An Informative Talk on the History of the Italian Community in Washington, D.C.

Capt. Crockett (left) accepts a thank you gift from AMHS Board member Teresa Black on behalf of the Society.

On May 17, 2026, approximately 50 AMHS members and guests heard a fascinating account of the origins and growth of the Italian community in Washington, D.C. Guest speaker Retired Captain Kathleen Principe Crockett of the U.S. Air Force gave a presentation called “The Italians of Washington from 1880 to 1940.”

Kathleen was born in Frederick, Md., to Nan Principe and Dennis Crockett.  Her maternal grandfather, Louis Principe, was born in Washington on November 11, 1918, to Italian emigrants from Campania, Cosimo Alberto Luigi Principe and Elizabeth Gertrude Ricci Pollio, who immigrated to Washington around 1898 and 1892, respectively.  Inspired by her grandfather’s dedication to family history, Kathleen grew up surrounded by stories that shaped her love of history and genealogy.

According to Capt. Crockett, there were several factors that distinguished the evolution of the community in Washington compared to other East Coast enclaves.  For one, the District was not the first point of entry for most of the Italian immigrants who eventually settled there.  The vast majority came from other cities where they had first settled.  Second, the Italians, like most others who came to Washington, were attracted by better paying jobs and the opportunity to advance into professional careers.  Many Italians did work in construction and on the railroads in Washington, but others worked for the government or opened small businesses.  Third, Italians became much more integrated into the community, not confined to recognizable ethnic neighborhoods.  Cant. Crockett also shared stories of her own family’s experience in the region.

Summer 2026