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Books Before Bruno: 1880-1931 | ||
Celeste A. Morello is an American historian and criminologist specializing in the studies of the Mafia in the Philadelphia area. Recognized along with her prolific record as a nominator of buildings and artwork with the Philadelphia Historical Commission, to date, she has nominated the most Pennsylvania historical markers approved by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Morello has been called one of "the most active preservationists in the city". (Philadelphia Inquirer, January 17, 2016)
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Background
Born in Norristown Pa; resides in Philadelphia. She has written three books with original research on the Philadelphia Mafia, the Philadelphia Italian Market, and another on the parish history of St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church (Philadelphia). Morello's Before Bruno trilogy is the history of the Mafia in the Philadelphia area from 1880 to 1959 when Angelo Bruno became boss of the Philadelphia crime family. The publications took 15 years of research, during which time she personally interviewed over a dozen of members of the American Mafia. Morello claimed her authorship was enhanced by being "The only historian and criminologist in the United State specializing in Mafia history who is the descendant of the first Mafiosi in New York City, New Orleans and suburban Philadelphia."
In 1978, as a student at Loyola University, in Rome, Italy Morello visited with relatives in Sicily, where she became acquainted with the Sicilian Mafia in her family's history. From this, Morello posited the "Medieval Origins" of the Mafia's beginnings in Sicily.
Education
Honor's Program, Chestnut Hill College (Philadelphia) : Art History (magna cum laude) and Classical Civilizations (cum laude) 1980; a Master's in sociology/criminology at St Joseph's University (Phila.) 1994; Master's in History at Villanova University, 2000. Certification, Paralegal studies, Villanova University. Licensed Realtor, 1982 to 1985. Morello also learned much from the Organized Crime Strikes Force of the U.S. Attorneys Office under Deputy Chief Prosecutor Albert C. Wicks.
Historical Markers
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission nominations and approved: 1. St. Augustine Church (Philadelphia) 2. St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi Church 3. Gianinni amily 4. Frank Gasparro 5. Mario Lanza 6. Eddie Lang 7. Joe Venuti 8. Tommy Loughran 9. Eddie Gottlieb 10. Harvey Pollack 11. Rabbi Israel Goldstein 12. St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) 13. Old St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church 14. Old St. Joseph's Church 15. Commodore John Barry 16. Philadelphia Zoo 17. American Bandstand 18. John Wanamaker 19. Mother's Day 20. Nicola Monachesi 21. Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania 22. Christian Street Hospital 23. South 9th Street Market 24. Benjamin Rush 25. Mathew Carey 26. Connie Mack 27. The Barrymore Family 28. Shibe Park 29. African American Baseball 30. Roy Campanella 31. Moyamensing Prison 32. Eastern State Penitentiary 33. Maxfield Parrish 34. W.C. Fields 35. Haym Solomon 36. House of Industry 37. Vincent Persichetti 38. The Mischianza 39. Palumbo's 40. Philadelphia Italian Market 41. Pat's Steaks
Books By Morello
Villanova University Digital Library ("Morello Collection") Also refer to nominations at Philadelphia Historical Commission.