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(TSA) is our historic scrapbook which is designed to preserve the
memories of those emigrants and offspring of those emigrants who
found their way to Taylor Street’s “Little Italy” from their Italian origins.
Your contributions, whether they simply add to the demographics, by
submitting your names, or expand upon the theme of “Growing Up in
Taylor Street’s Little Italy,” by submitting your stories, will add to the
richness of a time and a people.
The Archives was launched in December 2004. The residents, business
establishments and associations that form the Taylor Street community
have all embraced the concept of the Archives; e.g., the Near-West Side
Reunion provided a membership directory and the Italian American
Police Association welcomed a presentation at their monthly dinner
meeting. The Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, the Italian
American Cultural Center, Taylor Street business establishments, etc.
have all made the applications available to visitors and/or patrons.
Writers, thesis, etc. Historians, novelists, script writers, and post
graduate students writing their doctoral thesis have all sought
permission to either quote from the stories in the Archives, reference
the Archives, and/or to amplify upon the concepts espoused in the
writings contained in the Archives. The most recent request came from
a writer commissioned to write the history of Chicago’s legendary Taylor
Street.
Media The media that is representative of the Taylor Street community;
i.e., Near-West Gazette, Fra Noi, Amici Journal, WJJD Radio, etc, have
also applauded the concept and made their readers/listeners aware of
the Archives existence and purpose. Stories submitted by the residents
and posted on the web site are sought by the media. Aside: Reverend
Richard Fragomini originally embraced the idea of the Archives as being
consistent with the philosophy and purpose of the Shrine of Our Lady of
Pompeii and originally encouraged the participation of the Shrine.
However, the lay staff of the Shrine, in imposing its authority, currently
resists the dissemination of any information concerning the Archives to
the Shrine’s worshippers. Despite that disappointment, the concept of
the Archives, as noted above, was enthusiastically embraced by the
broader community.
and Bowen Country Club are separate from those stories that emanate
from the streets of Little Italy.
UIC: Flawed History Of special interest is the opening story, UIC:
Flawed History. That story, along with the Sheridan Park Protest, give
substance to the warning of local historian, Dominic Candeloro, “If our
generation doesn’t act now, and act boldly, to preserve and remember
and disseminate the Italian American past, it will die,”
Enrollment “Anthony, if I die and you don’t remember me, then I am
dead. If I die and you remember, then I’m alive…so don’t forget me.”
Anthony Riccio. Without any further ado, an application to the Archives
is enclosed.
Scholarship Proceeds that were intended for the Shrine will go to
support the annual Scholarship given by the Archives. Application for
same is attached.
Neighborhood/Groups. Please search your memory bank and add those
names to the attached form per instructions. Remember, you and/or
those you include on your list may belong to one or more groups.
Vince Romano
All inquires and correspondence for Taylor Street Archives, please click here.
Copyright, 2009, Vince Romano, All Rights Reserved |