Guide to the Church of Saint Joachim, New York City Records CMS.079

31 Pages·2013·0.07 MB·English

Guide to the Church of Saint
Joachim, New York City Records
CMS.079
Finding aid prepared by Richard del Giudice
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit
September 20, 2013
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Center for Migration Studies
July 1987
Guide to the Church of Saint Joachim, New York City Records CMS.07
Table of Contents
Summary Information .................................................................................................................................3
Biographical/Historical note..........................................................................................................................4
Scope and Contents note...............................................................................................................................4
Arrangement note...........................................................................................................................................5
Administrative Information .........................................................................................................................5
Controlled Access Headings..........................................................................................................................6
Other Finding Aids note................................................................................................................................6
Collection Inventory......................................................................................................................................7
Series I: Correspondence.........................................................................................................................7
Series II: Financial Records....................................................................................................................9
Series III: Minutes of the Trustees of St. Joachim...............................................................................14
Series IV: Property, Rent, Remodelling................................................................................................15
Series V: Court Summons, Last Wills and Testaments........................................................................17
Series VI: Parish and Parishioners........................................................................................................18
Series VII: Religious Societies..............................................................................................................20
Series VIII: Church Bulletins, Theatrical Events, Clippings, Souvenir, Booklets, Photographs, and
other Items.............................................................................................................................................23
Series IX: Materials Related to World War I.......................................................................................24
Series X: Baptismal, Marriage, and Death Records.............................................................................26
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Guide to the Church of Saint Joachim, New York City Records CMS.07
Summary Information
Repository Center for Migration Studies
Creator Church of Saint Joachim (New York City).
Title Church of Saint Joachim, New York City Records
Date [inclusive] 1888-1959
Extent 8.0 Linear feet in 7 record cartons and 2 manuscript boxes.
Language English
Language of Materials note Materials are in English and Italian.
Abstract This collection contains the records of the Church of Saint Joachim, which
was located in lower Manhattan in New York City. The records reflect
the Italian immigrant community of the church and contains vital records,
meeting minutes, correspondence, financial records, activities of religious
societies, and other records, from 1889-1945.
Preferred Citation note
Center for Migration Studies of New York; Church of Saint Joachim, New York City Records (CMS
079); Box; Folder.
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Guide to the Church of Saint Joachim, New York City Records CMS.07
Biographical/Historical note
The Church of Saint Joachim opened to public worship in 1888, after it was purchased from a Protestant
corporation. It was the first exclusively Italian parish established in the Archdiocese of New York
administered by the Missionary Fathers of St. Charles Borromeo. The first expedition of these
missionaries in the United States took place in 1887 and opened a temporary chapel on Centre Street and
another on Mulberry Street. In December 1888, Archbishop Bernard Corrigan appointed Reverend Felice
Morelli as pastor. The parish consisted of poor Italian laborers, numbering 15,000 when established and
25,000 at the parish's peak.
The church and adjoining property was purchsed in 1888, through Antonio Cuneo, from Mitchel A.C.
Levy for $82,000. From 1894 to 1898, the interior and exterior of the church were renovated, the rectory
was built, and constructed three apartments houses on the adjacent property on Roosevelt Street and Park
Row. Until 1907, when Friar Vincenzo Jannuzzi became pastor, the church was in a significant amount of
debt. Jannuzzi adjusted the financial conditions of the parish and devoted his work to the renovation and
decoration of the church. A new main altar and sanctuary railings of Carrara marble were installed, niches
of saints placed alongside the walls, and eight stained glass windows inaugurated. He also improved the
rectory and church basement, transforming it into a hall for social activities and Sunday school classes. It
was at this church that Mother Frances X. Cabrini began her activities in America.
In 1926, Friar Arnaldo Vanoli succeeded Jannuzzi and in 1935, Friar Tarcisio Prevedello became pastor.
Upon entering his office, Prevedello decided to bring a new life to parish by reorganizing the societies
and Sunday school and by fostering social activities.
In 1957, the City of New York decided to clear the area where the church was located, in order to build
the Chateau Pierre Housing Project. Efforts were made to save church as an historical monument, but it
was not possible to impede its demolition, which occurred in 1959.
Scope and Contents note
This collection contains the records of the Church of Saint Joachim in New York City, from 1889-1945.
The materials consist of correspondence, financial records, meeting minutes, registers, vital records,
photographs, records of activities of religious societies, court summons, last wills and testaments,
bulletins, and printed materials. The majority of the papers are related to the work of pastor Vincenzo
Jannuzzi for the church. The collection reflects the financial conditions of the church as well as the social
life and welfare of the Italian immigrant community in lower Manhattan. The collection also gives a sense
of what lower Manhattan resembled at the beginning of the 20th century, both the population and the
geography of the neighborhood.
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Guide to the Church of Saint Joachim, New York City Records CMS.07
Arrangement note
This collection is arranged into ten series:
Series I: Correspondence
Series II: Financial Records
Series III: Minutes of the Trustees of St. Joachim
Series IV: Property, Rent, and Remodeling
Series V: Court Summons and Last Wills and Testaments
Series VI: Parish and Parishioners
Series VII: Religious Societies
Series VIII: Church Bulletins, Theatrical Events, Souvenir Booklets, Photographs, and other Items
Series IX: Materials related to World War I
Series X: Baptismal, Marriage, and Death Records
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Center for Migration Studies July 1987
Revision Description
Edited by Nicole Greenhouse for DACS compliance September 2013
Conditions Governing Access note
Open to researchers by appointment.
Conditions Governing Use note
Copyright is owned by the Center for Migration Studies. Permission to publish materials must be
requested before use.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
This collection was donated from the Eastern Province headquarters.
