Italo Archive

02/08/2026

Celebrate Italian Black History with us this February! 🇮🇹📜🇺🇸🎞️

This Black History Month, we’ll be sharing the stories of Black Italians who have shaped both America and Italy.

You’ll learn about the impact that Black Italians have made in America and Italy.

The Italian diaspora is diverse. Celebrating and learning our rich, diverse culture is vital.

We’re beyond honored to educate and tell the stories of . One of the most beautiful things about our Diaspora is its beautiful diversity.

Here’s to celebrating and learning about influential !

Want to never miss a post of ours this month? 👇🏼

Follow the hashtag .

You can follow the hashtag on other platforms, too. Share our posts with your friends and family too!

The diversity of the diaspora always has played an integral part of Italo-communities — both present and in history. Honoring the entire Diaspora allows us to celebrate our rich heritage.

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ID: Celebrating Black History Month

Join us as we celebrate Black Italians this February

We’ll be educating, uplifting their stories and history and sharing their contributions throughout the month

ItaloArchive.com

10/22/2025

“A group of berry pickers from Philadelphia on Giles Farm, Seaford Del. The children came before school vacation.

They are now ready to leave Seaford and go to Riverton, N.J. to continue picking. Working yesterday from 6 A.M. to 3 P.M.

They are all Italians.

The boy who is smoking is confined in a Truant School of Philadelphia. He smokes 15 ci******es a day. Sold papers in Philadelphia for some time.”

Date and Location: May 1910. Seaford, Delaware.

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Image Description: A group of 14 children — both boys and girls — are posed on the farm. They’re all school aged; some have forlorn and blanket expressions, but some are smiling widely. Two of the young boys in the front are barefoot. The one barefoot boy is smoking a cigarette with his arms crossed.

Source: Hine, Lewis Wickes, photographer. National Child Labor Committee collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2018675925/

10/12/2025

Celebrate with us! 🇮🇹

Please join the Cugini Database and our Facebook group if you haven’t already!

The Cugini Database is growing every day! It’s full of surnames, towns, genealogy info, etc.

Our Facebook group, Old Imagery of Italians, is full of images, stories, and more. We want you to share yours there too!

We’re celebrating this October by educating, uplifting and sharing the stories of the Italian diaspora who have shaped us — in America, Italy, South America, and elsewhere.

This month focuses on recognizing the achievements and cultural contributions of Italians.

America established it officially in 1989. However, Italians started immigrating to America centuries earlier.

As they immigrated, they brought their experiences and culture to America.

It’s crucial to remember the lived experiences of our ancestors. Not only in America, but worldwide.

The diversity of the Diaspora is one of the most beautiful things — both present and in history. As the first accessible archive for Italo-people and a project by a disabled Italian woman, there is nothing more than beautiful than highlighting that diversity has always played a part of our culture.

Here’s to celebrating this October! 🇮🇹🇮🇹

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Image descriptions in captions

07/15/2025

Celebrate with us!

The diversity of the diaspora always has played an integral part of Italo-communities— both present and in history.

We’re celebrating this July by educating, uplifting and sharing the stories of Italians in the disability community who have shaped us— both in America, Italy and elsewhere.

This month focuses on recognizing the achievements, accomplishments and experiences of the disability community.

This year in America, we’re celebrating 35 years of The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which is an important civil rights law.

Disability is not one size fits all. It’s broad spectrum and diverse, just like the Diaspora.

We’re beyond honored to educate and tell these stories.

The diversity of the Diaspora is one of the most beautiful things.

Here’s to celebrating this July!
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ID 1: CELEBRATING DISABILITY
PRIDE MONTH

This July, we invite you to join us as we honor disabled Italians.

Throughout the month: we’ll be educating, uplifting their stories and history, and sharing their contributions.

ItaloArchive.com

ID 2: HOW TO PARTAKE IN THE CELEBRATION:

• Want to never miss a post of ours this month? Make sure to follow the hashtag #

Follow the hashtag on our other platforms, too. Make sure to share our posts!

