Person:Giovanni Vitale (1)

About Giovanni Vitale

Giovanni Vitale was born abt. 1870 in Italy and immigrated to the United States in 1901 [1920 U.S. Census]. His first wife, a Miss Trapani [first name not known], died within two years after the birth of son Louis Vitale. According to the story, Louis and his father returned to Italy shortly after the death of his mother, and returned to the United States in 1916. It is likely that Giovanni had returned with his son and new wife, Salvatora Bonamno, as they are both listed on the 1920 U.S. Census with Giovanni's son Louis, then age 17. On Salvatora's 1920 U.S. Census record, it states that she immigrated to the United States in 1916, which agrees with the story told in the obituary of her step-son, Louis Vitale.

The Passenger List of the ship "S.S. America", which sailed from Palermo, Italy on 28 January 1915 and arrived 10 February 1915 in New York, includes: Giovanni Vitale (age 45), his daughter Philomena [listed as "Filomena"] (age 15) and son Louis [listed as "Luigi"] (age 13) [see Passenger List image below].

Giovanni Vitale, and his second wife Salvadora are listed in the "shoe repair" business in the 1924 City Directory in Oakland, California City Directory.

1.   United States. 1920 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T625).

   1920 United States Federal Census
   Name: Giovanni Vitale
   Age: 50
   Birth Year: abt 1870
   Birthplace: Italy
   Home in 1920: Berkeley, Alameda, California
   Race: White
   Gender: Male
   Immigration Year: 1901
   Relation to Head of House: Head
   Marital Status: Married
   Spouse's Name: Salvatora Vitale
   Father's Birthplace: Italy
   Mother's Birthplace: Italy
   Home Owned: Rent
   Able to Read: No
   Able to Write: No
   Household Members: Name Age
   Giovanni Vitale 50
   Salvatora Vitale 49
   Louis Vitale 17

2.   National Archives and Records Administration. New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957. (Washington, D. C.: National Archives and Records Administration).

   Possible Immigration Info: (Additional research needed)
   New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
   
   Name: Giovanni Vitale
   Arrival Date: 21 Dec 1900
   Birth Date: abt 1869
   Age: 31
   Gender: Male
   Ethnicity/ Nationality: Italian
   Port of Arrival: New York, New York
   Ship Name: Trojan Prince

3.   U.S. City Directories, 1821-1995: [database on-line]. (Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011).

   U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
   Name: Salvadora Vitale
   Gender: Female
   Residence Year: 1924
   Residence Place: Oakland; Alameda; Berkeley, California
   Spouse: Giovanni Vitale
   Publication Title: Oakland, California, City Directory, 1924

4.   National Archives and Records Administration. New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957. (Washington, D. C.: National Archives and Records Administration).

   New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
   Name: Giovanni Vitale
   Arrival Date: 10 Feb 1915
   Birth Date: abt 1870
   Birth Location: Sicily
   Birth Location Other: Palermo
   Age: 45
   Gender: Male
   Ethnicity/ Nationality: Italian (South) (Italian)
   Port of Departure: Palermo
   Port of Arrival: New York, New York
   Ship Name: America