Our History

The historical archives show that initial contacts with the Dante Alighieri Society in Rome to establish a “committee” in Detroit date back to 1922. 

However, the official founding and inauguration occurred on December 21, 1924, at the Detroit Public Library. The Board of Directors consisted of the following distinguished individuals: President P. F. Carlucci, Vice President G. Mazzetti, Secretary L. Bosa, and Treasurer A. De Martino. The Committee requested support from the Central Headquarters in Rome to secure two rooms for their activities. Among their various initiatives, they aimed to open an employment office and an information desk to assist with immigration laws and regulations, reducing the workload of the Italian Consulate. In addition, they wanted to donate Italian books to the top students of Italian courses in public or private schools and the Detroit Public Library.

In the early years, the Committee organized a monthly public lecture by Prof. Giuseppe Sansone on a literary theme and opened three evening schools. One was at the Public Library branch at Moran and Gratiot, the second was at the Italian Chamber of Commerce at Erskine and Riopelle, and the third was at the City Club. In 1930, soprano Emilia De La Ronche Quisenberry received a diploma of merit for a concert organized by the Committee. The Italian language course for Americans was also very successful, with some students enrolling at the University for Foreigners of Perugia. In 1932, the Board of Directors changed. President Pietro F. Carlucci and Vice President Frank Rizzo were replaced by Luigi Candelise as President, Luigi Buggelli as Secretary, and Angelina Di Martino as Treasurer. In addition, the University of Detroit introduced a new Italian course in the same year.


The number of students increased, but the Dante Alighieri Society faced financial difficulties and decreased members. As a result, they could not renew the subscription to “Pagine della Dante.” 


The crisis continued, leading to the resignation of the Board of Directors in 1934. Deputy Consul G. Ungarelli appointed lawyer Giuseppe Solari as the extraordinary commissioner of the Society. His task was to evaluate nominations and rebuild the Committee from scratch. One of the initial objectives was to unify elementary schools with those of the “Order Sons of Italy,” establishing seven schools. The Board of Directors was successfully renewed with President Don Filippo Bartoccetti, Vice President Prof. Domenico Pucci, and Secretary Prof. Giovanni Giovannini.


During this time, various initiatives took place, including awarding Angelina Di Martino a diploma of merit with a silver medal in 1934. Additionally, a series of conferences on poetry and literature were held in both Italian and English, featuring esteemed professors from the University of Michigan. One particularly well-attended conference was given in 1937 by Bernardino Molinari, focusing on the theme “The 28 Years of Concerts at the Augusteo of Rome.”
 

In 1935, there were 18 Italian classes spread across two universities, three high schools, seven parochial schools, and six private schools in Detroit. These classes were attended by 531 students, mainly children of Italian-Americans. Due to the Committee’s efforts, the Detroit School Board decided to include Italian language classes in high schools starting from the 1936 school year.
In 1937, the “Italian victory” was celebrated at the Church of the Holy Family, and 600 people attended. Monsignor Gallagher delivered a passionate and patriotic speech for the occasion, representing both his religious authority and his role as a member of the Dante Alighieri Society.
 At the 1938 award ceremony for students of Italian courses established in Detroit’s parochial and public schools, about 1,500 people participated. The Davison School group and the boys of the Eastern School performed a series of gymnastic exercises with great athletic commitment and notable choreographic effects. The Italian Consul Bencredi, who was present at the ceremony, expressed sincere gratitude to all those who, well aware of the noble mission of the Dante, spared no effort—the evening ended with Italian and American songs sung in chorus by all present, creating a climate of great fraternity.


In North America, the Dante Alighieri committees were dissolved during the war because they were considered centers of fascist propaganda. However, a 1962 report by Consul G. Della Croce of Dojola revealed that the Detroit section of the Dante was not dissolved by local authorities when the USA went to war with Italy but by American police. The Society was dissolved and classified among subversive associations. The leaders were threatened and imprisoned despite being completely innocent and unaware of any fascist propaganda. For these reasons, reopening a committee, even years after these events, remained challenging, with ongoing mistrust.

In 1959, the first attempts at reconstituting the Dante Alighieri Society began. The Italian Consul, Eric da Rin, was not very optimistic about it. Although new Dante Alighieri committees could be opened in the USA, those who were members of the Dante Alighieri Society in 1935-1940 were still subject to sanctions established by Executive Order 10450, which cast a painful shadow over the name of the Society. Furthermore, the old committee members had become members of the new “Italian-American Cultural Society” at the Consulate’s initiative.