• Send photos, videos, and or stories of the incredible Italians in your life or otherwise who were a part of the disability community to be featured on the blog.

We welcome stories sharing how your ancestors and or Italians supported you in celebrating your disability, too!

ID 3: HOW TO PARTAKE IN THE CELEBRATION:

• Know an incredible Italian whose story needs to be shared during this month? Is there Italian disability history that you would love for others to know about?

Share it so we can feature it this month!

• Last, and most importantly: learn with us as we share about these incredible Italians and their history this month on our social media, site, and newsletter.

Honoring the diversity and strength of the Italo Diaspora is essential.

When we honor the entire Diaspora, we celebrate our rich heritage.

06/02/2025

Celebrate with us!

The diversity of the diaspora always has played an integral part of Italo-communities— both present and in history.

We’re celebrating this June by educating, uplifting and sharing the stories of Italians in the LGBTQ+ community who have shaped us— both in America, Italy and elsewhere.

We’re beyond honored to educate and tell these stories.

The diversity of our Italian diaspora is one of the most beautiful things.

Here’s to celebrating this June!

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ID 1: CELEBRATING PRIDE AWARENESS MONTH

This June, we invite you to join us as we honor LGBTQ+ Italians

Throughout the month: we’ll be educating, uplifting their stories and history, and sharing their contributions.

ItaloArchive.com

ID 2: HOW TO PARTAKE IN THE CELEBRATION:

• Want to never miss a post of ours this month? Make sure to follow the hashtag

Follow the hashtag on our other platforms, too. Make sure to share our posts!

• Send photos, videos, and or stories of the incredible Italians in your life or otherwise who were a part of the LGBTQ+ community to be featured on the blog.

We welcome stories sharing how your ancestors and or Italians supported you in celebrating your LGBTQ+ identity too!

ID 3: HOW TO PARTAKE IN THE CELEBRATION:

• Know an incredible Italian whose story needs to be shared during this month? Is there Italian LGBQt+ history that you would love for others to know about?

Share it so we can feature it this month!

• Last, and most importantly: learn with us as we share about these incredible Italians and their history this Pride on our social media, site, and newsletter.

Honoring the diversity and strength of the Italo Diaspora is essential. When we honor the entire Diaspora, we celebrate our rich heritage.

02/16/2025

Have some free time during your week? This is a great way to help support the digitalization of US National Archives!

If you love genealogy or history, you benefited at some point from the incredible work of the National Archives.

02/14/2025

Domenico Mondelli was the first Black pilot in the world— and the world’s first military pilot.

He made incredible contributions to Italy and the world. He was a trailblazer— and accomplished amazing things throughout his life.

He was a loud voice for Black Italians and mixed race Italians during fascism.

He broke more than one barrier.

He was the first Black Italian to become a General. He is also the first Black Italian to become a 33rd Degree Freemason. It’s the highest ranking in the Freemasonry. It signifies being recognized as a Master Mason by the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry and is an incredible achievement.

His legacy should be honored this Black History Month, but also year round for his accomplishments and contributions to Italy.

Mondelli is why is not only vital, but essential.

It’s important to uplift the incredible people that have made significant impact on Italy— and the world.

While he remains an obscure figure in Italy’s beautiful history, I encourage you to share this post with your friends and family.

You can also learn more about Domenico at the website by visiting the blog.

Reference List and blog post are available at the link below:

Bit.ly/DomenicoMondelli

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Image Descriptions are in the captions. You can also read a text transcript at the blog.

02/11/2025

“Domenico Mondelli is the world’s first Black pilot. During WW1, he flew for the Italian military. This makes him not only the world’s first Black pilot but also the world’s first military pilot.

He’s the first Black Italian to hold the title of General in Italy’s armed forces.

He’s the first Black Italian to be given the distinct honor of being Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic and be honored with the Scottish Rite by Freemasonry.”

Read the blog post below to learn more about Domenico’s incredible life— from his upbringing in Parma, to becoming the world’s first Black pilot, and the mystery surrounding his burial.

