Date of Award
8-1-2014
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A.
Department
Anthropology
First Advisor
Bonnie Clark, Ph.D.
Second Advisor
Dean Saitta, Ph.D.
Keywords
Childhood, Colorado, Immigration, Labor laws, Ludlow, Mining
Abstract
During the early 20th century coal miners' lives in Southern Colorado were fraught with violence and hardships. Many immigrant men brought their families to remote areas to live in company towns and work in coal mines. The Colorado Fuel and Iron Company (CF&I) attempted to assimilate these ethnically diverse immigrants into American society. One method was to impart American values onto the children living in these company towns. CF&I purchased American toys for the children during Christmas and created kindergartens for the children to attend with the intent of imparting American values. In contrast, the parents of these children reinforced their immigrant traditions. These children received two contrasting messages; one at home and one at school. Using the archaeological and historical record at both the company town of Berwind and the striker community of Ludlow, this thesis explores how the children engaged with both American and immigrant culture.
Recommended Citation
Devine, Jamie, "Toying with Americanization: The Impact of Corporate Paternalism on Immigrant Children in Early 20th Century Colorado Coal Mining Communities" (2014). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 161.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/161
Provenance
Received from ProQuest
Rights holder
Jamie Devine
File size
145 p.
Copyright date
2014
File format
application/pdf
Language
en
Discipline
Archaeology, Educational psychology, Economics, Labor