EXAMINING PATTERNS OF ITALIAN IMMIGRATION TO ...

PROFESSIONALS AND SKILLED TRADESMEN
Apprentice barber 1 Dressmaker 2 Shoemaker/repairer 7
Apprentice plumber 1 Electrical engineer 1 Seamstress 2
Auto mechanic 5 Fireman 2 Sheriff 1
Barber 4 Foreman 2 Steelworker/contractor 1
Beauty operator 1 Mechanic auto 11 Tailor 2
Blacksmith 5 Musician/orchestra 2 Teacher 12
Chauffeur 2 Nurse 3 Undertaker 2
Cigar maker 1 Painter 1
Cook 2 Plumber 6
Assistant cashier/bank 1
GENERAL OFFICE JOBS
Composer type /newspaper 2 Printer 4
Assistant clerk 1 Editor/newspaper 1 Secretary 1
Banker 1 Employee/insurance 2 Stenographer 4
Bookkeeper 18 Interpreter/court 1 Telephone operator 2
Cashier/bank 2 Operator telephone 2 Teller/bank 1
Clerk 15 Postmaster 2 Timekeeper/telephone 1
GENERAL MERCHANDISE SALE co.
Attendant gas-oil station 6 Merchant/general store 5 Saleslady 12
Manager gas station 1 Proprietor/store 3 Salesman 19
Manager ice rink 1 Proprietor gas-oil station 2
Manager/pool room 2
UNSKILLED
Cleaner 3 Janitor 5 Presser/dry cleaner 1
Chore person 2 Laborer 29 Servant 16
Dishwasher 1 Laundress 6
Housekeeper 8 Maid 1
OTHERS
At school 1 Not clear 10 Retired 3
79
(7.2%)
61
(5.5%)
51
(4.6%)
74
(6.7%)
14
(1.3%)
TOTAL 1,101
3.7 Comparisons and conclusion
The following graphs show a comparison of the percentages of workers for each
sector through the years. One thing to note in comparing the data shown in the graphs is the
scale difference among occupations, in particular between Mining and Related and all the
other groups. It is important to remember that in 1880 the members of the Italian community
were just 220, few in comparison with the following years. However, the percentages for
this year have been included to examine potential trends.
As Figure IX shows, Mining and related has an increasing trend for the first thirty
years, from 1880 till 1910. It also corresponds to the increase in the numbers of Italians in
Houghton County. In 1920, however, despite the fact that the community has more or less
the same number of individuals as in 1910, the percentage of people working for the mines
47