Italian Americans: The History and Culture of a People

by Eric Martone (Editor)

Overview

The entire Italian American experience—from America's earliest days through the present—is now available in a single volume.

This wide-ranging work relates the entire saga of the Italian-American experience from immigration through assimilation to achievement. The book highlights the enormous contributions that Italian Americans—the fourth largest European ethnic group in the United States—have made to the professions, politics, academy, arts, and popular culture of America. Going beyond familiar names and stories, it also captures the essence of everyday life for Italian Americans as they established communities and interacted with other ethnic groups. In this single volume, readers will be able to explore why Italians came to America, where they settled, and how their distinctive identity was formed.

A diverse array of entries that highlight the breadth of this experience, as well as the multitude of ways in which Italian Americans have influenced U.S. history and culture, are presented in five thematic sections. Featured primary documents range from a 1493 letter from Christopher Columbus announcing his discovery to excerpts from President Barack Obama's 2011 speech to the National Italian American Foundation. Readers will come away from this book with a broader understanding of and greater appreciation for Italian Americans' contributions to the United States.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798216105596
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	12/12/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	600
File size:	5 MB
Age Range:	7 - 17 Years

About the Author

Eric Martone, PhD, is associate professor of history and social studies education at Mercy College in New York.
Eric Martone is a doctoral candidate in Modern European History at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He has published in the field of of European History and Teaching Methods.

