Stigliani Family, Papers, c. 1900-2003 (C4037)

2 linear feet

INTRODUCTION

The collection consists of correspondence, photographs, legal documents, journals, newspaper clippings, World War II materials, and various other papers belonging to the members of Stigliani, D'Andrea, and Vincitorio families, from the period c. 1900-2003. The documents produced by Louis F. Stigliani include his correspondence from 1934 to 1945, photographs taken during his military service in Italy, as well as other writings and legal documents. The collection also includes photographs, piano making manuals, and personal papers of Leonard Stigliani, Louis's father. There are photographs of the members of the related families of D'Andrea and Vincitorio, from the period c. 1900 to 1973, and genealogical records about the Stiglianis.

DONOR INFORMATION

The Stigliani Family Papers were donated to the University of Missouri by Joan Stigliani, daughter of Louis F. Stigliani, on September 4, 2004 (Accession no. 6057). An addition to the collection was made on December 13, 2005.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Leonard Stigliani was born on March 30, 1898 in the Gargano province of Italy. In 1906, he moved with his family to Chicago Heights, Illinois. After a short period of service in World War I, Leonard gained a certificate of naturalization and became a citizen of the United States. He was employed at Wurlitzer Company as a piano-maker, and became a foreman of piano production and the head of the Action Regulation Department. In 1924, he married Lucille D'Andrea of Chicago Heights, with whom he had already had a son, Louis. In 1949, he became a Noble of the Shriners at the Tebala Temple in Illinois. Leonard lived in DeKalb, Illinois, until his death in 1964.

Louis Frank Stigliani was born July 25, 1921 in Chicago Heights. He spent his early childhood in North St. Paul, Minnesota, until his family moved to DeKalb in 1937. After studies at the DeKalb Teachers College, Louis joined the 15th Air Force, 340th Bomb Squadron and served in Italy, the Balkans, and the south of France during 1944 and 1945. He was a cryptographer at the rank of sergeant. After the war, he graduated from dental school at Loyola College in Chicago in 1950, and ran a private practice for the next two decades. In 1948, he married Lillian Kaufmann, a nurse, with whom he had two daughters, Kay and Joan. He was a member of the American Legion and Masonic Lodge 145. Louis Stigliani died in 1973. Lillian married Robert Swanstrom and lived with him in Minnesota, but later divorced him and died in 2003.

Of the related families, Irma D'Andrea was the sister of Lucille D'Andrea. They had three brothers: Leonard, Anthony, and Joe. Leonard and his wife Jenny had three children: Donald, Lennie, and Paula. Anthony and his wife Florence had a daughter, Beverly. Joe D'Andrea was married to Pat. Louisa Stigliani, sister of Leonard Stigliani, married into the Vincitorio family.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Stigliani Family Papers have been arranged into four series according to the family member or branch that produced them: Leonard Stigliani Papers, Louis Stigliani Papers, Stigliani Family Legal Documents and Genealogical Information, and D'Andrea and Vincitorio Family Photographs.

The Leonard Stigliani Papers series consists of the documents pertaining to the life of Leonard Stigliani and his work as the foreman at the Wurlitzer piano factory. They include various piano making manuals and promotional material for the Wurlitzer Company, financial records, a Freemason handbook, his obituary, photographs from his workplace, and photographs taken during his youth and military service.

The Louis Stigliani Papers series includes papers created and collected by Louis Stigliani during his education, dental career, and service in Europe during World War II. The documents have been divided into two subseries: World War II Papers and Personal Papers.

The World War II Papers subseries documents Louis's WWII service. It includes his Balkan flight mission plans and photographs, newspaper clippings from DeKalb newspapers about his service, discharge information, military ID, a Wurlitzer company war bulletin, various essays and poems he wrote during the war, address books, a journal, war portraits, postcards, various advertisements and theater programs, and photographs from his travels in America and Italy.

The Personal Papers subseries contains correspondence between Louis Stigliani and various relatives and friends from 1934 to 1945. These letters offer a very personal insight into the life of an American youth in the late 1930s and the events on the Mediterranean front during the war. The subseries also includes various personal papers from before and after the war and a collection of photographs of his wife, Lillian.

The Stigliani Family Legal Documents and Genealogical Information series contains legal certificates pertaining to various members of the Stigliani family. It also includes the original passport which the Stigliani family used when they arrived in the United States in 1906, a family tree book, and a letter and several documents containing genealogical information on the Stigliani family. The documents have been arranged according to the family member to whom they belonged.

