October - Italian Heritage Month
Columbus Day, October 11, 2010. Celebrate by learning more about what Italian-Americans have done for our country. Here are a few websites:National Italian American Heritage Month (exit WisItalia). Every year the U.S. president signs an executive order designating the month of October as National Italian American Heritage Month. Coinciding with the festivities surrounding Columbus Day, the proclamation is recognition of the many achievements, contributions, and successes of Americans of Italian descent as well as Italians in America. Read the proclamation by President Barack Obama (exit WisItalia) signed on October 8, 2010.
YouTube - The Italians in America the Best (exit WisItalia)
State of Wisconsin 2009 ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 10 (pdf - engrossed resolution). Passed by the Assembly on September 22, 2009. Senator Peter Barca and Representative Joe Parisi (two of the authors of Italian descent) were very instrumental in passing this resolution. Passage from 2009 ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 10, "Resolved by the assembly, that the Wisconsin legislature hereby recognizes October as Italian−American Heritage Month in the state of Wisconsin and officially commends Italian−Americans for the numerous and invaluable contributions they have made to our country and the state of Wisconsin; and be it further resolved, that the assembly chief clerk shall provide a copy of this resolution to the Italian Workmen’s Club of Madison, Italian−American Women’s Club of Madison, Italian Community Center of Milwaukee, Roma Lodge of Racine, Italian−American Society of Kenosha, and Club Italo Americano of Green Bay in recognition of their contributions to the diversity of the state of Wisconsin."
Thirty-One Days of Italians (exit WisItalia) - This website educates others about the contributions that those of Italian heritage have made to America. The website lists names of Italians or Italian-Americans, and what they have accomplished.
2010 List of Thirty-One Days of Italians (exit WisItalia).
Printable 2010 List of Thirty-One Days of Italians (pdf).
Learn more about Italian heritage. Here are some recommended books by the Order of Sons of Italy in America.
Blood of My Blood: The Dilemma of Italian Americans. Gambino, Richard. New York: Anchor Books, 1975. Landmark study on what it means to be Italian American.
The Italian Americans. Iorizzo, Luciano J., and Mondello, Salvatore. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1980.
Italians in America: A Celebration. Talese, Gay, Ed. An illustrated history of Italian Americans that begins with the 15th century explorers, and traces the Italians in America from the American Revolution to the present day. Coffee-table book with more than 200 historic photographs.
La Storia: Five Centuries of the Italian American Experience. Mangione, Jerre and Ben Morreale. New York: HarperCollins, 1992. 500-page study of Italians in U.S.; excellent and comprehensive bibliography.
Italian American Contributions (exit WisItalia). NIAF has several fact sheets on Italian-American contributions, ranging from the arts, entertainers, sports, innovators, education, government and public service, popular music, etc.
October is Italian Heritage Month (pdf). A display by Cristina Callagy, Lafayette University.
Italian-American Poem (pdf). A poem called, "I am an Italian-American," written in 1982 by Angelo Bianchi, Esq. Mr. Bianchi is a former President of the Order Sons of Italy in America.
Updated July 29, 2011
