Between 1861 and 1985, 29,036,000 Italians emigrated to other countries, the largest voluntary emigration period in documented history(1). They landed almost everywhere, from Europe to South America to the United States, like my family, and put down roots.

Their stories are familiar to us: stories of strong family ties and communities that supported each other, tiny businesses that grew into successes, kids whose parents never went to college attending the Ivy Leagues, championing this new country they had arrived in. By now, it’s hard to picture America without Italian Americans.