Guide to the Records of the Ateleta Beneficial Society, 1930s-1997

Repository
Heinz History Center
Title
Records of the Ateleta Beneficial Society
Creator
Ateleta Beneficial Society
Collection Number
MSS#354
Extent
1.75 cubic feet (3 boxes and 2 shelf volumes)
Date
1930s-1997
Abstract
Numerous immigrants from the town of Ateleta, Italy founded the Ateleta Beneficial Society on September 11, 1924 in Bloomfield (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). The founders created the society to provide mutual help to each other nationally and especially in the local area. This society got their legal recognition by the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County on May 5, 1925. These records include minutes, financial materials, male membership, female membership, and other sundry items.
Language
The material in this collection is in English.
Author
This guide to the collection was originally prepared by Matthew W. Yount in 2002. Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process in Fall, 2003.
Sponsor
This finding aid has been encoded as a part of the Historic Pittsburgh project a joint effort of the University of Pittsburgh and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Funding for this portion of the project has been donated by the Hillman Foundation.
Publisher
Heinz History Center
Address
1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org

Organizational History of the Ateleta Beneficial Society

Numerous immigrants from the town of Ateleta, Italy founded the Ateleta Beneficial Society on September 11, 1924 in Bloomfield (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). The founders created the society to provide mutual help to each other nationally and especially in the local area. This society got their legal recognition by the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County on May 5, 1925. As they received additional members, the society collected enough money to purchase their own building. The dedication of the building was on November 30, 1941 on Cedarville Street in Bloomfield.

The membership of Ateleta was formed primarily of male descendents from Ateleta, Italy. These male descendants made up the active members of the society. In later years, the organization began to take on non-ancestral members that became social members with the association. At first, Ateleta was only limited to men, but in the later years women councils began to form. As the members grew throughout the years, Ateleta became one of Pittsburgh's leading Italian organizations.

Scope and Content Notes

These records include minutes, financial materials, male membership, female membership, and other sundry items. The minutes include business discussions and other information that relates to the society. The recorded meeting minutes are often topics that were raised and discussed during the evening's meeting. The financial materials consist of various items that include pledge forms, money receipts, deposit slips, checks and balances, membership dues, and other miscellaneous items. The membership materials are divided into male and female membership. Under male membership, it includes application forms, individual due books, social members list, and other miscellaneous items. The female membership includes different women councils of the Ateleta Beneficial Society such as the Bloomfield Ladies Council #28 and the Lanina Ladies Council #10. Other additional information in this collection falls under miscellaneous.

Arrangement

The Ateleta Beneficial Society Records are housed in 3 archival boxes and 2 shelf volumes.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

These materials came in two accessions in 1998 and 1999.

Acc# 1998.0207 and 1999.0027 Gift of Phil Mastroiani; (Records. Mr. Mastroiani was a Member of the Ateleta Beneficial Society and gave these records on behalf of the Ateleta.)

Preferred Citation

Records of the Ateleta Beneficial Society, 1930s-1997, MSS #354, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Matthew W. Yount in 2002. Papers rearranged and inventory rewritten by Robert O. Stakeley in October 2003.

Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Robert O. Stakeley on October 31, 2003.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights reside with the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or publish, please contact the curator of the Archives.

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