Thirty-One Days of Italians
Celebrating Italian heritage by acknowledging the accomplishments
of Italians and Italian Americans in America
The purpose of this website is
to educate others about the
significant contributions that
those of Italian heritage have
made to America.
Biographies range from one to
several paragraphs providing
an overview, and links to a
collection of selected
resources are provided for
more in-depth research.
The information is intended to
be shared and distributed;
however, the work in this
website is a result of massive
hours of researching,
organizing, creating, and
writing. If you use any of the
information on this website,
please give proper credit by
citing Thirty-One Days of
Italians and adding a link
to this website. Thank you.
jtmancuso@earthlink.net
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission except when published with this credit:
Excerpt from Thirty-One Days of Italians, ©2023 Janice Therese Mancuso.
At publication, all links were active.
Copyright 2007-2024
Janice Therese Mancuso
The Quick Facts List of Thirty-One Days of Italians provides a date and name to celebrate
for each day in October when Italian Americans honor their culture and heritage.
For biographies and resources, go to the Index of Names, scroll to the selected name,
and click on the link to Category. (Names are in alphabetical order within each Category.)
HM: Honorary Member (On the List every year.)
Brief Biographies of Honorary Members
October 1: The Italian Immigrant [HM]
A day to honor every Italian who journeyed to America from Italy.
October 2: Amadeo Pietro Giannini [HM]
Established the branch banking system in America.
October 3: Guglielmo Marconi [HM]
Known as the Father of Radio for his experiments with long distance wireless transmissions.
October 4: Filippo Mazzei [HM]
Supporter of American freedom during American Revolution. Thomas Jefferson’s inclusion of “all
men are created equal” into the Declaration of Independence is a paraphrase of Mazzei’s “All men
are by nature equally free and independent.”
October 5: Antonio Meucci [HM]
Original holder of the patent for the forerunner of today’s telephone.
October 6: Vincent Justus Burnelli
A pioneer in early aircraft design in modifying the configuration of passenger and transport airplanes
for a more efficient flight.
October 7: Gian Carlo Menotti
Opera composer, founded the Spoleto Festival of Two Worlds.
October 8: Ella T. Grasso
First woman in America to become state governor in her own right.
October 9: Father Pietro Bandini [HM]
Missionary for Native Americans. In 1898 established Tontitown, “a perfect example of colonization"
in Arkansas.
October 10: Enrico Fermi [HM]
Discovered radioactive elements that heralded the nuclear age.
October 11: Antonio Pasin [HM]
Created Radio Flyer wagon.
October 12: Christopher Columbus [HM]
Navigator that changed the world, opening trade routes and immigration from Europe to the
Americas.
October 13: Maria Montessori, M.D [HM]
Developed an educational method for teaching children.
October 14: Father Joseph Cataldo
Established a missionary for Native Americans in the 1850s and founded Gonzaga University.
October 15: John Ciardi
Poet laureate, etymologist, English professor, and radio host.
October 16: Giovanni Pietro Antonio Nobili
One of the first missionaries to work with Native American Tribes; helped establish Santa Clara
College.
October 17: Mother Francis Xavier Cabrini [HM]
First American citizen to become a saint.
October 18: Enrico Caruso [HM]
World’s most acclaimed tenor in the early 1900s.
October 19: Constantino Nivola
Combining architecture with sculpture, Nivola is known for his bas relief and semi-abstract artistry,
and for creating the technique for sand casting in cement.
October 20: John N. LaCorte
Established the Italian Historical Society of America and was the driving force behind the naming of
the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.
October 21: Arturo Toscanini [HM]
One of the world’s greatest orchestra conductors.
October 22: Frank Frazetta
Legendary fantasy and science fiction artist.
October 23: Pietro di Donato
Author of the Italian American classic “Christ in Concrete.”
October 24: Luisa Tetrazzini
World known coloratura soprano opera singer of the early 20th century.
October 25: Amerigo Vespucci [HM]
Namesake of America.
October 26: Bruno Sammartino
The “Living Legend” and “The Italian Superman” of heavyweight wrestling. Holds two Championship
reigns in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (now WWE).
October 27: Constantino Brumidi [HM]
Known as the “Michelangelo of the [U.S.] Capitol.”
October 28: Ezio Pinza
Considered by many to be the world’s greatest bass baritone of the early twentieth century.
October 29: Father Geno Baroni
Founder and president of the National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs and founded the Urban
Rehabilitation Corporation, the forerunner to Housing Counseling Services.
October 30: Andrea Palladio [HM]
"Father of Architecture," wrote The Four Books on Architecture, the most famous and influential
books on architecture of all time, and still in print.
October 31: Your Favorite Italian
Celebrate someone not on the list, but greatly admired.
2022-23 List of Names