What’s the story?
This photograph and newspaper clippings originate from the collection of Jacob Mark Frey, who served as the General Secretary of the YMCA at Lehigh University from 1915 to 1920. In this role, Frey taught classes on Christianity to Chinese students at Lehigh and Americanization classes for immigrants employed by Bethlehem Steel. These classes helped with preparing for citizenship examinations and learning to speak fluent English.During its rapid growth in the early 20th century, Bethlehem Steel employed a large number of European immigrants, primarily from modern day Hungary and Slovenia. These newcomers faced intense pressure to assimilate and adopt American values. This labor fueled immigration lead to South Bethlehem becoming ethnically diverse and helped shape the culture of the Lehigh Valley for generations.
More details
theme: Power of Placesubjects: Americanization, Steel, English language–Study and teaching (Continuing education)
contributing repository: Lehigh University Libraries Special Collections
submitted by: Alex Japha
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