Italian American Museum

11/29/2022

Dear Friends:

We sincerely hope this letter finds you and your family safe and in good health this Holiday Season.

We would like to share some good news with you in that we have completed the infrastructure for the Museum (Electrical, Elevator, HVAC, Bathrooms [5] are all completed) as well as our custom facade designed by Op.Al.

We are now about to start the finishing touches on interior (custom lighting, security system, motion detectors, glass railings, signage, custom mill work for the Museum store, flooring [wood and granite] and audio visual equipment).

All this will be done within the next six months so that we can reopen in the Spring.

In the meantime, we have started a walking tour program of Little Italy run by our Head of Education, Marie Palladino. You can contact her directly at [email protected] if you would like to have a tour of Little Italy sites.

We do look forward to seeing you at the reopening of the “New” Italian American Museum.

At this time of our Annual Appeal, we ask that you please be as generous as you have been in the past.

Thank you for your continued support of our Italian American Museum.

Respectfully,

Uff. Prof. Joseph V. Scelsa

Click on the link below to make your tax deductible contribution online:

https://www.italianamericanmuseum.org/donation

For donations by mail, please send a check to:

Italian American Museum
Administrative Office
1806 Hering Avenue
Bronx, NY 10461

Please make check payable to Italian American Museum

11/23/2022

The Italian American Museum wishes you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!

11/23/2022

The Consul General of Italy in New York, Fabrizio Di Michele, and the Director of the Italian Cultural Institute of New York, Fabio Finotti, visited the site of the new Italian American Museum on Friday, November 18th.

Pictured (left to right): Dr. Joseph V. Scelsa, Founder and President of the Italian American Museum; Fabrizio Di Michele, Consul General of Italy in New York; Fabio Finotti, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute of New York

11/23/2022

2022 IABF Gala - Italian American Baseball Foundation

The Italian American Baseball Foundation will host its annual gala on December 1 at 7:00 p.m. at Giando on the Water in Brooklyn.

Click here for more information / tickets:

The Italian American Baseball Foundation will host its annual gala on December 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Giando on the Water in Brooklyn.

11/22/2022

The Italian American Museum, its Board of Trustees and President, Dr. Joseph V. Scelsa congratulate the 2022 Long Island Ambasciatore Award Recipients.

The Italian American Museum honored a select group of outstanding Italian American leaders and their Italian American organizations with the Ambasciatore Award on Sunday, November 13, 2022 at Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, NY

Pictured: (front row, seated left to right): Vito DePalo, Prof. Santi Buscemi, Rossana Russo, Prof. Rosa Riccio Pietanza, Hon. Michele Cangiano Ment, Kathryn Bari-Petritis, Suffolk County Executive, Steven Bellone; Vincent Marmorale, Cav. Anthony Naccarato; (back row, standing left to right): Louis LaCarbonara, Joseph G. Vitta, Cav. Joseph Agresti, Aurelio Victor Grillo, Jr., Robert Fonti, Cav. Josephine Maietta, Consul General of Italy in New York, Fabrizio Di Michele; Italian American Museum Founder and President, Dr. Joseph V. Scelsa; Comm. Joseph Sciame, William Russo, Joseph Esposito, John Fratta, Enrico Boletti, Peter Segalini, Patricia Stake, Luciano DiRico, James C. Lisa

11/22/2022

On Thursday, November 3, 2022, The City of Jersey City and Office of Cultural Affairs honored World War I Veteran, Sgt. Vincent Pantozzi with a street dedication and mural.

Sgt. Pantozzi Plaza was dedicated next to the three story mural of Vincent Pantozzi by Jersey City Mural Arts Program artist, David Sami. The mural was rendered on the lifelong Pantozzi home where Sgt. Pantozzi operated his restaurant for over 30 years and was known in the community as a friend to all people. Sgt. Pantozzi received numerous awards for his service to our country including five Silver Stars and The Croix du Guerre from France.

11/22/2022

Italian American Museum Founder and President, Dr. Joseph V. Scelsa (front row, third from left) joins Jersey City Mayor, Stephen Fulop, Councilman Rich Boggiano, United States war veterans and special guests for a street dedication to Sgt. Vincent Pantozzi.