Professor Paolo Polidori expressed his intention to reconstitute the Committee the following year due to his strong passion for the Italian language. He began the reconstitution procedures and successfully gained recognition for the Dante by local authorities. However, he needed to involve prominent local personalities to give new impetus. The goal was finally achieved in 1963 with President Prof. Paolo Polidori, Vice Presidents Ferruccio Serdoz and Loretta Tata, Secretaries Rose Serdoz, Maria Tisdall, and Stella Soave, and Treasurer Frank Marini. 


The Italian Consul Della Croce then awarded Prof. Polidori the title of Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic on behalf of the Italian Government.
 In 1967, the Board of Directors was reconstituted with President Giovanni Magni, Secretary Adalberto Ferrari, and Treasurer Marion Macioce. Unlike others, the Committee never sought financial assistance during this period.


In 1970, the Central Headquarters in Rome asked Professor Polidori to create a short film about the “committee” in Detroit. The aim was to demonstrate Dante’s work’s significance and global reach to the Italian public.


In 1979, the Board of Directors underwent restructuring, and the new members were as follows: Honorary President Professor Paolo Polidori, President Professor Andrea Di Tommaso, Vice Presidents Vincent Bruno, Teresa Zanini, and Giuseppina D’Alleva,  and Treasurers Frank Moriconi and Annamaria Bee.


In 1989, President Di Tommaso aimed to revitalize activities after the crisis following Prof. Polidori’s passing. During this period, the Committee was hosted at the University Center for Etruscology Studies. In 1990, the Central Headquarters donated a bust of Dante to be displayed.


In 1992, Professor Piero P. Foà was elected President of the Dante Alighieri Society Michigan Section, with Vice President Marisa Petrella, Secretaries Emily Wiedmann and Isabella Tucci, and Treasurer Maria Nielsen-Harris. The Detroit Committee adopted the new name “Dante Alighieri Society Michigan Section” to encompass Dante’s activities throughout Michigan. Additionally, this designation allowed for federal and State tax exemptions. In 1997, Prof. Foà was replaced by Frank De Santis and awarded the diploma of merit. In 1998, the Youth Group was formed. The Board of Directors was renewed in the same year with President Frank De Santis, Vice President Aurelia Tranchida, Secretaries Caterina Savone and Mary Louise Rynski, and Treasurer Michael Basile.


Throughout the 2000s, the Board of Directors frequently changed. In 2000 and 2002, the board comprised President Maria Clotilde Pfaff, Vice President Marie De Luca, Secretary Tonino Corsetti, and Treasurer Anita MacSorley. Aurelia Tranchida took over as Vice President in 2003, and Mike Basile replaced her in 2004. Liana Spalla became Secretary but was later replaced by Diana Manzo in 2004.


In 2005, Liana Spalla became President, Frank Romano became Secretary, and Diana Manzo became Treasurer. In 2006, Liana Spalla remained President, Tim Hinkle became Vice President, Frank Romano and  Daniela D’Amico Henderson became Secretaries, and Diana Manzo remained Treasurer. In 2007, Consiglia Adelfi replaced Mr. Romano as Secretary.


In 2008, the Board of Directors elected Daniela D’Amico Henderson as President, Consiglia Adelfi as Vice President, Liana Spalla as Secretary, and Diana Manzo as Treasurer.


In 2009, the Board of Directors established its “home” after years of itinerant events and temporary offices. This decision provided a stable foundation for Dante’s activities in Michigan, allowing a better organization and more consistent programming. A dedicated headquarters would help the Society better serve its members and the community by offering a reliable venue for cultural events, language courses, and other activities to promote a greater understanding of Italian heritage. Two Italian programs for children were also promoted: Italian as a Second Language and Italian as a First Language, some in collaboration with the NOI Foundation.


The decision to have a permanent headquarters was advantageous for Dante in Michigan. As Italian courses for adults and children grew popular, increasing students required a larger space to accommodate everyone comfortably.


Establishing a new headquarters in 2015 allowed the expansion of course offerings and provided a dedicated environment where students could fully immerse themselves in the learning experience. This move improved teaching methods and better served the growing interested community, ensuring everyone could enjoy and benefit from Italian language courses.


