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It’s hard to believe that seventeen years have passed since History Colorado launched its initiative aimed at documenting the Italian American heritage within the state. Guided by the History Colorado Collection Plan, the leaders of this project collaborated with the Italian American community statewide to better represent this vibrant community in History Colorado’s permanent collection. As one of the early immigrant groups in Colorado, Italians brought their rich culture, traditions, and skills to our state, playing a significant role in supporting a growing population through their contributions to businesses, the railroad, mining, and agriculture.

Italian Americans began settling in Colorado in the late 1850s, and by 1922, about one in five people living in Colorado identified as Italian American. Today, the number of Italian Americans in Colorado exceeds 200,000, accounting for roughly 5 percent of the state’s population—a testament to the lasting legacy of the Italian community in Colorado.

Immigrant groups often had little time to document their own Italian American history and experiences, focusing instead on adjusting to their new lives in America, earning a living, and caring for their families. Consequently, the history of the Italian community in Colorado has typically been recorded through official documents, such as census records and birth certificates, as well as secondary sources like newspapers and magazines. Researchers often relied on these materials, uncovering only general overviews and a handful of names and photographs. Historians seldom encountered firsthand accounts, which could provide deeper insights into individuals' lives and their connections to the wider community.

In 2002, seeking a fresh perspective on Italian American heritage, curatorial staff at History Colorado collaborated with Colorado’s Italian American community to actively collect personal stories detailing the everyday experiences of immigrants, their families, and traditions. By meticulously studying these individual anecdotes, the team uncovered significant information about the community’s social customs, religious beliefs, migration and settlement patterns, and the lasting impact the early Italian community had on contemporary Italian Americans.

Community involvement and support were essential to the success of this initiative. That year, History Colorado established the Colorado Italian American Preservation Association (CIAPA) to collaborate with the community and other organizations to develop, support, and coordinate projects that preserve and celebrate Italian American heritage. CIAPA has successfully met its mission by connecting with individuals from the Italian community in Colorado, recording their stories, and creating an extensive archive that includes over 200 oral histories, 6,000 photographs, 4,000 research files, and 600 artifacts related to Italian American history.

As the largest Italian American research archive in the West, the CIAPA collection served as the foundation for the 2007 exhibit Italians of Denver and the 2008 book Italy in Colorado: Family Histories from Denver and Beyond. The CIAPA archive is not only a vital resource for the Italian American community but also for academic studies focusing on Italians in the West. It supports genealogical research and provides unique content for educational programs, publications, documentaries, and lectures concerning immigration, businesses, social customs, fraternal organizations, and other aspects of Italian American history, including the impacts of discrimination and the role of Italian newspapers in the state’s Italian enclaves, as well as the effects of Fascism during and after World War II.

The CIAPA collection has enabled History Colorado to contribute to Colorado’s Italian American newspaper—Andiamo!—for the past fifteen years, simultaneously fostering connections with historians in Modena, Italy. The collection has supported a documentary examining the legacy of Italian emigration, facilitated loans for an exhibit at the Archives in Rome, and provided insights for an Italian journalist regarding Colorado’s Italian American community—its ongoing ties to Italy and potential improvements in relations between the two nations.

Shaped by the homeland they left behind, Italian immigrants flocked to Colorado in the late 1850s, driven by the mining boom. They encountered discrimination and challenges, often finding themselves in segregated communities. Yet, they persevered and thrived, significantly contributing to their new communities.

Currently, Colorado’s Italian American community is undergoing a revival, with many dedicated to preserving their heritage and history.

Below are excerpts from our recently re-published book Italy in Colorado: Family Histories from Denver and Beyond, which features personal histories and rare photographs collected in collaboration with the Italian community in Colorado. Read these seven stories of influential Italian Americans to gain a deeper understanding of the history of this unique, vibrant community and their contributions to Colorado and the nation.

7 things you didn’t know about Italian Coloradans link to article with photos

1. The first person to decorate Denver’s Civic Center for the holidays was John Malpiede in 1919.

Born in 1891, John Malpiede grew up in North Denver, the son of a stonemason turned vegetable gardener. An altar boy at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, he married Mary Palmasano in 1911 and began working as an electrician for the city.

In 1919, John decorated Denver’s Civic Center for the first time in the city’s history. Initially, only the evergreen trees were adorned, but the public response was overwhelming, leading to more decorations being added. Evergreens were added to lampposts, culminating in a lit Christmas tree placed in front of the State Capitol.

In 1926, John convinced Mayor Stapleton to allow him to decorate the exterior of City Hall (now the City and County Building). By 1938, the Christmas lights became an official city project, and John enhanced his exhibit over the next twenty-nine years with more garlands, new bulbs, and even paintings. When he retired in 1956, his display included an eighty-five-foot artificial tree and thousands of lights that drew about half a million visitors each year.

2. The Colorado Ballet was founded by Lillian Covillo.

Born in Denver in 1921 to Italian American parents, Lillian R. Covillo discovered ballet as a girl and performed in numerous Denver operas. While studying at the University of Denver, she began teaching physical education, including dance, at Catholic schools.

Around 1940, she became the ballet mistress and choreographer for the Denver Grand Opera Company. In the late 1940s, she and fellow dancer Freidann Parker founded the Covillo-Parker School of Dance, leading to the establishment of the Colorado Concert Ballet. In its inaugural season in 1961, Lillian produced Denver’s first full-length Nutcracker. The company, later renamed Colorado Ballet, remains a significant part of Denver’s cultural scene.

3. Perry Como’s musical director was Coloradan Nick Perito.

Born in North Denver in 1924, Nick Perito’s family immigrated from Italy in the late 19th century. He began taking music lessons at age five and eventually worked with various radio stations playing the accordion and piano.

Nick later attended the Juilliard School of Music and served as a musical director for Perry Como while also earning eleven Emmy nominations for his television work. His career culminated with his service at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

4. The largest mozzarella cheese producer in the world was founded by Michael Leprino.

Michael Leprino, Sr. was born in Potenza, Italy, and settled in Denver in 1914. He began his career in the grocery business and started making cheese for local sale in 1950. Leprino Foods, which he founded, has grown to become the world’s largest producer of mozzarella cheese, supplying 85% of the pizza market.

5. Coloradan Genevieve Fiore was a co-founder of the third UNESCO chapter in the world.

Genevieve D’Amato, born in 1912 in Wyoming to Italian immigrants, became a passionate advocate for peace after experiencing war's impact on her family. She co-founded the UNESCO Association of Colorado and led various peace initiatives including the Peace Pole project.

6. Lucille “Lou” Colacito was the first Denver woman to play for a major baseball league team.

Born in Florence, Colorado, in 1921, Lucille Colacito progressed from local softball teams to the Kenosha Comets during World War II. Her achievements paved the way for women in sports and earned her a spot in the Denver Softball Hall of Fame.

7. The Brown Palace and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception were built by Frank Damascio.

Settling in Colorado in 1878, Frank Damascio became a notable contractor and builder in Denver. His contributions include substantial buildings that reflect the Italian American heritage in Colorado, and he played an active role in supporting artistic endeavors within the community.

The CIAPA archive is accessible online at h-co.org/collections and through the Hart Research Library at History Colorado. A significant legacy of the Italian documentation project is the renewed interest within families to record their Italian American history and pass down customs to future generations. This, along with History Colorado’s ongoing documentation efforts, helps sustain both the rich history and future of Colorado’s Italian American community.

This article was originally published in the Winter 2018/19 issue of Colorado Heritage Magazine.

You can learn more about Italian Coloradans by visiting this webpage and purchasing a copy of the recently-published Italy in Colorado book here.