Out of Many: Stories of Migration is a series of exhibits, events and conversations produced by The Documentary Works, centering around the work of five photographers and two writers working out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The project features the faces and experiences of multiple generations of migrants and immigrants, and their descendants. Working from the premise that we have all come from somewhere, Out of Many explores the central role that migration and immigration have played, and continue to play, in the formation of our identity and culture, and in sustaining our economy – and in so doing, aims to create a space for civil, constructive conversation about belonging and cultural heritage today.
With original, contemporary photography and essays, Out of Many uses Pittsburgh’s story as a lens through which to examine the broader American immigration and migration experience.
Out of Many is a project of The Documentary Works, a collaborative group of professional photographers that documents social and environmental issues. Curated by Laura Domencic and Brian Cohen, the project highlights the photography of Scott Goldsmith, Nate Guidry, Lynn Johnson Annie O’Neill, and Brian Cohen. The project includes a major exhibit of photographs, and a 120-page, full-color book of the photography, designed by Brett Yasko, and featuring essays by Public Radio journalists Erika Beras and Reid Frazier.
Generous support for Out of Many has been provided by: Opportunity Fund; Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation; Hillman Foundation; Heinz Endowments; The Fisher Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation; PNC Charitable Trusts; and The Pittsburgh Foundation. Their faith in The Documentary Works is deeply appreciated.
These are photographs of buildings used by migrant and immigrant communities in southwestern Pennsylvania over the past century or so. Some of these buildings retain their original function, others have long been discarded. Some were purpose-built, others repurposed. There are old buildings, and new; some serve communities just arrived, others have been gathering places for generations.
Individually, each building represents in part a community’s effort to assert its adopted American identity, while retaining its particular sense of self, be it racial, religious, ethnic, or otherwise. They run the gamut, from community centers, to houses of worship, grocery stores, social clubs, and mutual-aid societies.
The buildings are the products of people who came to America under a variety of circumstances. Some were fleeing oppression and privation; others came to escape war or to seek opportunity. Some came willingly; others not. Some found freedom and riches. Most faced discrimination and prejudice. Collectively, they form a mosaic: step forward, and you see just one building, one community, one small colorful, beautiful piece of stone; step back, and you see the bigger picture, a country comprised of many peoples, striving to achieve their dreams of freedom and prosperity in the land that is now their home.
Above: Congregation Bnei Israel, Pittsburgh.
Previous: Italian Home, Farrell.
First: American Croatian Citizens Club, Donora
Ukrainian Home, Pittsburgh
American Italian Club, Aliquippa
Groceria Italiana, Pittsburgh
Evangelische Imanuel Kirche, Pittsburgh
Hindu Jain Temple, Monroeville
Ukrainian Club, New Alexandria
Sons of Italy, New Kensington
Sons of Columbus, McKees Rocks
Islamic Center, PIttsburgh
Croatian Home, Farrell
Hill House, Pittsburgh
Sons of Italy, Connellsville
American Indian Center, Pittsburgh. Native American people arrived on the continent tens of thousands of years ago.
Sons of Italy, Donora
Jewish Community Center, Pittsburgh
Apollo Maennerchor Club, Sharon
Chinatown Inn, Pittsburgh.
The Chinatown Inn is the last remaining buidling of what was Pittsburgh’s Chinatown.
Ukrainian Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh
American Serbian Club, Pittsburgh
Polish Home, Jeanette
Duquesne Maennerchor, Pittsburgh
German Home, Farrell
National Negro Opera Company, Pittsburgh
Sons of Italy, Sewickley
Jewish Labor Lyceum, PIttsburgh
Spigno Saturnia, Pittsburgh
Teutonia Mannerchor, Pittsburgh
First Muslim Mosque of Pittsburgh
Ateleta Club, Pittsburgh
WEMCO, PIttsburgh
Adath Jeshurun Congregation, PIttsburgh
Murray Avenue Kosher, Pittsburgh
Sikh Gurdwara, Monroeville
Polish Home, Braddock
Italian Fraternal Society, Butler
Las Palmas Grocery, Pittsburgh
Torath Chaim, Pittsburgh
Blakey Program Center (formerly Hebrew Institute), Pittsburgh
Crawford Grill, PIttsburgh
Gorkhali Store, Pittsburgh
Croatian Home, Rankin
Olmo Ling Buddhist Meditation Center, PIttsburgh
Olympia Banquet Hall, Pittsburgh
Bulgarian Macedonian National Educational and Cultural Center
French Club, Monessen
Slavonic Social Club, Braddock
Sri Venkateswara, Monroeville
Homestead Slavs Club
Sankofa Village, Pittsburgh
Hungarian Social Club, Homestead
Slovak Home, Farrell
Polish Hill YMPAA, Pittsburgh
Slovak Society, East Vandergrift
Irish Centre, Pittsburgh
Vietnamese Buddhist Temple, Homestead
Casa San Jose, Pittsburgh
Lithuanian Club, East Vandergrift
Lithuanian Hall, Pittsburgh
Americanization Mutual Society, Greensburg
Independent Slovak Citizens Club, Connellsville
Pittsburgh Asian Market, Wilkinsburg
Slavonic Club, Pittsburgh
Polish Club, Connellsville
San Lorenzo di Gamberale Mutual Benefit Association, Pittsburgh
Polish Corporation, East Vandergrift
Polish Falcons, Ambridge
Daree Salaam Grocery, Pittsburgh
Miller Street Baptist Church, formerly Congregation Beth David, Pittsburgh
Slovenian Ballroom, Herminie
Saint Mary of the Assumption, Slovenian, Pittsburgh
Vietnamese Buddhist Meditation Institute, Braddock
American Carpatho Russian Club, Rankin
American Rusin Club, Donora
American Russian Legion Club, Homestead
American Serbian Club, Aliquippa
Center Avenue YMCA, Pittsburgh, served as home for African American University of Pittsburgh students.
American Slovak Citizens Club, Munhall
American Ukrainian Citizens Club, Wilmerding
Ancient Order of Hibernians, Pittsburgh
Beth Samuel Jewish Center, Ambridge
Castel di Sangro, Pittsburgh
Italian Independent Social Club, Connellsville
Cneseth Israel Synagogue, Pittsburgh
Croatian Center and Picnic Grounds, Millvale
Croatian Center, Aliquippa
Polish National Alliance, McKeesport.
Croatian National Hall, Pittsburgh
German Club, Pittsburgh
Irene Kauffman Settlement, and Hill House, Pittsburgh
Italian Society of Mutual Aid, Monessen
Latin American Beneficial Society, Ford City
Machzikai Hadas Synagogue, Pittsburgh
Polish Club, Harwick