Peter R. Scalise papers, 1912-1986, bulk 1956-1978

Processed with funding provided by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

One original item is in security storage. Please consult the photocopy instead.

Copyright may be retained by the creators of items, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law, unless otherwise noted.

Peter R. Scalise papers (Chicago History Museum) plus a detailed description, date, and box/folder number of a specific item.

Personal and professional correspondence; bulletins, event programs, newsletters, and minutes from civic and community organizations; educational, religious, and other personal memorabilia; certificates of award and membership; and printed materials such as brochures, newspaper clippings, and pamphlets; and other papers of Peter R. Scalise. Materials relate primarily to Scalise's achievements as a civic leader and federal judge, and to Italian American issues and events. Some materials pertain to the administration and activities of organizations in which Scalise was involved, including the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans (JCCIA), the Mayor's Commission on Human Relations, the Chicago Area Project, the West Side Community Committee, the Illinois Youth Commission, the Chicago Federation of Community Committees, and the Illinois Federation of Community Committees. Also included are scrapbooks containing photographs, newspaper clippings, and other memorabilia collected by Scalise and his wife Nella (also known as Nellie).

Peter R. Scalise (1913-1990) was a Chicago lawyer, federal judge, and local civic leader. Scalise was admitted to the Illinois Bar Association in 1936 and graduated from John Marshall Law School in 1937. He worked as a lawyer in private practice (1937–1974) and then as an administrative law judge for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (1974-1985; formerly known as the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare). Scalise was an active member of many civic organizations, including the Mayor's Commission on Human Relations (1951-1975), the Chicago Area Project (ca. 1936-1986), the West Side Community Committee, and the Illinois Youth Commission. He also served as the chairman of the Chicago Federation of Community Committees (1948-1952) and president of the Illinois Federation of Community Committees (1950-1952).

A leading figure in Chicago's Italian American community, Scalise was president of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans (JCCIA; 1961-1962) and belonged to the Italo American National Union. Under his leadership, JCCIA organized a protest of The Untouchables television series due to its portrayal of Italian Americans, created the "Sojourn in Italy" program of courses in language and culture, assisted immigrants in the processes of immigration and naturalization, and forged alliances with the Villa Scalabrini retirement facility and the Chicago area Italian American newspaper Fra Noi. In 1965, Scalise received the Cavalier Award from the Republic of Italy in recognition of his work.

Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans records; the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans visual materials (1974.0020); the Chicago Area Project records; and the Chicago Area Project photograph collection (1985.0392).

• Names
  • Scalise, Peter R.--1913-1990--Archives
  • Arrigo, Victor A.
  • Scalise, Nella
  • Chicago (Ill.)--Mayor's Commission on Human Relations
  • Chicago Area Project
  • Chicago Federation of Community Committees
  • Illinois Federation of Community Committees
  • Illinois--Youth Commission
  • Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans
  • United States--Dept. of Health and Human Services
  • United States--Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare
  • Near West Side Community Committee (Chicago, Ill.)
• Subject
  • Civic leaders--Illinois--Chicago--20th century
  • Examiners (Administrative procedure)--United States--20th century
  • Italian Americans--Illinois--Chicago--20th century
  • Lawyers--Illinois--Chicago--20th century
• Geographic Coverage
  • Chicago (Ill.)--Social conditions--20th century
  • Chicago (Ill.)--Social life and customs--20th century
  • Near West Side (Chicago, Ill.)

The collection is arranged in three series.

Series 1. Biographical materials, 1912-1986 (box 1-2)

Series 1 consists of biographies, certificates, correspondence, programs, memorabilia, newspaper clippings, speech notes, testimonials, educational and employment materials, and other personal papers. Included are a program and other memorabilia from the presidential inauguration of Lyndon B. Johnson (1965) and a letter written by Scalise to president-elect Jimmy Carter regarding the Chicago Area Project. Also present are report cards and other academic papers from McKinley High School, Crane Junior College, Central YMCA College, and the Illinois Institute of Technology; employment and training materials from the Dearborn Glass Company (1943-1944); and a signed letter from Walt Disney to McKinley High School reunion organizers (1965). The original Disney letter is in special storage. Advance notice is required to view this document. Please consult the photocopy instead.

Series 2. Community organizations, 1937-1985 (box 3-6)

Series 2 contains minutes, bylaws, financial records, bulletins, programs, certificates, notes, publications, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and other papers related to Scalise's involvement in various civic and community organizations. The majority of materials pertain to the operations and activities of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans (JCCIA), of which Scalise was president (1961-1962); topics include the Columbus Day Parade, the campaign against The Untouchables, the publication of Victor Arrigo's Italians in America pamphlet, and the "Sojourn in Italy" program. Also included are records of Scalise's participation with the Mayor's Commission on Human Relations, the Chicago Area Project (CAP), the West Side Community Committee, the Illinois Youth Commission, the Chicago Federation of Community Committees, and the Illinois Federation of Community Committees.

Series 3. Scrapbooks, 1929-1986 (box 6-8, vols. 1-3)

Series 3 consists of scrapbooks containing photographs, notes, cards, and newspaper clippings collected by Scalise and his wife Nella (also known as Nellie). The scrapbooks commemorate personal and professional milestones such as the 1962 Columbus Day Parade, a JCCIA testimonial dinner (1965), Scalise's retirement dinner (1986), and Nella's activity in the Thoughtful Friends Society (1931-1935) and interest in interior design.