Book

The Madonna of 115th Street: faith and community in Italian Harlem, 1880-1950

Yale University PressNew Haven, Connecticut • Published In 1985 • Pages:

By: Orsi, Robert A..

Abstract
This is a study of the popular religion of Italian Americans living in Italian Harlem in New York City from 1880 through 1950. Much of the work is devoted to an analysis of the FESTA of the Madonna of Mount Carmel on East 115th Street, and on the devotion of the people -- Italian immigrants and their American-born children -- to this Madonna. This source also deals extensively with the socio-cultural aspects of the community in which the FESTA takes place, and on the significant role of the DOMUS in the lives of Italian American population. (The DOMUS, as used here, represents not only the family or household itself, but also the moral judgement of this unit in determining proper ethical behavior for its members.) This monograph also presents information on the role of women in the society with particular emphasis on the position of the mother in the family and on the history of immigration to Italian Harlem.
Subjects
External migration
Acculturation and culture contact
Gender status
Ethics
Household
Family relationships
General character of religion
Spirits and gods
Sacred objects and places
Organized ceremonial
culture
Italian Americans
HRAF PubDate
2000
Region
North America
Sub Region
Regional, Ethnic and Diaspora Cultures
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Types
Indigenous Person
Social Scientist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle ; 1991
Field Date
No date
Coverage Date
1880-1950
Coverage Place
East Harlem, New York, N.Y., United States
Notes
[by] Robert Anthony Orsi
Includes index. Bibliography: p. 235-282
LCCN
85010799
LCSH
Italian Americans