January 18, 1947. Letter from Vincenzo Vivo to Giuseppina Vivo

January 18, 1947. Letter from Vincenzo Vivo to Giuseppina Vivo

Italy -- Emigration and immigration -- History, Italian letters, Italians -- United States -- History -- 20th century

Vincenzo writes to his wife who is in La Spezia with their daughter Rosina. She will be headed to Bagnoli with Peppina. Vincenzo hopes that this will facilitate her return to America. We learn that she has been in Italy for a few months at this time. He wants them to live a different lifestyle once they are reunited and be happy together until death do them part. He speaks of the items he has sent: a suit for her brother, cigarettes for her, flour for Rosina, 20 pounds of maccheroni, $50 for his brother (to be exchanged on the black market, expecting an exchange rate of 500 lira per dollar). He asks her to go to Resina and collect $25 from “that clown” ("quel buffone" whom we can infer is Don Gugliermo). He is broken hearted to know that his grandson cannot even afford to buy socks. Vincenzo has sent some socks and would like to send more but now that the war is over he is no longer earning like before especially now that he is older. He is happy to learn that the $75 he sent for the holidays were spent on leisure. He will try to send his wife a ticket soon. He mentions that he had heard about his wife’s brother’s death. When she comes to America, she will see that the family has purchased a Victrola radio. He closes conveying everyone’s greetings.

Vincenzo Vivo

John D. Calandra Italian American Institute, Queens College, City University of New York

John D. Calandra Italian American Institute, Queens College, City University of New York

1947-01-18

Domenica Diraviam

John D. Calandra Italian American Institute, Queens College, City University of New York

Paper

it

Letter

Brooklyn, US-NY