When the Molly Maguire era ended in violent repression, hundreds of Irish miners fled PA's Coal Region — some traveling 1,700 miles west to Leadville, Colorado, and bringing their legal troubles with them. Dr. Jim Walsh of UC Denver joins the Transatlantic podcast and as part of their discussion, shares these fascinating connections. Listen to the episode.
“It seemed as if the scenes and characters of the Bible were living again now, before our eyes.” Before he became the Coal Region’s most important folklorist, George Korson served in the Middle East during World War I. His letters and reflections capture a world in transition and a remarkable journey from Pennsylvania to Palestine. Read the Full Story.
“I am Mary Ubaniae, direct me to Hazleton, Pa.” In 1900, a ten-year-old Hungarian girl crossed the Atlantic alone with that tag tied to her dress. Her parents were gone, and relatives in Pennsylvania’s Coal Region were her only destination. A brief newspaper story preserves this remarkable journey. Read the Full Story.
Annie Marion MacLean’s 1908 study of Pennsylvania’s anthracite coal fields lays bare company-owned housing, four-room houses crammed with twenty to thirty boarders, beds shared by day and night shifts, vermin and filth, $1-per-room rents—and the gradual climb to 5 or 6 room homes, parlors, gardens, and disappearing boarders. Read the full story.
In January 1865, an Irish emigrant in Scranton wrote home with urgency and affection: he’s prepaid a passage, warns that “gold is so high,” and begs his brother-in-law to come—packing pipes, oatmeal, and “Paddy’s eye water.” Amid war, paper money, and longing, the letter captures the costs, logistics, and hope of Coal Region migration. Read the full story.
Meet Joseph Puma, a young Sicilian immigrant caught in the harsh world of Pennsylvania coal mining in 1911. Captured by Lewis Hine’s lens, his story spans from the dark tunnels of Pittston to serving overseas during World War I. Read the full story.
Join me, Fin Dwyer, and Damian Shiels on the “Transatlantic” podcast for a deep dive into how 19th-century Irish newcomers shaped coal mining communities in eastern Pennsylvania. From labor battles to cultural legacies, discover their enduring impact on the region’s history. Listen to the full story.
Learn more about the Irish Memorial in Philadelphia, dedicated to those who fled famine and hardship in the 1840s. Learn how these immigrants overcame discrimination to shape Pennsylvania’s mining towns and America itself. A tribute to resilience and hope, this monument tells an enduring tale. Read the full story.
Discover how vibrant Ukrainian dance groups showcased their heritage in Schuylkill County’s Lakewood Park. In 1936, dazzling costumes and folk music brought together Ukrainian-Americans for a joyful celebration of cultural identity in the heart of the anthracite coal fields. Read the full story.
In 1926, Italian immigrants in Schuylkill County, PA, united to protest racial discrimination and biased media coverage. Amidst rising anti-Italian sentiment, the Sons of Italy organized to demand fair treatment and highlight their community's contributions and law-abiding values. Discover their powerful response to injustice. Read the Full Story.