11/22/2022

Italian POWs were sent to New Orleans in World War II, and love bloomed. This writer has the story.

Italian POWs were sent to New Orleans in World War II, and love bloomed.

By Allison Alsup / Contributing writer / nola.com

Like so many things in New Orleans, the story behind local writer Elisa Speranza’s debut novel, "The Italian Prisoner," (Burgundy Bend Press) begins with a party and food. While attending an event in 2003, Speranza, then a new transplant to the city, was chatting with local chef Joe Faroldi about their mutual Italian American roots when Faroldi shared the unusual meeting of his father and mother during World War II: He was an Italian prisoner of war in Jackson Barracks in the Lower 9th Ward, and she was a local Sicilian American girl living with her family in the French Quarter.

The demands of a very busy career sidelined the project for years. Still, the idea never left Speranza’s head, and at last, after leaving her corporate job, the pandemic lockdown provided the space and time to devote herself to the manuscript.

“Finally, with no work travel and no distractions, I had no more excuses not to finish,” she said. Now, after two decades, the author has at last made good on her promise and published the novel under her own imprint, Burgundy Bend Press.

From 'Little Palermo'

The Italian Prisoner begins in the spring of 1943, when 19-year-old Rose Marino, the sheltered youngest child of Sicilian immigrants, shocks her parents by landing a job as an accountant in the Higgins Boat Factory — her first work outside her family’s grocery in the “Little Palermo” section of the French Quarter and experience of independence.

Continue reading:

https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/books/article_faab0214-185f-11ed-b262-4fb784bc0473.html

Like so many things in New Orleans, the story behind local writer Elisa Speranza’s debut novel, "The Italian Prisoner," (Burgundy Bend Press) begins with a party and food. While attending

11/22/2022

Antonio de Viti de Marco: The Italian Economist Who Refused to Sign an Oath to Mussolini | Chris Loukas

Antonio de Viti de Marco: The Italian Economist Who Refused to Sign an Oath to Mussolini

People interested in economics or history will be moved by the beautiful story of Antonio de Viti de Marco, a man well worth remembering today.


By Chris Loukas / Fee.org

Like most discoveries of older economists, this one started with a footnote in another book, specifically Rothbard’s Man, Economy, and State, where Antonio de Viti de Marco’s theory of collective wants is criticized. I had never heard the name of the author before so I started searching for more information until I stumbled upon the book Antonio de Viti de Marco: A Story Worth Remembering and the documentary that accompanies it.

The book consists of interviews by both Italian and American scholars who discuss three aspects of de Viti de Marco’s life: his personality, his political struggle, and his work in economics. One can find here multiple well known names like James Buchanan (Nobel Laureate in economics), Richard Wagner, and Steve Medema who talk about his economic legacy. There is also a woman who knew de Viti de Marco personally and her parts are the most emotional since it is a first hand account of the scholar. The documentary consists of parts of the interviews which are present in their totality only in the book.

Before moving to the review a couple of things should be said about the protagonist since I doubt most people are aware of him. Antonio de Viti de Marco was born in south Italy in a rich, landowning family. From his teenage years he had very clear political views and wanted to actively participate in the issues of his times. His political views can excellently be summed up in what an interviewee says.

“He was an active member of the Italian parliament, liberal, radical, democratic and very much in favor of free trade,” viewers are told.

His books on Public Finance were very influential to the Nobel laureate James M. Buchanan who developed the set ideas that came to be known as Public Choice Theory. When Benito Mussolini came to power and de Viti de Marco had to sign an oath to the leader he resigned his academic position because it went against all that he represented. Although forgotten nowadays, his story is worth knowing for anyone interested in liberalism, public choice, or Italian history.

https://fee.org/articles/antonio-de-viti-de-marco-the-italian-economist-who-refused-to-sign-an-oath-to-mussolini/

Although mostly forgotten today, his story is worth knowing for anyone interested in liberalism, public choice, or Italian history.

