Donated by Dorothy Morsani
This derby belonged to Memo Morsani of Tontitown (Washington County). The inner lining sports a stamp (below) from Price Clothing Company in Fayetteville.
Richard Dominic “Memo” Morsani (1889-1951) was born in Orvinio, Italy. Memo, his father Emidio, and brother Camillo were among the first families who came with Father Pietro Bandini to settle Tontitown in 1898. Memo was well-known in the region for his beautiful singing voice. After serving with the U. S. Army during World War I, he returned to Tontitown, became a nursery agent in the local fruit industry, and married Rose Bastianelli (another of Tontitown’s founding citizens) in 1926.
Tontitown get-together, circa 1920. Memo Morsani is on the back row, holding a tuba. Lavinia Zulpo Collection (S-2003-2-1191)