Abispo Verdi papers, 20th century
Collection context
Summary
- Abstract:
- Abispo Verdi was the author of several satirical manifestos issued in Ybor City. The manifestos made fun of local corrupt politicians and businessmen, which, while causing a scandal among the targets of the ridicule, found support in the community. The real identity of the author, Albert Knapp, was not revealed till 1987.
- Extent:
- 0.21 Linear Feet
- 1 boxes
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
Abispo Verdi Papers, USF Libraries - Tampa Special Collections, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.
Background
- Scope and content:
Abispo Verdi papers include the 1952 and 1953 manifestos signed with the official green stamp, correspondence, biography of Albert Knapp written by his son-in-law Jack Fernandez, and the rubber stamp with an image of a mosquito.
- Biographical / historical:
Albert Knapp (1905 – 1967) moved to Ybor City in 1925. In Ybor, Knapp worked as a mailman, was married to Marina Moré, with whom he had a daughter Sylvia, and served as a major in the Tampa Harbor Patrol during the World War II.
In the 1950s Knapp, under a pseudonym Abispo Verdi (misspelled "Green Hornet"), began issuing "manifestos" that poked fun at the local dirty businessmen and politicians. These manifestos Knapp wrote in a broken English dialect, with a mix of Spanish and Italian words, and signed with an official green mosquito stamp. Abispo Verdi, "the righter of wrongs, stinger of crooked politicians," caused quite a scandal, and a $500 reward was once offered for his identity. Yet Knapp remained anonymous until after his death. In 1987 his co-conspirator, Tony Pizzo, publicly revealed his identity.
Access and use
- Terms of access:
None. The contents of the collection may be subject to copyright. Visit the United States Copyright Office's website at http://www.copyright.gov/ for more information.
- Preferred citation:
Abispo Verdi Papers, USF Libraries - Tampa Special Collections, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.
- Location of this collection:
-
The University of South Florida, Tampa Campus4202 East Fowler Ave. LIB122TampaFL33620-5400USA
