Montalbano-Latino-Fowler Papers

The Montalbano-Latino-Fowler papers include family records and photographs of Joseph F. Montalbano (1902 -1976), his wife Antoinette Latino Montalbano (1907 -1988), and their daughter Gloria Grace Montalbano Fowler (1928 –2014). There are more than 100 family letters, miscellaneous family documents, postcards, and photographs included in these papers.

Most of the letters were written by Joe Montalbano to his wife Antoinette, who he often refers to as Nettie, during the years between 1925 and 1944. The letters declare his personal love for her and encourage her to leave New Rochelle, New York, and return back with their daughter Gloria to live with him in Beaumont, Texas. His letters often focus on daily activities including operating a family meat packing business by the name of Home Packing and Provisions Company, Inc., with his brother John F. Montalbano. He also discusses local baseball teams that he played for and includes newspaper clippings and baseball memorabilia in his letters. Other topics found in the letters are news about family members serving in the military, comments on the war effort, local events happening in Beaumont, and activities related to their daughter, Gloria. Once Nettie agreed to return back to Beaumont from New York in 1944, many of the letters frequently discuss the purchase, remodeling and then furnishing of the new home that he bought for the family.

The letters in essence detail daily life in Beaumont, Texas, for the years between 1925 and 1945. They offer interesting insight into the primary concerns of a typical family for that given era.