Girolamo Valenti Photographs
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Abstract
Girolamo Valenti (1893-1958) was an anti-fascist, anti-communist Italian-American labor leader, socialist, and editor. Collection consists of 11 black and white photographs of varying sizes, including two small panoramic prints, two clippings of photographs from periodicals or newspapers, and a printing plate. Images are of anti-fascist rallies in New York City, and of Valenti and his associates.
Historical/Biographical Note
Girolamo Valenti (1893-1958) was an anti-fascist, anti-communist Italian-American labor leader, socialist, and editor. He was born in Valguarnera, Sicily, and came to the United States in 1911. There he worked as a labor organizer for the Amalgamated Clothing Workers in the eastern United States, as well as for the American Shoe Workers Protective Union. He was also editor of several Italian-American newspapers, including the antifascist daily Il Nuovo Mondo(1925-1931), La Stampa Libera, La Parola del Popolo(New York), and Parola dei Socialisti. He also published at least one article in mainstream, English-language publications, including a photo-essay published in Lookmagazine (December 17, 1940), "Italian Fascist Propaganda in the United States," that contains photographs of Italian-American fascist rallies and gatherings. During World War II Valenti served as a consultant to the chief of the Italian desk at the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). He was a leader of the Italian Social Democratic Party and of the Circulo Matteotti, an organization whose purpose was to support left anti-communism in Italy and among Italian-Americans. He also was a radio commentator for several different Italian-language programs at stations in New York City, Philadelphia, and New Britain, Connecticut.
Arrangement
Folders are arranged topically.
The files are grouped into 1 series:
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Scope and Content Note
Collection consists of 11 black and white photographs of varying sizes, including two small panoramic prints, a 1940 photograph essay from Lookmagazine written by Girolamo Valenti, two clippings of photographs from periodicals or newspapers, and one copper printing plate, possibly from one of the Socialist or anti-Fascist publications that Valenti edited.
Images are of anti-fascist rallies outdoors in New York City in the 1930s (one may be as early as in the 1920s). These include one demonstration that took place after Mussolini declared war on the United States, with placards (in English and Italian) representing different Italian or Italian-American organizations, including "Anti-Fascisti di Staten Island," "Partito Socialista Italiano," and "Partito Repubblicano Italiano"; another print appears to be a demonstration supporting the Loyalists in Spain. Locations include Washington Square, and possibly Central Park and Union Square. In addition, there are also snapshots of Valenti, by himself, and with others unidentified and identified, including "[possibly Humbert], Gualtieri," "[E.R.]Pacciaroli," "[possibly Guiseppe] Lupis." The clippings contain photographs of Gaspare Nicotri and E.R. Pacciaroli, and Giuseppe Modigliani (leader of the Italian Socialist Party and member of antifascist movement).
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Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright (and related rights to publicity and privacy) to materials in this collection, created by Girolamo Valenti, was not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date; Collection name; Collection number; box number; folder number;
Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012, New York University Libraries.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Sylvia Valenti in 1965 and separated from the Girolamo Valenti Papers (TAM 040). The accession numbers associated with this gift are 1965.002 and 1965.003.
Separated Materials
Papers were separated from this collection during initial processing and were established as a separate collection, the Girolamo Valenti Papers (TAM 040).
