This oral history project was undertaken by Colomba Furio-Spigner as part of the research for her Ph.D. dissertation, "Immigrant Women and Industry: A Case Study: The Italian Immigrant Women and the Garment Industry, 1880-1950" (New York University, 1979). The collection consists of nine oral history interviews of Italian immigrants (primarily women) who worked in the U.S. garment industry from 1880 to 1950.

The following interviews consist of both audio recordings and transcriptions (some transcriptions might be incomplete): Tina Gaeta, Antoinetta Lazarro, Grace Natarelli and Diana Romanik. Two interviews (Tina Cantania and Pauline Newman) have transcriptions only (these may be incomplete). The transcriptions were annotated by Jennifer Guglielmo of Smith College. Interviews of Mary Cacchione, Vincenza Crachhiolo, Ralph Iannantuono, Vanni Montana and Felicie Guiseppe Sagliano are audio only, no transcriptions. There are also summaries provided by Colomba Furio-Spigner of additional interviews with nine unidentified women.