The Italian Studies Program supports the addition of the Italian American Oral History Archive to the FAU Library Oral History Collection.
The Italian American Oral History Archive was created and developed by the Italian faculty and graduate students of the Department of Languages Linguistics and Comparative Literature. It stemmed from the graduate course "Italian America: Translating Identities" taught by Prof. Ilaria Serra in 2017, which was attended by enthusiastic and capable graduate students. This project produces interviews with Italian Americans living in South Florida to record and preserve the memory of an overlooked immigration, and to offer primary source material for researchers, educations and general public.
If you are interested in contributing to the project, please email Dr. Ilaria Serra iserra1@fau.edu.
Links to other digital Italian American Oral History Projects:
Italian American Collective directed by Dr. Daniele Fioretti in Miami University, Ohio
Italian American Oral Histories in the Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Bronx Italian American History Initiative at Fordham University, New York
Voices of Italian Immigrants: A Journey of Discovery at Wake Forrest University, North Carolina
-
Teresa Picinich Interview
Ilaria Serra and Arianna Salomon
An oral history with Teresa Picinich, a first-generation Italian American living in South Florida. Picinich reflects on how her business skills in real estate transformed her family’s humble beginnings, and how her faith guided her through major life changes and inspired her involvement with the Columbiettes.
-
Sally Valenti Interview
Ilaria Serra
An oral history with Salvatrice “Sally” Valenti, a second-generation Italian American who lived in South Florida. Valenti reflects on how pride in her Sicilian heritage motivated her achievements and community involvement, including earning a PhD from Columbia University and giving back through her membership in Il Circolo. She discusses the personal significance of her beloved carretto siciliano, how she keeps Italian traditions alive, and her love of gardening.
-
Edmondo Catania and Angie Catania Interview
Domenica Diraviam
An oral history with Edmondo Catania, a second generation Italian American, and his wife, Angie Catania at his home in Boca Raton, Florida. He talks about his family history as Sicilian immigrants in Philadelphia and his current sense of identity within the Italian American community.
-
Nicoletta Sorice née D'Avanzo Interview
Domenica Diraviam, Viviana Pezzullo, and Federico Tiberini
An oral interview with Nicoletta D'Avanzo Sorice, an Italian immigrant to America. She talks about her childhood in Italy and her life in America. She also talks about being Italian and American and how she uses language and customs to decide what those identities mean to her.
-
Adrienne Martin Interview
Vincenza Iadevaia, Viviana Pezzullo, and Federico Tiberini
An oral interview with Adrienne Martin, a 3rd generation Italian American. She talks about moving to South Florida and rediscovering her Italian heritage after meeting her Italian grandparents.
-
Antonetta Blumberg Capone Interview
Vincenza Iadevaia, Viviana Pezzullo, and Federico Tiberini
An oral history with Ann Blumberg Capone, a first generation Italian American living in South Florida. She talks about her father's life in Italy, how he came to America, her mother's life here, and how her family began. She also describes how she moved to South Florida from New York.
-
Dan Pichney Interview
Vincenza Iadevaia, Viviana Pezzullo, and Federico Tiberini
An oral history of Dan Pichney, a 3rd generation Italian American. He talks about coming to America from Ukraine and learning about his Italian heritage through learning the Italian language.
-
Jean Simonelli Giarrusso Interview
Vincenza Iadevaia, Viviana Pezzullo, and Federico Tiberini
An oral history of Jean Simonelli Giarusso, a 2nd generation Italian American. She talks about moving to South Florida and leaving her close-knit family, and the use of the Italian language in her family. She also described visiting her grandmother's hometown in Italy and learning about where her family came from.
-
Vincent Zarrilli Interview
Vincenza Iadevaia, Viviana Pezzullo, and Federico Tiberini
An oral history with Vincent Zarrilli, an Italian immigrant living in South Florida. Vincent talks about how he came to South Florida as a young man and what the Italian community in Boca Raton was like at that time. He also talks about how he began his life here and reminices briefly about his childhood in Italy.