Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea invites the public to come explore the Italian American story in Rhode Island at the new State Archives exhibition, “Andiamo! Italians Make Their Mark in Rhode Island.”
Rhode Island has the highest population of Italian Americans per capita in the United States, according to the most recent American Community Survey estimate.
“Italian Americans are one of Rhode Island’s most prominent and influential communities,” Secretary Gorbea said. “They came to America with an incredible work ethic, and despite many challenges in the early days Italian Americans have shaped Rhode Island’s cultural and political landscape. Their story is a powerful reminder that immigration to a new place is full of complexity.”
The new exhibition at the State Archives showcases a variety of cultural artifacts and historical manuscripts to celebrate the culture and growth of the Italian American community in Rhode Island beginning in the late 19th century.
It also features incorporation papers from some of the state’s first Italian-owned businesses and organizations, census data on immigrants in Rhode Island at the turn of the 20th century, petitions for naturalization from Italians seeking legal U.S. citizenship, early examples of Italians making their voices heard in Rhode Island government and community groups, and telegrams from John O. Pastore, Rhode Island’s first Italian American governor and U.S. senator.
The exhibition runs through September 2019. The Rhode Island State Archives are free and open to the public Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at 337 Westminster St. in Providence.
