The Second Century - The Newark Public Library

Library celebrates Italian experience in Newark with an exhibition

Nevarca-An Italian transliteration of Newark often used by Italians to address correspondence to their families in the immigrant community of Newark, New Jersey.

From Nevarca, the name coined for Newark, we derive a celebration of the Italian experience in New Jersey's largest city. A number of cultural agencies in the city have joined in sponsoring this celebration, which revolves around the Feast of Saint Gerard, first celebrated in Newark one hundred years ago. This centennial is a significant historical and cultural landmark for the city and its surrounding communities.

Programming, offered at various sites throughout the city during the month of October, will cover the general history of Newark's Italian-American community, its political impact, its women, its architecture, and the role of religion in Italian culture. There will be exhibitions and performances.

The Newark Public Library is participating in the celebration of Nevarca by mounting an exhibition entitled, Saluti da Nevarca: A Century of Italian Experience in Newark. It includes photographs and memorabilia documenting and interpreting the Italian-American legacy in Newark. It was curated by Michael Immerso and the Library's Charles F. Cummings and will be installed on the Main Library's third-floor gallery through December 31.

The Nevarca project is sponsored in part by the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, Perillo Tours, Paragano Enterprises, Fidelity Land Development, Andrew Mellon Fund, Columbus Hospital Foundation, Columbian Foundation, National Italian American Foundation, Nicholas Martini Foundation, Broad National Bank, PSE&G, St. Barnabas Health Care System, Nasto Ice Cream, New Jersey Historical Commission, Ralph J. Lilore, Esq., Haven Savings Bank, the Friends of The Newark Public Library, and Dr. and Mrs. John Petillo.


Volume 10 Number 3, Fall 1999