Source Information
About Pennsylvania, U.S., Order Sons of Italy in America, Enrollment and Death Benefit Records, 1910-1968
This database contains documents relating to mortuary benefits for members of Pennsylvania chapters of the Order Sons of Italy in America.
Historical Background
The Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA) was established in 1905 in New York as a mutual aid society to assist Italian immigrants coming to the United States. The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania was founded in 1913 and quickly grew to become the nation’s largest. Among its efforts, OSIA offered members scholarships, help with obtaining citizenship, aid to the poor, and life and mortuary benefits.
This database contains a number of different document types related to OSIA mortuary benefits and individual deaths. These include enrolment cards, mortuary fund reports, death benefits lists, cancellations, and member data cards. Records typically include names and death dates. Enrollment cards may also list
- address
- date of birth
- registration/enrollment date
- marital status
- spouse’s name
- spouse’s death date
Some records are in Italian.