Nazareth University students are preserving the stories and traditions of Rochester's Italian-American community by conducting oral history interviews on Oct. 5
Rochester, NY (10/02/2025) — The stories of many Italian-American families who immigrated to Rochester are being preserved thanks to Nazareth University students who are documenting the stories and traditions as part of an ongoing Oral History Project.
For the second year in a row, the Nazareth students are heading to the Rochester Public Market on Sunday, Oct. 5,- Italian Heritage Day at the market - where a group of Nazareth Italian and history majors will conduct in-person history interviews in Italian or English as part of their ongoing Oral History Project. The goal of the project is to document and preserve traditions passed down through the generations, as well as digitize historical files for ease of access for both the community and the university.
For the past two years, Nazareth's Center for Public History (led by Professor Timothy Kneeland, Ph.D.) and the Frank DiMino Casa Italiana (led by Director Joelle Carota, Ph.D.) have partnered to interview residents of Italian descent to collect and preserve their stories and family histories and thereby create a more accurate history of the Rochester metropolitan area. These oral histories serve as a method to capture personal stories, revealing historical and linguistic information to be archived at the Rochester Public Library's Local History and Genealogy Division for public use and research.
To date, Nazareth students have completed 120 oral histories with Rochester Italian Americans.
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 5, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
WHERE: Rochester Public Market | 280 North Union St., Rochester | Shed B
Enter from Union Street. It is located inside the building on the right, near the bathrooms. (map attached)
On Sunday, you can call Dr. Joelle Carota's cell at 585-267-0052 if you need help finding the students.
Nazareth University
Julie Long, Chief Public Relations Officer | (585) 389-2456 | (585) 781-8186 (c) | jlong2@naz.eduShare this Story
Recent News
- The Capitol Fools perform at Nazareth Arts Center on New Year's Eve & Garth Fagan Dance returns in spring 2026
- Nazareth University Dance brings NYC-based Cecilia Whalen Dance to Rochester for Erie Canal bicentennial celebration
- U.S. News & World Report ranks Nazareth University a 2026 Best College and a Best Value School
- W. Kamau Bell on Dec. 6 is first headliner of Nazareth University Arts Center 2025-26 season
- Nazareth University launches You at Naz, a new tool for total student wellness
- Nazareth University Arts Center showcases printmaking, paintings, and ceramics in three fall art exhibits
- Pat Metheny, Ben Folds, and Josh Ritter headline Concerts at Beston Hall at Nazareth University this fall
- Nazareth University hosts media tour of its new facilities for newly-launched physician assistant and existing nursing programs
- Hundreds of Nazareth University students head out to the Rochester community for Naz in Action Day, Aug. 21
- Nazareth University welcomes new students for Move-In Day, Wednesday, Aug. 20