La Lega Toscana di Protezione

The Frediani Family

Muzio Frediani immigrated to the United States from Livorno (Leghorn), Italy in 1903 when he was eighteen years old. He was apprenticing to be a printer, which he began doing at age twelve. In Pittsburgh, he founded the Frediani Printing Co. which published the Unione, an Italian-American publication that would be the official newspaper of the Italian Sons and Daughters. The Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA) is an organization that formed in Pittsburgh, of which Frediani was a founding member, as a way for Italian immigrants to preserve their culture and language. Muzio met his first wife, Anna Frediani, in Italy. After her death, Muzio later remarried Ruffina Diana of Pittsburgh, another Italian immigrant. He resided on Webster Ave for the entirety of his time in Pittsburgh, in an immigrant community comprised of many Syrian and Palestinian immigrants. Anna and Muzio had six children. Victor, the eldest, became a printer just like his father. With his younger brothers, Lorenzo and Robert, he ran Frediani Printing Co. after Muzio passed away in 1961.

Frediani Printing Co. was originally located in the Lower Hill District, but they moved to current Liberty Ave location in 1956 due to zoning changes. The Unione was integral to Italian immigrant life. One of its main goals was to help prepare immigrants for the American citizenship test. During World War II, it was a mouthpiece for Italian Americans to express their dedication to the United States, which was under scrupulation due to Italy’s role in the war. They were often printing statements like Next to God, our religion is America! and We owe respect to the country of our birth, but absolute loyalty to the land of our adoption. Frediani Printing Co. also provided many resources for the Republican party of Pittsburgh as a result of Victor's position as a staunch Republican in the early half of the 20th century.

Muzio was a very influential member of the Tuscan League. His involvement ranged from planning the countryside parties to keeping track of who wasn't giving money to the League. He served as President, Correspondence Secretary, Administrator and even as a printer for the organization. The minutes make it clear that he was one of the more organized presidents, placing a heavy importance on attendance and the maintenance of an energetic attitude about the Tuscan League.

The Maffei Family

Stefano Maffei immigrated to Pittsburgh in 1892 from Tuscany. He is one of the founding members of the Tuscan Protection League, and one of the most active according to the minutes. Stefano owned and operated a fruit and confectionary store in the Strip District for most of his career. When he first moved to the United States, he brought a small family with him. After the tragic loss of a child in 1902 and the death of his first wife, Maria, in 1917, he remarried Carola, another Italian immigrant, and started a new family. His children remained in the Pittsburgh area. His second-oldest son, Romeo, entered into politics and was very involved in the Pittsburgh Democratic party.

Stefano was involved in multiple community organizations, like many other members of the organization. He was a member of the Gabriele D’Annunzio lodge and the Societa Fraterna of Pittsburgh. His ties to the Tuscan Protection League were so strong that other influential members like Santino Pasquinelli, Michele Simonetti and Emilio Pellegrini were pallbearers at the funeral of his first wife. He was heavily involved with the planning of any social event they held, and served as the President and Vice President.

The Pasquinelli Family

Santino Pasquinelli immigrated to Pittsburgh in 1910 from Lucca, Italy. He worked as a butcher at a shop that he owned with his brother, Americo, who immigrated in 1900. Santino was much more involved in the Tuscan League than his brother, although Americo was also a member. Santino was an incredibly active member, often arranging the countryside parties and balls, and serving as either the Finance Secretary and the Treasurer for the entire duration of the first volume of the minutes. He is one of few members of the Tuscan League that is specifically mentioned in the minutes for his competency and consistency as both an officer and member.

On one occasion in the meeting minutes, Santino is the recipient of a monetary gift from the League, in the name of his superb bookkeeping as Treasurer in 1921. He also pleaded guilty to breaking Prohibition by transporting and storing 100 bottles of whiskey in his home on Michigan Ave. It was only two days prior to the arrest that the League proposed to give Santino a gift for his commendable handling the money. Given this information, a working theory for its motivations is that Santino was able to provide alcohol for their beloved parties and as repayment, they presented him with a gift.

The Pellegrini Family

Casimiro Pellegrini immigrated to Pittsburgh from Lucca, Italy in 1903 with his mother and siblings to join his father, Emilio, an early member of the Tuscan League. Emilio Pellegrini originally worked as a fruit merchant, like many other Tuscan immigrants, but eventually found his place in shoemaking and selling.

Casimiro, on the other hand, found his success in architecture. He graduated from the Carnegie Technical School of Architecture in 1922, and in 1936, was named the Pittsburgh city architect. He successfully ran a private architecture firm which his son joined once he, too, became an architect. Like many other Tuscan immigrants, Casimiro married another member of the immigrant community, an Irish American named Marie O’Donnell. They had three children, Casimiro Jr., Zelma, and Betsy, and they resided in Squirrel Hill for their entire adult lives. Casimiro Jr. also studied to become an architect at the Carnegie Institute of Technology. Zelma became a popular figure in the Pittsburgh arts scene after graduating from the Juilliard School of Music. She performed at the Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh on several occasions.

Casimiro was very community oriented. He served as the Correspondance Secretary in 1920 and the President in 1924. In addition, Casimiro regularly led committees and headed the Tuscan League's projects. His connection to the religious community and the business sector provided the Lega Toscana with many opportunities for outreach and fundraising. In addition to his involvement in the Lega Toscana, he was a member of the Italian Sons and Daughters of America, the Knights of Columbus, and the American Legion post no. 557. He often traveled to Puerto Rico to assist in the design and construction of churches, schools and hospitals.

The Zini Family

Modesto Zini emigrated from Pescia, Italy in 1913. He resided on Climax Street in Beltzhoover for much of his life in Pittsburgh. He began working at Roma Bottling Co. shortly after his arrival to Pittsburgh and eventually became the Vice President of the company. Even though his arrival to Pittsburgh happened much later than many of the other members, he was a markedly active member. His admittance to Tuscan League can be seen in the minutes, in the May 20th, 1919 meeting. Modesto immediately volunteered to head the planning of the countryside party and represent the organization at other institutional events. Throughout the rest of the minutes, he regularly made proposals and seconded others' proposals and volunteered for leadership positions regarding the picnics and dances. At the end of the 1925 minutes, Modesto was voted into the position of Vice President for 1926.