This excerpt was taken from the 2001
50th university journal
and was written
by Spyros D. Orfanos Ph.D.
Erikoussa and the History of Erikousiotes in America
The first to come to America from the island of Erikoussa was Ioannis Katechis Psiki. He
arrived on the schooner "Golden Fleece in San Francisco in 1848. This was 314 years after
the arrival of the first Greek, Theodoros, also a sailor. Greek American historian who have
examined the early Greeks in America believe that these and similar claims are plausible, but
there is no solid historical evidence to sustain them.
50th university journal
and was written
by Spyros D. Orfanos Ph.D.
Erikoussa and the History of Erikousiotes in America
The first to come to America from the island of Erikoussa was Ioannis Katechis Psiki. He
arrived on the schooner "Golden Fleece in San Francisco in 1848. This was 314 years after
the arrival of the first Greek, Theodoros, also a sailor. Greek American historian who have
examined the early Greeks in America believe that these and similar claims are plausible, but
there is no solid historical evidence to sustain them.
| First Motor vehicle in Erikoussa..1970 and still going strong. |
The traditional Corfu dress
| kerkyreika letters and stamps from the 1800ths click on thumbnails to enlarge |
| This are old photo's of Kerkyra. Click on the thumb nails to enlarge.And please if anybody has old pictures of Erikoussa please E_MAIL me so everybody can enjoy. |
| 1966 School Year in Erikoussa |
| I'm trying to identify all the children in this picture, if you have any idea who they are please E-MAIL me Thank you |
Similarly, we simply do not know details about the first individuals from Erikoussa who
crossed the Atlantic to come to the United States. Anecdotal accounts, however, suggest that
they went to California, Michigan, the South, and of course the Northeast. It was not
uncommon to find men from Erikoussa ho served in the U.S.A Armed Forces during W.W.II.
They often sent for their Erikoussa spouses and thus by the late 1940s and early 1950s there
were a handful of Erikoussa families struggling to make a living in there new World. Many
Erikousites came to the United States illegally after W.W.II and before the mid-60s. The
majority of Erikousites in America, however, emigrating to America after the Immigration Act
of 1965.
Accordingly, the experience of Erikousites is primarily as New Immigrants
The Erikousites who formed th Brotherhood Society "The Erikoussa" in 1951 were following
in the long tradition of other Greek regional Groups in the U.S. There were over one hundred
(Topeka somatia ) in the country by 1907. With lengthy Constitutions, colorful and banners.
The (Topeka somatia) also offered social opportunities and longing glances across the Atlantic
to the homeland. The founding fathers of the Erikoussa Society organized themselves in order
to perpetuate ties to the island and to come together socially. A secondary purpose was to
work out some relation between themselves and other Greeks in America current estimates
are that there are close to 700 Erikoussa born Greeks in the United States. Many are
members of the Erikoussa Society of America as is now coled that The Society achieved
Non-Profit Status.
The Society can lay claim to having provided a structure for allowing at least two things to
happen. First, it kept its people connected both psychologically and functionally to the island
of Erikoussa. Second, it permeated those who were born and/or raised in the U.S to identify
proudly as descendants from Erikoussa.
Back in 1951, the aims of the founding members of the Erikoussa Society were ambitious.In
the present time their success is self-evident.
crossed the Atlantic to come to the United States. Anecdotal accounts, however, suggest that
they went to California, Michigan, the South, and of course the Northeast. It was not
uncommon to find men from Erikoussa ho served in the U.S.A Armed Forces during W.W.II.
They often sent for their Erikoussa spouses and thus by the late 1940s and early 1950s there
were a handful of Erikoussa families struggling to make a living in there new World. Many
Erikousites came to the United States illegally after W.W.II and before the mid-60s. The
majority of Erikousites in America, however, emigrating to America after the Immigration Act
of 1965.
Accordingly, the experience of Erikousites is primarily as New Immigrants
The Erikousites who formed th Brotherhood Society "The Erikoussa" in 1951 were following
in the long tradition of other Greek regional Groups in the U.S. There were over one hundred
(Topeka somatia ) in the country by 1907. With lengthy Constitutions, colorful and banners.
The (Topeka somatia) also offered social opportunities and longing glances across the Atlantic
to the homeland. The founding fathers of the Erikoussa Society organized themselves in order
to perpetuate ties to the island and to come together socially. A secondary purpose was to
work out some relation between themselves and other Greeks in America current estimates
are that there are close to 700 Erikoussa born Greeks in the United States. Many are
members of the Erikoussa Society of America as is now coled that The Society achieved
Non-Profit Status.
The Society can lay claim to having provided a structure for allowing at least two things to
happen. First, it kept its people connected both psychologically and functionally to the island
of Erikoussa. Second, it permeated those who were born and/or raised in the U.S to identify
proudly as descendants from Erikoussa.
Back in 1951, the aims of the founding members of the Erikoussa Society were ambitious.In
the present time their success is self-evident.
| Check out this photo that was given to me to restore, if you recognise the people please e-mail me so I can post their names. I'm going to wait for all the names before I post them. click on the thumb nail to enlarge . |
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