Processing Information note
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Guide to the Church of Saint Joachim, New York City Records CMS.07
In 2013, this collection was entered into the Archivists' Toolkit in compliance with DACS and folder
descriptions were simplified from the original print finding aid. (The original finding aid is available in
print upon request). Folder titles in the container list online may vary from the the physical folder titles.
Controlled Access Headings
Personal Name(s)
• Demo, Antonio
• Jannuzzi, Vincenzo
Subject(s)
• Baptismal records |z New York (State) |z New York.
• Church records and registers |z New York (State) |z New York.
• Church societies.
• Italian Americans |x Religion.
• Marriage records |z New York (State) |z New York.
• World War, 1914-1918.
Other Finding Aids note
The original inventory is available in print upon request.
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Guide to the Church of Saint Joachim, New York City Records CMS.07
Series I: Correspondence
Collection Inventory
Series I: Correspondence 1907-1935
Scope and Contents note
This series contains correspondence to and from several pastors of St. Joachim, related to church
and personal affairs. There letters to and from Jannuzzi and the Archbishop of New York on the
administration of St. Joachim. Many letters, mostly by Jannuzzi, deal with the financial hardship and
related problems of the church. Included are letters by Friar Demo, Friar Martinell, and other priests. An
item of interest is an undated letter from Professor Giannini from Casa Italiana at Columbia University
to Jannuzzi, soliciting information on Italians during the depression. Jannuzzi's response contains an
analysis of the moral, social, and financial conditions of the Italians.
Box Folder
1 1
Lodovico Martinelli form letter with invitation to purchase tickets to a
concert to benefit the church; Gambera's letter related to masses celebrated
at St. Joachim Oct-Nov 1903
1 2
Letter by Jannuzzi to Clergy of New York City for donation of objects to
be disposed of at a future church fair undated
1 3
15 Letters by Jannuzzi to Father Demo, previous administrator of St.
Joachim 1906-1927
1 4
Demo's Letter related to a payment made by Jannuzzi Apr 12, 1923
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Guide to the Church of Saint Joachim, New York City Records CMS.07
Series I: Correspondence
1 5
Letters addressed to Jannuzzi from priests and an order of sisters from
Italy, concerning the proposal to establish a day nursery at St. Joachim, the
case of poor Italians at St. James parish, and a testimonial girl to Father
Massimo Rinaldi 1908-1934
1 6
Letters addressed to Jannuzzi 1915-1924
1 7
Letters to Jannuzzi from Supervisor of Catholic Charities, the Archbishop
of New York, the Vicar General's Office, the Chancery Office, and
Monsignor Ferrante 1907-1918
1 8
Letters to Jannuzzi from the Archbishop of New York and the Chancery
Office on celebrations and concerts to benefit Roman Catholic
Organizations 1918
1 9
Letter by Jannuzzi to the Bishop of Brooklyn, requesting to establish a
chapel at Patchogue, Long Island May 6, 1916
1 10
Letter by Jannuzzi to Cardinal John Farley on a plan to transfer the Italian
parish from St. Joachim to St. James Feb 16, 1917
1 11
Letter by Jannuzzi to Cardinal John Farley regarding the Knights of
Columbus War Fund Apr 14, 1918
1 12
Letter by Marchi to Demo; Letter by Poggio to Demo on the state of the
church 1905-1906
1 13
Letters by Jannuzzi 1910, 1913
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Guide to the Church of Saint Joachim, New York City Records CMS.07
Series II: Financial Records
1 14
Letters to Reverend Arnaldo Vanoli 1926-1934
1 15
Letter by the Secretary of St. Joachim Lyceum to the Archbishop of New
York Oct 24, 1905
1 16
Two Letters in Italian 1902, 1916
1 17
Letter by Professor Torquato Giannini of Cara Italiana to Jannuzzi on how
the Italian community was effected by the economic crisis of the 1930s
and Jannuzzi's response 1933
Series II: Financial Records 1896-1945
Scope and Contents note
This series contains the records of bonds and promissory notes made by St. Joachim to financial
institutions and private persons; correspondence, mostly by Jannuzzi with lawyers, real estate offices,
creditors, and the Archdiocese of New York related to the church and property owned by the church.
Included are insurance policies, tax payments to New York City, and financial reports to the Archdiocese
of New York for the years 1889-1945. Also included are the contracts and records of payment to the
organist and bulls and invoices from 1905-1925.
Box Folder
1 18
Bond made by Church to Washington Life Insurance Company for
$260,000 Jan 13, 1896
1 19
Letter from Jannuzzi to Washington Life Insurance Company 1905,
1908-1909
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Guide to the Church of Saint Joachim, New York City Records CMS.07
Series II: Financial Records
1 20
Letter from Jannuzzi to W.P. O'Connor Jun 10, 1909
1 21
Letters from Washington Life Insurance Company to Jannuzzi 1908
1 22
Receipts from Insurance Company for mortgage payments made by St.
Joachim 1900-1905
1 23
Certificate from the Registrar's Office of the County of New York City
certifying mortgage made by St. Joachim to John Reid and Trustees 1896
1 24
Letters from Reid and Company to Demo and Jannuzzi 1905-1908
1 25
Receipts from Reid and Co. on interest payments made by St.
Joachim 1903-1908
1 26
Letter related to mortgage made to Joseph Mulgreen 1904-1907
1 27
Receipts from Mulgreen 1902-1906
1 28
Letter from Jannuzzi to Mulgreen related to a visits with the Archbishop of
New York 1913
1 29
Letters from the Pittsburgh Life and Trust Company to Jannuzzi 1909
1 30
Financial document signed by Jannuzzi and Demo, with Charles Zerbarini,
Lawyer and Witness, related to the surrendering of 34 bonds held by Demo
to St. Joachim 1913
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