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Italian American History

The Birth of the Nation

• June 6, 1841 – Congrega Centrale della Giovine Italia per l'America del Nord (New York) -- Founded by Eleuterio Felice Foresti under Giuseppe Mazzini's guidance to promote Italian unification ideals among immigrants.

Civil War

• May 22, 1861 – The Garibaldi Guard -- The 39th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment was officially activated, incorporating an entire company of Italian patriots among other European immigrants.

May 29, 1878 – Mazzini Monument at Central Park (New York) -- Dedication of the bronze bust of Italian patriot Giuseppe Mazzini, marking the first monument dedicated to an Italian figure in New York City.

The Great Migration

• December 13, 1880 – Il Progresso Italo-Americano -- The first edition of this highly influential Italian-language daily newspaper was published in New York City by Carlo Barsotti.

• December 4, 1881 – Dante Society of America -- Founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts, by prominent scholars including Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and James Russell Lowell to promote the study of Dante Alighieri.

• June 4, 1888 – Giuseppe Garibaldi Monument in Washington Square Park (New York) -- Unveiling of the bronze statue created by Giovanni Turini to honor the hero of Italian unification.

• December 10, 1888 – The Church of St. Anthony of Padua (New York) -- Dedication of the new building for the first parish in the United States established specifically to serve Italian immigrants.

• August 15, 1888 – St. Joachim Church (New York) -- Founded by the Scalabrinian Fathers, it became the first national parish specifically built for the burgeoning Italian community in Lower Manhattan (closed in 1967).

• July 26, 1890 – The St. Raphael Society for the Protection of Italian Immigrants -- Established in New York to provide essential social, spiritual, and legal assistance to arriving Italian laborers.

• March 14, 1891 – New Orleans Lynchings -- Eleven Italian-Americans were brutally lynched by a mob following the acquittal of suspects in the murder of police chief David Hennessy, prompting a major diplomatic rift between Italy and the US.

• January 1, 1892 – Ellis Island (New York) -- The federal immigration station officially opened, processing millions of Italian immigrants over its decades of operation.

• December 13, 1891 – St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi Church (Philadelphia) -- Solemn blessing of the newly built church structure, serving the first Italian national parish established in the United States (founded in 1852).

• October 12, 1892 – Columbus Monument in Columbus Circle (New York) -- Unveiled during the 400th-anniversary celebrations of Columbus's voyage, funded largely by subscriptions raised by Il Progresso Italo-Americano.

• October 21, 1892 – Columbus Monument in Wooster Square (New Haven, CT) -- Dedicated by the local Italian community as a symbol of citizenship and pride; it was removed on June 24, 2020.

• June 13, 1893 – Francesco Saverio Fava becomes the first Italian Ambassador to the United States -- Fava presented his credentials to President Cleveland, elevating Italy's diplomatic mission in Washington to a full embassy.

• October 12, 1901 – Garibaldi Monument in Lincoln Park (Chicago) -- Unveiled to honor the Italian general; it was later relocated to Chicago's Garibaldi Park on May 17, 1981.

• June 22, 1905 – Order Sons of Italy in America -- Founded in New York City by Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro as a fraternal organization to help Italian immigrants socially and politically integrate.

• October 12, 1905 – Giuseppe Verdi Monument in Verdi Square (New York) -- Dedicated on Columbus Day, this elaborate monument by Pasquale Civiletti honors the legendary Italian opera composer.

• December 10, 1906 – Camillo Golgi Nobel Prize -- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine alongside Santiago Ramón y Cajal for their pioneering work on the structure of the nervous system.

• December 10, 1906 – Giosuè Carducci Nobel Prize -- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, making him the first Italian to win this prestigious honor.

December 6, 1907 – Monongah Mining Disaster (Monongah, WV) -- The worst industrial accident in US history; an explosion killed hundreds of miners, a vast majority of whom were Italian immigrants.

• December 10, 1907 – Ernesto Teodoro Moneta Nobel Prize -- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Peace for his tireless work as a leading Italian peace activist and journalist.December 19, 1909 – Holy Rosary Church (Cleveland, OH) -- Dedication of the prominent church building in Cleveland's Little Italy, serving as a cultural bedrock for the community.

• October 6, 1909 – Giovanni da Verrazzano Monument in Battery Park (New York) -- Dedicated by the Italian community to honor the Florentine navigator who discovered New York Bay in 1524.

