Today is National Cousins Day — a time to recall childhood memories with extended relations and to learn about the experiences of our ancestors. In my case, this means reaching out to my father’s first cousin James W. Arvia. Known to me as Cousin Jim or Jimmy, James is our family historian. With the help of Professors Alessandro Arvia and Ettore Angio, he’s traced the Arvia lineage back to the 1680s in Alessandria del Carretto, Italy. There, he’s helped build the small town’s only kindergarten and is currently working on commemorating a historic tragedy with a memorial plaque in Calabria.
Here in America, James has published a series of photobooks under the “Famiglia” moniker. I am among the 100+ Italian Americans who collectively contributed nearly 400 photographs (ranging from 1909 to 1961) to the fifth and final volume. “Famiglia V” features the surnames of more than 150 different families who resided on the Far South Side of Chicago. While the book captures the specificity of the Kensington, Pullman and Roseland neighborhoods, there’s a universality to the imagery — from formal portraits and staged wedding shots to candid snaps of people, pets, and places of the not-so distant past. For example, preschooler Janice Barsotti is pictured with Santa at Gately’s People’s Store in 1949.
“My books contain a minimum of text because my readers share a connection to the Roseland area, whether they grew up there or have treasured memories tied to the area. I allow them to breathe life into the photos themselves,” says the “Famiglia” author. “Each reader sees their own loved ones, cherished places, and moments that were important to them.”
Such moments include a photo of boxing legend Rocky Marciano being served coffee by Rosemarie Sarelli when visiting her home on 105th Street and South Park Avenue. Another picture shows Louie Abate attending a wedding reception with groomsmen (and famed footballer) Dick Butkus. There’s also a shot of St. Joseph’s College student Randy Ferrari with Chicago Bears star Mike Ditka in the early ’60s.
In addition to offering flashes of celebrated athletes as well as depicting regular fellows of all ages at work and play, “Famiglia V” showcases female fashionistas. Not only does the book document the pre- and post-war bridal attire on Alfena Canalini, Camilla Rago, Concetta Corriero, Enrica Bertoletti, Frances Napoli, Lillian Restaino, Mary Lou Lupo, Minnie Marsala, Theresa Petrocelli, and others, it includes images of Antoinette and Diana Faoro, Gabriella Zorzi, Gertrude Adduci, Mary Ann Sola Gorney, and more dressed up for their First Holy Communion.
Not to be outdone, a teenaged Ann Maria Vallortigara models her avant-garde look in 1926 and Joan Lungaro dons a prom dress in the 1950s. In between those decades, little musicians Lucille Carli and Judith Valerio pose with their accordions.
Most importantly, “Famiglia V” visually recounts the everyday lives of female caretakers. In one shot, Marie Frigo and her sister Valentina roll out dough for their homemade ravioli. In another, Lorraine Coltella Corate smiles for the camera while looking after a baby amid a backdrop of hanging laundry.
Despite their housebound status, these mid-century homemakers don’t appear to be isolated. Photos confirming female camaraderie and all-around community include a group of women on a St. Anthony Church pilgrimage to Melrose Park; an all-girls softball team playing for the Sherwin-Williams company; and sporty mothers and daughters competing against each other in a tournament at Morandi’s Field on Prairie Avenue.
Equally empowering are images related to World War II. Kay Urbani can be seen returning home after serving in the Women’s Army Core while Armida Rigoni Bozani is shown christening a patrol craft built by Pullman Standard in the 1940s. By the 1950s, women maintained their presence in the workplace as “Famiglia V” documents Ida Frosolone running her own boutique on South Michigan Avenue. Across town, Dominic Arvia works alongside female employees called bindery girls at his book bindery on Printer’s Row.
Other establishments presented in the book include Dal Santo’s grocery store, Emil’s Tavern, Lino Canalia’s Club 580, Pesavento’s Restaurant, Domenico Dodardo’s Piemonte Bakery, the Prairie Inn, the Roseland Pool Hall, Vallortigara’s Travel Agency, and the Turano Baking Company for which Giuseppe Leggero delivered fresh bread.
“I am the son of a first-generation Italian American who grew up among many other Italian families in the Greater Roseland area on the Far South Side of Chicago. I have many fond memories of the people and places from that time,” explains the “Famiglia” series creator.
“At first, I thought about writing a book to capture those experiences. After leafing through some family photo albums, I decided to let photos tell my family’s story and the stories of all the other Italian families in my old neighborhood. Although the pictures are old and faded, much like some of our memories, they keep alive the yearning to relive those precious years. I hoped that by sharing them, I could pass on those feelings to a new generation.”
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Copies of James W. Arvia’s “Famiglia” books are available for viewing at the Casa Italia Florence Bartolomei Roselli Library in Stone Park, IL and at the South Suburban Genealogical and Historical Society in Tinley Park, IL.
Click here to learn more about the Alessandria del Carretto memorial plaque project.
All photos featured are courtesy of “Famiglia V” (2025).
