Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Kathy Witkowsky "Bella Vista: An Unseen View of World War II" Collection, 1936-1945, 1992-1995
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Witkowsky, Kathy
- Title
- Kathy Witkowsky "Bella Vista: An Unseen View of World War II" Collection
- Dates
- 1936-1945, 1992-1995 (inclusive)19361945
- Quantity
- 0.5 linear feet, 26 videotapes, and 2 audio cassettes
- Collection Number
- Mss 247 (collection)
- Summary
- Kathy Witkowsky is a Missoula, Montana, documentary maker and journalist. This collection consists of the tape logs, interview transcripts, and raw interview footage produced by Kathy Witkowsky for her documentary Bella Vista: An Unseen View of World War II, and associated newspapers.
- Repository
-
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana--Missoula.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Eight months before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, 1,000 Italian merchant seamen were taken off captured Axis cargo ships operating in the European theater. They were sent to Fort Missoula just outside Missoula, Montana. The internees found the place so beautiful that they called it "Bella Vista" or "beautiful view." The internees made their new home a model city, complete with small businesses, regular musical and theatrical performances, gourmet food and athletic tournaments. After Italy's surrender, more than half the internees were allowed out of the camp to fill wartime labor shortages. Some were even drafted into the U.S. Armed Services. Most were subsequently deported, but several dozen remained behind to settle in the region, where they have since assimilated into American life.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection consists of the tape logs, interview transcripts, and raw interview footage produced by Kathy Witkowsky for her documentary Bella Vista: An Unseen View of World War II, which was produced by Witkowsky in 1995 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II. There is also a series of World War II-era newspapers from Missoula and Chicago.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to The University of Montana. Per donor agreement, researchers may not quote or duplicate video or audio materials for use without the express permission of the creator, Kathy Witkowsky; please consult the archivist for contact information. Viewing and listening for scholarly purposes is allowed without permission.
Preferred Citation
[Name of document or video number], Kathy Witkowsky Collection, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is divided into three series:
Series I: Transcripts and Tape Logs, 0.25 linear feet, 1992-1995
Series II: Video and Audio Cassettes, 26 videotapes and 2 audio cassettes, 1992-1995
Series III: Newspapers, 0.25 linear feet, 1936-1945
Location of Originals
Some video materials are copies of materials in the National Archives.
Custodial History
The materials in this collection were gathered by Kathy Witkowsky and remained in her possession until donation to the K. Ross Toole Archives.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Kathy Witkowsky, 1996
Processing Note
The collection was processed for the first time in 1997. In 2018, audio cassettes and their accompanying transcripts were added to the collection.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I: Transcripts and Tape Logs , 1992-1995 Return to Top
This series consists of one folder of tape logs and seven folders of interview transcripts from some of the tapes. The folder of tape logs also contains other documents related to getting other footage from the National Archives.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1 | Tape Logs |
1994-1995 |
| 1/2 | Transcript of Tape #3: Pelle,
Menetto Guastella |
undated |
| 1/3 | Transcript of Tape #4: Pelle,
Menetto Guastella |
undated |
| 1/4 | Transcript of Tape #5:
Cipololato, Bononini |
undated |
| 1/5 | Transcript of Tape #6: Bonanini
|
undated |
| 1/6 | Transcript of Tape #7: Benedetti
|
undated |
| 1/7 | Transcript of Tape #27: Mangione
|
1992 |
| 1/8 | Transcript of Tape #28: Visciano
|
1992 |
Series II: Video and Audio Cassettes, 1992-1995 Return to Top
This series consists of twenty-eight VHS tapes, 3/4" videotapes, and 2 audio cassettes of raw interview footage, photo stills, National Archives footage, and a rough cut of the documentary. The men interviewed are Alfredo Cipolato and Umberto Benedetti, Missoula; Dan Bonanini, Butte; John Pelle, Frank Guastella, and Athos Menetto, Spokane; Raimondo Visciano and Jerre Mangione.
| Description | Dates |
|---|---|
247(II)1: Bella Vista Photographs, Stills
(3/4 inch video) |
February 19, 1994 |
247(II)2: Bella Vista Photographs, T2, Dan
Bonanini, Umberto Bendetti. Stills (3/4 inch video) |
February 19, 1994 |
247(II)3: John Pelle, Athos Menerto, Frank
Guastella - Tape 1 of 2. Transcript available. (VHS) |
undated |
247(II)4: John Pelle, Athos Menerto, Frank
Guastella - Tape 2 of 2. Transcript available. (VHS) |
undated |
247(II)5: Alfredo Cipolato/Dan Bonanini
Part I. Transcripts available. Cipolato at the Fort and Broadway Market,
various stills (VHS) |
undated |
247(II)6: Dan Bonanini Part II, Transcript
available (VHS) |
October 1994 |
247(II)7: Missoula shoot (Fort Missoula),
Umberto Benedetti (with his book, ship models, and at the Fort), B-roll.
