When my grandmother was three years old, her parents brought her to America from Italy. As poor migrants looking for work in America, the Cristelli family travelled by boat in the steerage class. To comfort my grandmother, Theresa, her mother brought this quilt from their home and wrapped her in it. When they arrived in Ellis Island and then moved to Pennsylvania, they were luckily able to hold onto the blanket my grandmother loved so much. Since then, the blanket has been passed down and will continue to be passed down from generation to generation.

The blanket depicts mother Mary holding baby Jesus with Joseph and an angel by their side. Coming from a very religious Catholic family, my grandmother greatly admired the holy image displayed by the blanket.

– JR.

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant