West Virginia and Regional History Center
James Pietro (1873-1956) Papers
Pietro, James, 1873-1956
A&M 2768
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/repositories/2/resources/881
5.75 Linear Feet
5 ft. 8 1/2 in. (4 records cartons, 15 in. each); (1 document case, 5 in.); (1 document case, 2 1/2 in.); (2 oversize folders, 1 in. total)
1849-2000
1909-1954
Business papers of James Pietro, a Morgantown contractor and photographs and correspondence of the Pietro family. Also includes some material pertaining to Brian Pietro, his great-grandson. For additional Pietro family and business papers, see A&M 2836.
West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536 / URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/
English and Italian
Conditions Governing Access
No special access restriction applies.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift from Lawrence J. Pietro, Jr. and Gloria S. Cunningham, 1981
Biographical / Historical
James Pietro:
James Pietro (1873-1956), born Luigi Pitassi in Ateleta, Italy, immigrated to the United States in 1886. He first resided in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he married his wife Maria and had two children, Lawrence Pietro and Rose Pietro Salucci. In January of 1907, he moved his family to Morgantown, West Virginia, where he purchased land for a home, and established a contracting company with his siblings, headed by his brother, Thoney. Pietro fathered six more children with his wife in Morgantown, with three dying in infancy, including a daughter, Anna. His son, William died in 1915 at age 11. Two other children, Frank Pietro and Helen Pietro Broglie, are noted throughout the collection.
In 1912, Pietro became the foreman of Monongalia county. He left this position to work at the Pietro Construction Company established by his son, Lawrence. He was in the business of general contracting, basements, remodeling, underpiping, excavating and cement work, sewer construction and grading. He died at age 83 on October 5, 1956.
Brian Pietro:
Brian Pietro (1957-2003), the great-grandson of James Pietro, was an author and journalist. He is presumed to be the son of Lawrence James Pietro Jr. (grandson of James Pietro and son of Lawrence Pietro) and Patricia Jeanne Waugh. Born in Morgantown, West Virginia, Brian completed two years of a Journalism degree at West Virginia University before transferring to West Georgia College, where he earned a history degree in 1981. Notable parts of his collection include a manuscript, "Criminal Conspiracy," along with a sizable collection of correspondence with publishers. According to business cards within his collection, Brian held jobs as a district manager for several different publishing companies, a sales representative for Housing Network Magazines, and an account executive for Sports Trend. He died in Winter Springs, Florida in 2003, unmarried, with no next of kin. His father was an only child.
Preferred Citation
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], James Pietro (1873-1956) Papers, A&M 2768, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.
Scope and Contents
This collection holds personal and business papers of James Pietro (1873-1956), a Morgantown, West Virginia contractor, and photographs and correspondence of the Pietro family. Common items of interest include financial documents, business correspondence, personal mementos, and personal correspondence, including letters to his native country of Italy throughout the 20th century, and his son during World War II. Other items of interest, including receipts, invoices, and correspondence, consist of life in Morgantown West Virginia, including local businesses such as Morgantown Flour and Feed Company, Traction Electric Company, McClain Sand, Arkwright Coal, Stentz Service Station, and HC Baker Hardware Company, among others, as well as local clubs and social activities such as the Elks Club. Collection also includes many contracts and blueprints for Morgantown construction projects and the surrounding areas. Highlights include blueprints for sewers in the Etna borough, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (1904), blueprint for "plots situate in Morgan District, Monongalia County," and the Thoney Pietro Company certificate of incorporation (1919). Other inclusions, belonging to the family, include a scrapbook of the children of James Pietro from young adulthood, highlighting significant life events (box 3, folder 5), and a history paper (1949) by Lawrence Pietro Jr., about the history of Morgantown in which he recounts his father's telling of arriving in Morgantown for the first time.