Transcript available (VHS) |
undated |
247(II)8: Bella Vista (stills) with dub,
(VHS) |
November 2, 1994 |
247(II)9: Bella Vista (stills) 2 of 2.
(VHS) |
undated |
247(II)10: Rough cut #1, "Bella Vista: A
View of WWII from Montana", (VHS) |
March 1995 |
247(II)11: Bella Vista - John Pelle, Athos
Menerto, Frank Guastella, (video poor, audio good) (VHS) |
undated |
247(II)12: Bella Vista, Umberto Benedetti at
the Fort (3/4 inch video) |
undated |
247(II)13: Bella Vista stills (VHS)
|
undated |
247(II)14: Bella Vista, Butte Int. Dan
Bonanini - Photographs. T2 Stills (3/4 inch video) |
February 19, 1994 |
247(II)15: Stills (VHS) |
undated |
247(II)16: Bella Vista Umberto Benedetti's
book, stills (VHS) |
undated |
247(II)17: Bella Vista, Spokane. Photographs
#3. Stills (3/4 inch video) |
undated |
247(II)18: Bella Vista, Spokane.
Photographs. Stills (3/4 inch video) |
undated |
247(II)19: Bella Vista, Spokane Photographs
#2. Stills (3/4 inch video) |
undated |
247(II)20: Archival stills (VHS)
|
undated |
247(II)21: National Archives (news reels,
Nazi footage, War Dept. film on Japanese relocation, UN formation, etc.) (VHS)
|
undated |
247(II)22: Bella Vista Dan Bonanini photos
(stills) (VHS) |
undated |
247(II)23: Bella Vista Talbott
photos/Guestella B-roll, (stills) (VHS) |
September 8, 1995 |
247(II)24: Dick Polenberg, Cornell professor
of history, interview, (VHS) |
July 12, 1995 |
247(II)25: Scott Mc - Window dub. Nazi
stuff, (VHS) |
August 31, 1995 |
247(II)26: Vista Narration (VHS)
|
undated |
247(II)27: Jerre Mangione, interview, Transcript available (cassette)
|
1992 |
247(II)28: Raimondo Visciano, interview, Transcript available (cassette)
|
1992 |
Series III: Newspapers , 1936-1945Return to Top
This series contains eleven World War II-era newspapers from Missoula and Chicago.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| OS1/7 |
Sunday Missoulian
|
March 29, 1936 |
| OS1/8 |
Chicago Daily Times
|
December 11, 1941 |
| OS1/9 |
Missoula Sentinel
|
December 8, 1941 |
| OS1/10 |
Chicago Herald-American
|
December 11, 1941 |
| OS1/11 |
Missoula Sentinel
|
December 11, 1941 |
| OS1/12 |
Chicago Daily News
|
September 8, 1943 |
| OS1/13 |
Chicago Herald-American
|
May 7, 1945 |
| OS1/14 |
Chicago Herald-American
|
August 15, 1945 |
| OS1/15 |
Chicago Daily Tribune
|
August 15, 1945 |
| OS1/16 |
Chicago Daily Times
|
August 15, 1945 |
| OS1/17 |
Chicago Daily Tribune
|
August 15, 1945 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Prisoners of war--Italy
- Prisoners of war--United States
- World War, 1939-1945--Montana--Fort Missoula
- World War, 1939-1945--Prisoners and prisons, American
Geographical Names
- Fort Missoula (Mont.)
Form or Genre Terms
- Moving images
Occupations
- Women motion picture producers and directors--United States
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Benedetti, Umberto
- Bonanini, Dan
- Cipolato, Alfredo
- Guastella, Frank
- Menetto, Athos
- Pelle, John
Finding aid prepared by Julie Eklund,
Robert Applegate, and Jodi Allison-Bunnell
1997
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
