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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 ñ the seat of the Albanian
Orthodox Archdiocese in America ñ 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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