Guide to the Irma D'Ascenzo Papers, 1944-1991 AIS.2018.04
Arrangement
Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
Irma D'Ascenzo Papers
Creator
D'Ascenzo, Irma
Collection Number
AIS.2018.04
Extent
5 Linear Feet(6 manuscript boxes, 4 oversize folders)
Date
1944-1991
Date
1956-1970
Abstract
The Irma D'Ascenzo Papers document the civic and political career of Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Irma D'Ascenzo between 1944-1991.
Language
English
.
Author
Jon Klosinski.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System Archives & Special Collections Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections Business Number: 412-648-3232 (Thomas) | 412-648-8190 (Hillman) Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Jon Klosinski in 2018.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Joan M. McDonald in 2018.
Copyright
The University of Pittsburgh holds the property rights to the material in this collection, but the copyright may still be held by the original creator/author. Researchers are therefore advised to follow the regulations set forth in the U.S. Copyright Code when publishing, quoting, or reproducing material from this collection without the consent of the creator/author or that go beyond what is allowed by fair use.
Biography
Irma Manella D'Ascenzo was a politician and civic leader who served as the first female Pittsburgh City Council member between 1956-1970.
Born to an Italian-American family in Pittsburgh's Hazelwood neighborhood in 1905, D'Ascenzo attended Cathedral High School and graduated from Duff's Business College along with studying Business Administration at University of Pittsburgh. After college, she worked as Secretary and Chief Examiner of the Civil Service Commission of the City of Pittsburgh.
Inspired by interests in civic affairs, government and politics, D'Ascenzo remained active in the Democratic Party for her entire career. Her political engagements included service in the Speaker's Bureau of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee along with being an Executive Board Member of the Democratic Women's Guild where she would eventually become Vice President. Other political posts included a term as Legislative Chairman for the Pennsylvania Federation of Democratic Women, delegate or alternate delegate to the Democratic National Conventions from 1944 to 1968 and membership in the Democratic Nationality Committee of Allegheny County.
In 1956, D'Ascenzo was appointed by Mayor David L. Lawrence to serve as a member of the City Council of Pittsburgh, becoming the first women to hold such a position. Her enterprise and quick grasp of municipal problems won the admiration of both citizens and colleagues and earned her election for a two-year term in 1957 followed by a full four-year term in 1959. During her time as council member, D'Ascenzo served as chair of the Parks, Recreation and Library Committee, overseeing funding and zoning projects in the city and working to improve and expand recreational facilities for youths city-wide. She also played an aggressive role in providing new and expanded facilities for senior citizens, leading to her appointment as a delegate to the President's White House Conference on the Aging.
Among D'Ascenzo's numerous civic activities was her work as founder and President of the Consolata Mission Women's Auxiliary, which helped young Italian priests prepare for missionary work in Africa through a graduate degree program at Duquesne University. During World War II, she was staff assistant to for the Red Cross Foreign Inquiry Department, Executive Secretary for the Western Pennsylvania Polio drives and Vice-Chairman of the Western Pennsylvania Committee for the Boy's Towns of Italy, for which she was awarded the Star of Solidarity from the Republic of Italy. Other civic engagements included executive service in the Catholic Laymen's Association, Gumbert School for Girls, Governor's Committee on Children and Youth, Allegheny County Smoke Control Advisory Committee, Allegheny County Housing Authority and Redevelopment Authority and Carnegie Museum and Libraries. In 1968, D'Ascenzo became the first female president of the National Council of the University of Pittsburgh, which oversees the Cathedral of Learning's Nationality Rooms. The next year, she became the first acting female council president, temporarily filling in for the regular president when he became hospitalized.
D'Ascenzo died suddenly after a car accident on March 1, 1970. She was married to Frank D'Ascenzo (1901-1967), a construction supervisor for the Allegheny County Works Department. They had three children, John J. D'Ascenzo (1927-2005), who served as Executive Vice President of Winkleman's department store in Detroit, Michigan, Rosemary D'Ascenzo (1925-), who served as Chairwoman of the City Planning Commission, and Frances J. D'Ascenzo (1924-1924).
Arrangement
The Irma D'Ascenzo Papers are organized in six series:
Series I. Pittsburgh City Council (1956-1970)
Series II. Political Organizations (1944-1970)
Series III. Civic and Professional Organizations (1945-1971)
Series IV. Personal (1940s-1970s)
Series V. Rosemary D'Ascenzo (1970-1991)
Series VI. Photographs (1950s-1960s)
Scope and Content Notes
The Irma D'Ascenzo Papers document the political career of Irma D'Ascenzo, a Pittsburgh City Councilwoman between 1956 and 1970 as well as her daughter Rosemary D'Ascenzo, who served on the Pittsburgh City Planning Commission between 1965 and 1991. The papers contain correspondence, newsclippings, photographs and subject files related to D'Ascenzo's political career and involvement in the Democratic Party as well her work in several major civic and professional organizations such as the Italian Sons and Daughters of America, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and Boys Town of Italy.
