Guide to the Beneficial Society of North Italy Oral History Collection, 1998
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Beneficial Society of North Italy Oral History Collection
- Creator
- Beneficial Society of North Italy (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Collection Number
- MSS 597
- Extent
- 0.58 linear feet (2 boxes)
- Date
- 1928-1998
- Abstract
- This collection is comprised of oral history recordings, transcripts, and photographs linked to the Beneficial Society of North Italy and its women's auxiliary, the Ladies North Italian League. Both of these societies were primarily founded to provide financial benefits to their members in cases of illness, injury, or death. In addition, both societies also served as a social gathering place for northern Italians living in Pittsburgh. Membership to these societies was initially restricted to those of northern Italian descent.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English and Italian.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
History
The Beneficial Society of North Italy (BSNI) was founded in 1930 by a group of northern Italian immigrants living in Pittsburgh's East Liberty neighborhood. As articulated in the Beneficial Society of North Italy Constitution and By-Laws, this society was created with the express purpose of providing "beneficial aid to its members in case of illness, disability caused by accidents incurred while working, death, and generally to promote the welfare of its members." Consequently, the primary mission of this society was to provide active members with financial security in the event that they could not support themselves. The BSNI also initially dedicated itself to supporting new northern Italian immigrants arriving in Pittsburgh. In addition to facilitating career opportunities and lodging for their countrymen, the BSNI also fostered a social environment of fraternalism. Although only active members paying a monthly fee (initially $1.25 per month) to the society were eligible for its financial benefits, social members of the society were welcome to participate in the social happenings of the BSNI as well. At its founding, membership in the BSNI was restricted to northern Italian immigrants. As these immigrants settled in Pittsburgh and started families, however, their sons, once 16 years of age, could become members of the society as well. As time went on, membership was also eventually extended to all Italians, regardless of their geographical origin in Italy.
Throughout the first 17 years of their existence, the BSNI gathered for meetings and social events at the Kingsley House at 555 Larimer Avenue in East Liberty. After gathering the funding and support to construct their own building, members of the BSNI set out to build a permanent home for their organization. As long-established terrazzo workers, tile setters, stonemasons, plasterers, and finishers, these artisanal members of the BSNI joined together and physically constructed the building that would house their society. They dedicated their new societal building at 1277 Nelson Avenue on November 2, 1947. In the decades following the dedication ceremony, this building would house a society kitchen, a bowling alley and a society bar, while also serving as a venue for traditional Italian games such as morra and bocce. In addition to these informal social gatherings, the BSNI also held monthly meetings and organized dances, concerts and other social events. While the society restricted their membership to males only, the female relatives of BSNI members moved to create an auxiliary society for themselves. In 1935, the Ladies North Italian Lodge was formed with the mission to "provide mutual aid and assistance to the members in case of sickness or death, to create a spirit of friendship and fraternalism among its members, to support and aid all programs for civic improvement, and to participate in manifestations of a patriotic character" (taken from Article II of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Ladies North Italian Society). As can be seen in these words, the vision of the Ladies North Italian Lodge was intentionally broader than that of its parent society. In addition to financially supporting its members in a manner similar to the BSNI, the Ladies North Italian Lodge also dedicated itself to performing charity work. Over the years of their existence, the northern Italian women of this lodge raised funds for both Italian and American organizations, including the Boy's Town of Italy and the American Cancer Society.
Both the Beneficial Society of North Italy and the Ladies North Italian Lodge initially conducted meetings in their native Italian. Often, the members of these organizations also conversed with each other in the northern Italian dialect of Fruilano. As time passed and their members began to assimilate, both of these organizations began to conduct their meetings in English.
According to the society's records, the Beneficial Society of North Italy had 50 active members in 1990. As of 1998, the BSNI was still in existence, primarily serving its members as a social institution. The Ladies North Italian Lodge folded in 1996 due to lack of new membership.
Scope and Content Notes
The Beneficial Society of North Italy Oral History Collection was created to complement the acquisition of the society's official records in 1998. The oral histories that comprise this collection were conducted by Nicholas Ciotola, curator of the Senator John Heinz History Center's Italian American Collection from 1998 until 2009. All those oral history interviewees were selected to be included in this collection because of their active membership in and knowledge of the Beneficial Society of North Italy and the Ladies North Italian Lodge. These oral histories were meant to chronicle in a personal way the history and functions of the Beneficial Society of North Italy as well as the Ladies North Italian Lodge. Although the oral histories in this collection provide such insights, they should not be considered comprehensive reflections of these two beneficial societies.
Although these interviews were conducted to help record the history of the two societies, the content of each oral history also includes a plethora of information pertaining to the Italian American experience in Pittsburgh. Themes such as immigration, resettlement, and assimilation appear throughout the oral histories within this collection. Consequently, this collection would also be of value to those interested in investigating Italian American history and culture in Western Pennsylvania.
It is important to note that while the interviewees at times articulated specific memories in their native Italian language, knowledge of Italian is not required to understand the content of each interview.
Arrangement
- The Beneficial Society of North Italy Oral History Collection is arranged into three series. Series I contains six oral history transcriptions. These transcripts are arranged in alphabetical order according to the last name of each oral history interviewee. One of these oral history interviewees, Guido Ferrari, gave a two-session interview for this collection. Consequently, there is a separate folder for each session of the interview. Series II contains two small collections of photographs donated by two of the oral history interviewees. Series III contains nine cassettes with the audio recordings of each oral history. Series I and II are housed in one records storage box while Series III is housed in one audio cassette storage box.
Conditions Governing Access
Restrictions: None
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Internal transfer from the Museum Division on December, 16, 1999.
Gift of Ed Paraggio on October 2, 1998.
Gift of Angelo Dozzi on September 22, 1998.
Preferred Citation
Beneficial Society of North Italy Oral History Collection, 1928-1998, MSS 597, Library and Archives Division, Senator John Heinz History Center.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Sierra Green in September 2011.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Senator John Heinz History Center. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Library and Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center.
Related Materials
Beneficial Society of North Italy Records, 1930-1990, MSS 356
Ladies North Italian Lodge Records, 1935-1981, MSS 294
Photographs (3) and negatives of the Beneficial Society of North Italy, c1940, 1999.0004
Subjects
- Beneficial Society of North Italy (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Ladies North Italian Lodge (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- East Liberty (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Italian Americans --Social life and customs
- Italians --Pennsylvania --Pittsburgh