• December 10, 1909 – Guglielmo Marconi Nobel Prize -- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics alongside Karl Ferdinand Braun for his development of wireless telegraphy.

• November 13, 1910 – Holy Family Church (Detroit, MI) -- Dedicated as the first parish built by and for Detroit's growing Italian-American community.

• January 11, 1912 – Lawrence Textile Strike (Lawrence, MA) -- Commenced by thousands of immigrant workers, including a massive contingent of Italian laborers led by IWW organizers Arturo Giovannitti and Joseph Ettor.

• March 25, 1911 – Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire -- A catastrophic industrial fire in New York City claimed the lives of 146 garment workers. Nearly half of the victims were young Italian immigrant women. This tragedy galvanized the Italian-American community to lead aggressive fights for labor reforms, unionization, and workplace safety.

• July 14, 1920 – Sacco and Vanzetti Trial (Commencement) -- Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti went on trial in Massachusetts, a highly controversial case fueled by anti-immigrant and anti-radical sentiment that ended with their execution on August 23, 1927.

• October 12, 1921 – Dante Monument in Dante Park (New York) & Meridian Hill Park (Washington) -- Unveiled concurrently on the 600th anniversary of Dante’s death to celebrate Italian cultural heritage in major American centers.

• October 10, 1922 – UNICO National -- Founded in Waterbury, Connecticut, by Dr. Anthony P. Vastola to create an Italian-American service organization dedicated to education and community service.

• July 30, 1923 – Eleonora Duse Time Cover -- The legendary Italian actress became the first woman and the first Italian to appear on the cover of Time magazine.

• December 17, 1923 – Giulio Gatti-Casazza Time Cover -- The esteemed General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera was featured on the cover of Time for his profound influence on American opera.

• December 29, 1923 – American Association of Teachers of Italian -- Formally established during a modern language convention to promote the study of Italian language, literature, and culture in North America.

• May 26, 1924 – Immigration Act -- President Calvin Coolidge signed the Johnson-Reed Act, establishing strict national origin quotas that drastically crippled southern European immigration, specifically targeting Italians.Fascism & Antifascism

• November 15, 1924 – Fascist League of North America -- Officially organized to coordinate pro-Mussolini activities among Italian immigrants in the US; it dissolved under government scrutiny on December 21, 1929.

• September 19, 1926 – Feast of San Gennaro (New York) -- Little Italy's street vendors organized the first formal block festival to honor the patron saint of Naples, growing into a massive annual tradition.

• December 10, 1926 – Grazia Deledda Nobel Prize -- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for her powerful, lyrically written works depicting life on her native island of Sardinia.

• October 25, 1926 – Columbus Monument (Hartford, CT) -- Unveiled by the Italian community; the bronze statue was removed by the city on June 22, 2020.

• October 12, 1927 – Casa Italiana (Columbia University, New York) -- Dedicated in the presence of Guglielmo Marconi as a center for Italian culture and academic exchange.

• October 12, 1927 – Columbus Monument (Richmond, VA) -- Unveiled in Byrd Park; it was toppled, burned, and thrown into a lake by protestors on June 9, 2020.

• September 16, 1928 – Our Lady of Pompeii Church (New York) -- Dedication of the current landmark church building in Greenwich Village, historically central to the neighborhood's Italian community.

• June 1, 1933 – The Italian Pavilion at the Chicago World's Fair -- Opened at the "A Century of Progress" exposition, showcasing Italian technological and architectural advancements.

• July 1, 1933 – Decennial Air Cruise -- General Italo Balbo led a spectacular squadron of 24 Italian seaplanes from Rome to Chicago and New York, arriving in Chicago on July 15, 1933.

• July 15, 1934 – Balbo Monument (Chicago) -- Dedicated by the Italian government to the city of Chicago, utilizing an ancient Roman pillar to commemorate Balbo's historic transatlantic flight.

• June 10, 1934 – Soccer World Cup Champions (1st) -- Italy won its first FIFA World Cup title on home soil by defeating Czechoslovakia 2-1 in Rome.

• December 10, 1934 – Luigi Pirandello Nobel Prize -- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his bold and brilliant renewal of drama and modern theater.

• December 10, 1938 – Enrico Fermi Nobel Prize -- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on induced radioactivity, using the event to escape Fascist Italy and emigrate to the United States.

