Introduction :
Polikarp Coutouvaminski is a Polish man. He was born on the 2nd of January 1895 in Varsovie. His parents died when he was 2 months and he was adopted by Mrs and Mr Coutouvaminski. He was working in a mine because he isn’t rich enough. He left his adoptive-family because their parents beat him. So he stoles money, and took the steam-ship for get settled in New York.
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Name: Coutouvaminski Polikarp
Sex: Mal
height: 1m90
date of birth : 2nd of january 1895
place of birth : Varsovie
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My name is Polikarp and I will talk to you about my long and hard trip to New-York. I decided to leave Poland because my adoptive parents, Mr & Mrs Coutouvaminski, were beating me. My parents died when I was 4 years old. From the age of 10, I have lived in Katowice, in the south of Poland, and everyday, I walked about 10 kilometers to go to Cracovie to work in the salt mine. I had to work to buy everything to eat because my adoptive parents didn’t give me a lot of food. I will show you my diary which I began to write when I was 16 years old.
22th February 1911
I have never written in a diary, but, I feel so alone that I feel the need to do it today. Today, itis 6 years since I last worked at the salt mine. I’m tired, my body is tired, I think I will leave Poland, my adoptive parents oppress me, I have a lot of marks everywhere on my body. But I don’t know if I can take the Ellis Island’s ferry at the age of sixteen.
25th February 1911
Yesterday, my only friend, Stefen, told me I could take the Ellis Island’s ferry now on my own. I must find a way to go to the USA. When I get there, I would like to begin a career in the musical field ! Being rich, be famous, it’s my dream, the American dream !
26th February 1911
I tried to explain my plan to my parents, but they didn’t agree and now I’m confine in my room. When I said “room” I should say a cellar with an old bed. Now, I’m sure I wouldn’t never take the steam-ship. I feel so angry about this situation.
1st March 1911
At last,I can start to write again now. Yesterday morning, I awoke and I felt ambitious. So I took my bag and I walked to Gdansk in Poland to talk the steam-ship to the USA. I have arrived at Gdansk, I have seen the steam-ship which was going to New-York. I still had money when to paid for my ticket. Finally, I have taken the steam-ship and I feel excited las I have never felt before. I’m so optimistic!
2nd March 1911
I’m on the steam-ship and I feel sick because there are many rats and everybody is on the roof-top. It’s so difficult to live here because we don’t have much room to live. I don’t have a lot of food and water. We feel oppressed together.
10 March 1911
Today, I’m not very excited… I have met a new friend whose called Igor. He is a polish guy and this morning I found him dead. He died of hunger. I’m so sad it was my only friend..
15 March 1911
Today I have arrived at Ellis Island, I have seen the Statue of Liberty, it was wonderful. We can see many ethnicities represented. Two hours later, I will present of a doctor and he will check if I’m ill or not, if I can stay in New-York I’m unhappy about this situation.
Three hours later :
God !!!!!!!!! The doctor told me that I can stay in the USA, it’s so amazing! I feel like a free American now. But there is a big problem. What will I do ? Where will I live ? I heard there is a neighbor called « Little Poland » in Brooklyn.
16 March 1911
I have arrived in Little Poland. A man offered me a job in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. This it’s a very good job and I’m paid 50$ a month.
I have found a little house in Little Poland, I live with 6 other people. I think my trip has been very good for me and it’s a pleasure to live in Brooklyn because everybody in the world can change their life like me.
Polikarp died the 25th of March 1911 during the incident of Triangle Shirtwaist Factory where he works may he rest. Rest In Peace.
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This photo represents the steam-ship of our story. On this picture, we can see four boats. On the foreground, there is a little « steam-ship » whose not overcrowded but one, the biggest is very overcrowded by emigrants. This old photo was taken near Ellis-Island’s harbour in 1913.
The polish community represented about 10 million inhabitants in the US. It represents 3,2 % of united states of America’s population.
On this graphic, we can see the polish immigration between 1934 and 1944 in the USA We notice that between 1939 and 1941 the polish community started to immigrate to New York. A lot of Polish people got settled in the USA because it’s the beginning of the 2nd World War. They got settled in Brooklyn at the neighbour called « Little Poland ».
Camille, Jeremy, Alex.