Archive code: DIA-NY01

Title: Diamantopoulos Family 

Dates of creation: May 2021- February 2021

Extent and physical description: Includes 2 textual records, 14 photographs: b&w and col., 10 objects. 

Biography: This collection shares the story of Diamantis Diamantopoulos, the youngest of six siblings, raised in Litochoro, Greece. At the end of WWII, Greece was hit by an economic crisis that forced many to migrate abroad. Diamantis’ father, Alexandros Diamantopoulos, was executed by the German army. As a result, the family had no source of income. At the age of fifteen, Diamantis immigrated to New York, United States, where he worked at a Greek diner in Brooklyn to support his family in Greece. In 1956, Diamantis married Fani Diamantopoulos, from Thessaloniki, and together they raised two kids, Alexandros Diamantopoulos and Evangelia Diamantopoulos, in Brooklyn. 

Diamantis worked seven days a week to make enough savings to invest the money and Greece. Finally, in 1965, Diamantis sold the diner where he had become co-partner, and the family moved to Thessaloniki. 

Scope and content: 

The Diamantopoulos Family archive consists of records created, accumulated, and used by Diamantis Diamantopoulos and Fani Diamantopoulos between 1923 and 1998. The collection includes records pertaining to Diamantis’ family; his father’s military service; travels from/to Elis Island; his sister’s Mail Order Bride story; his work at New York City diners; and life in Litochoro.

Record types include: photographs; administrative records; photocopies of newspaper clippings; certificates; and objects.

Custodial history: These archives were donated by Fay Diamantopoulos, founder of the Greek-American Immigrants Archive, in one accession in 2021. 

Source of supplied title: Title based on contents of the archives. 

Notes on arrangement: The materials were received in no discernible order, and the archivist imposed a chronological order based upon an analysis of the life of the Diamantopoulos family. 

Restrictions: Access to the archives for research purposes is not restricted. Individuals wishing to reproduce materials for publication are reminded of the need to obtain permission from copyright holders before publication or dissemination.

Accruals: No further accruals are expected. 

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