Preferred Citation
Irma D'Ascenzo Papers, 1944-1991, AIS.2018.04, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System
Subjects
Corporate Names
Pittsburgh (Pa.). City Council
Order Italian Sons and Daughters of America
Democratic Party (Pa.)
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
WQED (Television station : Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Personal Names
D'Ascenzo, Rosemary
D'Ascenzo, Irma
Geographic Names
Allegheny County (Pa.) -- Politics and government
Pittsburgh (Pa.) -- Politics and government
Pittsburgh (Pa.) -- Officials and employees
Other Subjects
Elections -- Pennsylvania -- Allegheny County
Civics
Women -- Pennsylvania -- Political activity
Women civic leaders -– Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
Italian American women -- Political activity -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
Italian American women -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
Container List
Scope and Content Notes
Series II. Political Organizations contains correspondence, information files and newsclippings related to D'Ascenzos involvement in regional and national affiliates of the Democratic Party including the Allegheny County Democratic Committee, Pennsylvania Democratic Committee and Democratic National Committee.
Containers
box 3, folder 6
Containers
box 3, folder 7
Containers
box 3, folder 8
Containers
box 3, folder 9
Containers
box 3, folder 10
Containers
box 3, folder 11
Containers
box 3, folder 12
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box 3, folder 13
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box 3, folder 14
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box 3, folder 15
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box 3, folder 16
Containers
box 3, folder 17
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box 3, folder 18
Containers
box 4, folder 1
Containers
box 4, folder 2
Containers
box 4, folder 3
Containers
box 4, folder 4
Containers
map-case 32-3, oversize 2
Containers
map-case 32-3, oversize 2
Containers
map-case 32-3, oversize 2
Containers
map-case 32-3, oversize 2
Scope and Content Notes
Series III. Civic and Professional Organizations contains correspondence, memos, brochures and certificates related to D'Ascenzo's involvement in several regional and national organizations including the Italian Sons and Daughters of America, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and Boys Town of Italy.
Containers
box 4, folder 5
Containers
box 4, folder 6
Containers
box 4, folder 7
Containers
box 4, folder 8
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box 4, folder 9
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box 4, folder 10
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box 4, folder 11
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box 4, folder 12
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box 4, folder 13
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box 4, folder 14
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box 4, folder 15
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box 4, folder 16
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box 4, folder 17
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box 4, folder 18
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box 4, folder 19
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box 4, folder 20
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box 4, folder 21
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box 4, folder 22
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box 4, folder 23
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box 4, folder 24
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box 4, folder 25
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box 4, folder 26
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box 4, folder 27
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box 4, folder 28
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box 4, folder 29
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box 4, folder 30
Containers
box 4, folder 31
Containers
box 4, folder 32
Containers
box 4, folder 33
Containers
box 5, folder 1
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box 5, folder 2
Containers
box 5, folder 3
Containers
box 5, folder 4
Containers
box 5, folder 5
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box 5, folder 6
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box 5, folder 7
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box 5, folder 8
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box 5, folder 9
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box 5, folder 10
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box 5, folder 10
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box 5, folder 12
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box 5, folder 13
Containers
box 5, folder 14
Containers
box 5, folder 15
Containers
box 5, folder 16
Containers
map-case 32-3, oversize 3
Containers
map-case 32-3, oversize 3
Containers
map-case 32-3, oversize 3
Containers
map-case 32-3, oversize 3
Scope and Content Notes
Series IV. Personal contains a World War II-era ration booklet cover, Christmas cards and correspondence, memorials and newsclippings related to the deaths of Frank and Irma D'Ascenzo.
Containers
box 5, folder 16
Containers
box 5, folder 17
Containers
box 5, folder 18
Containers
box 5, folder 19
Containers
box 5, folder 20
Containers
box 5, folder 21
Scope and Content Notes
Series V. Rosemary D'Ascenzo contains correspondence, memos and newsclippings related to Rosemary D'Ascenzo's service as a member of the Pittsburgh City Planning Commission.
Containers
box 6, folder 1
Containers
box 6, folder 2
Containers
box 6, folder 3
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box 6, folder 4
Containers
box 6, folder 5
Containers
box 6, folder 6
Containers
box 6, folder 7
Containers
box 6, folder 8
Scope and Content Notes
Series IV. Photographs contains photographs of D'Ascenzo at various gatherings and events related to her political career and involvement in several civic and professional organizations.