Works Cited

Dunn, Geoffrey. Santa Cruz Wharf. Arcadia Publishing, 2016.

This source includes experiences of prominent Italian American families in Santa Cruz, California. The book focuses mainly on times of World War II, and the effects war had on Italian Americans in Santa Cruz. In this book, author Dunn includes archival photographs of the Santa Cruz Wharf, the fishermen that worked on the wharf, and other Italian American families. The photographs are used to illustrate certain conditions Italian Americans faced in difficult times. Dunn furthers the importance of the photographs by describing what is being captured. Dunn includes historical events to further the connection between the photographs and other events to reiterate the effects of World War II policies on Italian American identity in Santa Cruz.

Laurino, Maria. The Italian Americans: A History. W.W. Norton & Company, 2015.

In this textbook, author Maria Laurino discusses the importance of Italian American experiences within the United States throughout many generations. In connection to the topics I focused on in my essay, I concentrated on the chapters: “Why We Fight” (pgs. 172-183), and “Enemy Aliens” (pg. 184-194). Each of these chapters illustrate the racial biases, discrimination, and hardships Italian Americans experienced during World War II, and the impact it had on their identity and lives in America. “Why We Fight” also comments on the idea of Italian Loyalty to the United States during wartime, because even though they were members of America, they were viewed as enemies of American patriotism. “Enemy Aliens” includes information about Italian American soldiers’ participation in the war effort, as well as the injustices Italian Americans faced within the country, and the issues of alien registration divisions.

Locatelli, Mia. “Sandra Locatelli: Experiences of an Italian American in Santa Cruz, California.” 12 Mar. 2021.

In this interview I conducted with my mother, Sandra, we discuss her experiences of being an Italian American, as well as the experiences of her father (my grandfather) after he started a family in Santa Cruz. Instead of conducting a formal interview, I wanted the format to be more of a conversation. I simply asked my mom to discuss what her father’s experiences were as an Italian immigrant in Santa Cruz, and how she remembers her father’s life as an Italian American within society. Additionally, I asked my mom to discuss her life as an Italian American, and what her experiences were like, that her parents were immigrants. I used this interview as the Italian component for my minor, and I believe it enriches the essay to have excerpts in Italian.

Locatelli, Nicolas. “John and Jimmy Colombini Immigration Stories.” 17 Aug. 2005.

This interview was conducted by my brother, Nicolas, nearly sixteen years ago. In this interview, he asks our grandfather, John, and our great uncle, Jimmy, about their experiences as Italian immigrants to the United States. Though the interview was brief, and there were not many details about their experiences, they do discuss important events that many Italian Americans experienced. Both brothers independently immigrated to the United States to escape poverty and hardships in Italy, and start a new life in America. They immigrated by boat to Ellis Island, and from there, got a train to San Francisco where they found work. Only a couple of years into their lives in America, John and Jimmy were drafted into the military during World War II. After their involvement in the war, they were awarded their American citizenship, and returned to the United States where they lived as first generation Italian American citizens.

Schilling, Elizabeth. “Farming in the Alternative.” Santa Cruz Sentinel, 27 Sept. 1992.

This source is an article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel from 1992. In this article, author Elizabeth Schilling focuses on the diversity Santa Cruz farming had to offer in this time period. By the early 1990s, my grandfather had been farming in Santa Cruz for over forty years. In those years, my grandfather experienced issues due to his hardships with the English language, and challenges of being an Italian American. However, my grandfather, along with many other Italian Americans were able to overcome these struggles, and succeeded as farmers along the West Coast. The article illustrates the diversity in farming in Santa Cruz and the importance of the community created by people of different origins.

Signore, Luca (2014) "Silenzio: The Effects of World War II Policy on Italian-American Identity," Historical Perspectives: Santa Clara University Undergraduate Journal of History, Series II: Vol. 19, Article 13.

In this document, author Luca Signore illustrates the effects of World War II policies on Italian Americans. I focused mainly on the aspects Signore included of Italian Americans in Santa Cruz during World War II, and how they were affected. Not only did World War II policies negatively impact Italian Americans throughout the country, but along the California coast specifically, they were forced to relocate from their homes, and suffered many restrictions (most of which kept them from their work). This source was extremely helpful in giving specific examples of Italian Americans in Santa Cruz that were affected, and I also found it interesting that this source is rather local to Santa Cruz, since it is from a Santa Clara University journal of history.