James G. Paoloni papers, 1912, 1923-1991, together with the papers of his wife, Maria Dalila Paoloni, 1939-1990

MLMSS 5288 ADD-ON 1938

fonds

1912, 1923-1991

893203

0.18 metres of textual material (1 box) - photocopies

Gino (James) Paoloni (1905-1994) was born in Tarcento, Friuli-Venezia Giulia. At the age of 17 he joined his father in France where he furthered his education and worked as a boilermaker. Paoloni returned to Italy and undertook compulsory military service with the Mountain Artillery Corps from 1925 to 1926.

Paoloni arrived in Sydney in 1927 and joined his brothers working on The Burrinjuck Dam. He adopted the name James as an anglicised version of Gino and was naturalised in 1935. Paoloni briefly visited Italy and married in 1937. He returned to Australia in the same year with his wife, Maria. An account of her experiences of migrating to Australia, life during the war and the achievements of her family are recorded in Give me strength/Forza e coraggio: Italian Australia women speak (1989)

During World War II Paoloni was interned at Long Bay Gaol in Sydney, in camps at Orange and Hay, NSW, and in Loveday Camp, South Australia. He and Maria actively appealed against his internment without success. After 38 months Paoloni was released, returning to Sydney in December 1943. The Paolonis moved to Ryde in 1945.

Paoloni’s correspondence reflects the diverse issues in which he was actively engaged. Soon after his release from internment he sought assurance from various public officials that naturalised Australians need not fear discrimination in the event of future hostilities. He debated aspects of the Catholic faith with Dr Leslie Rumble, MSC, between 1955 and 1969, and was an inveterate letter writer to editors of English and Italian language newspapers on a variety of topics over the past three decades.

Gino (James) Paoloni is survived by two sons, Enrico, a cardiologist, born in 1940 and Franco, a physicist, born in 1946.

I. JAMES G. PAOLONI
FILE 1
Papers, including correspondence, together with certificates, interviews and newscuttings, 1912, 1923-1990
Arranged chronologically

FILE 2
Correspondence with Dr Leslie Rumble, MSC, together with associated articles, 1955-1969

FILE 3
Papers, being mainly letters to editors of newspapers, 1960-1976
Include manuscript drafts, newscuttings of published letters and related correspondence
Arranged chronologically

FILE 4
Papers, being mainly letters to editors of newspapers, 1977-1991
Include manuscript drafts, newscuttings of published letters and related correspondence
Arranged chronologically

FILE 5
Transferred to Pictures Collection at XV/153 (formerly Pic.Acc.7196)

II. MARIA DALILA PAOLONI
FILE 6
Papers, including correspondence regarding internment of James Paoloni, 1941-1943 and letter received from James Paolono, 1962
1939-1943, 1962-1967, 1985, 1990

English, Italian

Reproduction Restricted: Applies to MLMSS 5288 ADD-ON 1938/FILE 6: Maria Dalila Paoloni papers

Italians in New South Wales : a guide to archives in the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales / compiled by James Andrighetti. Sydney : State Library of NSW Press, 1995 -

Information transferred from Manuscripts Leaf Catalogue No. 2 as part of the eRecords Project, 2009-2010

MLMSS 5288 ADD-ON 1938/FILE 5 transferred to Pictorial Collection Call Number XV/153 (formerly Pic.Acc.7196)