Title: Italians in Milwaukee Oral History Project Records
Inclusive Dates: 1991-1992

Creators:

• Baldassaro, Lawrence
• Vechio, Diane

Call Number: UWM Manuscript Collection 53

Quantity:

• .4 cubic ft. (2 boxes)
• 16 audio cassettes
• 530 digital files (25.15 GB)

Repository:

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department

Archival Location:

UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Abstract:

Collection consists of transcripts and audio cassettes from an oral history project studying the first generation Italians who settled in Milwaukee's Third Ward. The interviews include information on life in Italy; immigrating to the United States; and work, social, family, and religious life in the Third Ward.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-mil-uwmmss0053

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This project was undertaken by Lawrence Baldassaro of the Dept. of French and Italian, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Dianne Vecchio of the Dept. of History, University of Wisconsin--Parkside. Most interviews were conducted in May 1991.

Citation Guide for Primary Sources

View the digital collection of Italians in Milwaukee Oral History Project

Access Restrictions

Researchers must use digitized copies of the audio recordings. There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

Copyright is held jointly by the interview subjects and the University of Wisconsin System.

Acquisition Information

Lawrence Baldassaro donated the collection in June 1993 (accession 1993-022). He donated additional materials in June 2005 (accession 2004-067).

Processing Information

Kathy Koch processed the collection at the Archives in November 1997. Ryan Claringbole processed accession 2004-067 in October 2006.

Preservation Information

Scene Savers digitized the audio recordings in 2015. Preservation master files were created as 96 kHz/24-bit resolution 2 channel .wav files. Access copies were created as 44 kHz/320 kbps bit rate 2 channel .mp3 files.