Table of Contents

Guide to Related Topics
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chronology
Part I
Patterns of Emigration: Urban and Rural Settlement
Historical Overview
Birds of Passage
Cabrini, Frances Xavier (1850–1917)
Criminal Stereotypes, Italians and
Derogatory Names for Italian Americans
Discrimination, Italian American
Ellis Island, Italian Immigration through
Explorers, Italian
Garibaldi, Giuseppe (1807–1882)
Latin America, Italian Immigration to
Little Italies
Lynching of Italian Americans
Mutual Aid Societies, Italian American
New Orleans, Italian Immigration to
Organized Crime, Italian Americans and
Padrone System
Post-World War II Immigration, Italian
Regions, Italian
Risorgimento, Italian
Savoy, House of
Scalabrinian Missionaries
Segregation, Italian Americans and
Taliaferro Family
Tenements
Waldensians in America
Western Migration, Italian Americans and
Part II
Civic Engagement and Economic Life: Endeavors in Business and American Civil Society
Historical Overview
Anarchism, Italian American
Boiardi, Ettore (1897–1985)
Bonaparte, Charles (1851–1921)
Business Corporations Founded by Italian Americans
Cabinet Members, Italian American
Cassini, Oleg (1913–2006)
Castro, The Mafia and Plots to Kill
CEOs, Italian American
Civil War, Italian Americans in the
Congress, Italian Americans in
DiGiorgio Corporation
Diplomats, Italian American
Fascism, Italian Americans and Italian
Fashion, Italian Americans in
Ferraro, Geraldine (1935–2011)
Fireworks Companies, Italian American
Food Importers and Market Chains, Italian American
Gambling, Italian Americans and Organized
Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
Giannini, Amadeo Pietro (1870–1949)
Giuliani, Rudolph (1944–)
Governors, Italian American
Internment of Italian Americans in World War II
Journalism, Italian Americans in
Jurists, Italian American
LaGuardia, Fiorello (1882–1947)
Law Enforcement, Italian Americans in
Mayors, Italian American
Military (1945–Present), Italian Americans in the
Pelosi, Nancy (1940–)
Petrillo, James (1892–1984)
Ponzi, Charles (1882–1949)
Revolutionary War, Italian Americans in the
Rutgers University, Founding of
Tammany Hall and Italian Americans
Wineries, Italian American
Workers' Movements, Italian Americans and
World Wars, Italian Americans in the
Part III
Cultural and Religious Life: People, Institutions, and Expressions of Identity
Historical Overview
Bishops, Italian American
Cardinals, Italian American
Catholicism, Italian Americans and
Columbus Day
Cuisine, Italian American
Eternal Word Television Network
Festivals and Feast Days, Italian American
Good Luck Symbols, Italian American
Italian American Civil Rights League
Italian American Congressional Delegation
Italian American War Veterans of the United States
Italian American Writers Association
Italian Heritage and Culture Committee
Italian Language and Culture in School Curricula
Italy-USA Foundation
Jesuits in America, Italian
Jews, Italian and Italian American
National Italian American Foundation
National Organization of Italian American Women
Newspapers, Italian American
Order Sons of Italy in America
Pentecostal Movement, Italian
Pope, Generoso (1891–1950)
Protestantism, Italian Americans and
UNICO National
Verrazzano College
Part IV
Science and Humanities: Contributions to Science, Literature, and the Arts
Historical Overview
Architects, Italian American
Astronauts and Planetary Scientists, Italian American
Beat Movement, Italian Americans in the
Bonica, John (1917–1994)
Bordighera Press
Classical Music, Italian Americans in
Comic Artists, Cartoonists, and Illustrators, Italian American
Composers, Italian American
Dancers, Italian American
De Paola, Thomas (1934–)
Education, Italian Americans in
Fauci, Anthony (1940–)
Ferlinghetti, Lawrence (1919–)
Fibonacci (c. 1175–c. 1250)
Gallo, Robert (1937–)
Inventors, Italian American
Literature, Italian American
Nobel Prize Laureates, Italian American
Opera, Italian Americans and
Painters, Italian American
Photographers, Italian American
Puzo, Mario (1920–1999)
Scientists and Mathematicians, Italian American
Sculptors, Italian American
Part V
Sports and Popular Culture: Contributions to Sports, Entertainment, and Americana
Historical Overview
Actors in Film and Television (1900s–1950s), Italian American
Actors in Film and Television (1960s–1980s), Italian American
Actors in Film and Television (1990s–2010s), Italian American
Actresses in Film and Television (1900s–1950s), Italian American
Actresses in Film and Television (1960s–1980s), Italian American
Actresses in Film and Television (1990s–2010s), Italian American
Ameche, Don (1908–1993)
Animation, Italian Americans in
Arcaro, Eddie (1916–1997)
Bancroft, Anne (1931–2005)
Barbera, Joseph (1911–2006)
Baseball, Italian Americans in Professional
Basketball, Italian Americans in
Bennett, Tony (1926–)
Bowling, Italian Americans in
Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts, Italian Americans in
Broadway and Stage, Italian Americans on
Capra, Frank (1897–1991)
Comedians, Italian American
Comic Book Heroes, Italian American
Contemporary Popular Music (1980s–Present), Italian Americans in
Cooking Personalities, Italian American
Coppola, Francis Ford (1939–)
De Niro, Robert (1943–)
DiCaprio, Leonardo (1974–)
DiMaggio, Joe (1914–1999)
Durante, Jimmy (1893–1980)
Fili-Krushel, Patricia (1953–)
Film Directors, Italian American
Fonda, Henry (1905–1982)
Football, Italian Americans in College
Football, Italian Americans in Professional
Godfather Films
Golf, Italian Americans in
Guccione, Bob (1930–2010)
Hockey, Italian Americans in
Jazz, Italian Americans and
Lady Gaga (1986–)
LaRocca, Nick (1889–1961)
Lombardo, Guy (1902–1977)
Madonna (1958–)
Martin, Dean (1917–1995)
Mosconi, Willie (1913–1993)
Olympics, Italian Americans in the
Pacino, Al (1940–)
Paul, Adrian (1959–)
Pinocchio
Poli, Sylvester (1859–1937)
Popular Singers (1920s–1960s), Italian American
Producers, Italian American Entertainment
Racecar Drivers, Italian American
Rock 'n' Roll, Italian Americans and
Santomero, Angela (1968–)
Scorsese, Martin (1942–)
Sinatra, Frank (1915–1998)
Slydini, Tony (1900–1991)
Soccer, Italian Americans in
Sopranos, The
Stallone, Sylvester (1946–)
Tarantino, Quentin (1963–)
Television Hosts, Italian American
Tennis, Italian American in
Travolta, John (1954–)
Turturro, John (1957–)
Valenti, Jack (1921–2007)
Valentino, Rudolph (1895–1926)
Wrestling, Italian Americans in Professional
Primary Documents
Selected Italian American History and Culture Museums
Bibliography
About the Editor and Contributors
Index