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Dorothy Hoobler

Thomas Hoobler

The Irish American Family Album (American Family Albums) Paperback – May 28, 1998

by Dorothy Hoobler (Author), Thomas Hoobler (Author), Joseph P. Kennedy II (Introduction)

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Erin go bragh. Ireland forever. The popular Celtic saying is heard in the United States from New York to San Francisco because there are more than 39 million Americans who list their ancestry as Irish. Nearly 800,000 Irish arrived here between 1841 and 1850, and 900,000 followed over the next decade. In other words, more than one out of every five people in Ireland left for the United States in that 20-year period.
The Irish American Family Album is a remarkable history and memoir. In their own words--from diary entries, letters, interviews, and personal reflections--and with photographs and clippings pulled from family archives and the press of the day, the rich and colorful history of the Irish immigration to this country is told with a passion and wit that is uniquely Irish. Life on the "ould sod" and the hardships of the great potato famine and British rule, the decision to leave, the arduous Atlantic journey, first impressions of their new home, settling in and building a new life--all are made immediate and real through the words and snapshots of the participants. But not all are happy memories. Most of the immigrants were young people and left Ireland with a heavy heart, believing that they would never again see those they left behind. They faced prejudice in this country--"No Irish Need Apply" was a familiar sign in shop windows and in newspaper advertisements--and living conditions in the tenements they could afford were a far cry from life on the farm back home.
Many immigrants found their first jobs here as laborers. They were among the workers who built the Erie Canal, the transcontinental railroad, and the Statue of Liberty. In the west, Irish laborers found work as miners during the gold rush. Irish women often worked as servants in the houses of the upper class, or worked in the cloth mills of New England. Though prejudice tried to keep the majority at the bottom of society, the very size of the Irish American community made them a powerful political force, and in cities such as Boston, New York, and Chicago, the Irish took control of local political organizations and were soon a force to be reckoned with.
There are many success stories in The Irish American Family Album. The Kennedy family, film actor John Wayne, artist Georgia O'Keeffe, novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman justice of the Supreme Court--all bear witness to the strength and endurance of the Irish spirit. These and other famous Irish Americans are profiled throughout the book.
But the real joy comes in seeing the multitude of faces in the rare and fascinating photographs, and reading memories of Irish grandmothers, of boys who grew up in "Hell's Kitchen" at the turn of the century, of an early union organizer, and the thousand of other voices that make up the proud and diverse Irish American community. Their stories add an important chapter to the multicultural portrait of America.

The titles in the American Family Albums series tell the multicolored and often heroic stories of American immigrant groups, largely through their own words and pictures. Like any family album or scrapbook, the pages contain many period photographs and other memorabilia. These join with original documents--including selections from diaries, letters, memoirs, and newspapers--to bring the immigrant experience vividly to life.

Reading age

12 - 17 years
Print length

128 pages
Language

English
Grade level

7 - 9
Dimensions

10.5 x 0.4 x 8.4 inches
Publisher

Oxford University Press
Publication date

May 28, 1998
ISBN-10

0195124189
ISBN-13

978-0195124187
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"An arresting picture of what it has meant to be of Irish heritage in America.... pleasing open format.... A rich source for report writers."--School Library Journal
"A strong, important coverage which will delight high school students on up."--The Midwest Book Review

"An arresting picture of what it has meant to be of Irish heritage in America.... pleasing open format.... A rich source for report writers."--School Library Journal
"A strong, important coverage which will delight high school students on up."--The Midwest Book Review

"An arresting picture of what it has meant to be of Irish heritage in America.... pleasing open format.... A rich source for report writers."--School Library Journal
"A strong, important coverage which will delight high school students on up."--The Midwest Book Review

"An arresting picture of what it has meant to be of Irish heritage in America.... pleasing open format.... A rich source for report writers."--School Library Journal

"A strong, important coverage which will delight high school students on up."--The Midwest Book Review

"An arresting picture of what it has meant to be of Irish heritage in America.... pleasing open format.... A rich source for report writers."--School Library Journal

"A strong, important coverage which will delight high school students on up."--The Midwest Book Review

About the Author

Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler have published more than 50 books for children and young adults. Their works have been honored by the Library of Congress, the New York Public Library, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the Society for School Librarians International. The live in New York City.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press; 1st edition (May 28, 1998)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 128 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0195124189
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0195124187
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 - 17 years
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 - 9
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 10.5 x 0.4 x 8.4 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #4,337,121 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #329 in Teen & Young Adult 19th Century United States History
- #355 in Teen & Young Adult European History
- #685 in Teen & Young Adult 20th Century United States History

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Jennifer Sopranzi

A Good Family Book

Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2007

Verified Purchase

I bought this book for my 12 year old niece. Recently she joined in a family discussion about our Irish American family and Irish history in general. She was very interested but said that in school she learned that it was somehow wrong to be interested in her family history. She asked "Why don't they tesch this stuff in school?"

Her comments sent me straight to Amazon to search for books on Irish American history. The Irish American Family Album provided a good introduction for my niece. The book is organized into brief selections highlighting people and events. It is a good introduction to the rich and often tragic history of a creative and determined people. Written in short chapters, with sidebars and first person accounts, the book provides interesting topics for additional exploration. Like all good family albums, this book can bring the generations together, spark informative discussion and provide insight into the family dynamics.

One person found this helpful

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John W. Sokolowski

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2018

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Being a half Irish I love this book.

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Billy Kurch

Another Spark Of Light

Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2000

The Irish American Family Album provides in it's too few pages, a spark of light on the intensely emotional history of Ireland and her children. One could hardly expect an absolute, exhaustive description of the countless people or events that are associated with this topic, yet everyone of Irish descent that I have shared this book with responds to it that same way. They slowly turn the pages with great anticipation. Always hoping that the next page shall help shed more light on their personal family's history of exil from Ireland to a new life here in America. I have even witnessed a tear from time to time in the eyes of these readers. It has been said that we are now witnessing a renaissance of the Celtic spirit and culture. If this is true, then much thanks is due to books such as The Irish American Family Album. For this book and others like it shall be the tools of education for our younger generations. They help to reveal and preserve our culture and history, a history so vast and long that it spands well into the darkness of time. Therefore, every spark of light is a true blessing.

4 people found this helpful

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