The Polish Laborer in South Bend 1880-1890

Abstract

Having lived, worked and gone to school in South Bend for twenty-two years, I wanted to know why so many of my classmates and friends were of Polish descent. I was curious about why they came to South Bend. The result of my study is an overview or sketch of what the life and times of many a South Bend Polish laborer must have been during this period. I've tried to restrain myself from presenting conclusions: rather I rely on the reader to form his own. In fairness to those who do read this, I must admit my own predisposition to the plight and problems of these immigrants. I can't imagine a more difficult and traumatic position than that of those immigrants; coming to a strange and radically different place and society, ignorant of both its customs and language, and having to find employment and lodging, thus starting again the whole process of acculturation. Therefore some may say may be overly sympathetic and unobjective. My response is that one cannot help but be somewhat subjective since we speak of people and culture, not things and science.