Addendum of 2015-04-02:
1901-2000; 7 1/2 in. (1 document case, 5 in.; 1 document case, 2 1/2 in.) Box 5, containing the belongings of Brian Waugh Pietro, 1956-2003, great-grandson of James Pietro, was collected by his uncle, Douglas B. Broglie, grandson of James Pietro. It includes papers involving journalism and publishing businesses. Papers include correspondence and rejection letters from various publishing companies, and an unpublished manuscript called, "Criminal Conspiracy." Also included is a scrapbook of published newspaper articles written by Brian, as well as copies of his resume. Also collected by Broglie, Box 6 (1901-1911) contains several baptism certificates of Pietro's children from the Italian Catholic Church of Pittsburgh as well as Monongalia County Circuit Court documents petitioning for an official name change from Pitassi to Pietro. This document details how the Pietros were given their name and significant details pertaining to the Pietro family timeline.
For additional Pietro family and business papers, see A&M 2836.
Separated Materials
3 photos separated to A&M 4168, Panoramic Photos Collection:
Copley Heirs Well No. 1, Sand Fork District, Lewis County, WV; 1900/09/23
Pietro Castle; undated
Pietro Castle; undated
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.
Morgantown (W. Va.)
Builders and contractors.
Italian-Americans -- West Virginia
Pietro, Brian.
Pietro, James, 1873-1956
Pietro family
Correspondence and Miscellaneous DocumentsArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1835821912–197511Business Correspondence and DocumentsArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1835831911–194412Social Club PhotosArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/183584193713Official DocumentsArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1835851915–196314Correspondence, Business and PersonalArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1835861916–196115Personal CorrespondenceArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1835871934–195616Financial Documents, BusinessArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1835881909–191817Financial Funeral MaterialArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/183589191518Financial MaterialArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1835901909–191419Receipts, Traction & Electric Co.Archival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1835911913–1915110Notebook, BusinessArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1835921903–1926111Address and Financial NotebooksArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1835931910–1945112Printed Material: Event ProgramsArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1835941936 December 6-1959 March 14113Italian Publications: Religious, NarrativeArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1835951872–1903114Italian Religious TextsArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1835961863–1880115Italian Religious TextsArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1835971903116Italian Publications: NarrativeArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1835981849–1902117Italian ClippingsArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1835991918118Newspaper ClippingsArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836001937 May 29-1969 December 24119Miscellaneous ClippingsArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836011906–1916120Order of Elks MaterialArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836021937–1972121MiscellaneousArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836031918–1969122Wallet in PiecesArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/183604undated21Miscellaneous Receipts and Financial MaterialArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836051926 October 1-1947 October 2722Miscellaneous Receipts and StatementsArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836061926 February 1-1930 August 1123Miscellaneous ReceiptsArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836071926–193024Miscellaneous ReceiptsArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836081926–192925BillsArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836091929 January-1930 August26Financial StatementsArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836101926 August-1929 March27InvoicesArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836111926–192928Miscellaneous Financial MaterialArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836121926 November 15-1930 July 3129Miscellaneous Financial MaterialArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836131925 January 27-1930 July 31210Miscellaneous Documents and CorrespondenceArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836141909 March 1-1956 December 14211Financial Notebooks (originally in letter box 2)Archival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836151903–1918212Timebook (originally in letter box 2)Archival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836161923 April-1924 May213Financial Material, Business (originally in letter box 2)Archival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836171909 February 11-1935 September 6214Financial Material, Personal (from "the Morgantown file" letter box 3)Archival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836181922 August 4-1937 January 1215Financial Material, BusinessArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836191904 May 30-1936 August 31216Miscellaneous Financial Material, BusinessArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836201922 August 14-1937 January 1217Financial Statements (from letter box 3)Archival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836211908-1936 September 3218Bills, Utility (from letter box 3)Archival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836221930 December-1936 October 17219Miscellaneous Business Documents and Newspaper ClippingsArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836231917 July 15-1956 February 23220Schoolwork, History (history paper on Monongalia and Pietro family)Archival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836241949 July 5221Elks MagazinesArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836251960 