January 5, 1943. Letter from Rose Canestrato to Leona Badia, née De Nardo
Italian-American, 1943
Rose fills Leona in on what she received for her birthday and Christmas from her honey, and she asks Leona how she is doing.
Rose Canestraro
Badia Family Collection
Italian Program, Department of Languages, Linguistics and Comparative Literature, Florida Atlantic University
1943-01-05
Federico Tiberini, Vincenza Iadevaia, Viviana Pezzullo
Patricia Badia-Johnson
Paper
en
letter
Bellaire, US-OH
January 10, 1943. Letter from Danny Badia to Leona Badia, née De Nardo
Italian-American, 1943
Danny's letter starts off reassuring that if she moves to Detroit she would get a good job and like it. He mentions Mimi, Mario, Emil, Louie, and her brother Bob. He is excited that she will be coming down to Detroit, especially since he will be working the day shift, like a "white man". He recalls that she had said last year that they could get married in June of 1944.
Danny Badia
Badia Family Collection
Italian Program, Department of Languages, Linguistics and Comparative Literature, Florida Atlantic University
1943-01-10
Federico Tiberini, Vincenza Iadevaia, Viviana Pezzullo
Patricia Badia-Johnson
Paper
en
Letter
Detroit, US-MI
January 17, 1943. Letter from Danny Badia to Leona Badia, née De Nardo
Italian-American, 1943
Danny suggests that Leona has a one-track mind because she is unwavering in her decisions. He says he will try to be fair with her: she can come to Detroit when she is ready, set the engagement, pick the ring, and they will be married when she is ready. It is his way of doing things fifty-fifty: she can do all of the thinking and he can do all of the waiting.
Danny Badia
Badia Family Collection
Italian Program, Department of Languages, Linguistics and Comparative Literature, Florida Atlantic University
1943-01-17
Federico Tiberini, Vincenza Iadevaia, Viviana Pezzullo
Patricia Badia-Johnson
Paper
en
Letter
Detroit, US-MI
January 17, 1943. Letter from Louise Battista to Leona Badia, née De Nardo
Italian-American, 1943
Louise apologizes for not answering her mail promptly. She points out that her sister writes to 10 men in the service and that she only writes to 5. One of them had gone overseas and she had not heard form in 2 months. When she encountered his mother she learned "he was over". She asks Leona how her Christmas was. Louise's family did not get a tree. Her brother is gone. Her mother cried all day.
Louise Battista
Badia Family Collection
Italian Program, Department of Languages, Linguistics and Comparative Literature, Florida Atlantic University
1943-01-17
Federico Tiberini, Vincenza Iadevaia, Viviana PezzulloFederico Tiberini, Vincenza Iadevaia, Viviana Pezzullo
Patricia Badia-Johnson
Paper
en
Letter
Detroit, US-MI
January 27, 1943. Letter from Rosina De Luca to Leona Badia, née De Nardo
Italian-American, 1943
Rosina inquires about the flood and encourages Leona to come to Detroit. It would be in Leona's best interest in order to spend time with Danny since he may leave for the army like Dominick Celestine. She asks about Mimi, Jean, and Joe.
Rosina De Luca
Badia Family Collection
Italian Program, Department of Languages, Linguistics and Comparative Literature, Florida Atlantic University
1943-01-27
Federico Tiberini, Vincenza Iadevaia, Viviana PezzulloFederico Tiberini, Vincenza Iadevaia, Viviana Pezzullo
Patricia Badia-Johnson
Paper
en
Letter
Detroit, US-MI
February 3, 1943. Letter from Fray De Nardo to Leona Badia, née De Nardo
Italian-American, 1943
Fray writes to request that Leona ship the waffle iron (pizzelle iron) to her since her mother is staying with her in Detroit.
Fray De Nardo
Badia Family Collection
Italian Program, Department of Languages, Linguistics and Comparative Literature, Florida Atlantic University
1943-02-03
Federico Tiberini, Vincenza Iadevaia, Viviana PezzulloFederico Tiberini, Vincenza Iadevaia, Viviana Pezzullo
Patricia Badia-Johnson
Paper
en
Letter
Detroit, US-MI
February 3, 1943. Letter from Amelia Zaccagnini to Leona Badia, née De Nardo
Italian-American, 1943
The letter is two-sided; one for Leona from her cousin asking her to come to Buffalo and be her confirmation sponsor, and the other for Johnny (nicknamed Moonshine). There is a short update on her school progress, passing from 7B to 7A and then best wishes to him.
Amelia Zaccagnini
Badia Family Collection
Italian Program, Department of Languages, Linguistics and Comparative Literature, Florida Atlantic University
1943-02-03
Federico Tiberini, Vincenza Iadevaia, Viviana PezzulloFederico Tiberini, Vincenza Iadevaia, Viviana Pezzullo
Patricia Badia-Johnson
Paper
en
Letter
Buffalo, US-NY
February 9, 1943. Letter from Danny Badia to Leona Badia, née De Nardo
Italian-American, 1943
The letter from Danny was hand delivered by Paul Perfetti. Danny continues to question why Leona will not move to Detroit especially since her mother is there. How much longer will she have him suffer? He jokes that he is being a good boy and that the one night that he plays morra, Leona's "informant" delivers the news immediately.
Danny Badia
Badia Family Collection
Italian Program, Department of Languages, Linguistics and Comparative Literature, Florida Atlantic University
1943-02-09
Federico Tiberini, Vincenza Iadevaia, Viviana Pezzullo
Patricia Badia-Johnson
Paper
en
Letter
N/A
February 8, 1943. Letter from Emelio De Nardo to Leona Badia, née De Nardo
Italian-American, 1943
Emelio updates about work and the family. He is working 6 days a week. Fray is feeling better again. Mother and Matilda are busy with house work. He tells her to stop writing and come there. She can earn well ($50-60 per week). If she has no intentions, forget about it. They are sorry to hear that Johnny got his questionaire.
Emelio De Nardo
Badia Family Collection
Italian Program, Department of Languages, Linguistics and Comparative Literature, Florida Atlantic University
1943-02-09
Federico Tiberini, Vincenza Iadevaia, Viviana Pezzullo
Patricia Badia-Johnson
Paper
en
Letter
Detroit, US-MI
February 10, 1943. Letter from Bob Secontine to Leona Badia, née De Nardo
Italian-American, 1943
Bob informs Leona that he won't be able to keep their plans for the end of the month because Della is getting married. He lets her know that he has seen Danny and reports how good of a boyfriend he is. He went ot bed at 9:30. He refrains from sharing too much news since Paul and Connie will be visiting soon and can tell Leona in person.
Robert Ianarelli Secontine
Badia Family Collection
Italian Program, Department of Languages, Linguistics and Comparative Literature, Florida Atlantic University
1943-02-10
Federico Tiberini, Vincenza Iadevaia, Viviana PezzulloFederico Tiberini, Vincenza Iadevaia, Viviana Pezzullo
Patricia Badia-Johnson
Paper
en
Letter
Detroit, US-MI