Moving beyond “Rags to Riches”: New York's Irish Famine Immigrants and Their Surprising Savings Accounts.

IMMIGRANTS; IRISH Americans; WEALTH; SAVINGS; QUALITY of life; UNITED States economy -- 19th century; ECONOMIC history; HISTORY

This essay presents an examination of the economic conditions of 19th-century Irish immigrants to the United States, evaluating the legitimacy of the "rags to riches" meta-narrative frequently used in historical studies of the period. Initial context is given questioning the accuracy of immigrant claims of wealth. Data is then given from savings accounts of immigrants during the Potato Famine of 1847-1852, suggesting a more complex paradigm of success and quality of living.