Italians of Philadelphia

by Donna J. Di Giacomo

Overview

Historic photographs convey the influence and lives of the Italian immigrants and their part in the development and culture of the city of Brotherly Love.

Italians from the north have been in Philadelphia since Colonial times, and was second only to New York City in the number of immigrants who settled in the city. It was not until mass immigration from the south of Italy during the 1870s and 1880s that Italians began to make their mark on the city. Leaving small towns in the Italian regions of Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Sicily, among others, they faced discrimination, language barriers, the separation of family by thousands of miles, and work in unfamiliar trades. Facing such drastic changes in their lives head on, they persevered, establishing Italian neighborhoods and churches while weaving their customs into their new American lifestyles. Through the use of historic photographs, Italians of Philadelphia conveys the influence Italian immigrants had on the development of Philly and how that spirit remains in the city today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780738550206
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	10/29/2007
Series:	Images of America Series
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	616,673
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.31(d)

About the Author

Donna J. Di Giacomo, a native of Philadelphia, is a genealogist and local history researcher. A contributor to area newspapers, she worked with local organizations and individuals to compile the information for this book.

Editorial Reviews

Title: Genealogist Recounts Immigrant History
Publisher: The Italian Tribune
Date: 3/3/2011

As part of our tribute to National Women's History month the Tribune has chosen to acquaint our readers with Donna J. DiGiacomo, genealogist and history researcher. Donna is a native of Philadelphia who has contributed many articles to area newspapers and periodicals. However it is her book which we feature this week that has earned Donna recognition by the Tribune. Through her personal experiences and contact with local citizens and organizations, Donna has put together a concise written and pictorial history of Italian Philadelphia like none seen to date, Italians of Philadelphia.

Pointing out that only New York City had more Italian immigrants that Philadelphia, Donna moves on to tell how Italians had settles in Philadelphia as far back as Colonial times. Her written documentary details the mass immigration of the late 1800's and the impact on new arrivals had on the "Cittá dell' Amore Fraterno, The City of Brotherly Love." Many from the small towns in the Italian regions of Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, Puglia,, and Sicily faced discrimination, language barriers, the separation of family by thousands of miles and work in unfamiliar trades.

Despite facing such drastic changes in their lives, they preserved and forged ahead while establishing some 14 "Little Italys" throughout the city. Each of these communities boasted it's own neighborhood identity, church, societies and blending of their old world customs with their new American lifestyles.

It contains photos of people and institutions that have all but been forgotten, except by those who lived through the era or heard the stories passed down by parents and grandparents. Not only do these photos convey the influence Italians had on the development of the city and how that spirit lives on today, but they may even bring a tear to the eye of those who lived through the times or those who wish they might have had the chance to have done so.

For any Italian American with ties to Philadelphia or anyone interested in Italian American History, this book is a must read.

For more information about the book or how to purchase a copy go to www.arcadiapublishing.com

From the Publisher