Interview with Antonina P. Uccello
IntervieweeInterview with
Mayor Antonina P. Uccello
(American, 1922 - 2023)
InterviewerInterviewed by
Bruce M. Stave
(American, 1937 - 2017)
InterviewerInterviewed by
Sondra Astor Stave
Date2006 October 23
Mediumdigitized audio cassette tape
DimensionsDuration: 1 Hour, 32 Minutes, 58 Seconds
ClassificationsInformation Artifacts
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
Object number2009.85.9
DescriptionAudio cassette tape of an interview with Antonina "Ann" P. Uccello. She was interviewed on October 23, 2006 by Bruce M. Stave and Sondra Astor Stave at her home in West Hartford, Connecticut.
Ann Uccello was born in May 19, 1922 in Hartford, Connecticut. She was the second daughter of five children. Her father immigrated to the United States from Italy and was a shoe maker by trade. Her family lived on Garden Street in Hartford. Her parents spoke Italian, and she and her sisters learned Italian while growing up. The family lived in Italy for a year-and-a-half before returning to Hartford. Ann attended Northwest School, Cathedral School, and St. Joseph Cathedral School. She graduated from Weaver High School in 1940, then attended St. Joseph College. She majored in Political Science and History.
She discusses the discrimation against Italians and how she would have a difficult time finding a teaching job. In 1944, she was able to get a teaching position at East Hampton High School and taught World History. Bill O'Neill, a Connecticut governor, was a student at East Hampton High School. In 1945, after a year, she left teaching and began working at G. Fox & Company. She worked at G. Fox until 1968.
Her first part-time job at G. Fox was in the Foundation Department. When Ann left teaching, she was hired at G. Fox as the assistant to the supervisor of Unit Control, who was Dan Feldman.
Ann volunteered with a number of local organizations, such as the Hartford Graduate's Club of Greater Hartford, St. Agnes' Home, the Women's Guild of the Hartford Symphony, the Women's Republican Club, the Pilot Club of Hartford, and Young Republicans.
She discusses the Connecticut Republican Party and how she was involved. When she was interested in running for Hartford City Council she asked the G. Fox leadership if they were alright with her running for political office, and they gave her permission. Her friends from G. Fox, George Ducharme and Mary Barry, helped her get enough petition signatures to run for City Council, and Ann won a seat. Ann was elected Mayor of Hartford in 1967.
She discusses her relationship with Beatrice Fox Auerbach and BFA's thoughts on being under-sold by other stores. Ann purchased the dress she wore to President Richard Nixon's inaugaration at the G. Fox Specialty Shop.
Ann discusses how Hartford changed over time. In the 1940s, she felt Hartford was safe. She lived on Garden Street, then Blue Hills Avenue, then moved to Branford Street after becoming Mayor. She states the neighborhood began to change in the 1960s when the riots started. After she was elected to City Council, she came up with the idea of the Infomobile, which was a bus with staff for social services to help people get jobs and refer them to health agencies. The Infomobile was stationed at street corners in the North End of Hartford. She describes the racial discrimination she saw against Black people. She mentions how the welfare system worked.
She discusses the Connecticut Room at G. Fox and the staff luncheons with Beatrice Fox Auerbach.
Ann Uccello was born in May 19, 1922 in Hartford, Connecticut. She was the second daughter of five children. Her father immigrated to the United States from Italy and was a shoe maker by trade. Her family lived on Garden Street in Hartford. Her parents spoke Italian, and she and her sisters learned Italian while growing up. The family lived in Italy for a year-and-a-half before returning to Hartford. Ann attended Northwest School, Cathedral School, and St. Joseph Cathedral School. She graduated from Weaver High School in 1940, then attended St. Joseph College. She majored in Political Science and History.
She discusses the discrimation against Italians and how she would have a difficult time finding a teaching job. In 1944, she was able to get a teaching position at East Hampton High School and taught World History. Bill O'Neill, a Connecticut governor, was a student at East Hampton High School. In 1945, after a year, she left teaching and began working at G. Fox & Company. She worked at G. Fox until 1968.
Her first part-time job at G. Fox was in the Foundation Department. When Ann left teaching, she was hired at G. Fox as the assistant to the supervisor of Unit Control, who was Dan Feldman.
Ann volunteered with a number of local organizations, such as the Hartford Graduate's Club of Greater Hartford, St. Agnes' Home, the Women's Guild of the Hartford Symphony, the Women's Republican Club, the Pilot Club of Hartford, and Young Republicans.
She discusses the Connecticut Republican Party and how she was involved. When she was interested in running for Hartford City Council she asked the G. Fox leadership if they were alright with her running for political office, and they gave her permission. Her friends from G. Fox, George Ducharme and Mary Barry, helped her get enough petition signatures to run for City Council, and Ann won a seat. Ann was elected Mayor of Hartford in 1967.
She discusses her relationship with Beatrice Fox Auerbach and BFA's thoughts on being under-sold by other stores. Ann purchased the dress she wore to President Richard Nixon's inaugaration at the G. Fox Specialty Shop.
Ann discusses how Hartford changed over time. In the 1940s, she felt Hartford was safe. She lived on Garden Street, then Blue Hills Avenue, then moved to Branford Street after becoming Mayor. She states the neighborhood began to change in the 1960s when the riots started. After she was elected to City Council, she came up with the idea of the Infomobile, which was a bus with staff for social services to help people get jobs and refer them to health agencies. The Infomobile was stationed at street corners in the North End of Hartford. She describes the racial discrimination she saw against Black people. She mentions how the welfare system worked.
She discusses the Connecticut Room at G. Fox and the staff luncheons with Beatrice Fox Auerbach.
Collections
Funding Note: In 2006, the Connecticut Historical Society received a grant from the Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving to support the collection of oral histories, the cataloging of G. Fox & Co. materials and Fox and Auerbach family materials, and the creation of web pages. Additional funding for the oral histories was provided by The Prospect Fund, The Brookside Fund, and The Maple Tree Fund. The Connecticut Historical Society gratefully acknowledges these generous supporters. Without such generosity, this project would not have been possible.
Status
Not on view2007 June 7
