Guide to the Maurice and Vera Vendettuoli papers, 1964-1975

(bulk 1971-1975)


Special Collections, James P. Adams Library
Rhode Island College
600 Mount Pleasant Ave
Providence, RI, 02908
Tel: 401-456-8380
email:digitalcommons@ric.edu

Published in 2022

Collection Overview

Title: Maurice and Vera Vendettuoli papers
Date range: 1964-1975, (bulk 1971-1975)
Creator: Vendettuoli family
Extent: 1.25 cubic feet
Abstract: Papers of a couple who opposed desegregated busing and the Providence Desegregation Plan in the 1970s.
Language of materials: English
Repository: Special Collections, James P. Adams Library
Collection number: MSS-0004

Scope & content

The collection contains documents created and collected by Maurice and Vera Vendettuoli, a majority of which relate to their response to and protest of desegregated busing and the Providence Desegregation Plan. The collection includes correspondence, newspaper and magazine clippings, Mount Pleasant Parents and Citizens Council records, and other materials relating to the Vendettuoli’s interests, including their opposition to desegregated busing, as well as education and taxation.

Access Points

Subject Names Subject Topics Geographical Names

Arrangement

The collection has been arranged into the following series:

  • Series 1: Correspondence; 1971-1975
  • Series 2: Newspaper and magazine clippings; circa 1967-1975
  • Series 3: Mount Pleasant Parents and Citizens Council records; circa 1971-1975
  • Series 4: Other papers; circa 1964-1975

Biographical/Historical Note

Maurice Vendettuoli was born in New Bedford, MA in 1920 and Vera Vendettuoli (née Means) was born in 1925 in London, England. They were married in West Ham, England in 1945. The Vendettuolis settled in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood of Providence, RI sometime after.

In 1971, the Mount Pleasant Parents and Citizens Council was incorporated with Maurice Vendettuoli as chairman of the steering committee and Vera Vendettuoli as corresponding secretary. In February 1972, the Mount Pleasant Parents and Citizens Council entered an amicus curiae before the Rhode Island Supreme Court in Barletta v. Kilvert, which sought to halt the Providence School Department’s racial balancing plan.

Maurice Vendettuoli died in 1995 and Vera Vendettuoli died in 1997.

Access & Use

Access to the collection: The collection is open for research by appointment.
Use of the materials: Rhode Island College Special Collections holds copyright to materials created by Maurice and Vera Vendettuoli. The collection contains materials not created by the Vendettuolis which may be under copyright restrictions. Researchers are advised to contact Rhode Island College Special Collections for questions regarding permissions to reproduce, distribute, or otherwise publish material from this collection. Although Rhode Island College has physical ownership of the collection, it does not necessarily hold literary rights to all materials. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Alternate form: This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact the Rhode Island College Special Collections.
Preferred citation: Maurice and Vera Vendettuoli papers, MSS-0004, Special Collections, James P. Adams Library, Rhode Island College.
Contact information: Special Collections, James P. Adams Library
Rhode Island College
600 Mount Pleasant Ave
Providence, RI, 02908
Tel: 401-456-8380
email:digitalcommons@ric.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
Acquisition: The collection was donated by Maurice and Vera Vendettuoli in 1975. A deed of gift was signed at the time of donation.
Processing information: The collection was initially arranged and described circa 1975 by Michael Kohl, Assistant Librarian at Rhode Island College Special Collections. Newsletters, pamphlets, and flyers (mostly political mailings) were removed from the collection and added to the Social and Political Materials Collection at this time. In 2022, the guide to the collection was updated to current archival standards and additional publications removed by Veronica Denison, Digital Archivist and Special Collections Librarian at Rhode Island College Special Collections.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by Veronica L. Denison.
Encoding: This finding aid was encoded by Veronica L. Denison, 2022.
Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Separated material: Political mailings and ephemera were removed from the collection and added to the Social and Political Materials Collection circa 1975. In 2022, additional published materials were removed from the collection and added to the Special Collections book collection. Please contact the Rhode Island College Special Collections for further information regarding these items.
Location/Existence of copies: This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact the Rhode Island College Special Collections.
Other information:
    Works used in preparation of inventory: Biographical information was provided by the donors at the time of donation in 1975.

Inventory

Series 1. Correspondence, 1970-1975
0.20 cubic feet

This series includes correspondence written by and to the Vendettuolis regarding their opposition to the Providence Desegregation Plan as well as the implementation of desegregated busing in Providence to obtain racial balance in the public schools, and taxes relating to education. Many letters were written on behalf of the Mount Pleasant Parents and Citizens Council. Correspondents include: Superintendent of Providence Public Schools Charles Bernardo; Mayor of Providence James Doorley; Acting Superintendent of Providence Public Schools Charles H. Durant III; U.S. Representative (R-MI) Gerald R. Ford; Majority Leader in the Rhode Island State Senate John Hawkins; Chairman of the Providence School Committee Charles Kilvert; U.S. Senate (D-RI) John O. Pastore; U.S. Senator (D-RI) Claiborne Pell; U.S. Representative (D-RI) Fernand St. Germain. The series is arranged chronologically.

