The Archive Committee decided several years ago to add to our web site some of our Chamber history for the accessibility of our members and for the preservation of the information in the event some unforeseen occurrence should destroy the paper version of the documentation which is currently available.

 

 

IACC - Michigan History

We begin by providing a short history of the Chamber. The Chamber was organized in 1919 by the then Consulate of Italy, Pietro Cardiello and some local Detroit area Business people to promote business between the two countries.   Some of the early founding fathers were Attorneys Joseph Schippacasse and Anthony Esperti, Dr. Vincent Mancuso and local businessmen Andrew Maglia, Mark Valente Sr., Frank Loverde and Raymond Cuomo.

 

Today (2005) the Chamber is an active and vibrant group of an estimated 220 Americans who are proud of their Italian backgrounds and are engaged in many worthwhile activities which contribute toward the good of the Southeastern Michigan community.

 

We have lost a large portion of our beginning history (1919 To 1965) due to a fire in the early 1970’s.  We present here for easy reading a condensed form of Archive information that we do have in paper form and intend to preserve for future generations.

 

 

The Archives Committee

Frank A. Pompa-Chairperson: 586 677 9641

John De Nardo: 586 228 2230

Gino Esposito: 586 716 6582

Samuel Ripepi: 586 778 1751

 

 

Memorial

We honor and remember these people who have blessed us with their membership participation and with their efforts and talents that have made this the fine organization that it is today.  We thank you for being proud of your heritage.  May you rest in peace.

 

Pietro Cardiello—Founder and first President.

 

 

 

Scholarship Activity

The Chamber Scholarship Program was initiated in 1984.   We have in our Archives an incomplete year to year history of young people who were given cash awards to help with their financial needs while they are attending college.  Over the years since its inception we have contributed to deserving Italian American students an amount of money which is well in excess of $ 100,000.00.   This very important community effort is supported primarily through funds which are raised in our annual golf outing which takes place in June of each year.  The Golf event has been named “The John B. Agosta Memorial” in honor of John who was instrumental in starting this fund raising effort twenty one years ago.

 

We mention for the record, the members who have been involved in administrating this very worthwhile program.  They are:   Charles Palumbo, John Agosta (dec.), Dr. Anthony Tersigni, Thomas Lanni, Joseph Ternello (dec.), Hon. Lido Bucci (dec.), Michael Santeufemia, Joseph Puzzuoli, Augusto Russo, Joseph Pellegrino, Hon. Peter Maceroni, Wayne Curto and the current Chairperson Joseph Toia.

 

For the first time since its inception the Board of Directors have determined  it best if an non-member group of people make the final award choices to the students who submit applications for scholarships. These prominent people who serve us at this time are: Nancy Bates, Mark Hackel, John Cook, George Sassin and Gery Maurii.

 

A large file of Scholarship documentation is available for anyone who may choose to research it.  Contact any of the Archives Committee members for further information.

 

 

Other Items of Interest

 

• Oldest Membership listing available in our Archives—1961.

• Oldest Chamber Letterhead available in our Archives—1964. 

• Listing of Officers and Board Members from 1965 to the present time. 

• Program Book for what we at this time believe was our very first  “Festa del Vino” or Officer installation Dinner Dance, held in January of 1969.  

• Program Book for an early Achievement Award Dinner honoring our own Anthony Bertoni who at that time was Chief of Inspectors of the City of Detroit Police Department.

• Archive records include a folder on “The Statue of Liberty” restoration fund raising and some of the Chambers efforts on that behalf.

• Archive records also include a Folder called “The Amperio Carli Writtings”. Amperio was a Chamber member (now deceased) who liked to write and was very proud of his Italian Background.

• We have an Archive folder which is full of many old newspaper articles and photos which mark a particular Chamber affair and or social event.

• We have in our Archive records many “old photos” of our Golf outings and or other social gatherings such as Festa del Vino group pictures, etc.

• We have in our file a “Video of Russell Gambino” talking to a local TV person telling the story of Detroit’s East side Italian Section referred to as “Cagolupo”.

• We have a folder which is called “tid bits from Italy” which is something that was started by Gus Russo when he was the Chamber President and he passed to the members via meeting notice mailings.   This is information and news of happenings from the so called “Old Country”.

• A folder of old meeting notices.

• One containing past meeting minutes.

• A folder of past program activities.

• A folder containing old Treasurers Reports.

• A folder of old letters, both from the Chamber to some person or Organization and letters from other parties to the Chamber.

• A folder containing most issues of the “Grapevine Newsletter”.

• We have in our Archives a folder containing information from the year 1972 when a convention was held with intent to have the Chamber grow into an International Organization.   This event was capped off with a dinner party which was held in the Grand Ballroom of the Book Cadillac Hotel in Detroit.  Needless to mention the effort to organize an International Italian American Chamber of Commerce was not successful.

• We have a folder received from Al Bongiorno ( past member and Chamber President) which has been kept intact and represents his experience while a member of the Chamber.

 

More to follow in future additions.  Should you have access to any form of Archive History please contact one of Archive Committee members.  Their home phone numbers are listed above. 

 

Thank you for your interest.   
F.A. Pompa