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Order Sons of Italy of Canada fonds
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Physical description
8.6 metres of textual records
ca. 275 photographs
4 videocassettes
3 audio cassettes
ca. 67 objects
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Biographical history
The Order Sons of Italy of Canada is a fraternal society for Italians in Canada.
The Order Sons of Italy of Canada originated in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, in 1915. After the successful foundation of a social club for Italian immigrants one year earlier, Father J.P. Martinez, a local Catholic parish priest, encouraged the members of this group to apply for affiliation with the Order Sons of Italy in America. Founded in 1905 in New York City, the goal of the Order Sons of Italy in America was to re-unite in one single family all Italians scattered throughout North America.
By the early 1920's enough local (or "filial") lodges had been founded across Ontario to qualify for the formation of a Grand Lodge in 1924. The creation of the Grand Lodge led to the official incorporation of the Order Sons of Italy in Ontario (OSIO) in 1926. Later that same year, the Mutual Benefit Society of the Order Sons of Italy in Ontario was incorporated as a special body dedicated to administering sick benefits and mortuary insurance.
By 1939, there were 28 lodges, nine of which were female lodges. In 1993, with its spread to Manitoba, the OSIO was officially reincorporated as the Order Sons of Italy of Canada.
During the years of peak popularity in the 1920s and 1930s, OSIO members from the Italian consulate often promoted fascist ideologies which were prevalent in Italy at the time. Some members broke away from the OSIO to form a left-wing splinter group, the Independent Order of the Sons of Italy, in Montreal.
The OSIO came under suspicion by authorities during the Second World War when Canada was at war with Italy. A number of leaders were declared 'enemy aliens' and were interned. Many of the filial lodges closed during the war, while others operated at a reduced capacity. When the war ended, only some lodges were revived, while others were newly created.
The OSIO eventually regained its former popularity as it strove to assist newcomers to Canada during the height of Italian immigration from 1951-1961. In the 1970's, membership numbers began to decline again with changing demographics and a shift in the needs and interests of the Italian-Canadian community. This period was followed by a broadening in geographic scope when lodges were founded in Manitoba in the early 1980's.
Lodges are governed by a slate of elected officers. The head of each lodge is the President (formerly "Venerable"), and is aided by several officers including the assistant President, Administrative Secretary, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Orator, and Trustees. The Grand Lodge operates in the same fashion, however it does so on a national level by providing an administrative locus for all filial lodges.
Custodial history
Scope and content
Fonds consists of textual records, photographs, sound and moving images and artifacts created, accumulated and used by The Order Sons of Italy of Canada (formerly the Order Sons of Italy in Ontario) since its founding in 1915.
These records were created by officers of the Grand Lodge, and officers and members of the local lodges and the Mutual Benefit Society in the course of the following activities: management of the organization's finances; administration of membership; provision of mortuary and health insurance; social and cultural activities; meetings and conventions; charitable work; and advocacy work.
These records also reflect the development of the Order including its rapid expansion in the 1920s-1930s, regeneration in the post-war period, and gradual evolution in the last half of the 20th Century.
Fonds also includes artifacts, original records and photo reproductions used as display items in the exhibit, "Con le mani ed i cuori" mounted by the Multicultural History Society of Ontario.
Fonds is arranged into series by local lodge, and at the sub-series level for the records of the Grand Lodge.
For a more detailed description, use this link to the Archives of Ontario's descriptive database: http://ao.minisisinc.com/scripts/mwimain.dll/144/PROV/PROV/REFD+F+4378?SESSIONSEARCH
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Fonds was donated to the Archives of Ontario in November 2000 by the Order Sons of Italy of Canada.
Arrangement
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Availability of other formats
Textual records in this fonds are available on microfilm. See series descriptions for details.
Restrictions on access
Some records contain sensitive personal information and have been restricted. See series descriptions for details.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Copyright has been transferred to the Archives of Ontario by the donor. There are no restrictions on reproduction. Permission of the Archives of Ontario is required for publication; submit a Request to Publish Form.
Finding aids
For a more detailed description, use this link to the Archives of Ontario's descriptive database: http://ao.minisisinc.com/scripts/mwimain.dll/144/PROV/PROV/REFD+F+4378?SESSIONSEARCH
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General note
The item lists associated with the local lodge series were prepared by the Multicultural History Society of Ontario. They have been re-formatted for this database.
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Entered Feb./12.