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 1-7 Correspondence
 1970-1975

Series 2. Newspaper and magazine clippings, circa 1967-1975
0.40 cubic feet

The series contains clippings collected by the Vendettuoli’s relating to education, the implementation of desegregated busing in Providence, and opposition to taxation. The clippings were also referenced by the Mount Pleasant Parents and Citizens Council prior to the donation of the collection.

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 8-18 Newspaper and magazine clippings
 circa 1967-1975
Box 2, Folder 1-4 Newspaper and magazine clippings
 circa 1970-1975

Series 3. Mount Pleasant Parents and Citizens Council records, circa 1971-1975
0.20 cubic feet

The series contains records relating to the Mount Pleasant Parents and Citizens Council and their opposition to desegregated busing. A majority of the letters to the editor and position papers were written by Maurice Vendettuoli on behalf of the Mount Pleasant Parents and Citizens Council.

Container Description Date
Box 2, Folder 5-6 Letters to the editor
 circa 1971-1975
Box 2, Folder 7 Press releases
 1971-1973
Box 2, Folder 8 Newsletters and flyers relating to desegregated busing, psychologists and guidance counselors in schools (sensitivity programs), events, cost of education, and a poem about James Doorley and Charles H. Durant III
 circa 1971-1973
Box 2, Folder 9 Position papers regarding the Providence Desegregation Plan, Providence Integration Plan, and the cost of taxes for education
 circa 1971
Box 2, Folder 10 Mount Pleasant Parents and Citizens Council mailing and member’s information
 1971-1974
Box 2, Folder 11 Mount Pleasant Parents and Citizens Council members
 1971-1974
Box 2, Folder 12 List of petitioner names
 1971-1974
Box 2, Folder 13 Petitions to Congress
 1971-1974
Box 2, Folder 14 Petitions to various members of Congress and Charles Kilvert Chairman of the Providence School Committee
 1971-1974

Series 4. Other papers, circa 1964-1975
0.45 cubic feet

This series includes Maurice Vendettuoli’s research notes, press releases from the Providence Teachers Union concerning allegations of racism on the part of staff at Mount Pleasant High School, as well as newspapers, and draft letters and position papers.

Container Description Date
Box 2, Folder 15 Barrington Taxpayers Coalition
 1973
Box 2, Folder 16 Political cartoons
 circa 1971-1975
Box 2, Folder 17 Coalition of Concerned Parents
 1972
Box 2, Folder 18 The Concerned Black Parents of Flynn School
 circa 1971-1973
Box 2, Folder 19 Jean K. Coughlin campaign materials
 1970-1974
Box 2, Folder 20 Draft of a "Parental Bill of Rights"
 circa 1971-1975
Box 2, Folder 21 Excerpts from the General Laws of Rhode Island and proposed legislation
 1968-1975
Box 2, Folder 22 Federal Laws on Civil Rights and Privacy
 1964-1974
Box 2, Folder 23 "A Foundation Goes to School: The Ford Foundation Comprehensive School Improvement Program 1960-1970”
 1972
Box 2, Folder 24 Drafts of letters and position papers written by Maurice Vendettuoli relating to education in the United States, “sensitivity training,” and the implementation of integration plans
 circa 1970-1975
Box 2, Folder 25 “Higher Education Act of 1965: Section by Section Analysis”
1965
Box 2, Folder 26 Mount Pleasant Parents and Citizens Council Action Now membership certificate; Maurice Vendettuoli Liberty Lobby certificate
 undated, 1972
Box 2, Folder 27 Newspapers from Providence City High Schools
 1971-1973
Box 3, Folder 1 Maurice Vendettuoli research notes relating to desegregated busing and schools, and costs of education in the United States
 1971-1975
Box 3, Folder 2 Parents for Robert F. Kennedy School
 1969
Box 3, Folder 3 Providence Plan for Desegregation of Elementary and Middle Schools -Alternate Proposals for 1970-1971 and court case
 1971
Box 3, Folder 4 Providence Teachers Union press releases relating to racist incidents at Mount Pleasant High School
 1972
Box 3, Folder 5 Receipts for Certified Mail
 1970-1973
Box 3, Folder 6 Rhode Island Department of Education: Printed material
 1974
Box 3, Folder 7 Rhode Island State Board of Education: ''A Policy Statement on Equal Educational Opportunities"
 1970 June 11
Box 3, Folder 8 Statement of Philosophy of Education for the Scituate School System
 undated
Box 3, Folder 9 Vera Vendettuoli campaign material
 1974