Casa Emigranti Italiani 

The Antonina Uccello who graduated from St. Joseph College with a B.S. in 1944 was an accomplished debater who was awarded honors in History and Political Science, a very religious person, still very much attached to her family, a voice to be reckoned with, ambitious and wanting to do good. Just not sure how! 

Ann graduated from Weaver High School in 1940, a Weaver HS which back then was predominantly Jewish with a few Italians and still fewer African Americans. She was a member of the French Club and she counted Norman Lear, the famed TV producer, amongst her classmates.



Ann’s sister, Vinnie, was strongly against Ann going to Saint Joseph. Her fears? That this Irish Catholic school would discriminate against the Italian American student, fear based on prior experience with similar schools. Funny that Vinnie would then become not only a graduate of the school but also its leading Art professor and sister Annie would also graduate from Saint Joseph.

Money was also a consideration. The Uccello family simply could not afford the $200 per year tuition. Discussions ensued between Ann’s father and Sister Rosa, Dean of Saint Joseph. Ann was admitted to the school while the parents agreed to pay as you go. Ann worked in the cafeteria to earn money to pay for school and on Saturdays she would work either at Brown Thompson or at a fashion store on main street across from GFox where she would sell hats and run the elevator.  For the record they paid to the last penny and the benefits to Saint Joseph far exceed the “investment” they made in Ann.



The below envelope contained the letter reproduced above. The "promise fullfilled" writing is by Ann's father and it refers to the payment in full of the tuitions!



1944 class picture