America's Russian-Speaking Immigrants and Refugees: Twentieth Century Migration and Memory

FAIN: EH-50310-12

Columbia University (New York, NY 10027-7922)
Timothy M. Frye (Project Director: March 2012 to August 2014)
Robert H. Davis (Co Project Director: March 2012 to August 2014)
Edward Kasinec (Co Project Director: March 2012 to August 2014)

A three-week institute for twenty-five higher education faculty to investigate four waves of Russophone immigrants to America.

As a nation of immigrants, it is surprising that the study of the various groups that came to these shores during the turbulent 20th century, under varying circumstances, are so unevenly developed. Furthermore, the picture of immigrations from particular world areas tends often to be executed in broad strokes, without a great degree of attention to nuances. This is particularly the case for the four successive "waves" of Russian-speaking (Russophone) immigration to America during the period after 1917, and down to the present day. NEH Summer Scholars will engage in a measured three-week long study of the post-1917 Russophone immigrations to America. After a discussion of transcendent methodological and disciplinary issues, the Summer Scholars will turn to the specific circumstances and adaptation processes of each of the specific Russian "waves."