Physical description: Photograph is St. Michael’s Family picnic at Vesa Park, July, 1949. Pie Eating Contest. Man on left in suit, hat is Tony Lombardi, man standing with hat on head, moustache is Nick DiPitro. Man in shadow behind smiling lady is Sam Rotola Sr.. Man looking under man’s arm is Ernie Tricarico. Lady wearing glasses is Frances Rotola. Boy in front of Frances is Sam Rotola Jr. On left side two boys with faces in pie, left to right Ralph F. Mancinelli Jr. and Robert Tricarico. Inscription on back: “St Micheal’s Family picnic at Vesa Park/ Freddy Pie Eating Contest, July, 1949." Taken by Redus-Brown Studio 1340 Welton Ave GL. 7623 Denver, Colo.
This photograph is a digital scan of an original photograph lent for copying during the Italians of Colorado project. The original photograph is not owned by History Colorado. The digital scan was donated with permissions (see permissions in Registrar's file) and accessioned into the History Colorado collection.
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.
Notes:
See MSS.02595 Ralph Mancinelli files for additional information and images.
From the book Italy in Colorado by Alisa DiGiacomo:
The San Michele Arcangelo Societá (The Saint Michael’s Society)
The Saint Michael’s Society was founded on May 14, 1912 as a non-profit mutual benefit society to help its members in need during their lifetime and in case of death. Originally associated with Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, the group held dinner-dances at the parish hall and an annual high Mass honoring St. Michael in September.
Still active in Denver today (2024), the organization meets monthly and sponsors appreciation dinners, breakfasts and an annual golf tournament to benefit its scholarship program, which since 1994 has given several monetary awards to aid students at accredited universities.