Teresa Fava Thomas

PROFESSOR
Economics, History and Political Science School of Arts and Sciences
Teresa Fava Thomas, Ph.D., History, Economics, History, and Political Science
978.665.4587 Office: Miller Hall 314A
Office Hours
Spring 2026

Tuesday and Wednesday 8:30 - 9:30 AM

Courses Taught

To see course descriptions go to the University Catalog.

World Civilizations I (HIST 1000)
World Civilizations II (HIST 1100)
Italian American History (HIST 2420)
Modern Italian History: Risorgimento to Today (HIST 3000)
Vietnam: A Century of Conflict (HIST 3740)
Cold War: A Global History (HIST 3750)
U.S. in World Affairs: 1898 to the Present (HIST 3850)
Reading the Historical Landscape: Venetian History (HIST 2000)

Background

Ph.D., Clark University
M.A., Clark University
B.S., Fitchburg State University
Professor of History, 1998

Industry and Italian immigrants in Massachusetts

World War II service and Italian-American volunteers. 

Current Projects:

Research on industrialization in Southbridge, Massachusetts, and Italian emigration to Massachusetts, 1880-1920.

 

 

Books

Thomas, T.F. The Allied Bombing of Central Italy: The Restoration of the Nile Mosaic and Sanctuary of Fortuna at Palestrina. Routledge Press.

Thomas, T.F. (2015). The Reluctant Migrants: Migration from the Italian Veneto to Central Massachusetts. Teneo Press.

Book Chapters and Articles:

Thomas, T.F. (2010). "Arresting the Padroni Problem in America 1881-1901: Italian Diplomats, Immigration Restrictionists, and the Italian Bureau," Altreitalie: International Journal of Studies on the People of Italian Origin in the World.

Thomas, T.F. (2015)."The Assimilationists: Sarah Wool Moore and the Society for the Protection of Italian Immigrants." In Guida, G. (Ed.), What is Italian American? Selected Essays from the Italian American Studies Association. Italian American Studies Association.

Thomas, T.F. (2017). "German Immigration to Fitchburg, Massachusetts." In Kreiten, K. and Michelis, K. (Eds.), Kleve am Niederrhein und Fitchburg in Massachusetts - Partnerstädte.

Thomas, T.F. (2012). "Retrospective Review: the Historians of Revine Lago, Giuseppe Grava and Giovanni Tomasi." News on the Rialto: Newsletter for Studies on Venetian History. Brigham Young University, Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation.

Journal Articles:

"Italian Diaspora in a Massachusetts Mill Town: Migration between Palestrina (Lazio),Italy, and Southbridge, Massachusetts," in Diasporic Italy, Journal of the ItalianAmerican Studies Association, vol. 1, December 2020. Available online:https://scholarlypublishingcollective.org/uip/di/article-abstract/doi/10.5406/27697738.1.1.024/293670/Italian-Diaspora-in-a-Massachusetts-Mill-Town

Book Reviews:

Review of Vincent A. Lapomarda, The Italians of Worcester County, in Historical Journal of Massachusetts, Summer 2021, volume 49, #2, 181-184.

Academic Awards:

HARROD LECTURE AWARD: “The Forever Shutdown: The Hamilton Woolen Strike of 1934,” Fitchburg State University Harrod Lecture Series, March 5, 2024.

Encyclopedia Articles:

Arsenale: The Shipyard and Arsenale of Venice -- Article World History Encyclopedia source: https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2776/arsenale/

Doge’s Palace in Venice – Article World History Encyclopedia source: https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2273/doges-palace-in-venice/

Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia at Palestrina. Article World History Encyclopedia source: https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1643/sanctuary-of-fortuna-primigen…

Conference Presentations:

Thomas, T.F. (2018). "Allied Bombing of Rome 1943-45: Strategic Debate and Process of Recovery." New England Historical Association.

Thomas, T.F. (2017). "Facing the Enemy: Italian Clergy Under Occupation and the Peace Plan of Pope Benedict XV." Italian American Studies Association Conference.

Thomas, T.F. (2018). "Strategic Bombing in Rome and Palestrina Italy: Measuring the Cost of War." Keynote Address, FSU Faculty Research and Scholarship Symposium.