"Checchino: A Father & Son
Journey Toward Dusk"
by Francis L. Battisti

"Merchants, Midwives
and Laboring Women"
by Diane Vecchio

           The contribution of Italian-Americans to life in New York's Southern Tier goes beyond spiedies or the development of a Little Italy district along Oak Hill Avenue in Endicott. And the importance of Italian-American women in the local community today can be noted in the prominence of Barbara Fiala as Broome County Executive and 126th District Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo.
          The true measure of an ethnic group must be taken by learning the history and the day-to-day lives of its families. Two recent books tell of life among Italian-Americans in the Triple Cities in both a well-researched broad historical study and a personal, intimate account of a man's last days.
          During his early years in Italy and America, Francesco "Checchino" Battisti probably never expected that his life would be the subject of a biography. It was his final days that moved his son Francis to write "Checchino: A Father and Son Journey Toward Dusk". In 1929, Signor Battisti followed his father across the ocean to a new home in Ithaca, NY. But then his father returned to Italy, leaving young Checchino to fend for himself in the New World, which he did very well as a member of the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps, a worker at the Endicott-Johnson shoe factory, a self-employed caterer and restaurant owner. He and his wife raised three children. Francis L. Battisti is a clinical social worker who teaches at Broome Community College and is a Ph.D. candidate at Marywood University.
          Checchino died of cancer in 1999, and Francis wrote about his final days both in tribute to his father and as a way of guiding others through the sad and difficult times as loved one's life comes to an end.

He...had not mentioned our family in his list of accomplishments and I wondered about this. I asked, "What about your family, Dad? You have always done the right thing for all of us." "That's just natural. A man always takes care of his family," he replied.
The lesson for me was that all humans are always thinking and processing. Perhaps not how I expected it, but Dad was a thinker all his life and I never realized it."
             --from Checchino

          While "Checchino" is the story of one immigrant's life, "Merchants, Midwives and Laboring Women: Italian Migrants in Urban America" tells of many women who came from Italy in the first years of the 20th century. Contrary to common belief, they did not necessarily confine their lives to family obligations but entered the workforce to improve their families' well-being and apply skills that had been learned in the old country.

Even those young women who disliked school, dropped out, and went to work in the shoe factories remained at home and contributed a substantial amount - if not their entire pay envelope - to the family fund. Family members, especially children, felt a strong sense of obligation to assist their parents.
            --from Merchants, Midwives and Laboring Women

          Diane Vecchio is a native of Cortland, NY and associate professor of history at Furman University in Greenville, SC. Her book on Italian working women compares experiences in Milwaukee, WI and Endicott, NY, the Endicott chapters focusing on the period when the local economy was dominated by the Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company. The benevolent health and welfare policies of E-J made it a popular place to work, and Dr. Vecchio reports that Italian women especially enjoyed the enlarged social sphere that the factory provided.
          Francis Battisti and Diane Vecchio will join Bill Jaker to discuss their books, and their observations of the Italian-American community in the Southern Tier. To take part in the discussion call during the live broadcast to 1-888/359-9754 or send an e-mail here or directly to WSKG.Radio@Gmail.com.

A dozen of the most important choreographers and figures in the dance world sat down with Joyce Morgenroth, Professor of Dance at Cornell University, to speak about inspiration, the art of movement and the sheer work required to create a dance performance. On Tuesday, July 11 she joins Bill Jaker on OFF THE PAGE to discuss her book, "Speaking of Dance".