Fiorello La Guardia
Mayor La Guardia broadcasting, March 23, 1940.
Fred Palumbo / New York World-Telegram and Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection, Library of Congress.. No known copyright restriction
Why Included
New York mayor and former Ellis Island interpreter whose records illuminate municipal public services.
Biography
Fiorello La Guardia (1882–1947) served as New York City's mayor from 1934 to 1945. His father came from Foggia, Italy; his Jewish mother came from Trieste, then part of Austria-Hungary. Before his congressional and mayoral careers, he worked as an interpreter at Ellis Island from 1907 to 1910. Municipal archives document his administration through records of housing, schools, parks and transportation. These records offer a way to study public services through decisions and projects, rather than treating any single leader as their sole creator.
Notable For
- New York City mayor, 1934–1945
- U.S. Representative
- Ellis Island interpreter, 1907–1910
Sources
- U.S. House: La Guardia biographygovernment
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fiorello La Guardia Italian?
Yes — Fiorello La Guardia is of Italian heritage. New York mayor and former Ellis Island interpreter whose records illuminate municipal public services.
Articles about Fiorello La Guardia
Notable Italian Americans: Building Community
· 4 min read
Explore La Guardia, Grasso, Pastore and Celebrezze through public service, archival photographs and a community-history activity for Heritage Month.
Explore the wider history of Italian Americans.
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Quick Facts
- Field
- Politics & Governance
- Years
- 1882–1947
- Birth Place
- New York, NY
- Origin
- Italian American descendant
- Publication Status
- Published
- Ancestry Verification
- Confirmed
More in Politics & Governance
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- Bill de Blasio(b. 1961)
- Joseph Califano(1931–2023)
- Anthony Celebrezze(1910–1998)
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