The Society's History

The society's founding was due largely to the efforts of the Jewish community of New Haven, according to founder Philip Paolella of Hamden, who served as the society's first president upon its creation in 1980.

"Back in the mid 1970's, the Jewish community put together a film that included the contributions of Italians throughout  the country," Paolella recalled." We learned much about our Italian heritage through this film."

The film was presented by then State Senator Joseph Lieberman, currently United States Senator, to Terry Gabucci, who was regularly attending meetings of the Jewish Historical Society as an interested member of the Italian American community.

"At that film presentation, there was a signup sheet for members of the Italian community who were present that day," explained Gabucci. All members of the various Italian organizations in New Haven had been invited by the Jewish Historical Society.

Those who signed up were asked to attend meetings to discuss the formation of an Italian American Historical Society. Meetings were held at the Marchegiana Club on Cedar Street in New Haven.

Finally, on June 15, 1979, the articles of incorporation were signed by attorney Bernard Pellegrino Sr., William S. Rossi, and Gabucci. The Society's first officers were Paolella, President; Bill Demayo, Treasurer; and Gabucci, Secretary.

Once incorporated, the original founders and incorporators met monthly at the Bank of New Haven on Church Street.

Why The Society Was Founded

To give our children a sense of self esteem is to set them toward goals which may otherwise elude them. Much of the world's fine literature and drama has centered around man's view of himself. And almost invariably, the view bears directly on what he will achieve in his lifetime. The search for the secret of happiness goes on as though it were somewhere else. Occasionally we see that it is in ourselves, and if on those occasions we can give our children the means with which to recognize it where it lies, we will have honored the parental role perhaps in perpetuity.

In this country everyone comes from somewhere else. Even the American Indians are thought to have migrated from Asiatic countries. It is the nature of the United States to be a mosaic of other cultures, visible differences, varied traditions. During the early nineteen-hundreds it was not popular to display ethnic backgrounds, and so heritage was denied. It was the next generation which discovered how much was lost.

So that we may not again lose history through denial, this Society, the Italian American Historical Society of Greater New Haven, Inc., was founded on June 15, 1979, to celebrate and perpetuate the concept of the Italian heritage in America, to acknowledge and commemorate cultural contributions made by Italian Americans; to encourage documentation of these; and to preserve these records and other artifacts in a suitable place. All of this is to be done with emphasis on the greater New Haven area, but it is also to include the state and the entire country.