• June 19, 1938 – Soccer World Cup Champions (2nd) -- Italy secured back-to-back world titles by defeating Hungary 4-2 in the final held in Paris, France.

World War 2

• November 17, 1938 – Italian-Jewish Refugees -- The enactment of the Italian Racial Laws prompted an exodus of Italian-Jewish scholars, scientists, and families to the US, a migration that continued heavily until June 10, 1940.

• December 19, 1939 – Mazzini Society -- Founded in New York by anti-fascist exiles, including Max Ascoli and Gaetano Salvemini, to mobilize American public opinion against Mussolini's regime.

• December 8, 1941 – Internment of Italian Americans -- Following the US declaration of war, thousands of non-citizen Italian-Americans were subjected to travel restrictions, curfews, and forced relocation, with hundreds placed in internment camps until restrictions lifted in late 1943.

• May 1, 1942 – Italian WW2 POWs -- The arrival of the first major waves of captured Italian soldiers in US military camps; over 50,000 prisoners were held across America until repatriation processing concluded in early 1946.The Italian American Experience

• March 20, 1948 – Vittorio De Sica 1st Oscar -- His masterpiece Sciuscià (Shoeshine) was voted an Honorary Award (the precursor to Best Foreign Language Film) at the 20th Academy Awards.

• March 23, 1950 – Vittorio De Sica 2nd Oscar -- Ladri di biciclette (Bicycle Thieves) received the Honorary Foreign Language Film Award at the 22nd Academy Awards.March 21, 1956 – Anna Magnani Oscar -- Won Best Actress at the 28th Academy Awards for her fiery performance in The Rose Tattoo, becoming the first Italian actress to win a competitive Oscar.

• March 27, 1957 – Federico Fellini 1st Oscar -- La Strada won the newly inaugurated competitive Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 29th Academy Awards.

• December 10, 1957 – Daniel Bovet Nobel Prize -- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discoveries relating to synthetic compounds that inhibit the action of certain bodily substances.

• March 26, 1958 – Federico Fellini 2nd Oscar -- Le Notti di Cabiria (Nights of Cabiria) won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 30th Academy Awards.

• December 10, 1959 – Emilio G. Segrè Nobel Prize -- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics alongside Owen Chamberlain for their discovery of the antiproton.

• December 10, 1959 – Salvatore Quasimodo Nobel Prize -- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his lyrical poetry, which captures the tragic experience of life in our time.

• April 9, 1962 – Sophia Loren Oscar -- Won Best Actress at the 34th Academy Awards for her role in La Ciociara (Two Women), marking the first time an actor won in a competitive category for a foreign-language performance.

• April 6, 1962 – Sophia Loren Time Cover -- Featured on the cover of Time magazine following her historic, international acclaim and subsequent Academy Award victory.

• December 10, 1963 – Giulio Natta Nobel Prize -- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry alongside Karl Ziegler for their discoveries in the field of the chemistry and technology of high polymers.

• April 13, 1964 – Federico Fellini 3rd Oscar -- His cinematic triumph 8½ won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 36th Academy Awards.

• April 5, 1965 – Vittorio De Sica 3rd Oscar -- Ieri, oggi, domani (Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow) won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 37th Academy Awards.

• October 3, 1965 – Immigration Act -- President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Hart-Celler Act into law, abolishing the national origins quota system and reopening the United States to Italian immigration.

• December 10, 1969 – Salvatore Luria Nobel Prize -- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine alongside Max Delbrück and Alfred Hershey for discoveries concerning the replication mechanism and genetic structure of viruses.

• June 21, 1970 – Soccer World Cup Runners-Up -- Italy finished second in the FIFA World Cup in Mexico after a legendary tournament, losing 4-1 to Pelé's iconic Brazil squad in the final.

• April 10, 1972 – Vittorio De Sica 4th Oscar -- Il giardino dei Finzi-Contini (The Garden of the Finzi-Continis) won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 44th Academy Awards.

• April 8, 1975 – Federico Fellini 4th Oscar -- Amarcord won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 47th Academy Awards.

• December 10, 1975 – Renato Dulbecco Nobel Prize -- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his research into tumor viruses and the genetic material of the cell.

• December 10, 1975 – Eugenio Montale Nobel Prize -- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his distinctively perceptive poetry that interprets human values under the sign of an outlook on life with no illusions.

