State Historical Society of Iowa

Map of Syria, Date Unknown

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Courtesy of The History Center, Linn County Historical Society, "Turkey in Asia," Date Unknown

Description

William Aossey's father, Sam, and his uncles—William, Abdoo, and Mike—immigrated from Syria-Lebanon, which was still part of the Ottoman Empire, in 1907. They came through Ellis Island and settled in the Midwest. Uncle William was a pioneer, working as a peddler and later opening stores. Although the family moved frequently, William lived for a while in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he attended Taylor School.

Source Dependent Questions

  • When you look at the map, where is Syria?
  • What do you notice about Syria?
  • Talk about the reasons why a family would leave their home country to move to the United States.

Citation Information

"Turkey in Asia," Date Unknown. Courtesy of The History Center, Linn County Historical Society Courtesy of Library of Congress