ple decided what to bring to America. With dren and grandchildren about their per- 0_
limited space, immigrants over and over sonal heritage, and these are good
again brought Sabbath candlesticks and teaching tools."
large woolen shawls.
"Many of the immigrants' descendants
"Becoming American Women:
have hung on to the candlesticks because
Clothing and the Jewish Immigrant
they had so much sentimental, religious
Experience, 1880-1920" will be on dis-
and personal value," Grossman said.
play at the Detroit Historical Museum
"The shawls had practical value. The
Nov. 7-March 23. Hours are 9:30 a.m.-
often-plaid garments were very heavy and
5 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays and 10
very long, sometimes reaching to ankle
a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
length. They were warm for the trip over,
Educational programs to enhance
and they could be worn in a variety of
viewing of the exhibit can be arranged.
For information, call (313) 833-7979.
ways."
Feather mattresses, brought to the new
shores because they were expensive and
often used.as part of a young woman's
dowry, were impossible to locate although
they were frequently referenced. People
apparently did not hold on to them.
Researchers were able to find a pillow
made from the feathers of one of those
mattresses and included that in the col-
lection.
"People did not know what they would
be able to get here and what would be af-
fordable," Grossman said. "We heard of
food items like chicken fat that people
would take with them because they didn't
. know what would be available immedi-
ately upon arrival."
An important lesson learned by the re-
search team was the diversity represent-
ed in the immigrant experience. Although
they expected that people from the shtetls
would be poor, team members learned that
was not true in every case.
They also discovered that immigrants
from urban sectors in Eastern Europe
Left:
1917
wedding
dress.
Left: Mannequins show
people of different
backgrounds — the
city and the shtetl.
Above: A shirtwaist.
Left:Shoes were an
important accessory.
Far left: A corset.