By using The Curtis Family Letters, students explore the reasons for Irish emigration from Ireland and the impact that immigration had on the family.  Students learn about the hardships in Ireland and the challenges faced in the United States. From  the information wanted ads in the Catholic Herald, students gain an understanding of the role of the Church in community building and family reorganization in America. Students build a profile of the young Irish immigrant from these ads, recognize the fragmented state of Irish families, and understand the difficulties they faced when trying to reunite.