Richard Dominic "Memo" Morsani was born in Orvinio, Italy in 1889. Memo, his father Emidio, and brother Camillo were among the first families who came with Father Pietro Bandini to settle the Washington County community of Tontitown in 1898. Memo had a beautiful voice, and was locally known as a concert singer. 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 in 1926. She served as Tontitown's postmaster from 1918 until 1952.

The inner lining of Memo's derby sports a stamp from Price Clothing Company, which was located on the west side of the square in downtown Fayetteville. Dorothy Morsani donated the derby to the Shiloh Museum in 1980.

Tontitown get-together, ca. 1920. Memo Morsani is on the back row, holding a tuba.
Courtesy Lavinia Zulpo
S-2002-111-16

To learn more about the history of Tontitown, visit the City of Tontitown website.

Artifact of the Month Archive

Artifact of the Month Home