Abstract
Philadelphia has rarely figured centrally in histories of U.S. immigration; nevertheless the city has been a destination for immigrants for three centuries, and immigrants have played a central role in the region's development. Global Philadelphia explores how Philadelphia has affected immigrants' lives, and how they have in turn shaped Philadelphia. This collection of case studies, gleaned from two Bryn Mawr College conferences in 2005 and 2006, taps into several trends in recent immigration studies: a focus on the transnational, relationships within and between ethnic groups,and a comparative connection between contemporary and historical contexts.