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Benedetti exhibit coming to Fort Museum

World War II internee Umberto Benedetti will be honored with an exhibit at the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula beginning later this month. The exhibit will open with a free public reception from 1 to 4 p.m. Jan. 21.
UM Photo
MISSOULA - The carpentry collection, artwork, photographs and books of former Fort Missoula Italian internee Umberto Benedetti will be featured in a new exhibit later this month at the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula.

The exhibit will open with a free public reception for Benedetti Jan. 21 from 1 to 4 p.m.

Benedetti was born in Vasto, Abruzzi, Italy in November, 1911. Prior to the 1941 declaration of war he was employed by an Italian shipping line.

His vessel was detained by the U.S. government ultimately leading to Benedetti and his ship mates being held for the duration of the war at Fort Missoula, which they nicknamed Bella Vista.

After the war Benedetti chose to remain and joined the U.S. Army. In 1959 he earned a bachelor’s degree in romance languages from the University of Washington and, in 1980, a master’s degree in education from the University of Montana.

Benedetti taught school in San Francisco and Miles City. After working in the UM print shop Benedetti retired in 1985.

His published books tell the story of his experience as an internee and his life in America. the National Library of Poetry honored him in 1993 with the Editors Choice Award for his poetry. He received UM’s Alumni Award in 1997.

The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula honors Mr. Benedetti, not only for his contributions to the Historical Museum, but also for his support of The University of Montana’s Mansfield Library. His legacy lives on in future generations of students and scholars.

For more information: 728-3476
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