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Casacalenda, Molise, Italy | | Date: | | Notes: In 1909 the contributor's maternal great grandfather, Francesco Di Tullio, came to North America looking for work. At that time anyone who was in good health and willing to work could settle in North America. Francesco Di Tullio first found employment at various odd jobs, and then, after a few months, he found the elusive "good job" with Canadian Pacific Rails. CP paid higher wages than other employers, but the working conditions were deplorable. Supervisors there were pressured to get the most out of their employees, pushing them to work very fast, giving no concern to their physical safety. Francesco Di Tullio, a diligent worker, was crushed between two moving rail cars, as he was trying to hook them together. The poor man was rushed to a hospital near Paris, Ontario, where the doctors found it necessary to amputate his arm. CP did everything in its power not to compensate him, but luckily, he took the matter to court, and a judge ruled in his favor. Francesco Di Tullio, like the majority of Italian migrant workers between the years 1890 and 1935, returned to Italy. Like others of his generation, Francesco Di Tullio used the money he made in North America to enlarge his property holdings in Italy, and by so doing, improved his family's standard of living. | Contributed by: Mary Melfi
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Casacalenda, Molise, Italy | | Date: 1930s | | Notes: In the 1910s one of the sons of the contributor's great grandparents (seen in this photo) left for Buenos Aires, Argentina. His dreams of finding "a good job" did not materialize. After a few years he severed all ties with his family, including his wife and two small children. Nowadays, Italians' mass migration to the Americas is viewed positively, few care to remember the pain it caused. | Contributed by: Mary Melfi
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Casacalenda, Molise, Italy | | Date: 1950s? | | Notes: In the early 1920s the contributor's paternal grandfather, Michele Melfi, decided to come to North America to earn extra money. He first worked as a farm laborer in Quebec, and then crossed over to the States, where he managed to save a bit of money. After four years, he, like many other Italian migrant workers, returned to his home town, and there used his savings to buy up land, making him a rather well-to-do farmer. According to government data nearly half of all Italian migrant workers who worked abroad between 1890 and 1941 returned to the country of their birth. | Contributed by: Mary Melfi
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Casacalenda, Molise, Italy | | Date: 1950s | Notes: Here is a picture of a returnee, Raffaele, his two Canadian-born children (riding the donkey) and a group of his relatives. The returnee had left Casacalenda as a young seventeen year old, accompanied by an older relative, Francesco DiTullio. While Francesco returned to his hometown after a few years of hard labor, Raffaele and his family decided to make Montreal their home. Also in the picture are the contributor's grandparents. The man holding the reigns of the donkey (Nonno Giuseppe) had also worked in North America (He helped with the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge). Like many other migrant workers (pre World War II) Nonno Giuseppe returned to Italy and here used his savings to improve his property.
| Contributed by: Madeleine
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Terlizzi, Puglia, Italy | | Date: 1951 | | Notes: This picture was taken just before my family left for Canada. A baptism had taken place that day, but we wouldn't have gone to the photographer's hadn't my mother, my brother and I been leaving for Montreal where my father was already living, working at odd jobs, to help pay for our voyage. Standing from left to right are: Zio Giovanni, Zia Maria, my mother Madalena, Zia Isabella and Zio Guacchino. My brother is in the carriage and I am standing next to my grandmother. | Contributed by: Gemma Forliano
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Terlizzi, Puglia, Italy | | Date: 1950s | | Notes: My grandfather and his three grandchildren pose for a picture. Like most pictures that were sent to relatives who were living abroad the pictures came with notes. For the note written on this picture see next entry. | Contributed by: Gemma Forliano
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Terlizzi, Peglia, Italy | | Date: 1950s | | Notes: This text appeared behind the photograph of my grandfather and his grandchildren [See previous entry]. In the text the writer is saying that he wants to introduce his young children via the photograph. Like many other immigrants the members of my family got to know their families still living in Italy through pictures and letters. | Contributed by: Gemma Forliano
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Potenza, Basilicata, Italy | | Date: 1960 | | Notes: At this family dinner one of my relatives is reading a letter possibly from my parents in Canada. | Contributed by: Gemma Forliano
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Terlizzi, Puglia, Italy | | Date: 1960 | | Notes: My first return trip (1960).... I was born in Terlizzi, Puglia in 1946. I spent my early childhood in Belgium, where my father worked in the coal mines. In the early 1950s my father immigrated to Canada where I went to French school. In 1960 I returned to my home town and fell heads over heels in love with the small town. I loved the people, the smell and look of the place. I vowed I would return. In fact, I did do so later on -- I studied art in an Italian university and later lived in Venice for awhile. Present in the photo are: my grandmother Giovanna Cioce, her sister, Julia, and my brother, Gerardo (Jerry). The dress I am wearing was made by my mother. She made her living as a seamstress. Everyone loved the outfits she made. | Contributed by: Gemma Forliano
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Palermo, Italy | | Date: 1960s | | Notes: The photo of the "Christoforo Columbo" in the harbour of Palermo was taken by Wolf Arnold. | Contributed by: Wolf Arnold
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