Origins

In December 1966, a group of historians, educators, sociologists, and other interested persons met at the LaGuardia Memorial House in New York City and founded the Italian American Studies Association (IASA). The Association is incorporated as a not-for-profit organization and is tax-exempt under state and federal laws.

Mission

Founded in 1966 as the American Italian Historical Association, IASA has grown to become a vibrant, diverse community devoted to the study of the culture, history, literature, art, politics, folklore, and the social worlds of Italians in America. Its members include scholars, teachers, students, writers, artists, filmmakers, musicians, and enthusiastic lay persons of all backgrounds from across the diaspora including the United States, Italy, Canada, and Australia.

Objectives

Our Association is devoted to the interdisciplinary study of the culture, history, literature, sociology, demography, folklore, and politics of Italians in America. Since its founding, IASA has published over thirty volumes of the proceedings of its annual conference meetings. Among our members are the most noted professional authorities as well as enthusiastic lay persons. IASA uses scientific and scholarly methods as it seeks to explore and disseminate authentic information and interpretation of the wide-ranging experiences of Italians in America.

Activities

• IASA publishes a new blog on this Website;
• includes active regional chapters--Long Island Chapter and Western Regional Chapter; presents annual scholarships and conference subsidies to graduate students whose work focuses on Italian American experience;
• sponsors joint conferences and programs with such groups as Immigration History Research Center, the Center for Migration Studies, the Balch Institute (Philadelphia), the American Jewish Historical Society, the American Historical Association, the Canadian Italian Historical Association, the National Italian American Foundation, the Order of the Sons of Italy, the National Organization of Italian American Women, UNICO, the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute, the Hofstra University Cultural Center, and other university and community cultural centers worldwide;
• maintains a directory of memberships, including members’ interests and contact information;
• publishes peer-reviewed volumes of selected essays from the proceedings of annual conferences;
• maintains a IASA Memorial Fund.

History

 "The American Italian Historical Association at the Millennium," by Frank J Cavaioli. (Please see the attached PDF, to read the entire document.)