Julia Veronica Grilli (March 14, 1893 – December 6, 1991), also seen as Giulia Grilli, was an American lawyer and concert singer.
Julia V. Grilli | |
|---|---|
 Giulia Grilli, from a 1921 publication. | |
| Born | Julia Veronica Grilli March 14, 1893 New York City, US |
| Died | December 6, 1991 West Palm Beach, Florida, US |
| Other names | Giulia Grilli, Julia Angelone |
| Occupation(s) | Lawyer, singer |
| Spouse | Romolo Angelone (married 1928) |
Early life
editJulia Veronica Grilli was born in New York, the daughter of Nicola Grilli and Rosina (Rose) Trippitelli Grilli. Her parents were immigrants from Sulmona in Abruzzo.[1] Her father was a columnist in Italian-language newspapers.[2][3] She graduated from Brooklyn Law School in 1914. She trained as a singer in New York, with Alfredo Martino and Albert Wolff.[4]
Career
editLaw
editGrilli passed the New York bar examination in 1914, and opened her own practice as a trial lawyer[5] in the Wall Street district. She was a suffragist, and advocated jury service for women.[6] She served as legal counsel for the Italian Welfare League and the Italian Hospital. She was one of the founders of the Brooklyn Women Lawyers Association.[4][7] In 1921, she was promoted by the Women's Democratic Club as a candidate for judge.[1]
Music
editGrilli, a mezzo-soprano[8] or contralto,[9] and became familiar to New York audiences during World War I, when she sang at concerts to benefit causes in the Italian-American community.[10] She gave a professional recital in New York's Aeolian Hall in 1921, accompanied by Albert Wolff.[11] Commenting on coverage of her as a lawyer turned singer, she exclaimed, "I have never been able to discover... whether it is considered strange that a singer should be a lawyer, or that a lawyer should sing!" She was active in the Italian Music League.[12]
Personal life
editIn 1928, Grilli married Romolo Angelone (1897–1991), who was also from Sulmona, and worked at the Italian embassy.[13] The Italian ambassador to the United States served as best man at their wedding.[14] She had a son, Luigi Paolo (Louis), and a daughter, Elisabeth. Romolo Angelone became Italy's commercial attaché in Shanghai and Tokyo during World War II. Julia Grilli Angelone died in West Palm Beach, Florida, in 1991, aged 98 years.[15]
References
edit- ^ a b Aleandri, Emelise (2002). Little Italy. Arcadia Publishing. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-7385-1062-0.
- ^ "Nicola Grilli Dead; News Paper Writer". The New York Times. December 5, 1935. p. 25 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Nicoli Grilli Dead; Banker and Editor". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 1935-12-04. p. 15. Retrieved 2020-07-09 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b de Valdor, Joseph (March 11, 1921). "Giulia Grilli to Appear in Recital". Music News. 13: 22.
- ^ Patterson, Ada (1918-12-03). "The New Triumph of Women Lawyers". The Wilmington Morning Star. p. 8. Retrieved 2020-07-09 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Perry, Elisabeth Israels (2019-03-06). After the Vote: Feminist Politics in La Guardia's New York. Oxford University Press. p. 76. ISBN 978-0-19-934185-6.
- ^ "Women Lawyers Hear Jurists". Times Union. 1918-03-22. p. 8. Retrieved 2020-07-09 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "How Giulia Grilli Doffed Portia Robes for Career as a Singer". Musical America. 34: 17. June 11, 1921.
- ^ "Manual High Gives Concert". Times Union. 1921-06-11. p. 12. Retrieved 2020-07-09 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Martinelli and Yon Brothers in Concerts". Musical Courier. 77: 47. October 11, 1918.
- ^ de Valdor, Joseph (March 23, 1921). "Giulia Grilli's Debut". Music News. 13: 22.
- ^ "Stracciari is Lion of Italian Concert". Musical America. 34: 37. May 14, 1921.
- ^ "Sails on Honeymoon". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 1928-07-18. p. 5. Retrieved 2020-07-09 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "JULIA GRILLI BECOMES BRIDE HERE TOMORROW; Lawyer to Wed Romolo Angelone of Italian Embassy--De Martino Best Man". The New York Times. 1928-07-11. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
- ^ "Julia Grilli Angelone". The Palm Beach Post. 1991-12-08. p. 74. Retrieved 2020-07-09 – via Newspapers.com.
