ITALIAN CLUBS

The Italians in Kansas City organized mutual benefit societies (società di mutuo soccorso) modeled after those in Italy. These societies raised money to benefit Italians in Kansas City and even Italy when tragedy arose. Some societies were social clubs for Italian hometowns, while others were intellectual or spiritual in nature. In addition to raising money, these societies provided a death benefit to members to help with funeral expenses, attended community events, marched in parades, and occasionally marched in funeral processions. The first Italian clubs in Kansas City were the Union of Italian Brotherhood, established in 1882; Sacro Cuore, in 1890; and the Società Italo-Americana di Mutuo Soccorso Galileo Galilei, in 1893.  

The Italian mutual benefit societies of Kansas City were extremely popular in the first half of the 20th century. At their peak in 1929, the combined membership of all the societies numbered in the thousands.  Beginning in the 1920s, in addition to the traditional Italian mutual benefit societies, the Italians in Kansas City started forming their own chapters of American clubs like the Italian Masonic Club, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and American War Dads. 

In 1971, the Italian-American Unification Council of Greater Kansas City was created.  This club was different because it was a civil rights organization.  According to the articles of incorporation filed with the state of Missouri, the organization’s primary function was to ensure “that all Constitutional guarantees afforded every American citizen, are equally afforded to all members of the Italian-American ethnic group of Greater Kansas City area.”  During this period, Italian Americans were being unfairly targeted by law enforcement and stereotyped as members of organized crime.  This was not the first time Italians in Kansas City were negatively stereotyped, but it was the first time they formed an organization like the IAUC and took action to fight the injustice.                 

Today, only 5 Italian clubs remain active in Kansas City, including the American Daughters of Columbus, American Sons of Columbus, Camporealese Society, Club Campofelice di Fitalia, and the Kansas City Chapter of UNICO National.