Mary Antin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mary Antin (June 13, 1891 – May 15, 1949) was an American author and immigration rights activist.

Born to a Jewish family in Polotsk, she emigrated to the Boston area with her mother and siblings in 1894. She later moved to New York City where she attended Teachers College of Columbia University and Barnard College. Antin is best known for her 1912 autobiography The Promised Land, which describes her assimilation into American culture. After its publication, Antin lectured on her immigrant experience to many audiences across the country, and she became a major supporter for Theodore Roosevelt and his Progressive Party.