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Title: |
Alexander L. "Sonny" DeMaioribus Papers |
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Repository: |
Western Reserve Historical Society
Phone: 216-721-5722 http://www.wrhs.org |
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Creator: |
DeMaioribus, Alexander L. |
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Dates: |
1939-1949 |
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Quantity: |
0.21 linear feet (1 container and 1 oversize folder) |
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Abstract: |
Alexander L. "Sonny" DeMaioribus (1898-1968) was born in the Little Italy neighborhood in Cleveland, Ohio, and lived there on Coltman Rd. until the late 1930s. He was a bachelor who had four sisters and one brother. DeMaioribus attended Murray Hill School and East High School in Cleveland. In 1917, he became a messenger for the Cleveland Home Brewing Company. By the time the company closed in 1953, he had become its president and chief owner. DeMaioribus' interest in politics prompted him to run for city council in 1925. Despite a loss in that election, support from his fellow Italians in the 19th Ward (Little Italy), got him elected as their councilman in 1927. This made DeMaioribus the first Italian American elected to serve on the city council. DeMaioribus held many positions throughout his career in politics, including Ward Leader (1932-1960), Council President (1934-1942), Chairman of the National Committee (1945), and County Chairman of the Board of Elections (1960). He was a major leader in the Republican Party, serving as a delegate to the Republican National Convention and chairman of the local GOP executive committee. DeMaioribus worked to honor and emphasize Italian culture in the city of Cleveland through a number of different organizations and initiatives. One of his initiatives included the establishment and dedication of the Italian Cultural Garden. The Italian Cultural Garden was established in 1930, but was not completed. In 1939, DeMaioribus became president of the Italian Cultural Garden Association and the Italian Cultural Garden Sponsors Committee. He initiated fundraising campaigns for the garden as well as directed and oversaw its construction. His efforts came to fruition with the formal dedication of the garden on September 14, 1941. The collection consists of materials related to Alexander L. "Sonny" DeMaioribus' work with the Italian Cultural Garden Association, including correspondence, contracts, newspaper clippings, financial statements, purchase orders, reports, blueprints, speeches, member lists, histories, and invoices. |
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Identification: |
MS 5080 |
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Location: |
closed stacks |
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Language: |
The records are in English |
Alexander L. "Sonny" DeMaioribus (1898-1968) was born in the Little Italy neighborhood in Cleveland, Ohio, and lived there on Coltman Rd. until the late 1930s. He was a bachelor who had four sisters and one brother. DeMaioribus attended Murray Hill School and East High School in Cleveland. In 1917, he became a messenger for the Cleveland Home Brewing Company. By the time the company closed in 1953, he had become its president and chief owner.
DeMaioribus' interest in politics prompted him to run for city council in 1925. Despite a loss in that election, support from his fellow Italians in the 19th Ward (Little Italy), got him elected as their councilman in 1927. This made DeMaioribus the first Italian American elected to serve on the city council. DeMaioribus held many positions throughout his career in politics, including Ward Leader (1932-1960), Council President (1934-1942), Chairman of the National Committee (1945), and County Chairman of the Board of Elections (1960). He was a major leader in the Republican Party, serving as a delegate to the Republican National Convention and chairman of the local GOP executive committee.
DeMaioribus worked to honor and emphasize Italian culture in the city of Cleveland through a number of different organizations and initiatives. One of his initiatives included the establishment and dedication of the Italian Cultural Garden. The Italian Cultural Garden was established in 1930, but was not completed. In 1939, DeMaioribus became president of the Italian Cultural Garden Association and the Italian Cultural Garden Sponsors Committee. He initiated fundraising campaigns for the garden as well as directed and oversaw its construction. His efforts came to fruition with the formal dedication of the garden on September 14, 1941.
The Alexander L. "Sonny" DeMaioribus Papers, 1939-1949 and undated, consist of materials related to his work with the Italian Cultural Garden Association, including correspondence, contracts, newspaper clippings, financial statements, purchase orders, reports, blueprints, speeches, member lists, histories, and invoices.
This collection is of value to researchers studying Alexander L. "Sonny" DeMaioribus and his work with the Italian Cultural Garden in Cleveland, Ohio. It provides information on the history and construction of the Italian Cultural Garden in the 1930s and early 1940s, and is of value to researchers studying the preservation of Italian ethnicity and culture in Cleveland. Those interested in DeMaioribus' impact on the city of Cleveland and Italian culture will find this collection useful. This collection has documents pertaining to the dedication of the Italian Cultural Garden and the Cultural Garden League.
None.
Related Material: Related MaterialThe researcher should also consult MS 3700 Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation Records; PG 183 Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation Photographs; PG 394 Birth of Modern Cleveland Photographs; and Pamphlet C2444 Cleveland Cultural Gardens.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 5080 Alexander L. "Sonny" DeMaioribus Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
Gift of Elizabeth D. Manolio in 2009.
Processed by Pamela Dorazio Dean and Lindsey Fischer in 2011.