This is a page of contributors who hailed from the Petralia Sottana area, who in 1920 contributed money to assist WWI war-crippled and orphaned persons.

Vincenzo Farinella came to the U.S. when he was 17 years old. He was president of the Society. When Vincenzo died, his son Charlie went through his papers and found this list.

I believe these donors were in the United States. Names I recognize at the bottom right are Emiddio Lazzara and Ottaviano Lazzara (di Guiseppe – their father). The Lazzara brothers had a fantastic Italian bakery in Patterson, NJ and donated largely to this fund.

What is great about this list from a genealogical perspective is 1) these are the Petralia Sottana surnames, and 2) that wherever possible, the name of the father is included – “di father’s given name” if the father was living, or “fu father’s given name” if the father was deceased. You will probably find your relatives’ names here.

“Charity for the Injured”

“The Society of Mutual Aid Workers Petralia Sottana through the initiative of the President Guiseppe Franco votes unanimously to collect between the Petralesis to compliment the crippled of War and the orphans of the fallen ones in War from the municipality and villages of Petralia Sottana, the Society unanimously devotes from the deep chest of $50.”

If anyone would like to provide a better or more elegant or correct translation, please add a comment!

Here is the full letter with the contributor list.