	Balistreri, Gaetanina Abstract: Gaetanina Balistreri's family is from Sicily. Her grandfather came to Milwaukee in 1889, and worked to pay for his wife and children's passage. In her interview, Gaetanina explains past arranged marriage practices in Italian Milwaukee and Sicily, her family's history and livelihood, her mother's early death, her study of librarianship, and her participation in the Ladies of UNICO. Listen to this interview and read the transcript online.
Audio   1	Interview, 1991 Physical Description: Audio cassette
Box   1 Folder   1	Transcript, 1991
	Balistrieri, Catherine M. Abstract: Catherine Balistrieri's parents came to Milwaukee from Sant'Elia and Porticello, near Palermo, Italy. Catherine was born in 1904, and grew up in Milwaukee's Third Ward. She remembers the growth of the Third Ward, her Mother's side-business cooking and baking for social events, working at Phoenix Hosiery, eloping with her husband, and the neighborhood holiday festivals. Listen to this interview and read the transcript online.
Audio   2	Interview, 1991 Physical Description: Audio cassette
Box   1 Folder   2	Transcript, 1991
	Balistrieri, Giuseppe Abstract: Giuseppe's parents came from Sant'Elia, province of Palermo, Sicily, to America around 1900. Although Guiseppe was born in Milwaukee, his family later returned to Sicily until he was twelve. Back to America, Guiseppe found it difficult to learn English in school, where his attendance was limited by his full time work in various jobs. At a young age Giuseppe decided he wanted to become a singer, and discusses how he started music schooling in Milwaukee, Chicago, and Italy. He returned to the U.S. in 1939 and worked as a music instructor in New York and Hollywood for nearly 50 years before returning to Milwaukee. Listen to this interview and read the transcript online.
Audio   3	Interview, 1991 Physical Description: Audio cassette
Box   1 Folder   3	Transcript, 1991
	Bertolas, Rudy Abstract: Rudy Bertolas' parents came to New York in 1912 from near Trento, Italy, because of crop failure and World War I. From there they moved to Michigan, where Rudy's father was a miner, and eventually to Milwaukee, where Rudy's father dug sewers, in 1923. In his interview Bertolas recalls his early impressions of Milwaukee, his family's home life, his education, ethnic tensions in Milwaukee school policy, his relationship with the Italian language, and Northern Italian traditions versus those of Sicilian Milwaukee. Listen to this interview and read the transcript online.
Audio   4	Interview, 1992 Physical Description: Audio cassette
Box   1 Folder   4	Transcript, 1992
	Bertoncini, LeRoy Abstract: Leroy Bertoncini is the son of Italian immigrants from the Tuscany region who immigrated to Milwaukee sometime around the turn of the 20th century. His father was from Casanuovo and mother from Pisa. His interview is largely devoted to the life of Italians in the Old Third Ward. He describes the circumstances of Italians when they first immigrated such as the schools, churches, and Italian organization like the Toscana Society with which they were affiliated. He also details Italian business that were owned and operated by the old Italian community. Read this transcript online.
Box   1 Folder   5	Transcript, 1991
	Busalachi, Thomas J. Abstract: Thomas Busalachi's father first came to Milwaukee in 1893, and worked to help bring his parents, brothers, sisters, and wife to America. His father, along with Thomas' uncles and family friends, opened the Milwaukee Macaroni Company. After the Great Depression Thomas and his father opened a grocery store. In his interview Thomas discusses growing up on Milwaukee's East Side, Italian organizations, and the formation of the Italian Community Center. Thomas' interview features sporadic side commentary from Tony Guardalabene. Listen to this interview and read the transcript online.
Audio   5	Interview, 1991 Physical Description: Audio cassette
Box   1 Folder   6	Transcript, 1991
	Carini, Antionette Abstract: Antoinette Carini was born and raised in Milwaukee's Third Ward. Her grandparents were born in Porticello, Italy, and came to Milwaukee at the turn of the century. She talks of her grandparent's tavern, her familys life during the Great Depression, and the lifestyle of the old Italian community in Milwaukee. Listen to this interview and read the transcript online.
Audio   6	Interview, 1991 Physical Description: Audio cassette
Box   1 Folder   7	Transcript, 1991
	Carini, Rose Abstract: Rose Carini, a native of Sicily, immigrated with her mother to Milwaukee in 1907 to join her father, who was already living in the Third Ward. In her interview she discusses the work that Italian immigrants were engaged in, her father's employment with the Northwestern Railroad Company, and her mother working as an embroiderer for Boston Store. She also talks about her schooling in Milwaukee and the pressure to learn English and to help her mother and father learn. Daily life for Italians in the Third Ward is also discussed, including descriptions of religious activities at Our Lady of Pompeii Church, Italian owned businesses, and Italian societies like St. Joseph's Society. Read this transcript online.
Box   1 Folder   8	Transcript, 1991
	Dicristo, Anthony Abstract: Anthony "Tony" Dicristio is the son of farmers who came to America from Modugno, near Bari, in Italy. After immigrating Tony's father worked in coal mines and on the railroad to pay for Tony's mother and brother's passage to America. Tony was born in Milwaukee in the early 20th century and grew up in the old Third Ward. He remembers old Italian neighborhood - describing the residents' businesses, traditions, political beliefs, camaraderie, and their impoverished but happy lives. Listen to this interview and read the transcript online.
Audio   7	Interview, 1991 Physical Description: Audio cassette
Box   1 Folder   9	Transcript, 1991
	Emanuele, Vincent Abstract: Vincent Emanuele's parents were born in Sicily, and his father spent time in America as a child. After returning to Italy to serve in the Italian Army, Vincent's father met and married Vincent's mother, and together moved to Cleveland, Ohio. Vincent's father's work as a plasterer brought them to Milwaukee during the Great Depression. In his interview Vincent discusses his education, his memories of the houses in the old Third Ward, living in poverty during the Depression, his experiences with Italian-American discrimination, and his Mother's homemaking. At the time of his interview Vincent was on the Board of Directors of the Italian Community Center. Listen to this interview and read the transcript online.
