“America’s Making” Exposition
The first of several posts about NYC’s pro-immigration, pro-pluralism exposition held in October and November of 1921.
America's Making, Inc. The Book of America's Making Exposition. City and State Departments of Education, 1921, p. 9. Smithsonian Libraries.
One hundred years ago today … “America’s Making” attracted thousands of visitors to the 71st Regiment Armory at 34th and Park Avenue. The exposition, which had started October 29 and would run for two weeks, showcased ethnic, racial, and national cultures of the US population. One or two such cultures were featured each day, thirty-two in all.
The exposition was organized by the respective Departments of Education of New York City and State, who jointly published an extensive book comprising individual pages for each culture represented.
The perspective was decidedly, predictably, Eurocentric, as heritages from Iceland to Estonia were given their due. No Asian cultures were represented at all. All African Americans were grouped together as “Americans of Negro Lineage” and Latin America was only included on the “Hispanic” page.
New York Times, 4 November 1921, p. 4. Newspapers.com.
America's Making, Inc. The Book of America's Making Exposition. City and State Departments of Education, 1921. Smithsonian Libraries.
As the ad in the Times promised, he program for November 4th focused on Welsh and Norwegian traditions. The rest of the week would look to Italy and Romania.
A delegation had traveled to DC to invite President Harding.
– Jonathan Goldman, Nov 4, 2021
TAGS: immigration, education, ethnicity, festival, race