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Italian Heritage Month

Just a quick word to everyone. I’d like to thank you all for reading and sharing the blog since November 2018, we have had over 384,000 visitors and have made a lot of new friends.

Since the beginning my goal was to promote Italian roots and heritage. To that end I started a podcast and YouTube channel. And at long last my first book “Farmers and Nobles” will be published this month.

We have helped a lot of people to begin their research here and on our Facebook Group. Click the button below to join our group, sign up with email or one signal below to never miss a post.

Thank you again and Happy Columbus Day!

Farmers and Nobles traces the research path of blogger and podcast host Bob Sorrentino. Bob began researching his family roots in 2008 beginning with his great-grandfather’s calling card brought from Italy by his paternal grandmother Maria Luigia Piromallo. In 2018, he decided to share his experiences in a blog and in 2020 created his podcast Italian Roots and Genealogy. Bob firmly believes that our ancestors want to be found and shares fascinating stories from others who believe the same.

Bob gives us glimpse into his two Italian-American families and how their lives in America were very similar, although centuries ago the families came from two very different socio-economic classes in Italy. While his mother came from farmers from Toritto, Bari, his father came from gentry and nobility from Naples. Bob traces back these noble roots to the kings and queens of Western Europe. While it is true that millions can trace back, Bob explains how one small piece of evidence can open up the door to centuries of family history.

Farmers and Nobles has stories from both families, culminating with a “rooting trip” to Italy in 2022.

Look for it on www.janaway.com and Amazon soon

H.J.Res.392

One Hundred First Congress of the United States of America

AT THE FIRST SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday, the third day of January,

one thousand nine hundred and eighty-nine

Joint Resolution

Designating October 1989 as ‘Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month’.

Whereas Italians and Italian-Americans have contributed to the United States in all aspects of life, including art, science, civil service, military service, athletics, and education;

Whereas Italian-Americans make up one of the largest ethnic groups in the United States;

Whereas, in recognition of the accomplishments of Christopher Columbus, recognized as one of the greatest explorers in world history and the first to record the discovery of the Americas, a national observance day was established in October of every year;

Whereas the phrase in the Declaration of Independence, ‘All men are created equal’, was suggested by the Italian patriot and immigrant Philip Mazzei;

Whereas during October 1989 special attention will be directed at local and State programs that promote Italian heritage and culture, with special emphasis on national programs such as the Italian Heritage Center at Catholic University of America; and

Whereas during October 1989 the National Italian American Foundation will host the 14th annual dinner to honor Italians and Italian-Americans making important contributions to the development of the arts, sciences, athletics, and education in the United States: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That October 1989 is designated as ‘Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month’, and the President of the United States is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe the month with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

On the political front, Mazzei began to establish his reputation as a patriot. He joined the “Independent Company” of Albemarle County volunteers when the British landed troops at Hampton, Virginia, in 1775.7 Elected to the vestry after only six months of residence in the area, Mazzei began to speak in various churches about Thomas Jefferson’s ideas on religious freedom and he signed a “petition of dissenters” that was presented to the General Assembly’s Committee on Religion.8 Jefferson gave Mazzei a copy of the “Rough Draught” of the Declaration of Independence,9 while an excerpt from Mazzei’s own “Instructions of the Freeholders of Albemarle County to their Delegates in Convention” was used by Jefferson in his attempt to institute a new state constitution.

8.Petition of Dissenters in Albemarle and Amherst Counties, [Before November 1, 1776], in PTJ, 1:586-89. Transcription available at Founders Online. See also Marchione, Life and Wanderings, 208, 220-23.
9.Jefferson to John Vaughan, September 16, 1825, Thomas Jefferson Papers, Library of Congress. Transcription available at Founders Online.

From the Jefferson Encyclopedia