Vincenza Scarpaci Walla Walla Italian Research Project Records, 2002-2004

Vincenza Scarpaci was born in New York and is a graduate of Hofstra University and Rutgers University, with a Ph.D. in history. She taught American history at Seton Hall University, Towson State University, Sonoma State University, and University of Oregon. Throughout her career she focused primarily on immigration history, particularly Italian immigration. In 2002, Scarpaci was invited to visit Walla Walla, Washington and give a lecture to the Italian Heritage Association of Walla Walla. She began interviewing Walla Wallans of Italian heritage later that year. The interviews were used for research for her 2005 book, "The Journey of the Italians in America," which also covered the history of Italian families all across the United States and Canada.