European Case
|
click image for
larger version
|
click image for
larger version
Croatian ship passage
|
|
Since 1901, the founding date of Comodoro
Rivadavia, the most significant donors to Comodoro Rivadavia
have been European countries. These immigrants built
the small port town and later provided laborers for the
petroleum industry in this area. Even though Italians
and Spaniards were the largest immigrant groups to enter
Argentina during the period of 1870 –1914, mass immigration
to Comodoro Rivadavia did not occur until 1907, and the
numbers of Italian immigrants were not as significant.
The most prevalent immigrant groups were Spanish, Portuguese,
German, and Eastern European (mainly Polish, Bulgarian,
and Slavic).
|
|
click image for larger
version
Ivanka Petkova - Bulgarian immigrant
|
click image for larger version
José Fernández Domínguez - Spanish
immigrant |
Video
clip Describes process of immigration from Bulgaria
to Buenos Aires, Argentina and then to Comodoro Rivadavia,
Argentina.
Transcript of video clip
|
|
|
Economic situations, political
reasons concerning war, and the search of better jobs
or life conditions were a few of the many reasons
that compelled immigrants to leave Europe. Many
traveled as single men, which in turn facilitated
the process of migration for their kin. It was
common for men to lave wives and children at home
in order to support their families from possible income
they could earn abroad. With time, family reunification
and family migration also developed.
|
All of the immigrants traveled by ship from their
point of origin in Europe. Many had layovers
in
the port towns of the Mediterranean Sea or along
the coast of Africa that often elongated the process
of travel. Just the journey alone from the western
shores of Europe to the Argentine port of entry, Buenos
Aires, lasted on average 30 days. Upon arrival
in Buenos Aires, the immigrants had to provide documentation
of identity and beginning in the 1930's they also
had to assure the authorities that they had already
obtained work through previously established networks.
If they did not have possible employment, the immigrants
would typically remain in the
Immigrant Hotel in Buenos Aires for several days.
Buenos Aires, however, was not the last port. Once
in Argentina, the journey continued south. The
difficult 2000 km journey from Buenos Aires to Comodoro
Rivadavia was a difficult one usually endured on a
petroleum ship.
|
|
click image for larger
view
Fanny de Levang - Croatian immigrant
|
|
Those immigrants destined to arrive
in Comodoro Rivadavia encountered a city that was for
the most part, unfamiliar. However, they were
joining a society mainly composed of immigrants like
themselves. More importantly, after initial settlement
most of the migrants arived in the area using the assistance
of family members, friends, and compatriots. Migration
chains frequently connected specific regions and towns
in Spain, Portugal, Bulgaria and other European countries
with Comodoro Rivadavia and its oild company towns.
|
c
lick image for larger version
José Fernández Domínguez - Spanish
immigrant
|
click image for larger
version
María de Mendonça - Portuguese immigrant
|
Video clip
Describes his arrival story to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Transcript of video clip.
|
Video clip Describes her arrival to Comodoro Rivadavia
and her first impressions of the area.
Transcript of video clip
|
|
Ethnic associations were created
to provide social benefits and help maintain traditions
from immigrant's home countries of origin. These
organizations demonstrated the prevalence of a diverse
sector of immigrants. Upon arrival to Comodoro,
these ethnic associations were utilized to bring people
from the same country together, provide spaces for socialization
and recreation, and aid immigrants in finding work and
housing.
|
|
click on image for
larger view
Men enjoying some mate.
|
|
