Fortunato Anselmo
Encyclopedia
Fortunato Anselmo was the Vice Consul
of Italy of Salt Lake City from the 1920s to the beginning of the World War II and again from 1950 to 1965. Well respected for his volunteer work in favor of the new Italian immigrants, Fortunato acted in an essentially diplomatic role for Utah Italians
.
, Calabria
, Italy, Fortunato Anselmo immigrated to the United States at the beginning of the 20th century. He first settled in Pueblo, Colorado
, and worked as a reporter for the Italian-American newspaper Il Vindice, as well as in the mercantile industry. Fortunato married Anna Pagano in Pueblo in 1909. They had three children, Annette, Gilda, and Emma.
In 1911, the family moved to Salt Lake City where Fortunato operated a wholesale imported food business, F. Anselmo & Co. He opened another store in Carbon County
, where a large number of Italian immigrants had settled. He founded La Gazzetta Italiana in 1912 in Salt Lake, quickly establishing himself as a spokesman within and for the Utah Italian community. He sold his newspaper interest upon being named vice consul
.
Italians. Through the vice consul's office, all requests for passports, visas, and other papers and documents that required official approval of the Italian government in Rome were transmitted. Additionally, he served as a representative of the Bank of Naples, one of Italy's oldest and largest financial institutions. In this role, he handled the sending of money orders by local Italians to relatives and friends in Italy as well as providing tickets for traveling immigrants.
The vice consul involved himself actively in the political and social arenas of Salt Lake City and Utah. In 1917, Anselmo lobbied the Utah State Legislature
to have Columbus Day
declared a legal state holiday. That effort failed; however, on March 13, 1919, Gov. Simon Bamberger
signed into law a bill designating October 12, Columbus Day, a legal state holiday. On Monday, October 13, 1919, the largest Columbus Day celebration in Utah's history occurred. The Salt Lake Telegram labeled the parade as "one of the most pretentious pageants ever held in the city." It was reported that every group in the community enjoyed the celebration.
visited. Fortunato greeted a distinguished group of visitors in 1936, including Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli who would become Pope Pius XII
.
process, and became a United States citizen, in 1923 and as such was ordered by the Benito Mussolini
government to resign his post as vice consul. He was to remain until a successor could be appointed; however, since no one was named, Anselmo remained until the office was ordered to close by the U.S. government in 1941 with the outbreak of war
between the United States and Italy. However, in 1950, Fortunato received a reappointment and he remained as an Italian vice consul until his death on July 15, 1965.
Vice Consul
A vice consul is a subordinate officer, authorized to exercise consular functions in some particular part of a district controlled by a consulate....
of Italy of Salt Lake City from the 1920s to the beginning of the World War II and again from 1950 to 1965. Well respected for his volunteer work in favor of the new Italian immigrants, Fortunato acted in an essentially diplomatic role for Utah Italians
Utah Italians
Utah Italians include the descendants of immigrants from Italy, and a small number of recent immigrants from Italy. More and more Utah Italians of the third and fourth generations are trying to reconnect to the rich heritage of their country of origin, also to gain a better perspective of their...
.
Birth and early life
Born October 1, 1883, in Grimaldi, Province of CosenzaCosenza
Cosenza is a city in southern Italy, located at the confluence of two historic rivers: the Busento and the Crathis. The municipal population is of around 70,000; the urban area, however, counts over 260,000 inhabitants...
, Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
, Italy, Fortunato Anselmo immigrated to the United States at the beginning of the 20th century. He first settled in Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....
, and worked as a reporter for the Italian-American newspaper Il Vindice, as well as in the mercantile industry. Fortunato married Anna Pagano in Pueblo in 1909. They had three children, Annette, Gilda, and Emma.
In 1911, the family moved to Salt Lake City where Fortunato operated a wholesale imported food business, F. Anselmo & Co. He opened another store in Carbon County
Carbon County, Utah
Carbon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. Named for the major coal deposits in the area, the county seat and largest city, is Price. Carbon County is the second largest natural gas producer in Utah , with 94 billion cubic feet produced in 2008. As of 2010 the population was...
, where a large number of Italian immigrants had settled. He founded La Gazzetta Italiana in 1912 in Salt Lake, quickly establishing himself as a spokesman within and for the Utah Italian community. He sold his newspaper interest upon being named vice consul
Vice Consul
A vice consul is a subordinate officer, authorized to exercise consular functions in some particular part of a district controlled by a consulate....
.
Vice Consulate
Fortunato's appointment as Vice Consul of Italy of Salt Lake City came on April 20, 1915, and he became the official adviser to Utah and WyomingWyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
Italians. Through the vice consul's office, all requests for passports, visas, and other papers and documents that required official approval of the Italian government in Rome were transmitted. Additionally, he served as a representative of the Bank of Naples, one of Italy's oldest and largest financial institutions. In this role, he handled the sending of money orders by local Italians to relatives and friends in Italy as well as providing tickets for traveling immigrants.
The vice consul involved himself actively in the political and social arenas of Salt Lake City and Utah. In 1917, Anselmo lobbied the Utah State Legislature
Utah State Legislature
The Utah State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Utah. It is a bicameral body, comprising the Utah House of Representatives, with 75 Representatives, and the Utah Senate, with 29 State Senators...
to have Columbus Day
Columbus Day
Many countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas, which occurred on October 12, 1492, as an official holiday...
declared a legal state holiday. That effort failed; however, on March 13, 1919, Gov. Simon Bamberger
Bamberger
Bamberger as a surname may refer to:* Ármin Vámbéry , Hungarian orientalist* Cyril Stanley Bamberger , Battle of Britain Pilot* Eugen Bamberger , German chemist...
signed into law a bill designating October 12, Columbus Day, a legal state holiday. On Monday, October 13, 1919, the largest Columbus Day celebration in Utah's history occurred. The Salt Lake Telegram labeled the parade as "one of the most pretentious pageants ever held in the city." It was reported that every group in the community enjoyed the celebration.
Friend to Utah Italians
Anselmo also involved himself deeply in the lives of the immigrants and their families. They looked to him for aid in solving many of the problems encountered in daily life. He helped in bringing relatives from Italy to Utah, translated Italian into English, and acted as an adviser when legal matters were in question. One of his saddest duties took him to Castle Gate, Carbon County, in March 1924 to offer his assistance following a coal mine explosion that killed 172 men, including 22 Italians.Diplomatic duties
At the Anselmo home in Salt Lake City Fortunato and Anna greeted many dignitaries and celebrities. They entertained the Italian ambassador to the United States, Vittorio Rolandi-Ricci, in 1920; and in 1930 Italian heavyweight boxing champion Primo CarneraPrimo Carnera
Primo Carnera was an Italian boxer, nicknamed the Ambling Alp, who became the world heavyweight champion.-Biography:...
visited. Fortunato greeted a distinguished group of visitors in 1936, including Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli who would become Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
.
Honors, resignation, reappointment, death
In recognition of his consular service, Anselmo received two honors from the Italian government—Knight of the Crown of Italy and Officer of the Order of the Crown of Italy. He completed the United States naturalizationNaturalization
Naturalization is the acquisition of citizenship and nationality by somebody who was not a citizen of that country at the time of birth....
process, and became a United States citizen, in 1923 and as such was ordered by the Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
government to resign his post as vice consul. He was to remain until a successor could be appointed; however, since no one was named, Anselmo remained until the office was ordered to close by the U.S. government in 1941 with the outbreak of war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
between the United States and Italy. However, in 1950, Fortunato received a reappointment and he remained as an Italian vice consul until his death on July 15, 1965.