From Italy to Vernon Avenue.
An Italian Immigration Story
Title
From Italy to Vernon Avenue.
An Italian Immigration Story
An Italian Immigration Story
Subject
Italian Family Immigration
Description
Documents, oral history, photographs that reconstruct the Valentine (Valentino) and Bisignani families immigration story.
"Growing up Italian-American, I have always wondered about the story of my ancestors. My grandmother, Lorraine Valentine, has passed family history and culture down to me. However, many questions my grandmother and I had about our family remained unknown. Details of their lives in Italy and early years in New York were untold. My goal was to uncover these details to piece together their story. My research led me to documents, pictures, and objects that contributed to my understanding of who my ancestors were and what their lives were like. From the earliest records I found to the present day, this is our Italian family’s story." Emily Oswald
"Growing up Italian-American, I have always wondered about the story of my ancestors. My grandmother, Lorraine Valentine, has passed family history and culture down to me. However, many questions my grandmother and I had about our family remained unknown. Details of their lives in Italy and early years in New York were untold. My goal was to uncover these details to piece together their story. My research led me to documents, pictures, and objects that contributed to my understanding of who my ancestors were and what their lives were like. From the earliest records I found to the present day, this is our Italian family’s story." Emily Oswald
Creator
Emily Oswald, winner of an Undergraduate Research Award at Florida Atlantic University
Ilaria Serra, faculty mentor
Ilaria Serra, faculty mentor
Date
1809-2026
Contributor
Emily Oswald
Rights
Emily Oswald
Format
pdf
Language
English - Italian
Coverage
Italy, Laurenzana and Ortona al Mare
United States, New York
United States, New York
Collection Items
Vernon Avenue
On June 8, 2025, my family and I stepped off of the subway and onto Vernon Boulevard. The numbering system for addresses has also been changed, so unfortunately the houses where my ancestors lived could not be accurately located. I came to this…
Lorraine Valentine's eleventh birthday on August 16, 1963.
Lorraine Valentine is celebrating at her Aunt Marie’s house, which was the upstairs unit above Angelina & George’s home. Lorraine is pictured with her grandparents, George and Angelina, and her father, Vincent Valentine.
Valentine children
All the grandchildren of Angelina and George on Easter 1962. John Valentine’s children: Carole (back row farthest to the left) was 17 years old and the eldest grandchild. Her brother, John, is sitting next to her and was 15 years old. Their sister,…
St. Mary’s Catholic Church
105 years after the wedding of Angelina and George, three of their descendants stand on the steps of the church where they married: their granddaughter Lorraine Valentine, theri great-granddaughter Stacey, and their great-great-granddaughter Emily.