LibGuides: Italian American Heritage Month: Home

NYC Events

2022 Feast of San Gennaro
The Feast celebrates the life of San Gennaro of Naples who was Bishop of Benevento, Italy and was martyred in 305AD. We're happy to announce that our Grand Marshall for the 2022 Feast of San Gennaro is is Former NASA Astronaut, Michael J. Massimino. This year's theme will be Celebrating America and Honoring Our Armed Forces!
2022 Manhattan Columbus Day Parade
Secure a spot along Manhattan's Fifth Avenue for a family-friendly celebration filled with colorful floats and rousing musical performances. The parade honors Italian-Americans' contributions to New York City and draws around million spectators and 35,000 marchers. The parade travels from 44th Street to 72nd Street and marching bands will perform along its length, and there's also a "red carpet" area between 67th and 69th Streets for stage acts—special passes are needed to get up close.

Italian and Italian American Cuisine

Fordham Prep Celebrates Italian American Heritage Month

Each October, millions of Americans of Italian descent come together to celebrate Italian American Heritage Month and reflect on their families’ histories, traditions, and values. This special heritage month was first celebrated in 1989 when it was proclaimed by President George H.W. Bush and the United States Congress to honor the achievements and contributions of Italian immigrants and their descendants living in the U.S.

Featured Biography: Joseph Petrosino

Lt. Det. Joseph Petrosino

Petrosino: Lt. Det. Joseph Petrosino Association of America

The Lt. Det. Joseph Petrosino Association in America, Inc. was to honor the life of the late Lt. Det. Joseph Petrosino, a dedicated public servant who made the ultimate sacrifice working to make our world a better place. He gave his life but left behind a legacy and footprint for others to follow.

Lt. Det. Joseph (Guiseppe) Petrosino was a NYC Police Officer who served in the early 1900’s. He created the Bomb Squad, the Canine Squad and the Undercover Squad, all of which are still being used in today’s police work.

The Mission and Purpose of the Lt. Det. Joseph Petrosino Association in America, Inc. includes recognizing and honoring those individuals who make a difference in Law Enforcement, Public Service, Government and Business with their commitment to the betterment of our communities. Our mission also includes working with the NYPD and other organizations who share our vision and mission to recognize the legacy of Petrosino. We are proud of our affiliation with the International Association Joe Petrosino in Padula (Sa) and Association Joe Petrosino Sicilia – Palermo. Through our combined efforts, we hope to inspire young Italians and Italian Americans here and around the world to embrace their language, culture and heritage.

Petrosino's Mission To Italy

1909 was over one hundred years ago, the NYPD’s only secret weapon in the war on terror was a brave lieutenant known in “NYC’s Little Italy” as “the Detective in the Derby”. The terrorists of that time were called the Black Hand, ruthless gangsters who preyed on Italian-American immigrants in NYC’s Little Italy. To gather additional information to combat the Black Hand Lt. Giuseppe (Joseph) Petrosino was dispatched to Sicily on an intelligence-gathering mission. Petrosino was ambushed by gunmen near a statue of Garibaldi in downtown Palermo. In the history of the NYC Police Department Lt. Det. Joseph Petrosino was the first NYC Police Officer to be slain on foreign soil.

Italian American Heritage Month Resources

NYC The Official Guide: Little Italy
When Italian immigrants moved to this Manhattan neighborhood in the late 1800s, they brought their customs, food and language. That heritage remains evident today—Little Italy’s streets are lined with restaurants serving Italian staples on red-and-white checkered tablecloths. Di Palo’s cheese shop and Ferrara Bakery & Café—known for its cannoli and espresso—are among the long-tenured businesses still operating today. One of NYC’s oldest street fairs, the annual Feast of San Gennaro, celebrates the patron saint of Naples every September with food and festivities.
Little Italy In The Bronx: The Good Taste Of Tradition
The Official Site of Businesses of Arthur Avenue Known As LITTLE ITALY IN THE BRONX ™
The authentic Italian culture found in the vibrant community of Bronx Little Italy sustains a thriving business district that includes world-class restaurants, high-quality artisanal food shops, and specialty stores carrying handmade local and imported items that you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. Charming old-world ambiance emanates from the generations of Italian families who continue to give the area a welcoming small-town character that is unique for an urban setting.
Italian American Periodicals at the Library of Congress
This guide highlights library collections comprising newspapers, magazines, scholarly journals, trade journals, bulletins, almanacs, and newsletters that draw attention to compelling aspects of the history and culture of Italian American communities.

Italian American Museum

Italian American Museum
The new Italian American Museum (IAM) will serve as a cultural hub and community nexus for Italian Americans and the Little Italy neighborhood. Through permanent and temporary exhibits, robust educational and cultural programming, and collaborations with the community, the IAM will become the preeminent center for learning about and engaging with Italian as a platform for sharing Italian American voices and celebrating Italian American achievements, the IAM will be interesting to both Italian Americans and non-Italian Americans, bringing Italian American culture and heritage to younger generations and a wide range of new audiences.

The Italian American Museum preserves, promotes, and celebrates the culture and history of Italian Americans, serving as living record of their contributions to America and a bridge between the remarkable past and the evolving future of the community. By allowing Italian Americans to share their story in their voice, the Italian American Museum will encourage a full appreciation of what it means to be Italian American.

Italian American Heritage Month: Home