Among the recognitions during this period was the title of Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy, which was awarded in 2015 to Vice President Consiglia Adelfi and Secretary Paola Melara De Sandre.  ~~The President of the Italian Republic grants this distinction as a civil honor of the State. It represents a particular honor for all those who have acquired special merits in promoting friendly relations and cooperation between Italy and other countries and fostering ties with Italy.


In 2016, the Michigan Committee launched the “VoluntarItaly” project, born from an idea by Prof. Gabriele Boccaccini of the University of Michigan, Silvia Giorgini, Director, and President Consiglia Adelfi. In collaboration with the Dioceses of Lombardy, this project combines academic activities and cultural promotion involving parishes and Italian university students. From 2016 to 2024, about 280 Italian students benefited from the hospitality of Italian families, experiencing enriching human and cultural experiences.
 

In February 2019, the Michigan chapter became a PLIDA Center for the Italian language certification.



On its journey, the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan had the privilege of collaborating with exceptional artists, writers, university professors, clubs, students, members, and volunteers. Collaborations were born with the Verdi Opera Theatre of Michigan, which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, thanks to our friend and member Gianni Zaretti. Excellent lectures on Italian Opera were organized with Tuesday Musicale of Detroit with Eric Winter and opera singer Dina Soresi Winter. 


Since its founding, the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan has believed in and supported the Italian Film Festival USA in Detroit.
 
The long-standing collaboration with the Consulate of Italy in Detroit for events and promoting the Italian language has never ceased but has continued and intensified. The collaboration on the LoveITDetroit project, an idea of Consul Allegra Baistrocchi, has opened new opportunities for cooperation in the area.


The closure of activities in Italy in early March 2020 concerned the Board of Directors, teachers, and, consequently, Italian students enrolled in courses. Without hesitation, for the survival of Dante Michigan, it was decided, within 24 hours, to transfer all Italian courses, including events, online.

This period has profoundly affected everyone on a human level, uniting and deeply marking everyone. However, it allowed us to learn and understand other human realities in the world, collaborate with other Dante committees for events, and continue to honor our mission; reopening after COVID-19 was not easy. Students and teachers were not ready to meet in person, so the DAS offered both in-person and online courses, an offer that extended to students in other states.
 The creation of educational programs in Italian for adults and children, the introduction of the AP Italian course, the demand for Italian language certification, the need to create cultural exchange opportunities for members, and economic factors – prompted the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan to seek a new, more suitable place with adequate spaces. As a result, in November 2023, it moved to a new “home,” reaffirming its presence and increasing the availability of in-person Italian courses.


This brief reconstruction of a long journey to date has been challenging. Over the years, Dante’s itinerant home in Michigan has lost parts of itself and its memory. We are sure that the pieces lost along the way bore the names of many people, souls who made the Michigan Chapter proud to exist and faithful to its mission. 

To all the volunteers, directors, teachers, and members whose names we do not know, we thank you with infinite gratitude. We do not read your names today but possess the legacy you left us.


Thanks to the past directors whose names we know and have not yet read in this story, who accompanied the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan on this journey: Omar Mainero, Emma Edgard, Richard Haskin, Nino and Wanda Bianchi, Paola Morabito, Giovanna Cappi, Cristina Corteggiani, the Italian Group of Bloomfield Hills, Pietro Sarcina, Anna Castaldi, Paola Melara De Sandre, Betina Schlossberg, and Shanna Kaminsky.


Thank you to the teachers. Their work is solid rock! 


We are also grateful to our theater group TeatriAmo, with whom we staged “Natale in Casa Cupiello” and “Miseria e Nobiltà.” For more information, visit the Dante website at Teatriamo.org.


In 2024, as we celebrate 100 years, a significant initiative was taken: restoring the Dante Alighieri monument on Belle Isle, Detroit. 

This project was funded by members of DAS and sponsors of the LoveITDetroit initiative, organized by the Consulate of Italy in Detroit, in collaboration with the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan. Additional support came from the reserve funds of the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan and a contribution from the central headquarters of the Società Dante Alighieri in Rome.

This restoration represents our lasting tribute to the city of Detroit and our cultural heritage, a testament to our commitment to promoting the Italian language and culture abroad.