In this episode of Tales from the Archives, we uncover three haunting, unfinished stories pulled from early 20th-century newspapers—stories where Italian immigrants made headlines, only to be forgotten by history.

We begin in 1911 Southern Colorado, where a young Italian rancher is found murdered on a lonely road near Aguilar. A former business partner is arrested, witnesses come forward, and a search posse forms—but the case quietly fades from the press, leaving unanswered questions behind.

Next, we examine a shocking automobile accident involving the son of William Howard Taft. After an Italian laborer is struck and left with a fractured skull, newspaper coverage centers almost entirely on the president’s distress and his son’s remorse—while the injured immigrant’s identity is misspelled, obscured, and ultimately lost.

Finally, we travel to Pueblo’s Italian community in 1925, where a groom disappears just days before his long-awaited church wedding. Headlines scream kidnapping, jealousy, and scandal, but conflicting reports and misspelled names make it impossible to determine what really happened—or where the groom went.

These stories explore not only crime and mystery, but who history chooses to remember—and who it leaves behind.

If you enjoy historical true crime, forgotten headlines, Italian American history, and archival mysteries, this episode is for you.

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📜 Italian American Stories Podcast

In this edition of Tales from the Archives, Stephanie and Sandy share a collection of fascinating, quirky, and heartfelt Italian American stories pulled from old newspapers across the country. From a young immigrant girl mistaking New York’s Trinity Church doors for a saint’s shrine, to six unfortunate monkeys lost in a Nashville fire, to the hidden talent of a sculptor in Riverside, California—each story offers a glimpse into everyday lives of the past.

You’ll meet fiery saloon keeper Mary Panzano of Memphis, whose broom made headlines, and Celeste Kari of Chicago, the remarkable “Nut Queen” who built a thriving business empire after being widowed as a young mother. Along the way, there’s also young love, courtroom comedy involving missing pants, and more odd headlines that remind us just how colorful history can be.

Join us as we dust off these forgotten clippings and bring to life the small but unforgettable fragments of Italian American history.

It’s time for another installment of Tales from the Archives! In this mini-episode, we dive into quirky and unexpected stories from old articles about Italian Americans. Hear about a man chased up a tree by a bull, two women furious over an unpainted kitchen, a heroic dog saving a family from danger, and a mysterious gunshot wound. These snapshots from history are too short for full episodes but too fascinating not to share. Join us for some quick, intriguing tales!

Join us for our second "Tales from the Archives" episode! This special segment of the podcast will cover stories and articles that are too small for a full episode but still deserve to be told!

Join us for our first "Tales from the Archives" episode! This special segment of the podcast will cover stories and articles that are too small for a full episode but still deserve to be told! In this first episode, we tell stories about love, a heroic rescue from a sewer, and so much more!