CUNY Chancellor Matthew Goldstein Supports Italian American Museum

The contributions, struggles and achievements of Italians and their descendents showcased for all to see in one museum is the objective of the Italian American Museum. Not just a collection of momentos of history but the story of the genius of a people who have made lasting contributions to society and our way of life
This is the ambitious goal of Joseph V. Scelsa, who has devoted all his energy to create the core structure of the Italian American Museum – provisionally located at the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute, Queens College Manhattan, 28 W. 44th Street. This is the first museum dedicated to preserving and exhibiting the social and cultural contributions of the people of Italians lineage to the American way of life.
New York has been the main place Italians in the United States have settled, since the 1800s. Until now, the human, artistic, andcultural contributions of Italian Americans never had an appropriate home in Manhattan.
In 1999 at the New York Historical Society, thanks to the dedication of Dr. Philip Cannistraro, the Italian American Museum’s Historical Advisor and Distinguished Professor of Italian American Studies at CUNY, an exhibit was organized by the Calandra Institute entitled "The Italians of New York: Five Centuries of Struggle and Achievement," which showed iconographic materials related to the Italian American experience in New York. The exhibit was a great success. It treated various socio-cultural themes, from religious devotion to political and labor union commitment, to the formations of associations, as well as simple everyday life.
Joseph V. Scelsa, Dean of the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute, encouraged by this success, decided to go on and found a permanent museum of Italian American culture so that through collecting, preserving, and interpreting objects and reminiscences, the tangible contribution both collectively and individually of Italians and Italian Americans could be shown, along with the process of integration into U.S. society, while forging an Italian American identity.
. The Museum opened with its first exhibit in July 2002, entitled "The Italians of New York: The Immigrant Experience." The second exhibit, which opened on October 11, 2002, was sponsored by former Speaker of the New York City Council, Peter F. Vallone, entitled "Prisoners in Our Own Home: The Italian American Experience as America's Enemy Aliens." The third exhibit was "Behind the Barbed Wire: Angelo Spinelli's Photo Documentation on Life and Culture in a POW Stalag Camp," opened March 1, 2003 and currently on display. “Italian Americans in Sports” is scheduled for May 2003, and an exhibit of the sculpture of Onorio Routolo will follow it this fall.
On April 11th, the second Annual Gala was held by the Italian American Museum. The funds raised on that occasion will be used for future exhibits and locate a permanent home for the museum. Currently, through the courtesy of CUNY, the Italian American Museum is in transitional residence at the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute.
At the Gala, held at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan, awards were presented to Ambassador Charles A. Gargano, Chairman, Columbus Citizens Foundation and Chairman, Empire State Development Corporation, New York State; Joseph Maselli, founder and former president of the American Italian Renaissance Foundation which houses the Maselli Museum and Research Library; and Baroness Mariuccia Zerilli-Marimò, founder, Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò at New York University. Each awardee received "La Bellissima America," a sculptural relief by artist Patrick Morelli.
"The worldwide influence of the Italian heritage is immeasurable," said Joseph V. Scelsa, President and CEO of the Italian American Museum, and "Our 2003 award recipients have led important cultural institutions, and their work has had a major impact on cultural life experienced not just by Italian Americans, but by all people who appreciate Italian art and culture."
In his March 20, 2003 speech to the Coalition of Italo-American Associations held at the Columbus Townhouse on East 69th Street, Chancellor Matthew Goldstein announced: “There are not many examples of ethnic museums associated with a university. When you look at some of the very prominent Museums around these United States, the ones that are doing extraordinary work are the ones connected with Universities. Let us associated this wonderful new experience, this wonderful new museum that all of us in this room and elsewhere in this city can be deeply proud of by associating it with the Calandra Institute and make it an adjunct to The City University of New York. Our time has come and I am delighted to be the Chancellor that will make this happen. What we will do when the Museum gets affiliated with The City University of New York through the Calandra Institute? Museum exhibits will provide a special focus for faculty and student projects and studies in ways in which we haven’t seen before. The Museum will attract distinguished visitors who can offer lectures and seminars at the Institute. The artistic resources of the Museum will enhance the Institute’s intellectual resources, providing the Institute with an enriched context for its academic offerings. Nothing has given me greater pleasure than supporting the development of the Italian American Museum. Now is the time to build upon and upon and deepen the relationship with the Calandra Institute. I look forward to working with you, Joe Scelsa, in making this a reality; with you, John Calandra as we make your dad’s name and your efforts and expand the focus of the Calandra Institute into this new arena.”