The Center for Migration Studies of New York maintains a specialized library on international migration, refugees and ethnic groups. Formally organized in 1970, the library’s holdings comprise one of the major, if not the principal collection worldwide devoted to the international movement of peoples. It includes over 27,500 volumes, 150 periodicals, 750 dissertations, 128 newsletters, 60 ethnic newspapers, 1900 conference papers, and 3700 journal article reprints. Given the international perspective of the Center, periodicals and works published outside the United States are prominently featured in the collection. The holdings are very strong in the social science literature, but overall the collection is multidisciplinary in content. Researchers can expect to find substantial holdings on refugees and on subjects traditionally linked with human migration such as government policy, immigration law, internal migration, labor, minorities, ethnic groups, assimilation and population studies. In addition, the collection has a good selection of materials on related subjects such as education, health and mental health, multiculturalism, bilingualism, race relations, language, ethnic literature, and genealogy .
Of particular note is the library’s large collection of "grey" literature (materials that are not available through the usual publishing channels and are difficult to obtain). Characteristic of this type of literature are working papers, occasional papers, government reports, dissertations, pre-published works and the like. Typically these materials represent the cutting edge of scholarship and current thinking in the field and are an important resource for researchers.
Italian American Collection
CMS library has excellent resources for the study of ethnic groups, particularly for those in the United States. Its collection on the Italian Americans ranks among the best in the world and includes many rare and unique items. The library’s holdings on Italian Americans are supported by 91 processed archival collections.
ABOUT THE ARCHIVES
CMS Archives houses 101 archival collections that are processed to the folder level and include detailed inventories. Of the 101 collections, 91 deal with the Italian American experience. Among the collections are the papers of Italian American musicians, artists, authors, theatre personalities, politicians, newspaper publishers, labor leaders and clergy. Although the collections were accessioned originally to document the Italian American experience, they have import for scholars in a variety of disciplines. For example, CMS holds the records of three Italian immigrant aid societies dating back to the late 1800s, one of which was a member of the small group of social service agencies that began the General Committee for Immigrant Aid on Ellis Island. Social welfare work was the exclusive domain of private organizations throughout much of Ellis Island’s history. Moreover, immigrant aid societies played an important role in the philanthropic movement that developed in New York City early in the century as a means of coping with poverty and social ills. The records of these societies provide insight into life in New York City from the perspective of the immigrant groups and the institutions serving them.
Another interesting group of collections are the records of both the national and New York offices of the Department of Immigration, United States Catholic Conference (1917- ), the U.S.C.C.’s War and Relief Services (1944-1971). The U.S.C.C. remains one of the largest resettlement agencies in the country. Together with the forty-four collections generated by the Scalabrini Missionary Fathers in the United States, these records comprise important documentation of the work of the American Catholic Church in the immigration and assimilation process.
CMS Photographic Archives
The large majority of the images in the CMS Photographic Archives document the Italian immigrant and ethnic experience. Over 1100 images have been cataloged and the records can be searched on this site. Prints can be purchased.
Also, the Center has acquired nearly 2000 images from other repositories which are available to researchers on-site for reference purposes only. CMS cannot provide prints for this group of images.
LIBRARY HOURS and SERVICES
The Center for Migration Studies Library & Archives is open to the public free of charge. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Tuesday - Friday; closed Saturday, Sunday, Monday and holidays.
A microfilm reader-printer and photocopying facilities are available to researchers at the rate of $.15 per page. Provisions can be made to provide in-house photocopying for the fee of $.25 per page plus postage and handling.
Photo prints are available for a fee ranging from $35 - $45 per print for one-time-use-only, plus postage and handling.