11/22/2022

Iarl - Italian American Reputation Lab

The Reputational Shift of Italian American Stereotypes As Analyzed by the Italian American Reputation Lab (IARL)

Complete report presented October 29th 2022, at the National Italian American Foundation Gala Washington DC

Washington -- (Business Wire)--“The Italian American Reputation Lab is a research initiative launched to monitor and assess the reputation values of Italy and Italian Americans. IARL’s methodology is grounded on a series of objective analysis developed in machine learning through a patented Artificial Intelligent process. All the documents and data are formatted in 5 operational Drivers in relation to 5 specific Stakeholder groups”. Stated Davide Ippolito, IARL partner, and director of Reputation Research Inc.

As described in the 2022 Report, the reputation of Italian Americans in the world has improved by 38.3% in the last thirty years. In the USA media environment (traditional and social), the Italian Americans is the third Community for number of mentions and the first at European-descendance, even more than the German Americans and the Ireland Americans which both have twice the number of US citizens.

“If just until 30 years ago the major discussions on the Italian American themes were about mafia-culture and the underworld crime (also fed by the stereotypes created by the Film industry), today the perception of the Italian American community is changing. In fact, a constantly increasing number of high-level decision-making positions in the private and public spheres are held by Italian Americans, and the media environment is shifting its focus on more positive role models such as Lady Gaga and the Russo Brothers just to name a few,” said Umberto Mucci, IARL partner and “We the Italians” President

"We are honored to host during our annual event the presentation of the first report. This is a very interesting study on a relevant theme aimed to improve the relations between the USA and Italy while also providing structured information to companies looking at investing in America, which is also part of our mission,” stated Robert V. Allegrini, President of the National Italian American Foundation.

IARL is the brainchild of We the Italians, a media company dedicated to improving the knowledge and the relationship between Italy and the US, and Zwan a firm specialized in Reputation Assessment and Reputation Marketing Strategies, in collaboration of Reputation Research Inc.

IARL is an initiative launched to monitor and assess the reputation values of Italy and Italian-Americans within the United States of America.

11/22/2022

Facade lighting being installed...

11/22/2022

“A Real Boy: The Many Lives of Pinocchio”, at Italian American Museum of LA

“A Real Boy: The Many Lives of Pinocchio”, at Italian American Museum of LA

More than just literature, Pinocchio is a cultural icon of the postmodern era

By Maria Sole Campinoti / La Voce di new York

The Italian American Museum of Los Angeles (IAMLA) inaugurated: A Real Boy: The Many Lives of Pinocchio, a new exhibition recounting the story of Pinocchio, the notorious wooden puppet whose character is one of the most appreciated in the field of children’s literature.

Apart from explaining the world of Pinocchio, the exhibition also explores the life, literary style and influences of Carlo Collodi, the master behind the puppet’s creation. In particular, the exhibition analyzes how Collodi’s persona is reflected in The Adventures of Pinocchio, which was published in 1883 and translated in 260 languages, and which marked Collodi’s ascent in the literary scene.

Pinocchio’s popularity is not relegated only to literature, in fact his role is best defined as a cultural icon of the postmodern era. The exhibition demonstrates this by showing how Pinocchio has been an influential figure in the music industry, from hip hop to jazz, as well as presenting the first published version of The Adventures of Pinocchio, some translated ones, art produced by Walt Disney, vintage toys, costumes of the show produced by Oscar-nominated designer Massimo Cantini Parrini, and more.

As Pier Francesco Bernacchi, president of the Fondazione Nazionale Carlo Collodi put it: “The exhibition is a wonderful opportunity to discover and rediscover Pinocchio’s humanity.”

As well being able to discover Pinocchio’s figure through the exhibition, the attendees will be able to take part in free events such as a theater marionette show, a lecture with Chapman University professor Federico Pacchioni on the imagery of puppets in the history of Italian theater, a puppet making workshop with artist Ylenia Milo (for kids) and other entertaining activities.

The Italian American Museum of Los Angeles presents the exhibition in collaboration with California Arts Council; Fondazione Collodi; Walt Disney Archives; University of California Los Angeles; Costumi Tirelli S.p.a.; Italian Cultural Institute Los Angeles as well as other local organizations.

