Barbieri, Norma (with Theresa Argento), 2005 February 24

Part of Collection

Call Number: RU 1055, Series Accession 2008-A-001

[Aviary] ru_1055_2008-a-001_Barbieri

Scope and Contents

Norma Barbieri, the daughter of Italian immigrants, grew up in the Wooster Square neighborhood. She describes her father's decision to immigrate and his enduring love for the Italian language. Barbieri spoke Italian at home, but recalls being forced to speak English in school. She tells how as a child she played with being bilingual, laughing at her mother as she read the comics aloud in broken English, or how Barbieri gave nicknames to all the neighborhood characters.Theresa Argento, sitting in on the interview, offers her own related reminiscences, and Barbieri and Argento together describe their efforts to have Italian taught in local schools, and recall stories about growing up in Wooster Square, and how the neighborhood changed over the course of their lives, particularly after urban renewal.

Interviewer: Barca, Sarah

Length (min): 73

Dates

2005 February 24

Creator

From the Collection: New Haven Oral History Project (New Haven, Conn.)

Conditions Governing Access

From the Collection:

The materials are open for research.

Original audiovisual materials, as well as preservation and duplicating masters, may not be played. Researchers must consult use copies, or if none exist must pay for a use copy, which is retained by the repository. Researchers wishing to obtain an additional copy for their personal use should consult Copying Services information on the Manuscripts and Archives web site.

Existence and Location of Copies

A copy of this material is available in digital form from Manuscripts and Archives. Contact Manuscripts and Archives at beinecke.library@yale.edu to request access to the digital copy.