The Collection
Within each handwritten diary, document, photograph and artwork resides a story; a personal narrative of people and events often long forgotten. Whose elegant penmanship graces these pages? Who is the young woman smiling on the front steps? How did these objects survive? What did they mean to those who created them and, later on, to those who saved them? As these objects pass through time and into new hands, the stories and histories embedded in them begin to fade. It is through the act of remembering and sharing these memories with others that the stories engrained in these objects are given new purpose.
![](https://www.italianheritage.ca/files/2024/01/mascioli_paula_2_710-e01919d8520110d2.jpg)
![Black and white photograph showing a group of women in Vancouver, BC, standing in the street carrying placards. The women seem to be protesting against the war and advocate for the boycott of Japanese, German and Italian goods.](https://www.italianheritage.ca/files/2024/02/Women-carrying-placards-protesting-the-sale-of-goods-to-the-enemy-6d145033de021c79.jpg)
![Wooden mirror/picture frame, unstained, made in Camp Petawawa,1940-1942. The frame is constructed entirely of wood, with 3 main parts: the pivoting frame, the frame support, and the base. The frame itself is an elongated octagon (4.6 inches high, 2.5 inches wide). The long base is bevelled. Both ends are pointed, resulting in a shape that resembles a rectangle with two triangles on the end. The base measures 7 inches long, 2 inches wide, and .8 inches high. A metal insert, which was reflective and likely used as a mirror, was cut to the measurements of the frame and repurposed from a cigarette tin. This frame is part of a group of four collected and preserved by the family of internee Girolamo (George) Capponi. The frames along with other wooden objects in the collection, may have been made by Capponi himself. He had written to his wife asking for wood-working tools.](https://www.italianheritage.ca/files/2024/02/3Wooden-mirror-picture-frame-unstained-made-in-Camp-Petawawa1940-19422-a3b75272abf6903c.jpg)
![Article, "Enemy Aliens," published in The Gazette. The article by Michael Mirolla is a review of the book The City Without Women by Mario Duliani. Duliani's book is a memoir of his internment experiences – the only published account by an Italian Canadian internee. The French La ville sans femmes was published in 1945, and the Italian Città senza donne appeared in 1946. In 1994 an English version was published – The City Without Women: A Chronicle of Internment Life in Canada During the Second World War is a translation by Antonino Mazza. The photograph that accompanies the article shows the police round-up of Italian Canadians at the Casa d'Italia in Montreal on June 10. 1940. This is a tinted version of the original photograph taken and published by The Gazette in 1940. See LDICEA2011.0008.0004 for the original black and white photograph.](https://www.italianheritage.ca/files/2024/02/Article-by-Michael-Mirolla-in-Montreals-The-Gazette-9d8a227773f44754.jpg)
![Oil painting on card stock of a sunset during winter at Petawawa Internment Camp. Barracks or dormitories are visible in the background. A pile of wood logs are visible at the right. Barracks were wooden, single-storey structures which ranged in size depending on the camp — those at Petawawa contained 60 internees and had toilets, sinks, showers, and electric lighting. Regardless of location, the barracks contained wooden tables and benches, and a wood stove for heating in winter. Internees slept on bunk beds with a thin mattress. Every barrack was assigned a number and was represented by an appointed barrack leader. Internees had to keep their barracks clean. Barracks were inspected daily. Not much is known about the artist of this work — Oscar Bendl — other than he was presumably a German-Canadian internee who interacted with the Italian Canadians also held at Camp Petawawa. This painting was among the materials owned by internee Giacomo Venzon.](https://www.italianheritage.ca/files/2024/02/View-of-internment-camp-in-winter-oil-painting-by-Oscar-Bendl-6bb178a5a7442908.jpg)
![Genero Joseph Brescia's Certificate of Parole. During World War II Brescia was declared an enemy alien and had to carry this certificate on his person at all times and report monthly to the local authorities. Despite his enemy alien status he joined the Canadian military and was soon relieved from his reporting obligations. The document contains information about Brescia's address, age, physical description and citizenship status. It states that Brescia is not permitted to leave Fort Williams without having the document endorsed and that he is not permitted to leave Canada without an Exeat, or permission, from the Registrar General. Brescia's fingerprint is visible at the centre left of the certificate. The bottom section includes each date Brescia reported to local authorities, accompanied by the Officer's initials. According to the document, Brescia first reported on August 2, 1940 and made his last appearance on November 23, 1942.](https://www.italianheritage.ca/files/2024/02/Genero-Joseph-Brescias-Certificate-of-Parole-1900910a17833d06.jpg)
![One page handwritten letter on lined paper by internee Giacomo Venzon to the Office of the Custodian. New Waterford, NS. Dated November 13, 1942. Giacomo notes that he received the letter notifying him of his owed balance of $50. Internees were charged administration fees by the government for handling of their business affairs and/or assets during internment. Giacomo states that after 27 months of internment he is penniless and three years behind in taxes. Moreover, his current salary is very low and his family is in dire need of winter clothing. Giacomo promises: "I am unable at present to comply with this bill, but I will assure you that in the very near future, I will pay to the last cent all my obligation. Hoping that you will understand my situation." Giacomo Venzon was a butcher from New Waterford, NS. At the time that he was interned, he had a wife and three young daughters. According to his family, he was always proud to be Italian Canadian.](https://www.italianheritage.ca/files/2024/01/Letter-by-Giacomo-Venzon-to-the-Office-of-the-Custodian-New-Waterford-NS-Nov.-13-1942-4eb2c943de4bba64.jpg)
Help Us Grow Our Collection
Do you have any personal or family objects related to the Italian Canadian World War II experience that you would like to share with us?
Some examples:
- Handwritten letters between family members directly affected by the internment;
- Objects created or produced by those in the internment camps;
- Family photographs of Italian Canadians who were designated enemy aliens or discriminated against from 1940 to 1945;
- Government documents and Prisoner of War cards related to the internment;
- Publications or other print documents of the period.