Audio   8	Interview, 1991 Physical Description: Audio cassette
Box   1 Folder   10	Transcript, 1991
	Falbo, Elsie M. Abstract: Elise Falbo's parents were born in the Piedmont region of Italy, and immigrated to Calumet, Michigan in the early 20th century. Elise was born in 1918, and her family moved to Bay View, Milwaukee, in 1921. She describes Italian Bay View, ethnic tensions and cooperation in the church and community, and her family's simple lifestyle. Listen to this interview and read the transcript online.
Audio   9	Interview, 1991 Physical Description: Audio cassette
Box   1 Folder   11	Transcript, 1991
	Falbo, Grace M. Abstract: Grace Falbo, as a young girl, immigrated from Santo Stefano, Italy, to Milwaukee with her mother and father in 1923. She describes the decision of her father, Nick Gagliano, to come to the U.S., his experience working in Milwaukee as a banana wholesaler, and his role in the community. She also highlights the importance of education for women in her family. Falbo graduated from Marquette University and later worked at the International Institute, which was uncommon for a women in those days. Lastly, she discusses the Rufus King neighborhood, which was very racially mixed, and her perceptions of discrimination directed at herself and others. Listen to this interview and read the transcript online.
Audio   10	Interview, 1991 Physical Description: Audio cassette
Box   1 Folder   12	Transcript, 1991
	Firmano, Philip Abstract: Philip Firmano emigrated from Milazzo, Sicily. He first came to New York with his father and mother in the early 1900's. However the family returned to Sicily in 1908 because of his father's failing health. Philip later returned to America, to work for his uncle in Waukegan, Illinois after Mussolini came to power in 1922. In the interview he largely describes his years in Sicily, reasons for leaving Sicily, and his journey to Milwaukee. He also discusses how he and other Italians made a life in Milwaukee and the role of various Italian societies to which he belonged. Read this transcript online.
Box   2 Folder   1	Transcript, 1991
	Guardalabene, Anthony Abstract: Anthony Guardalabene, born in 1919, is the son of Giovanni Battista and Angela Bellante who emigrated from Sicily to Milwaukee in 1897-98. In his interview Anthony discusses his schools days in the Third Ward, his attendance at Lincoln High, and the strong sense of community that was present amongst the Italians in the Third Ward. He also details the family's business, Guardalabene Funeral Home, which his father started in 1915 and Tony took over after serving in World War II. Read this transcript online.
Box   2 Folder   2	Transcript, 1991
	Koerner, Mary Ann Sarsfield Abstract: Mary Ann Sarsfield Koerner's parents came to America from Calamonici, Sicily, and both separately settled in Chicago with fellow Italians. There they met and were married, and gave birth to Mary Ann. They moved to Milwaukee in 1915-1916 and opened a barbershop in the old Third Ward. In her interview Mary Ann discusses she and her family's relationship with their native language, Italian customs and Americanization in the old Italian communities, and Protestantism versus Catholicism amongst Italian immigrants. Listen to this interview and read the transcript online.
Audio   11	Interview, 1991 Physical Description: Audio cassette
Box   2 Folder   3	Transcript, 1991
	Machi, Anthony T. Abstract: Anthony "Tony" Machi is the son of Sicilian immigrants. His father came to Milwaukee as a young boy, returned to Italy to find a wife, and brought her back to Milwaukee to start a family. Tony was born and raised in the Third Ward. He remembers the generous and familial character of the old Italian neighborhood, and discusses perceptions and prejudices of Italians in American culture. Tony was the first president of the Italian Community Center in Milwaukee. Listen to this interview and read the transcript online.
Audio   12	Interview, 1991 Physical Description: Audio cassette
Box   2 Folder   4	Transcript, 1991
	Natarelli, Oswald Abstract: Osvaldo "Oswald Ozzie" Natarelli was born in Bussi, Abruzzi, Italy, in the early 20th century. Ozzie's father moved to Milwaukee first, in 1920, and worked to pay his family's passage in 1928. In his interview Natarelli discusses his memories of Ellis Island and immigrating to Milwaukee, his education, the Great Depression, and old Milwaukee Italian teenage social life. Listen to this interview and read the transcript online.
Audio   13	Interview, 1991 Physical Description: Audio cassette
Box   2 Folder   5	Transcript, 1991
	Purpero, Sam Abstract: Sam Purpero's father and grandparents came to America from Sant'Agata, Sicily when his father was two years old. In his interview Sam tells the story of his grandfather's journey from the American South to Milwaukee and produce business, his father's life in the old Third Ward, and his parents' arranged marriage. He also discusses growing up Italian, his family's home life, the traditions of the old Italian neighborhoods, and Italian-American education. At the time of the interview Sam was treasurer of the Italian Community Center in Milwaukee. He presents a brief history of Italian organizations in Milwaukee and the formation of the ICC. Listen to this interview and read the transcript online.
Audio   14	Interview, 1991 Physical Description: Audio cassette
Box   2 Folder   6	Transcript, 1991
	Rampolla, Josephine Abstract: Josephine Rampolla's mother and grandparents came to Milwaukee from Palermo when her mother was three years old, and opened a grocery store in the Third Ward. Josephine's mother later took over the family business, and worked hard to expand the business despite her limited education. Josephine and her siblings also worked in the various family businesses, which included a butcher shop. In her interview Rampolla discusses her husband's family's immigration experiences, her marriage expectations, her family, and her catering business. Listen to this interview and read the transcript online.
Audio   15	Interview, 1991 Physical Description: Audio cassette
Box   2 Folder   7	Transcript, 1991
	Seidia, Tony Abstract: Tony Seidia's parents came to Milwaukee from Bocca di Falco, near Palermo, Sicily, near the turn of the 19th century. Tony recalls his father's businesses, old Milwaukee streets, his education, working in sausage manufacturing, and the old neighborhood festivals. Listen to this interview and read the transcript online.
Audio   16	Interview, 1991 Physical Description: Audio cassette
Box   2 Folder   8	Transcript, 1991