On November 5, 2022, The Italian American Museum of Los Angeles (IAMLA) will inaugurate: A Real Boy: The Many Lives

11/22/2022

An American wrote the libretto to Mozart's 'Don Giovanni'

An American wrote the libretto to Mozart's 'Don Giovanni'

Lorenzo Da Ponte wrote three of Mozart's most celebrated operas. Born in Italy, he became a U.S. citizen at the age of 79

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Lorenzo Da Ponte, a librettist, first met in Vienna in 1783. They shied away from the staid Greco-Roman mythologies, used frequently in opera until then, choosing

11/22/2022

"Cambridge Street" a novel by Steven Decker

"This historical novel based on facts is a window into life in Sicily in the late 1800s and early 1900s and why so many Sicilians left for the Americas. I recommend it to anyone interested in a deeper understanding of the real life circumstances leading to mass exodus."

Dr. Joseph V. Scelsa

About the book:

Cambridge Street is the story of the bravery of immigrants who came to America a century ago as seen through the eyes of a fictional family.

Forced by poverty and the Mafia to leave the farm and the country they love, the Tomasos split their family and send their three sons to the New World.

Violent gangsters and crooked cops run the streets in Chicago's Roaring 20s.

Jobs are scarce and tenement life is tough. Immigrants had to learn to be tougher. Only their love of family and of God held them together.

When an act of stunning violence is committed against the Tomasos by their own countrymen, they must decide what to do. Their actions will determine who they are as people and who their children will become.

https://www.cambridgestreet.net/

https://animoto.com/play/iVqVB2bvYPHedIVj2wyNdA

10/21/2022

Now Offering: Amici Walking Tour for individuals and families
Saturdays, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm (weather permitting)
Group tours to be arranged by appointment

To sign up or for more info:

Please email Marie Palladino, Head of Education, at: [email protected]

Renowned for its important place in American history, Little Italy in Manhattan is one of New York’s most iconic and intriguing neighborhoods, once the largest Italian American social enclave in the nation at the turn of the 19th century

On this tour you will learn about the exciting history of the neighborhood, once the largest Italian American social enclave in the nation at the turn of the 19th century. The treasures of Little Italy include the original site of the Order of the Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, the Church of Most Precious Blood, beloved businesses kept in families for generations, and even the home of Italian American hero, NYPD Lieutenant Joseph Petrosino.

10/21/2022

New Italian American Museum facade is complete.

Pictured (left to right): Shaky Cohen, Founder and Principal, Nexus Building Development Group and Dr. Joseph V. Scelsa, Founder and President, Italian American Museum

10/20/2022

New Italian American Museum Facade

Unveiling of new Italian American Museum logo sign on top of canopy

Click here to view video:

Unveiling of Italian American Museum logo sign on top of canopy

10/20/2022

Italian American Scientist Carolyn Bertozzi Wins the Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Italian American Scientist Carolyn Bertozzi Wins the Nobel Prize in Chemistry

The brilliant biochemist is the only woman to have won a Nobel in 2022 in the field of science

By Amanda James

Carolyn Bertozzi’s life changed suddenly on October 4, 2022 when she got a call that announced that she had won the 2022 Nobel Prize in chemistry. Instructed not to share the announcement outside of her tightest inner circle, the first person Bertozzi called was her father, William Bertozzi, a retired physics professor. “He’s 91 and, of course, he was just overjoyed,” said Bertozzi. “And then he called my sisters for me, and we’ve been texting.”

Carolyn Bertozzi grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts, the second of three girls. Her father was a nuclear physicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, her mother a secretary in MIT’s physics department.

Perhaps calling her family first was an impulse engendered by her Italian American ancestry. Carolyn’s father’s four siblings were all born in Italy. And like so many striving Italian immigrants they heartily believed in education; they all went into some branch of science and they excelled. It was expected that Carolyn and her sisters would do well in school, and Carolyn did, but she also played soccer in high school and was recruited to Harvard with what would be at any other school an athletic scholarship. Despite her talent in sports, she found soccer too time-consuming and quit sports to devote herself to academics. Brilliantly, one might point out.

Bertozzi is the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences and a professor of chemistry at Stanford University, and she has won the Nobel Prize just a few days before her 56th birthday next Monday. Also of note is that she is the only female scientist to have been awarded a science Nobel prize this year, after an all-male line-up in 2021.

Her recent efforts include synthesis of chemical tools to study cell surface sugars called glycans, and how they impact diseases such as cancer, inflammation, and viral infections like COVID-19.

