Finding aid for the Associazione Fratellanza Campodipietra Records

History of the Associazione Fratellanza Campodipietra

Associazione Fratellanza Campodipietra (Campodipietra Brotherhood Association) was originally founded in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1928 and reestablished by ten people on February 10, 1935 for mutual aid among the members. Membership was open to both men and women born in or originating from Campodipietra, Campobasso, Italy. The main benefit of membership was a cash gift to the family upon a member's death. The club also sponsored many social events, including an annual summer picnic and sausage-making party. The club had no permanent meeting place. Instead, they met in and around the Collinwood area in Cleveland, Ohio, in private residences or rented rooms at locations such as the Italian Cooperation Association, the Trovatore Club on St. Clair, and the Gunn Block building on E. 152nd St. The exact date when the group officially disbanded is unclear, but the last date noted in the minute book is September 16, 1962.

Scope and Content

The Associazione Fratellanza Campodipietra Records, 1935-1962, consist of a bound ledger book containing minutes and financial information and a variety of loose materials including member and receipt booklets, meeting notification cards and stationery, a membership list, dues payment records, and a letter of apology written by Frank Carlone. The collection also contains a translated summary of the meeting minutes and a direct translation of the letter, both completed by Connie Sancetta in 2008.

This collection is of value to researchers studying the history of Cleveland, Ohio, and activities of early twentieth century Italian immigrant benevolent and fraternal societies. The membership list and other documents naming individual members are useful for genealogical purposes.

Appended to this finding aid are a narrative history of the club extracted from the meeting minutes and biographical information on several club members.

Statement of Arrangement

Restrictions on Access

None.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 5043 Associazione Fratellanza Campodipietra Records, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

Gift of Joel Hradisky in 2008, in memory of his grandfather, Carl Pietratone.

Processing Information

Processed by Pamela Dorazio Dean in 2010.

Other Finding Aid

Appended to this finding aid are a narrative history of the club extracted from the meeting minutes and biographical information on several club members.

Detailed Description of The Collection