Physical description: Croce Family Oral History 2003. See attached for full content.
Original on audiotape cassette in case. Cassette side A has a length of 31 minutes, 51 seconds. Side B has a length of 16 minutes, 47 seconds. Transferred to one mp3 file for access. Clip of access file attached. Available on SoundCloud at: https://soundcloud.com/historycolorado/croce-family-oral-history
Project description:
In 2002, the Colorado Historical Society (now known as History Colorado) founded the Colorado Italian American Preservation Association (CIAPA). A volunteer organization, CIAPA’s mission is to work collaboratively with the Society and other organizations to develop, support and coordinate projects that preserve, promote and celebrate Italian American culture and heritage. Since 2002, CIAPA has carried out its mission by meeting with people from the Colorado Italian American community, recording their stories and creating an archive of research materials that includes oral histories, photographs, moving images, sound recordings and artifacts. To date, CIAPA has helped the Society acquire over 200 oral histories, 600 artifacts and nearly 6,000 photographs. Since 2002, CIAPA has developed over 4,000 research files, all of which document the history, culture and traditions of Italian American families in Colorado.
Interview Summary:
Interview conducted June 21, 2003 with Catherine Croce along with her children and grandchildren. The interview focuses mostly on the Croce family’s livelihood in farming in Welby, CO. Catherine discusses how her father traveled from Italy to Ellis Island in 1901 to ultimately learn farming in Colorado, and her mother’s birth in Denver before being raised at the Mother Cabrini orphanage. Catherine was born on March 11, 1913. Catherine also describes what life was like growing up on a farm as an Italian-American, discussing her childhood chores like gardening, digging trenches, and washing vegetables, and the process of “truck farming.” She also remembers her time at Assumption Catholic School starting in second grade, and the games she would play as a child. Marrying another Welby farmer, Bill Amerigo Croce, Catherine went on to have four surviving children. The rest of the interviewed Croce family discuss their own childhoods growing up on a farm, highlighting Italian meals, what clothes they wore, church events and involvement, harvesting and livestock, and their views on how community life in Welby has changed since they were children. The latter part of the interview focuses on Catherine and her children discussing family photographs, including wedding photos, images of the family farm, and school photos.
Interview Manuscript summary: Catherine talks about Welby, her family's emigration story, playing baseball, working as a candy packer and inspector for 27 years, her family farm, marriage to Bill Amerigo Croce in 1937particiaption in the elks, Altar and Rosary Society at Assumption and baking Italian cookies and cakes.
Notes:
See MSS.02595 Catherine Croce file for additional information and images.
CATHERINE CROCE OBITUARY
CROCE, CATHERINE Catherine G. Croce, 95, of Welby, passed away May 23. Preceded in death by her husband William Sr. and son Angelo. Survived by her children William (Roberta) Croce, Mary (Rick) Cram, Kathy (Allen) Conway, Jospehine (Robert) Rothfuss. Also survived by 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends Wednesday, May 28, from 5-7, with a rosary to follow at Horan and McConaty 9988 Grant St. Funeral Mass will be held Thursday, 10AM at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church 2361 E. 78th Avenue. Interment at Mt. Olivet to follow.
Published by Denver Post on May 28, 2008.