Michelangelo Crisafi papers

Germoglino Saggio was born on January 27, 1893 in the villiage of Calatta (San Mauro Castelverde), province of Palermo, Sicily. One of seven brothers, Saggio left Italy on August 21, 1912, prior to his induction into military service, in order to protest and escape the regime of King Emanuel III. He settled in New Haven, Connecticut where he labored as roofer for forty-five years with the Tilo Roofing Company. His first love, however, was the life and intellectual stimulus of a poet and writer.

In 1916, Michelangelo Crisafi assumed the pseudonym of Germoglino Saggio, in his words,” Not to be confused with others”. The existence of a poet, reading, writing and study remained a passion his entire life. Saggio was a prolific writer, contributing to numerous periodicals both in Italy and the United States. He authored several published volumes: Poeti d’oggi: Storia Romana, 1948; Reflessioni 1953; La Canzone della vendetta, ca. 1933; and Ascesione poema, 1969. Saggio’s work dealt with history, philosophy, religion, and society in a manner that revealed the poet’s innermost thoughts and feelings. During his almost sixty years as a poet, Saggio corresponded with many of his peers, both in Italy and the United States. Italian-American poets and writers such as Riccardo Cirdiferro, Angelo M, Virga, Nino Caradonna, Pietro Greco, Luigi Roberto Burgo, Giuseppe Incalicchio and Antonino Crivello exchanged criticisms and judgments with Saggio concerning their writing and philosophies. The poet Saggio received honors and citations from literary organization in Italy, including the Accademia Internazionale di Propaganada Culturale (International Academy of Cultural Propagation), and Accademia D’Arte e Umantià (Academy of Art and Humanities).

While working as a roofer, from necessity, and as a poet out of love and social concern, Saggio in his later years found time to assist in the establishment of a library in his home town of Calatta. He sent numerous volumes from his own library to aid the effort, and in consequence was honored by the naming of a Germoglino Saggio room in the library complex. His effort in preserving Italian-American poetry and writing was also felt at the Immigration History Research Center, as he aided Professor R.J. Vecoli in the acquisition of numerous works and volumes.

Germoglino Saggio died May 20, 1972 at the age of 79, survived by his widow (Mrs. Mary Giamo Crisafi) ,son Frank, daughter Mrs. James (Gloria) Pilling, and five grandchildren