Frank J. Montemuro, Jr. papers
Abstract
Frank J. Montemuro, Jr. served the Order Sons of Italy in America as Supreme Venerable (1977-1981) and as Grand Venerable of the Pennsylvania Grand Lodge (1969-1977). Collection includes records of Supreme Conventions (1969-1979), materials relating to various OSIA officers such as Supreme Venerable, Supreme Recording Secretary, Supreme Deputies, and Supreme Trustees, materials on various OSIA committees and programs such as OSIA Foundation, National Education and Scholarship committee, Birth Defects, Cooley's Anemia, Membership, Cultural Committee, and others. Records of the Pennsylvania Grand Lodge include Executive Committee and Grand Council Minutes (1968-1979), various Grand Lodge committees and programs as well as material relating to various local lodges in Pennsylvania. Also included is information on various non-OSIA programs and activities such as the National Italian-American Coordinating Association, the 1976 Bicentennial Commision, Wilkes-Barre (Pa.) flood relief, Amnesty International, and others, as well as photographs.
Dates
- Creation: 1965-2005
Creator
- Montemuro, Frank J., Jr. (Person)
Language of Materials
English, Italian
ACCESS RESTRICTIONS
Open for use in the Elmer L. Andersen Library reading room.
OWNERSHIP & LITERARY RIGHTS
This collection may be protected by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code). It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and to obtain all necessary permissions prior to the reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials. Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provision of the copyright law.
For further information regarding the copyright, please contact the IHRCA.
Biographical / Historical
Frank J. Montemuro, Jr. serves as a judge on the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. Born October 27, 1925, in Philadelphia, Montemuro is the grandson of immigrants from Calabria. He joined the U.S. Navy during World War II and served in the Pacific theater. A graduate of Temple University, he attended law school at Duke University where he received an LL.B. degree in 1952.
The year 1988 maks a quarter of a century for Montemur on the Bench. In 1964 he was appointed to the Philadelphia Court of Common Please with the recommendation of the Merit Selection Commission and re-elected to a second ten year term in 1975. In 1968, while a Common Please Judge, he was also elected to the office of Administrative Judge of the tewnty-member Family Court Division. He was re-elected to this office in both 1973 and 1978 for additional five year terms.
In 1980 Montemuro was appointed to the Superior Court of Pensylvania and in 1983 he was elected to a ten year term. Judge Montemuro is currently fourth in seniority of the 31 judges in the appellate (Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth) courts of Pennsylvania.
Judge Montemuro has been a member of OSIA since 1946. In June, 1969 he became State president of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and re-elected in 1971, 1973 and 1975.
In August, 1977 Montemuro was elected Supreme Venerable of OSIA and re-elected in August, 1979. In August, 1981 Montemuro completed his second eligible term as Supreme Venerable. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife and three sons. He currently serves as President, Board of Directors, of OSIA's National Commission for Social Justice. His wife Margaret has served as the Order's National Financial Secretary since 1985.
In addition to OSIA, Judge Montemuro is a member of numerous other pofessional and civic organizations. These organizations include: the Judicial Inquiry and Review Board, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Justinian Society and Lawyers Club of Philadelphia. Judge Montemuro's participation in civic organizations includes the following: national Italian-American Coordinating Association (he served as president, 1977-81), Member of the Board of Trustees for the National Italian-American Foundation, American Legion, Bustleton Lions Club, Citizens Crime Commission, Knights of Columbus, March of Dimes, Police Athletic League and numerous other charitable groups in Philadelphia.
Judge Montemuro has received numerous honors and awards for his activities in various fields. These include the Humanitarian Award of B'nai B'rith; Distinguished Service Award from the Italian-American Press and Radio Association; the Annual Award of the National American Committee on Italian Migration; Annual Award of Excellence, Philadelphia Police, Fireman and Peace officers Lodge, Sons of Italy; John M. Carrozzino Award, Italian American War veterans of the United States, Inc.; and the president's Award, American Institute of Italian Culture. In adition to these honors, Judge Montemuro has been knighted twice - including the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy, conferred by the President of Italy and Knight Commander of the Order of St. Gregory the Great, conferred by Pope John Paul II.
Judge Montemuro is also the author of several articles dealing with law and the social welfare of families.
Extent
44 linear feet
Arrangement
The original arrangement of the files at the time of their transfer to the IHRC has been largely maintained. Series catagories were artificially established during processing but drew heavily upon pre-existing groupings.
The Montemuro Collection is organized into two record groups. Record Group 1 (1987 accession) consists of nine series as follows: 1) Biography; 2) OSIA National; 3) OSIA State; 4) OSIA District; 5) OSIA Local; 6) Non-OSIA Groups and Activities; 7) Newsclippings; 8) Photographs; and 9) Artifacts. This record group spans the years 1938 to 1985, although the majority of records focus on the years 1969-1983.
Record Group 2 (2006 accession) consists of three series: Commission for Social Justice, State Records, and National Records. The majority of records in this group date from the 1980s through early 2000s.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was acquired from Frank Montemuro in 1987 by John Andreozzi, Sons of Italy Archives project Coordinator. Additional materials wer acquired in 2006.
Processing Information
The collection was processed by Edward Tebbenhoff, manuscript processing assistant at the IHRC in April and May, 1988. John Andreozzi and IHRC Curator Joel Wurl directed the project. The materials acquired in 2006 were processed by Student Assistant Anna Peter.
- Title
- Inventory of the Frank J. Montemuro, Jr. papers.
- Author
- IHRC Archives
- Date
- 2019
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding Aid in English
Collecting Area Details
Contact The Immigration History Research Center Archives Collecting Area
