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Contents List
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Balistreri, GaetaninaGaetanina 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.
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Audio
1
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Interview, 1991 Audio cassette
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Transcript, 1991
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Balistrieri, Catherine M.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.
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Audio
2
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Interview, 1991 Audio cassette
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Box
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Folder
2
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Transcript, 1991
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Balistrieri, GiuseppeGiuseppe'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.
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Audio
3
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Interview, 1991 Audio cassette
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Box
1
Folder
3
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Transcript, 1991
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Bertolas, RudyRudy 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.
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Audio
4
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Interview, 1992 Audio cassette
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Box
1
Folder
4
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Transcript, 1992
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Bertoncini, LeRoyLeroy 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.
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Box
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Folder
5
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Transcript, 1991
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Busalachi, Thomas J.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.
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Audio
5
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Interview, 1991 Audio cassette
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Box
1
Folder
6
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Transcript, 1991
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Carini, AntionetteAntoinette 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.
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Audio
6
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Interview, 1991 Audio cassette
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Box
1
Folder
7
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Transcript, 1991
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Carini, RoseRose 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.
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Box
1
Folder
8
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Transcript, 1991
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Dicristo, AnthonyAnthony "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.
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Audio
7
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Interview, 1991 Audio cassette
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Box
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Folder
9
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Transcript, 1991
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Emanuele, VincentVincent 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.
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Audio
8
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Interview, 1991 Audio cassette
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Box
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Folder
10
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Transcript, 1991
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Falbo, Elsie M.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.
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Audio
9
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Interview, 1991 Audio cassette
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Box
1
Folder
11
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Transcript, 1991
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Falbo, Grace M.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.
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Audio
10
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Interview, 1991 Audio cassette
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Box
1
Folder
12
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Transcript, 1991
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Firmano, PhilipPhilip 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.
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Box
2
Folder
1
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Transcript, 1991
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Guardalabene, AnthonyAnthony 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.
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Box
2
Folder
2
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Transcript, 1991
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Koerner, Mary Ann SarsfieldMary 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.
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Audio
11
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Interview, 1991 Audio cassette
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Box
2
Folder
3
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Transcript, 1991
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Machi, Anthony T.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.
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Audio
12
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Interview, 1991 Audio cassette
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Box
2
Folder
4
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Transcript, 1991
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Natarelli, OswaldOsvaldo "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.
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Audio
13
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Interview, 1991 Audio cassette
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Box
2
Folder
5
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Transcript, 1991
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Purpero, SamSam 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.
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Audio
14
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Interview, 1991 Audio cassette
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Box
2
Folder
6
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Transcript, 1991
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Rampolla, JosephineJosephine 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.
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Audio
15
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Interview, 1991 Audio cassette
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Box
2
Folder
7
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Transcript, 1991
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Seidia, TonyTony 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.
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Audio
16
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Interview, 1991 Audio cassette
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Box
2
Folder
8
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Transcript, 1991
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