John Torrieri (1922-2008), 1973 May 3- September 29
Abstract
In this interview, John Torrieri describes his family's life before his birth, moving back and forth between the United States and Italy. He discusses his own life in Italy, followed by immigrating to the United States to escape mandatory military service. Torrieri further discusses living through the Depression, opening a bar with his brother, joining the military in World War II, and certain Italian traditions.
Dates
- 1973 May 3- September 29
Creator
- Torrieri, John (1922-2008) (Narrator, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research use.
Biographical / Historical
John's father first moved to the United States as a single man in 1909, got married and had three children. Then he moved back to Italy and had John in 1922. In 1935, John's father decided they would move back to America, so that John's older brother would not have to join the military. The family came to America during the height of the Depression. In 1942, John was drafted to fight in World War II, after a very tense argument with his enlistment officer, John served in the Pacific. When the war ended, John opened a bar with his brother in 1945. After John got married, his wife did not like the idea of owning a bar, so he sold the business in 1948.
Extent
2 Items (50-minute audio recording and 17-page transcript.)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Bibliography
Scope and Contents
The Little Italy oral history collection oral history collection was established to better understand the lives of Italian immigrants who settled in Baltimore from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s. This collection includes 16 audio recordings, numerous tape indexes, biographical material, and some additional articles and photographs depending on the interview. There is one full transcript for John Torrieri.
The individuals interviewed helped create Baltimore's Little Italy district into a thriving center of Italian culture. The oral histories focus on a variety of topics: initial American experiences, starting businesses in Little Italy, family life, Italian culture, the Depression, and World War II, among other topics.
The interviews were primarily conducted by Jean Vincenza-Scarpaci, known as "Vincenza," from 1979-1980, except for one recording done by Mary Thayer in 1973. Vincenza is a well-known immigration historian, in particular focusing on Italian American immigration in the United States. While teaching at Towson State University in the 1970s, Vincenza took an interest in the study of groceries and bakeries in Baltimore, Maryland, which led to the creation of this oral history collection. For more information on Vincenza's many works that could be helpful in contextualizing the interviews in this collection, please see the Bibliography.
Narrators of this collection include Thomas D'Alesandro Jr., Maryland's Delegate in the House of Representatives (1939-1947) and Mayor of Baltimore (1947-1959); Joseph Fava who created a successful macaroni brand; brothers Vincent and Michael Pastore who opened a number of groceries; Joe Vaccarino, who owned the Sole D'Italia brand, and a number of other Italian immigrants who settled in the Little Italy area.
Creator
- Torrieri, John (1922-2008) (Narrator, Person)
Repository Details
Part of the H. Furlong Baldwin Library Repository
H. Furlong Baldwin Library
Maryland Center for History and Culture
610 Park Avenue
Baltimore MD 21201 United States
4106853750
specialcollections@mdhistory.org