Image Description: A photo of Domenico Mondelli taken in 1927. He’s wearing his Lieutenant Colonel outfit. He has a thoughtful look on his face; the photo is taken of his side profile. Domenico Mon…

02/03/2025

Join the Cugini Connector Database 📜🇮🇹

Share your family surnames, names of your ancestors, and more. Add any genealogy information that you know like where you settled. Add your brick walls, too.

Take time to go through the searchable database now to see if you have any connections.

The goal is to create one of the largest directories of Italo people worldwide— in the United States, South America, Italy and beyond.

Use the link in this post or scan the QR code to go to the links in the post to access the Database and Submission:

Submission: Bit.ly/CuginiForm

Database: Bit.ly/TheCuginiDatabase

If you’re not a member of our Facebook community, please join by going to:

Bit.ly/ItalianArchive

If you have any questions and need accomodations to submit your information:

• Send a private message

• Send an email to: [email protected]

Grazie mille!

I can’t wait to watch our database grow.

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(Image descriptions are in the photo captions)

02/02/2025

Celebrate with us! You’ll learn about the impacts that Black Italians have made in Americana and Italy.

The Italian diaspora is diverse. Celebrating and learning our rich, diverse culture is vital and important.

The diversity of the diaspora always has played an integral part of Italo-communities— both present and in history.

We’re celebrating this February by educating, uplifting and sharing the stories of Black Italians who have shaped us— both in America and Italy.

We’re beyond honored to educate and tell the stories of . One of the most beautiful things about our Diaspora is its beautiful diversity.

Here’s to celebrating and learning about influential !

—
ID 1: CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

This February, join us as we honor
Black Italians.

Throughout the month: we’ll be educating, uplifting their stories and history, and sharing their contributions.

ItaloArchive.com

ID 2: HOW TO PARTAKE IN THE CELEBRATION:

• Want to never miss a post of ours this month? Make sure to follow the hashtag

You can follow
the hashtag on other
platforms, too. Make sure to share our posts with your friends and family too!

• Send us photos, videos, and or stories of the incredible Black Italian Americans in your life, especially your ancestors to be featured on our website’s blog.
We are always seeking older photos and videos for the archive.

ID 3: HOW TO PARTAKE IN THE CELEBRATION:

• Have a story about an incredible Black Italian whose story needs to be shared during this month? Is there Italian Black history that you would love for others to know about? Share it so we can feature it this month!

• Last, and most importantly: learn with us as we share about Italian Black History on our social media, site, and newsletter.

Honoring the diversity and strength of the Italo Diaspora is essential.

When we honor the entire Diaspora, we celebrate our rich heritage.

09/23/2024

Ciao a tutti! 👋🏼👋🏿👋🏻

I apologize for the unintended absence.

One of my greatest passions is making sure that our history — which is rich in diversity — is told.

Not only told, but preserved in a way where it’s accessible to everyone in our community.

As a disabled woman and an advocate, I saw the need for an accessible archive.

It’s an honor to be the first accessible archive for Italo people— and to be ran by someone with a disability.

People often forget about the barriers that exist for the disability community.

We rarely discuss website in accessibility or navigating research as someone with a disability.

Everyone deserves to learn our history and partake in preservation work. Without closed captions, image descriptions, Plain English, or large font as quick examples — there is so much that is barricaded.

The same way that all stories of Italo people deserve to be told, especially in underserved communities.

I’m committed to uplifting the diversity of the Italo people that has always existed, even if it may feel forgotten.

I can’t contain my excitement about the upcoming launch of the new things to come.

There will be genealogical databases, photos and stories of ancestors, programs, and so many other things.

I have been working the past few weeks on expanding Italo Archive.

Here’s to an exciting time ahead.

As always, your understanding and compassion mean so much to me.

Most of all, thank you to everyone whose love of Italo Archive allows it to grow and flourish. Your stories allow me to keep telling the stories of the Diaspora. You keep your ancestors alive through your words.

(Image descriptions in Facebook captions)