The D'Andrea and Vincitorio Families Photographs series consists of photographs of the members of the two families related to the Stigliani family. The photos span the period from c. 1900 to 1973.

FOLDER LIST

Leonard Stigliani Papers Series

The Leonard Stigliani Papers series consists of the documents pertaining to the life of Leonard Stigliani and his work as the foreman at the Wurlitzer piano factory. They include various piano making manuals and promotional material for the Wurlitzer Company, financial records, a Freemason handbook, his obituary, photographs from his workplace, and photographs taken during his youth and military service.

f. 1Wurlitzer papers
f. 2Personal papers, 1952-1964
f. 3Miscellaneous, 1918-1964

Louis Stigliani Papers Series

The Louis Stigliani Papers series includes papers created and collected by Louis Stigliani during his education, dental career, and service in Europe during World War II. The documents have been divided into two subseries: World War II Papers and Personal Papers.

f. 4Flight missions, 1944
f. 5Newspaper clippings, 1942-1946

World War II Papers Subseries

The World War II Papers subseries documents Louis's WWII service. It includes his Balkan flight mission plans and photographs, newspaper clippings from DeKalb newspapers about his service, discharge information, military ID, a Wurlitzer company war bulletin, various essays and poems he wrote during the war, address books, a journal, war portraits, postcards, various advertisements and theater programs, and photographs from his travels in America and Italy.

f. 6Wurlitzer bulletin, 1945
f. 7Compositions and scrapbooks, 1944-1945
f. 8Photographs, address books and journal
f. 9WWII miscellaneous
f. 10-12Photographs, 1942-1945

Personal Papers Subseries

The Personal Papers subseries contains correspondence between Louis Stigliani and various relatives and friends from 1934 to 1945. These letters offer a very personal insight into the life of an American youth in the late 1930s and the events on the Mediterranean front during the war. The subseries also includes various personal papers from before and after the war and a collection of photographs of his wife, Lillian.

f. 13Miscellaneous, 1939-1973
f. 14Correspondence to Louis Stigliani, 1934-1942
f. 15-17Correspondence to Louis Stigliani, 1943
f. 18Correspondence to Louis Stigliani, 1944-1946
f. 19Correspondence from Louis Stigliani, 1942-1943
f. 20Correspondence from Louis Stigliani, 1944
f. 21Correspondence from Louis Stigliani, 1945

Stigliani Family Legal Documents and Genealogical Information Series

The Stigliani Family Legal Documents and Genealogical Information series contains legal certificates pertaining to various members of the Stigliani family. It also includes the original passport which the Stigliani family used when they arrived in the United States in 1906, a family tree book, and a letter and several documents containing genealogical information on the Stigliani family. The documents have been arranged according to the family member to whom they belonged.

f. 22Legal Documents and Genealogical Information, 1905-2003

D'Andrea and Vincitorio Families Photographs Series

The D'Andrea and Vincitorio Families Photographs series consists of photographs of the members of the two families related to the Stigliani family. The photos span the period from c. 1900 to 1973.

f. 23Lucille and Irma D'Andrea photographs, c. 1900-1950
f. 24D'Andrea Brothers photographs, c. 1930-1973
f. 25D'Andrea Family photographs - unidentified, c. 1900-1930
f. 26Vincitorio Family photographs, n.d.

INDEX TERMS

These index terms are the subjects, people, places, etc. under which this collection is listed in all available indexes at the Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia. If you are interested in a specific index term, please contact the reference staff

D'Andrea familyf. 23-25 (pictorial image)
D'Andrea, Irma (1921-1953)f. 13, 23 (pictorial image)
D'Andrea, Lucille (1901-1962)f. 2, 14-23
Italy, Romef. 10-12 (pictorial image)
Kaufmann, Lillian (1926-2003)f. 13 (pictorial image)
Pianosf. 1
Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, DeKalb, Illinoisf. 1-3, 6
Stigliani, Leonard (1898-1964)f. 1-3, 14-22
Stigliani, Louis F. (1921-1973)f. 4-22
Stigliani, Louis F. (1921-1973)f. 19 (pictorial image)
Vincitorio familyf. 26 (pictorial image)
World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operationsf. 4 (pictorial image)
World War, 1939-1945--Balkan Peninsulaf. 4-5, 7-12, 19-21
World War, 1939-1945--Fictionf. 7
World War, 1939-1945--Italyf. 10-12 (pictorial image)
World War, 1939-1945--Italyf. 7-12, 19-21
World War, 1939-1945--Mapsf. 4
World War, 1939-1945--Pictorial worksf. 8, 10-12 (pictorial image)