She shares the $10 million Swedish kronor (about $1 million USD) prize equally with Morten Meldal, professor at University of Copenhagen; and K. Barry Sharpless, PhD ’68, professor at Scripps Research “for the development of click chemistry and bioorthogonal chemistry.” The Nobel Prize in chemistry is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

Bertozzi was recognized for founding the field of bioorthogonal chemistry, a set of chemical reactions that allow researchers to study molecules and their interactions in living things without interfering with natural biological processes. Bertozzi’s lab first developed the methods in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Since then, her lab and others have used them to answer fundamental questions about the role of sugars in biology, to solve practical problems, such as developing better tests for infectious diseases, and to create a new biological pharmaceutical that can better target tumors, which is now being tested in clinical trials.

Carolyn Bertozzi’s life changed suddenly on October 4, 2022 when she got a call that announced that she had won

10/20/2022

Vanessa Racci: Jazzy Italian New Album Release

Join Vanessa Racci as she celebrates the release of her new album, Jazzy Italian, at Birdland on October 23rd at 5:30pm!

Click here for tickets:

Join Vanessa Racci as she celebrates the release of her new album, Jazzy Italian, at Birdland on October 23rd at 5:30pm!

10/20/2022

New Italian American Museum logo signage being added to facade

10/20/2022

New York State Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado met with Museum Founder and President Dr. Joseph V. Scelsa during Feast of San Gennaro

Pictured (left to right): John Fratta, Board Member, Figli di San Gennaro, Antonio Delgado, Lt. Governor of New York State, Dr. Joseph V. Scelsa, Founder and President, Italian American Museum, Thomas Scarangello, Italian American Affairs Director and Staten Island Regional Representative, Office of Governor Kathy Hochul, John Delutro, Owner of Caffe Palermo

10/20/2022

Italian American Museum participated in the Feast of San Gennaro Parade

Pictured (left to right): Susan Hoffman, Dr. Joseph V. Scelsa and Alfred Continelli riding in Continelli's 1957 Ford Thunderbird during Feast of San Gennaro Parade on Saturday, September 17, 2022 in Little Italy, New York City

10/20/2022

Italian American Museum coming soon ...

10/18/2022

Italian American Museum cordially invites you to attend the
2022 Long Island Ambasciatore Awards Ceremony & Dinner

Sunday, November 13, 2022, 12 noon - 4:00 pm
Crest Hollow Country Club, Woodbury, New York

Honoring Outstanding Italian American Leaders and their Italian American Organizations

Honorees:

Cav. Joseph Agresti
Nominated by Italian American Museum
UNICO National

Hon. Steven Bellone
County Executive of Suffolk County, New York
Nominated by Amb. Robert G. Fonti
Lt. Det. Joseph Petrosino Association in America

Prof. Santi Buscemi
Nominated by Dr. Joseph V. Scelsa
Italian American Legal Defense & Higher Education Fund, Inc.

Hon. Michele Cangiano Ment
Nominated by Amb. Anthony Naccarato
Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America, Grand Lodge of New York

Vito DePalo
Nominated by Amb. Vivian Catenaccio
Figli di San Gennaro, Inc.

Joseph Esposito
Nominated by Amb. Lt. Enrico Boletti
Columbia Association of the FDNY

Aurelio Victor Grillo, Jr.
Nominated by Hon. Peter Segalini
National Council of Columbia Associations in Civil Service, Inc.

Vincent Marmorale
Nominated by Amb. John Fratta
Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America, Commission for Social Justice

Kathryn Petritis
Nominated by Patricia Stake
UNICO National, North Shore Long Island Chapter

Prof. Rosa Riccio Pietanza
Nominated by Cav. Amb. Josephine Maietta
Association of Italian American Educators

Rossana Russo
Nominated by Italian American Museum
Little Italy Merchants Association

William Russo
Nominated by Comm. Amb. Joseph Sciame
Italian Heritage and Culture Committee of NY, Inc.

Joseph G. Vitta
Nominated by Amb. Louis LaCarbonara
Italian American Labor Council

Special Musical Performance by
Italian American Songstress
Vanessa Racci

To RSVP by phone or for further information, please contact
Dr. Joseph V. Scelsa at (718) 931-6935 or via e-mail at:
[email protected]