Documents of Macedonian Immigration

[Liberator of Makedonija]

There once existed a 'Macedonian Academic Association' in Graz, Austria

http://www.strumski.com/books/v_vardar_broj_02.pdf [Page 2]

[vicsinad]

Hello all,

LOMA has compiled a report on a sampling of 150 Macedonians whose race and identity was defined as 'Macedonian' in the early 20th century immigration documents, from 1904 to 1917. The report includes an analysis, several charts, and over 100 immigration documents. Check it out here:

https://www.leagueofmacedonians.org/reports

[vicsinad]

I found this also from my great-grandfather who served in the US army. He is listed as a US soldier who served in 1917/1918 as as from Podmochane, Macedonia. This list was published in 1926. Again, prudent to remember that Macedonia was divided between Greece, Bulgaria and Serbia and there are several documents where my great-grandfather is listed as being from Macedonia.

But Tito created Macedonia...right.


[IMG][/IMG]

[vicsinad]

This may be the most significant immigration document. Although the name is not typical Macedonian, Gregory Perdiozi's last permanent residence was listed as Macedonia and his nationality is listed as Macedonian. This is important because it was the year 1826...migration to Boston, USA.

[vicsinad]

This one is a very interesting one and perhaps telling of their affiliation/identity. In the 1930 US Census, the Talabac family (Hristo and Zorika with their kids and grandkids) are listed as being from Macedonia-Albania, and their spoken language was Romanian. They are listed at the end of the document.

[vicsinad]

This one's great. Govan Delkoff in 1906 crossed into Vermont. He was born in Banica, Macedonia. Although he put Turkish as nationality, his race was labeled as Macedonian.

[vicsinad]

Chris Ditsoff 1917 draft registration card: from Voden, Macedonia. Nationality: Macedonian.

[vicsinad]

This one doesn't show any national information. It's simply my paternal side's great-great grandfather's ship list. He's listed as number 28, "Vidoe Sinadin" (who I'm named afer), age 40, traveling to St. Louis, in 1913.

[vicsinad]

Here we have a 1920 census from Illinois, USA. Several men on this sheet listed they were from Macedonia. Only two of those men, however, listed their mother tongue as Macedonian while the others as Bulgarian. Their names are Jim Lazaroff and Naum Popopresky. (Jim also listed that both of his parents spoke Macedonian).





The next document is from 1910 census, Montana, USA. All 50 people on this list put Macedonia as their birth-place. All 50 had migrated to the US between 1905 and 1910:



All of their names and ages:


John Dakoff
24
Dini Lousheff
23
Chi Toucoff
23
Nikola Orgiroff
18
Naum Christoff
18
Labro Dimistroff
18
Ev P Sterioff
23
Leonida Argiroff
25
Chr Dimoff
26
Ororge Demitroff
24
Mito Stavroff
23
Naum Vasileff
19
Tom Paskoff
23
Dini Kalstoff
23
Nasi Migleneff
18
Nasi Kalfstoff
23
Dini Trapehanoff
23
Paulo Adgiorsky
18
George Gwndeff
25
Laso Karaeff
25
Vasil Esmirlieff
40
Jasto Evanoff
23
Jeorge Cadniakoff
40
Nick Badanoheff
23
Ev Petroff
20
Kacho Stoycheff
40
Tuchi Daskaloff
30
Vani Nikoloff
22
Jeregr Dineff
35
Deno Raramanoff
19
Vois Poporsky
18
Mito Poporsky
18
Dimitri Jreoff
23
Jim Vasileff
23
Ev Kramsoff
21
At Fileheff
45
Nisi Paskoff
18
Vas Pastoloff
18
Jrorgr Antonoff
20
Vas Dasksloff
35
Dium Karadgoff
19
Diui Kolioff
25
Dini Karinkich
50
John Jeorgeff
23
Christ Ninkola
35
Mik Jriagr
24
Chr Shishkoff
35
Nick Satir
40
Tachi Dineff
18
Louis A Poparsky
20
Kocho Popoff
40
Nick Popoff
22
Dim Karamsoff
22
Thri Jrorgr
45
Dini Uanoff
35
Chris Doumoff
37
Toshi Christoff
35
Jrorgr Christoff
29
Nick Jrorgr
42
Lajo Popovsky 35
Jim Masteff
40
Chris O Petkoff
25
Steef Chris
20
Jlijor Dimitroff
22
Jrls Koloff
30
Torjean Christoff
42
Jim Christoff
40
Kosta Dimitri
19

[vicsinad]

Definitely nowhere near as it is now.

But here is one example. Mito Popovsky and family (lines 47 to 53) in the US 1940 Census, listed as being from Macedonia.

[Risto the Great]

My maternal ancestors had "ski" in their surname. They were from near Lerin. So I do know it's real. But perhaps not not quite as prevalent as now.

[vicsinad]

Thanks guys. I have plenty more.

Risto: there are some -skis. Very few, but there are some. I'll try to dig them up.

[Risto the Great]

Really great stuff Vic.
The surnames are often Anglicised. Not a hint of "ski" though. Interesting.

[VMRO]

Great stuff Vic, awesome stuff.

[vicsinad]

The registration cards you priovided Vic are doing my head in. I just don't get it. These were the late 1800's and Macedonia didn't exist as a country. Nor did Tito or Communism. So why did all these confused Bulgarians from such far flung regions as Tetovo to Salonika, all put down that they were citizens of Macedonia? If anything, shouldn't they have put down Bulgaria as their country of origin. Afterall, that's what all the statistics of the time say they were. Oh, wait a minute...Of course! They were really Bulgarians but with a strong sense of regional Macedonian patriotism. Either that or the Commintern invented a time machine, went back in time, and passed a resolution to invent Macedonia and the Macedonians before it even came into existence itself as the sinister ideological political movement it was to become.

Exactly. Most Macedonians weren't fooled like the rest of the world in thinking that affiliation to a church meant affiliation to an ethno-national group.