August-1960 November222Miscellaneous Financial MaterialArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836261930 August 1-1937 January 13223Standard Oil Company ReceiptsArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836271930 November 30-1931 December 30224Miscellaneous Business Correspondence and Documents (from envelope 1)Archival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836281938 October 17-1950 May 331Business Documents, ContractsArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836291931 June 12-1951 July 2332Business Contracts and Correspondence (from envelope 2)Archival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836301939 March 1-1943 July 3033Business Contracts (from envelope 2)Archival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836311941 April 8-1941 September 2734Scrapbook of Family Newspaper ClippingsArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836321913 November-1955 March 2635Italian BookletArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/183633190136Correspondence to ItalyArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836341923 August 19-1939 August 1537Correspondence and Other DocumentsArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836351901 March 16-1974 March 2938DatebookArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836361951 January 1-1951 May 2539Payroll Envelopes and Business CardsArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/183637undated310NewspapersArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836381941 January 9-1961 August 17311Family Photos and EphemeraArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836391929 July 4312CorrespondenceArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/183640undated313Newspaper Clippings from WalletArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836411914 December 21314Newspaper ClippingsArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836421941 January 9-1961 December 19315Correspondence and Miscellaneous DocumentsArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836431901 March 19-1962316Italian Printed MaterialArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/183644undated317Receipts, Central Automobile CorporationArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836451926 September 24-1927 April 23318Rolled Financial MaterialArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836461910–1919319Contents within "Evans Pipe Co." EnvelopeArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836471938 October 17-1944320TimebooksArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836481907 December 31-1913 July 3141TimebooksArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836491918 February 28-1930 October 1542Checkbook LedgerArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836501931 January 18-1931 October 743TimebooksArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836511909 March 31-1917 December 3144TimebooksArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836521912 June 30-1923 June 3045TimebooksArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836531921 March 31-1926 November 3046TimebooksArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836541926 October 15-1928 April 3047TimebooksArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836551931 June 15-1936 August 1548TimebooksArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836561938 April 1-1948 July 3049TimebooksArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836571942 March-1955 May 31410McClain Sand Receipts (folder 1 of 3)Archival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836581926 August 9-1927 March 29411McClain Sand Receipts (folder 2 of 3)Archival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836591926 September 11-1926 October 9412McClain Sand Receipts and Invoices (folder 3 of 3)Archival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836601926 September 1-1927 July 30413Receipts Arkwright Coal & Stentz Service StationArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836611926–1927414Receipts and Invoice, HC Baker Hardware CompanyArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836621926 August 14-1926 November 11415TimebooksArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/183663undated416Miscellaneous Ephemera and Printed Material (Lawrence and Brian Pietro)Archival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836641930–199951Iron-on Patches (many featuring international locations)Archival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/183665undated52Criminal Conspiracy ManuscriptArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/183666undated53Correspondence with PublicationsArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836671998 September 28-2000 November 2854Writing Portfolio Album (clippings album)Archival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836681980 August 13-1981 September 155Writing Portfolio Album (clippings album)Archival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836691980–198156Name Change Material and Baptism CertificatesArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836701901 December 22-1911 July 2761Checkbook RegistersArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836711925 March 17-1927 January 1962Oversize MaterialArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836721904 April-1911 January 111091Scope and ContentsIncludes Certificate of Incorporation for Thoney Pietro Company; various blueprints including section view drawing of Thomas Galinssons Company, Allegheny, PA, the site plan of Murray Place, Uniontown, PA, the site plans and elevation drawings of Angle Alley Sewer, Etna, PA including spenial inlet between Locust and Highstreet; plan view drawing of The Miller automatic flush tank, Chicago; group photo outside the Morgantown Glass Company, undated.
Oversize MaterialArchival Resource Key/repositories/2/archival_objects/1836731904 July-1950 July 11092Scope and ContentsIncludes site plans for Morgantown Water Company, River Bridge, site plan of lots in Morgan District, storm sewer of Beechurst Avenue, section drawing of Morgantown Water Company, site plan for Etna Wilson Street, McLure and Maple, and more.