Whether you’re a descendant of someone in the 1921 volume, knew these families as neighbors, or heard stories passed down through generations, we want to hear from you. Every memory—no matter how small—helps preserve this history.

Connection to our directories: Whether you’re researching names from our Family Directory or businesses from our Business Directory, your stories complete the picture of this vibrant 1921 community.

What Happens Next?

We’ll Review

Usually within 48 hours, we’ll confirm receipt via email.

WE MAY FOLLOW UP

If we have questions, we’ll reach out.

STORY GOES LIVE

Within 2 weeks, it’s added to the archive.

YOU’LL BE CREDITED

You’ll appear exactly as you specify below.

YOU STAY IN CONTROL

Remove your documents anytime.

What We’re Looking For

  • Stories about businesses you found in our directory
  • Family memories connected to people documented in 1921
  • Neighborhood stories and traditions passed down through your family
  • Photos, documents, or letters from this era
  • Connections between families, neighborhoods & community businesses
  • Even a few sentences help preserve this history

Examples of Great Stories

“My dad’s family came from Sicily. My grandfather was a monument maker along with his sons Sal and Mickey. My dad became a doctor and started his practice in a house next to St. Raphael Hospital before moving it to West Haven. We would drive through St Lawerence cemetery when I was a child and my dad could point out all the monuments that his family made.”
– R.M.

“Here is a story from my father. A man named Foote worked at the Macaroni factory. On Friday he would come by the house and give my father’s family all the broken pieces, because my grandfather couldn’t work due to a trolly accident. Could this be the same Macaroni factory? My father would make him 12 dozen sfoglitelle [sic] every Xmas as thanks for helping out his family.”

– G.P.

“I got ice cream sundaes there after the show with my mom. Doc Mazzacane’s kid brother Aldo used to serve them to us while he was in college. Everybody went there with all their illnesses. He used to call me skib scab. I dont know where he got it from, but we went there for everything.”

– L.A.

These are the stories that make history come alive.

Is your family mentioned by Cannelli? Share their story here.

Do you have a connection to a business documented in Cannelli’s La Colonia? Tell us more.

Share Your Story

Don’t worry about having ‘enough’ information—even a single memory or detail helps us understand the full picture of this community.

Your Information

Your Connection to La Colonia

Name of person or business from La Colonia Italiana di New Haven, the 1921 volume.

Your Story

Tell us what you remember—even a few sentences help! Include names, dates, locations, or specific memories.

Additional Materials (Optional)

Help us bring this history to life.
I can also contribute (Optional)
Check all that apply
Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload You can upload up to 5 files.
Photos, letters, documents, newspaper clippings—we'll preserve them digitally.

Permission & How to Credit You

Publication Permission
We respect your contributions and will credit you as specified below.


Connection to our directories: Whether you’re researching names from our Family Directory or businesses from our Business Directory, your stories complete the picture of this vibrant 1921 community.

Still Have Questions?

It is! Every memory adds depth to our understanding of the community. Whether it’s a single sentence or a full story, your contribution matters.

Share what you know. Even fragments help. A name, a place, a single memory: all these pieces help us build a more complete picture of the past.

A single sentence can be meaningful. Sometimes the smallest details— “the bakery smelled like anise”—are what bring history to life.

Submit it anyway—we’d rather have duplicates than miss something important. Multiple perspectives on the same person or place often reveal new dimensions of the story.

Prefer to talk?

Some stories are better told in conversation. If you’d prefer to share your memories in an interview format:

Phone

(203) 392-6766

Email

lacolonia@southernct.edu

Check

“Interest in
follow-up interview”
in the form above

Every Story Matters

Your memories become part of New Haven’s living history, helping future generations understand the vibrant community their ancestors built. Thank you for taking the time to share.