• January 10, 1977 – Joe DiMaggio Medal of Freedom -- The legendary baseball icon was presented with the nation's highest civilian honor by President Gerald Ford.

• December 5, 1980 – Anthony Casamento Medal of Honor -- President Jimmy Carter awarded the corporate recognition and medal to the WWII veteran for his extraordinary heroism at Guadalcanal in 1942.

• July 11, 1982 – Soccer World Cup Champions (3rd) -- Italy defeated West Germany 3-1 in Madrid to claim their historic third FIFA World Cup title.

• December 10, 1984 – Carlo Rubbia Nobel Prize -- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics alongside Simon van der Meer for their decisive contributions to the large project, which led to the discovery of the field particles W and Z.

• December 10, 1985 – Franco Modigliani Nobel Prize -- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his pioneering analyses of saving and of financial markets.

• December 10, 1986 – Rita Levi-Montalcini Nobel Prize -- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine alongside Stanley Cohen for their discovery of nerve growth factor (NGF). (Note: It occurred in 1986, though listed adjacent to Modigliani's 1985 win).

The Intellectual Migration (Dual Citizenship)

• December 18, 1988 – Register of Italians residing abroad (AIRE) -- Enacted via Law no. 470, establishing the official registry tracking Italian citizens living outside of Italy.

• February 5, 1992 – Recognition of Dual Citizenship -- Italy passed Law no. 91, completely overhauling citizenship rules and formally allowing Italian citizens to acquire another citizenship without losing their original one.

• July 17, 1994 – Soccer World Cup (USA) Runners-Up -- Italy finished second in the World Cup held in the United States after a dramatic penalty shootout loss against Brazil at the Rose Bowl.

• December 10, 1997 – Dario Fo Nobel Prize -- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for emulating the jesters of the Middle Ages in scourging authority and upholding the dignity of the downtrodden.

• March 21, 1999 – Roberto Benigni Oscar -- Won Best Actor and Best Foreign Language Film for La vita è bella (Life is Beautiful) at the 71st Academy Awards, generating iconic memories by walking over the theater seats.

• December 27, 2001 – Voting rights of Italians residing abroad -- The Tremaglia Law (Law no. 459) was finalized, establishing the operational rules for Italians abroad to vote by postal ballot in Italian general elections.

• September 11, 2001 – September 11 Attacks -- A tragic day of global impact; among the nearly 3,000 victims were at least 10 Italian citizens, 27 dual nationals, and over 200 citizens of Italian descent.

• December 10, 2002 – Riccardo Giacconi Nobel Prize -- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his pioneering contributions to astrophysics, which led to the discovery of cosmic X-ray sources.

• November 29, 2003 – John Basilone Monument (San Diego, CA) -- Dedicated in San Diego's Little Italy to honor the legendary WWII Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant and Medal of Honor recipient.

• July 9, 2006 – Soccer World Cup Champions (4th) -- Italy won its fourth FIFA World Cup title by defeating France in a dramatic penalty shootout in Berlin, Germany.

• February 25, 2007 – Morricone Honorary Oscar -- The legendary maestro Ennio Morricone received an Honorary Academy Award for his magnificent and multifaceted contributions to the art of film music.

• December 10, 2007 – Mario Capecchi Nobel Prize -- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discoveries of principles for introducing specific gene modifications in mice by the use of embryonic stem cells.

• January 26, 2007 – Italian Scientists & Scholars in North America Foundation (ISSNAF) -- Formally incorporated in California by prominent Italian scholars, including Nobel laureates, to build an active network of Italian researchers in North America.

• March 2, 2014 – Sorrentino Oscar -- Paolo Sorrentino's film La grande bellezza (The Great Beauty) won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards.

• January 25, 2014 – Tosi Honorary Oscar -- Renowned costume designer Piero Tosi was presented with an Honorary Academy Award at the Governors Awards for his visual artistry.

• January 25, 2020 – Wertmüller Honorary Oscar -- Legendary director Lina Wertmüller was awarded her long-overdue Honorary Academy Award at the Governors Awards for her barrier-breaking career in cinema.

• December 10, 2021 – Giorgio Parisi Nobel Prize -- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for the discovery of the interplay of disorder and fluctuations in physical systems from atomic to planetary scales.

• December 10, 2022 – Carolyn Bertozzi Nobel Prize -- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry alongside Morten Meldal and K. Barry Sharpless for the development of click chemistry and bioorthogonal chemistry.