Cardarelli family collection

Overview

Collection Summary

The Cardarelli family papers include two oral history interviews conducted with Silvana Fabrizi (nee Cardarelli), annotated transcripts of the interviews, and photographs of the Cardarelli family in San Donato Val di Comino, Italy near the end of World War II. The first oral history interview was conducted with Silvana Fabrizi and her sister Maria Puzzanghero on March 1, 1997 by Fabrizi’s daughter and son-in-law, Marcelle and Paul Lipke, and Peter Puzzanghero. The second consists of a conversation between Silvana Fabrizi and two family friends, Richard Seaman and Alan O’Hare, on February 13, 1999. The interviews describe the Cardarelli family’s experiences San Donato Val di Comino, Italy during World War II, including shelling, bombing, hunger, being compelled to house two German officers for a couple of months, and providing shelter and care for Jewish internees Mordechai (Mordko, Marco) Tenenbaum (1911-2009) and Ursula (Ulla) Tenenbaum (née Steinitz, 1916-2008) and their baby daughter Katrin (Katja, b. 1942). The oral history transcripts are heavily annotated with references to provide clarity and historical context. Photographs depict Silvana Cardarelli Fabrizi and Maria Cardarelli Puzzanghero as well as other family members in San Donato Val di Comino, Italy around 1944. Silvana Fabrizi (1931-2017) was born Silvana Cardarelli in San Donato Val di Comino, Italy. She lived with her mother, Francesca (Franceschina) Fabrizi (née Tocci, 1905-1990), and two older sisters: Maria (later Puzzanghero, 1927-2020) and Pompea (later Quintiliani, 1928-2008). Her father immigrated to the United States shortly after she was born. During World War II, Silvana and Francesca helped to house and protect Jewish internees Mordechai (Mordko, Marco) Tenenbaum (1911-2009) and Ursula (Ulla) Tenenbaum (née Steinitz, 1916-2008) and their baby daughter Katrin (Katja, b. 1942). Silvana immigrated to the US in 1948 and worked as a professional seamstress till her retirement. She married Benedetto Fabrizi (also from San Donato) in 1953 and raised three children: Marcelle, Aldo, and Fulvio.

Provenance

Marcelle Lipke donated the interviews with her mother Silvana Fabrizi and aunt Maria Puzzanghero to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in November 2022. As an accretion in December 2022 Marcelle Lipke donated an annotated transcript of the interviews. As an accretion in September 2023, Marcelle Lipke donated original photographs depicting Silvana Fabrizi and Maria Puzzanghero and other family members in San Donato Val di Comino, Italy.