Pamela Dorazio Dean

Pamela Dorazio Dean, Associate Curator for Italian American History, Western Reserve Historical Society

Saving history: Hope Finds Fiorelli

December 2016
They called him the “East Side Baritone.” William Angelo Fiorelli was just a teenager when his melodious voice developed and he sang wherever he could in his home town of Cleveland. The son of Charles and Grace Fiorelli, immigrants from...


Saving history: Professor Pietro Oddo and the Verdi Italian Band

November 2016
The Italian Banda, a band comprised mostly of brass instruments, can be traced back in Italy to the early 19th century. It has its roots in the military band tradition. The bande brought opera and classical music to those who could not afford to...


Saving history: Last Year in the Past

October 2016
Each year a number of activities are undertaken through efforts of the Western Reserve Historical Society and by me as Curator for Italian American History to save the history of our Italian American community. While some of those activities are...


Author to Speak about Relationship of Italian American Fathers and Daughters at IAWN Event

October 2016
Benvenuta! is an annual networking event hosted by the Italian American Women’s Network. They have a special evening planned for this year at The Music Box Supper Club on Thursday, Oct. 27, from 6-8 p.m.  The IAWN has reserved the Rusty...


Cleveland Italian American Heritage Committee Announces 2016 Honorees

September 2016
Each year, the Cleveland Italian American Heritage Committee, established by Mayor Frank Jackson who is an Honorary Co-Chair along with Councilman Matt Zone, solicits nominations of individuals and businesses in the Italian American community to...


Italian Ambassador Visits Cleveland History Center

September 2016
The recent Republican National Convention brought a lot of different people to Cleveland. In addition to the politicos were dignitaries, namely ambassadors from 70 different countries. Their interest was not only to observe the convention process...


Italian American Women’s Network to Share Stories and Family Recipes at Alta House

September 2016
The 6th annual IAWN Show and Share Potluck is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 28 starting at 6 p.m. at the Alta House in Little Italy, 12510 Mayfield Rd. This free event is open to anyone who wishes to share and listen to stories about their Italian...


Katherine and Josephine Ferrando: The Fame Blessed Sisters!

August 2016
They danced all over Cleveland, all over Ohio and on many national stages. They were a hit on the famed R.K.O. Vaudeville Circuit. They received top billing in the performer line-up with notable tag lines such as “The Fame Blessed...


Learn Italian at the WRHS Cleveland History Center this Fall

August 2016
Last spring, the Western Reserve Historical Society launched the Basic Italian class taught by Serena Scaiola, a native speaker of Italian with many years of teaching experience at all levels in several local Universities. The class was quite...


Traditional Italian Folk Dancing

February 2015
When we think of Italian folk dancing, we often think of the tarantella. This is the most popular of all Italian folk dances, probably because it originated in Southern Italy, and approximately 80% of the Italians who immigrated to America during...


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