Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 1986 From Migrant to Millionaire: the Story of the Italian-American in New Orleans, 1880-1910 (Louisiana). Roselyn Bologna Boneno Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Recommended Citation Boneno, Roselyn Bologna, "From Migrant to Millionaire: the Story of the Italian-American in New Orleans, 1880-1910 (Louisiana)." (1986). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 4286. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/4286 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 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Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. PLEASE NOTE: In all cases this material has been filmed in the best possible way from the available copy. Problems encountered with this document have been identified here with a check mark V 1. Glossy photographs or pages. 2. Colored illustrations, paper or print______ 3. Photographs with dark background_____ 4. Illustrations are poor copy______ 5. Pages with black marks, not original copy. 6. Print shows through as there is text on both sides of page. 7. indistinct, broken or small print on several pages 8. Print exceeds margin requirements______ 9. Tightly bound copy with print lost in spine_______ 10. Computer printout pages with indistinct print. 11. Page(s)____________lacking when material received, and not available from school or author. 12. Page(s)____________seem to be missing in numbering only as text follows. 13. Two pages numbered . Text follows. 14. Curling and wrinkled pages______ 15. Dissertation contains pages with print at a slant, filmed as received 16. Other_______________________________________________________________ University Microfilms International Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. FROM MIGRANT TO MILLIONAIRE: THE STORY OF THE ITALIAN-AMERICAN IN NEW ORLEANS, 1880-1910 A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Department of History by Roselyn Bologna Boneno B.A., Our Lady of Holy Cross College, 1962 M.A., St. Mary's University, 1971 December, 1986 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ©1987 ROSELYN BOLOGNA BONENO All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This work has left me indebted both personally and professionally to many people. Although one risks omissions in naming individuals, there are those who deserve public appreciation. During my research I relied heavily upon the assistance of li­ brarians in several places. In particular I thank Margaret Shaffer, Terrebonne Parish librarian, and Jackie Dessino, who worked untiringly to secure material otherwise unavailable. Other libraries most helpful were the Louisiana Division of the New Orleans Public Library, Howard Tilton Library at Tulane University, University of New Orleans Library, and the Louisiana State University Library. To Dr. Gerald DeLuca, who committed much time and energy to the reading of this work, I express my deepest gratitude. His constant concern during the past year and his careful critiques deserve a special thank you. Also I extend appreciation to Dr. Edwin Fuchs and to my parents who never relented in either their encouragement or be­ lief that this project would reach fruition. To the late Eleanor Guzzo Bologna who provided the inspiration for this research, there can be no adequate words of appreciation. Like thousands of other Italians, she came to Louisiana with little save the desire for success. With a work ethic that knew no bounds, she devoted her energies to her family and her God. Although she never abandoned her native Sicily, she always gave thanks to this new land which provided her a residence to raise her family, better than average economic success, and eventually a place for her journey home. Finally to Dr. Burl Noggle, my advisor and friend, there are no ii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. sufficient plaudits. His reflective queries and oft repeated "Go forth and rewrite" not only facilitated refinement, but led me to realize Walt Whitman's words, " . [I] stood isolated . Ceaselessly . venturing . Till the bridge [I] need[ed] [was] form'd." iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments ............................................ ii Table of C o n t e n t s ........................................ iv Abstract.................................................... v Introduction................................................ 1 CHAPTER I: THE LURING OF A MEDITERRANEAN PEOPLE. • 8 CHAPTER II; A COMPROMISE OF VARIATION • • 40 CHAPTER III: THE CREAM RISES TO THE TOP . •• 68 CHAPTER IV: A SMELTING OF OLD AND NEW •• 98 CHAPTER V: PERCEPTIONS AND REALITIES • • • 126 CHAPTER VI: BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY •• 143 CONCLUSION . 164 Bibliography................................ 167 Appendix A; Interviews .................................... 187 Eleanor Guzzo Bologna .................... 188 Joe Bologna................................ 195 Lena B o l o g n a ............................ 206 Mary C a m m a r a t a ............................ 220 Conchetta Cangelosi......................... 230 Rosalie Cangelosi... ....................... 240 Peter C o m p a g n o ............................ 251 Dr. Joseph D'A n t o n i ........................ 274 Santo Di F a t t a ............................ 279 Mrs. Frank D i R o s a ........................ 296 Lena La t i n o ................................ 309 Natale Maestri ............................ 311 Salvador M a n d e l l a ........................ 330 Joe Maselli................................ 346 Catherine N o t o ............................ 358 Mrs. Sam S curto............................ 367 Sister Clare Sullivan .................... 380 Appendix B: Survey Results ................................ 383 Appendix C: Partial Charter of the Italian Chamber of Commerce 391 Vita........................................................ 396 IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT This study explores a history of the Italian immigrants in the New Orleans area between the years 1880-1910. It traces their reasons for coming to the United States, the difficulties faced in assimilation, along with their social, religious, intellectual, political and eco­ nomic developments. First- and second-generation Italians were per­ sonally interviewed in depth, and surveys were given to approximately 186 persons of various Italian societies throughout the defined geo­ graphical area. Both the content and the source of respondents' opinions are investigated and explored to discover what correlation existed between the written and the oral