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Home > My Ancestors >
Albanian > Timeline: 1850-1949
- 1886:
The first immigrant from Albania to America, Koli
Kristofer, arrives in Boston.
- 1892:
Koli Kristofer (later ordained as a priest), after
returning to Albania, speaks of the wonders of the
"new world" to his countrymen and later comes back
to Boston accompanied by 17 other Albanians.
- 1906:
Sotir Petsi publishes Kombi (The Nation) in
Boston, considered to be the cornerstone of Albanian
national consciousness.
- 1907:
The first Albanian drama (3 Acts), Israelites and
Philistines by Fan
S. Noli, portraying the old conflicts between
these two factions is produced in Boston. The Albanian-American
Society "Besa-Besen" (Oath of Loyalty) to enhance
and consolidate Albanian nationalism is founded in
Boston.
- 1907-1908:
With the refusal of the Greek clergy to offer a Christian
burial to an Albanian patriot in Hudson, Massachusetts,
Albanian leader Fan
S. Noli is asked in Boston to lead the movement
for an Albanian Orthodox Church. Noli is ordained
to the priesthood, and Saint
George Albanian Orthodox Church is organized at
the Knights of Honor Hall on Tremont Street in Boston.
The church later evolves into Saint George Albanian
Orthodox Cathedral � the seat of the Albanian Orthodox
Archdiocese in America � which eventually relocates
to South Boston.
- 1909:
Dielli (The Sun), now the oldest, continuously
published Albanian language newspaper in America,
begins publication by the Society of Besa-Besen in
Boston. Lady Edith Durham authors High Albania
in Boston and London. Her book becomes one of the
most comprehensive studies of northern Albania, and,
because of its continuing importance, was reissued
in 1994.
- 1911:
Albanian volunteers from Boston return to the motherland
to fight for the liberation of Albania. Their uniforms
were adorned with the Albanian national colors, black
and red, and their caps bore the motto "Freedom or
Death."
- 1912:
The Pan-Albanian Federation "Vatra" (The Hearth),
one of the most influential voices of Albanian nationalism,
is organized in Boston. The Albanian newspaper "Dielli"
(The Sun) becomes its organ for fostering Albanian
nationalism.
- 1916:
Professor Thoma Nassi organizes the first choir at
Saint George Church in Boston. He also later forms
the Pan-Albanian band "Vatra" (The Hearth) which tours
Albania for morale purposes, including the Battle
of Vlora between Italy and Albania in 1920 (won by
the Albanians) where Nassi composed the patriotic
Albanian song "Vlora, Vlora." Nassi returns to Boston
and then becomes director of the Cape Cod Symphony
Orchestra.
- 1918:
First Albanian historical calendar is published in
Boston.
- 1919:
The Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America is founded
in Boston, headed by Archbishop Fan S. Noli.
- 1920:
The Albanian Federation of America "Vatra" (The Hearth)
meets at the Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston and serves
as the de facto government in exile of Albania.
- 1921:
Holy Trinity Albanian Orthodox Church is founded
in South
Boston.
- 1934:
The Voice of Albania radio program under the initial
direction of Nuci Cojo, begins broadcasting without
interruption to the present day.
- 1935:
Saint John the Baptist Albanian Orthodox Church is
organized at the Charles Street Meeting House and
later relocates to South
Boston. It becomes the third Albanian Orthodox
Church in South Boston.
- 1936:
It is estimated that there are now about 14,000 Albanians
living in Massachusetts, with about 8,000 in the Greater
Boston area.
- 1939:
The Albanian Freedom Committee is formed in
Boston to protest the invasion of Albania by Italy
on April 7th (Good Friday) and to call
attention to the plight of the Albanians as they sought
to resist the first days of Italian aggression where
human casualties exceeded 2000.
- 1941:
The Albanian Freedom Committee holds a convention
at the Ritz Plaza Hall on Huntington Avenue in Boston
that was used by delegates from Albanian communities
across America. After three days of deliberations,
the Free Albania Organization is formed, and, soon
afterwards, begins regular publication of the Boston-based
Albanian-American newspaper "LIRIA" (Liberty), which
included reports of the struggle of the Albanians
against Italian fascists.
- 1944:
The Albanian Relief Fund to help Albania recover from
the devastation of World War II is established in
Boston by Dr. Nicholas J. Prift.
- 1946:
Albanian-American War Veterans are organized in Boston
by Dr. Andrew Elia. They continue to this day under
the leadership of William Kosmo.
See 1750-1849
| See 1950-present
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