From The Godfather to The Sopranos: Italian Americans on Screen

Last Spring, the Dartmouth College Library got an offer it couldn’t refuse: a gift of the archives of Mario Puzo, novelist, screenwriter and the creator of The Godfather, the book and movie that spawned the modern myth of the mafia. Thanks to the generosity of the donors, Diana and Bruce Rauner ’78 P’06 P’08 P’17 P’19, the collection is now placed in Rauner Special Collections Library where t will be used to support research and to enhance the classroom experience of Dartmouth students. It holds so much promise. The collection documents Puzo’s initial struggles and remarkable rise, catalogs his foibles and personal insecurities, and comments on the writing profession in the 20th century. But most importantly, it shows the creation and development of the dominant popular conception of the mob in America—seemingly, every mafia cliché has its origins in these papers. As we said, it was an offer we couldn’t refuse.

This exhibit was made possible through the generosity of Diana and Bruce Rauner. It was curated by Hazel-Dawn Dumpert; designed and mounted by Dennis Grady, Web Support and Graphic Arts Design Specialist; with assistance from Veronica Cook Williamson, Jones Memorial Digital Media Fellow; Deborah Howe, Collections Conservator; Lizzie Curran, Assistant Conservator; and Elena Cordova, Special Collections Processing Specialist.