by Nelson Coffin

With immigration at the forefront of current national and international political debates, supporters of the idea might point to how well Italians — among other nationalities — have assimilated into American culture. It wasn't always easy, however, for them to make the transition from the Old World to the United States.

The influx from Italy to America began in earnest in the 1880s and continued for the next 40 years, as four million Italian immigrants reached the United States before slowing. Still, as recently as the 1960s, some Italians needed help relocating to America, which is why a group of dedicated local women formed an organization that would ease the stress of the transition.

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Source: http://www.baltimoresun.com/