Greek Immigrants in the Southern United States 1895-1965
©2006 Larry Odzak. All rights reserved.
In January 2009, the Ladies Philoptochos Society of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox
Cathedral, in Houston, Texas, invited the author to be the guest speaker at its annual
Membership Meeting and Brunch. The Cathedral's periodical, "The Annunciator," carried
the following notice, composed by the then Philoptochos President, Ms. Mary Poulos:
"Our program will include a presentation by Larry Odzak, author of "Demetrios
Is Now Jimmy." Dr. Odzak has compiled information about the settlement of Greek
immigrants in the southern United States in the early 1900s. They came from Greece
and Ottoman occupied Asia Minor and established themselves, adjusting rapidly to
life in the New South. The story will touch many of you! A book signing will follow
Dr. Odzak's presentation."
Author Larry Odzak talks about Greek immigration in the southern states at "St. Photios
Shrine", in St. Augustine, Florida.
The St. Photios National Greek Orthodox Shrine displays and commemorates the history
of the earliest Greek immigrants to this continent, several hundred of them, who
in 1768 left Ottoman occupied Greece and sailed to Florida to work on establishing
a large plantation - "New Smyrna" - where the English colonizer Andrew Turnbull wanted
to grow olive trees. Ms. Polexeni Maouris Hillier, the devoted director of the
Shrine, invited Larry to come in October, 2007 and give a talk during the Shrine's
Cultural Weekend, celebrating Hellenism in America. Ladies Philoptochos Societies
of Florida's Greek Orthodox Churches St. John the Divine [Jacksonville] and Holy
Trinity [St. Augustine] were the official hosts of that event, and enriched the occasion
with Greek pastries and local wine. The Shrine's Gift and Book store carries for
sale copies of "Demetrios Is Now Jimmy"
