The best way to keep Italian American heritage and culture alive is through education. In today’s fast-paced world with an overabundance of “breaking news” and a surplus of media outlets where it’s difficult to even keep up with current events, our Italian American history appears to be increasingly irrelevant.

Although an online search brings numerous websites offering information about Italian American Heritage Month, overall, the information provided is a generalization of some Italian Americans’ contributions to America, along with many mentions of Italian food. One website offers three ways to celebrate: have an Italian potluck, an Italian dessert or an aperitivo.

While Italian food is one of the most popular in the United States and pizza is a billion-dollar industry, our ancestors’ skills and determination have greatly impacted the progress of America and have provided opportunities for millions of Americans of all nationalities.

In the early years of American growth, Italian Jesuits journeyed to the Southwest and Pacific Northwest to assist, educate, and advocate for the rights of the natives. One of the first, Eusebio Francesco Chini – known as Father Kino – began his missionary work in the 1680s. In addition to establishing more than 20 missions, Chini was a cartographer and discovered that Baja California was not an island, as previously thought. His maps were published throughout Europe during the 1700s and 1800s.

Around the same time that Chini was in the Southwest, Enrico de Tonti arrived in the Midwest. In Europe, he had partnered with the French explorer, René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, and journeyed with him in America where they explored the Mississippi River. During his expeditions, de Tonti developed relationships with numerous native tribes and assisted in negotiating peace. He is known as the Father of Arkansas for establishing the first permanent settlement in what would become the state.

Giuseppe Maria Francesco Vigo arrived in America in the mid-1770s, during the Revolutionary War. In the aftermath of the war, fighting continued and Vigo – a successful fur trader – provided funds to support General George Rogers Clark in his efforts to seize Fort Sackville (Battle of Vincennes) from the British. The fort was a vital stronghold for claiming the American Northwest. Vigo became an American citizen in 1783.

As America expanded, numerous people with Italian heritage contributed their talents and initiatives to a prospering country, but their contributions have been absorbed into American culture and history. Here are a few:

In the late 19th century, Charles Angelo Siringo was a cowboy who became one of the first working undercover Pinkerton detectives. During the mid-20th century, Frank Zamboni designed the first ice resurfacer, a mainstay of ice-rink sports; Francis Rogallo (and his wife) developed the Rogallo Wing, extensively used in hang gliding; Jeno Paulucci founded Chun King, Jeno’s Pizza Rolls and Michelina’s – among many other companies – and has received numerous awards for his entrepreneurial skills; Francesco Scavullo became a world renowned fashion and celebrity photographer; and Leonard Riggio purchased the struggling Barnes & Noble in 1971 and it remains the largest retail book store in America.

Thirty-One Days of Italians provides condensed biographies and numerous resources for 75 accomplished individuals of Italian heritage. Each year, for Italian American Heritage Month, a list is created to highlight one person to celebrate for each day in October. The first day is reserved to honor Italian immigrants; the last day is to honor a special person of Italian heritage in your life.

Fifteen Honorary Members are on the list every year: In alphabetical order, they are Father Pietro Bandini, Constantino Brumidi, Mother Francis Cabrini, Enrico Caruso, Christopher Columbus, Enrico Fermi, Amadeo Pietro Giannini, Guglielmo Marconi, Filippo Mazzei, Antonio Meucci, Maria Montessori, Andrea Palladio, Antonio Pasin, Arturo Toscanini, and Amerigo Vespucci.

Names for the remaining 14 days rotate each year, allowing a day of honor every four to five years (names are selected one year in advance.) The 2025-2026 list features, in alphabetical order, Mario Andretti, John Buscema, Frank Capra, Eusebio Francesca Chini, Enrico de Tonti, Daniela Gioseffi, Mario Lanza, Jeno Paulucci, Leonard Riggio, Francis Rogallo, Francesco Scavullo, Charles Angelo Siringo, Giuseppe Maria Francesco Vigo, and Frank Zamboni.

Learn about these remarkable people. Learn Italian American history. Celebrate each day in October with an extraordinary person of Italian heritage and with an Italian potluck, Italian dessert, aperitivo, or pizza.

For biographies, resources and the complete October 2025 calendar, visit thirtyonedaysofitalians.com.