6/3/20
Advancement
Development Office
Marco and Louise Mitrani Papers, 1950-1989
Biographical Note
Marco and Louise Mitrani have been longtime philanthropists in the Bloomsburg Community.
Not only using financial gifts to support the University, but also the Bloomsburg Hospital,
Theater Ensemble, and Boy Scout Troop of Columbia-Montour Counties, just to name a few.
They were also very active in a variety of organizations throughout the Bloomsburg Community
during their lifetimes. They both had very humble beginnings. Marco Mitrani immigrated to the
United States from Turkey in 1920. Once here, along with his brother Solomon, he began what
would grow to be a multi-million dollar corporation called MILCO in New York City. He then
chose to expand his business and built plants in a variety of different locations but most
importantly, Bloomsburg. Here he rooted his life down with his wife Louise. Louise (Bakish)
Mitrani immigrated to the United States from Bulgaria in 1921 when she was only 16 years old.
The two of them married in 1937 prior to their movement to Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.
They both grew to have so much love for Bloomsburg, its people, and its establishments. Caring
primarily for the preservation of Arts (their most notable contribution to Bloomsburg University
being the improved acoustics in the Haas Auditorium that was then renamed to Marco and
Louise Mitrani Hall) they funded many programs in the community related to that field. Along
with arts, they also cared deeply for the children and students in the community; providing care
and funds for both the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of the region (holding seats on the boards of
each respective organization) and also creating the Mitrani Scholarship for students who attended
Bloomsburg University. This scholarship was initially put at $500,000 but grew to $1 Million
funded by Louise Mitrani after her husband’s death.
Because of their undying love for both the community and the University, they became
recipients of a variety of awards; some of which are now held by the Bloomsburg University
Archives.
Marco Mitrani passed away at the age of 90 at the Berwick Retirement Village in October 1987.
Louise Mitrani died in July 1989 after prolonged illness. The Mitrani’s remain extremely
important figures for years to come. The legacy they left behind will remain imprinted upon both
the Bloomsburg community and its University.
Box 1:
Accession Memo, 1996
Bloomsburg State College Certificate of Appreciation - Mrs. Marco Mitrani, April 26, 1981
Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver Award certificate, January 19, 1958
Awarded by the Columbia-Montour Council to Marco Mitrani for distinguished service
Certificates and Gift Acknowledgments, 1961-1988

Columbia County Chapter of Hadassah certificate, c.1960s
Hadassah Book of the Builders to Mr. & Mrs. Marco Mitrani
Mitrani Hall Dedication, 1985
Newspaper Clipping, 1985
Paul Harris Fellow - Marco Mitrani - Rotary Foundation, n.d.
Photographs, 1972-1977
Scrapbook, 1950-1987
Folder contains non-clipping items and photocopies of newspaper articles. The original
newspaper clippings are in General Oversize Box #1. Contents include:
Certificate of Appreciation to Marco Mitrani from the Rotary Club of Schuylkill Haven,
May 4, 1950
Letters to Louise Mitrani from the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, May 24,
1951 and February 9, 1955
Hadassah Service Award for Louise Mitrani, June 12, 1956
Presbyterian choir program featuring Mrs. Marco Mitrani, October 27, 1959
Berwick Kiwanis Club guest speaker certificate for Louise Mitrani, March 1, 1960
Zionist Organization of America Life membership certificate for Mrs. Marco Mitrani,
February 1967
Newspaper clippings date from February 2, 1950 to October 24, 1987
Scrapbook (3 folders), 1983-1985
All 37 pages have been numbered as they were originally laid out in the Mitrani
Scrapbook. Contained in the scrapbook were photographs, newspaper clippings,
announcements, programs, and invitations.
Note: All Original Newspaper Clippings are not present. Originals were photocopied
and copies inserted in place of the originals.
“Presentation of B.U. Medallion”
S-1 to S-6
S-1: Opening Page Titled, “Presentation of B.U. Medallion December 18, 1983” and
Photograph
S-2 (a,b,&c): Commencement Convocation Notification (a), Photograph (b), and
Newspaper Clipping (c)
S-3: Description of Medallion & Reasons for Mitrani Recipients of Award
S-4 (a,b,&c): Photographs from the Convocation
S-5 (a,b,&c): Photographs from convocation (a & b) and Newspaper clipping (c)
S-6: Newspaper Clippings
“1985 Mitrani Scholarship”
S-7 to S-15
S-7: Opening Page Titled, “1985 Mitrani Scholarships” and Photograph
S-8: B.U. Announcement of Scholarship
S-9: B.U. Application for Scholarship

S-10 (a&b), S-11 (a&b), S-12 (a&b), S-13 (a&b), S-14: Photographs of Mitrani’s with
the Scholarship Recipients
S-15: Newspaper Clippings concerning Mitrani Scholarship
“Mitrani Hall Dedication”
S-16a to S-37
S-16: Opening Page Titled, “Dedication of Marco and Louise Mitrani Hall November 10,
1985” and Photograph
S-17: “Where & When” Jan. 1986 Cover and Cover of The Alumni Quarterly
S-18 (a&b): The Alumni Quarterly (sept. 1985) article and Photograph
S-19 (a,b,&c): Photograph (a), R.S.V.P. cards for Brunch/Dedication (b), and Invitation
to Brunch & Dedication (c)
S-20 (a&b): Photographs
S-21 (a&b): Photographs
S-22 (a&b): Photographs
S-23 (a&b): Napkin from Brunch (a), and Photograph
S-24: Newspaper Clippings
S-25 (a&b): Photograph and Invitation to Dedication (b)
S-26 (a&b): Photograph and Ticket for Admittance (b)
S-27: Newspaper Clipping
S-28: General Dedication Program
S-29: General Dedication Program
S-30: Dept. Of Music (B.U.) Mitrani Hall Dedication Program
S-31 (a&b): First Section of Louise Mitrani’s Speech @ Dedication (a) and Second
Section of Louise Mitrani’s Speech
S-32 (a,b,&c): Third Section of Louise Mitrani’s Speech (c) and Photographs (a&b)
S-33: Cover Page of The Communique
S-34: Newspaper Clippings
S-35: Newspaper Clippings
S-36 (a&b): Photographs
S-37: Thanks & Recognition tags related to the Contents of the Scrapbook
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem photograph album, 1960s
All photographs have been individually stored, identified by their appropriate numbers.
(HUJ-1 -- HUJ-10)
Artifacts:
Plaque - Bloomsburg Hospital to Marco Mitrani, Board of Directors member, 1965-1970
Plaque - The Family Counseling and Mental Health Clinic to Louise Mitrani, May 24, 1977
Bloomsburg University Medallions to Louis and Marco Mitrani, December 18, 1983
Plaque - Bloomsburg Public Library to Mitrani Family Foundation, April 24, 1985
Plaque - Benjamin Rush Award to Louise Mitrani for Outstanding Health Services, Columbia
County Medical Society, 1989

Oversize:
Diploma - Bloomsburg University Honorary Doctorate to Louise Mitrani, August 18, 1988
(with other diplomas in oversize drawer)
Plaque - The Central Pennsylvania Easter Seal Society's Capitol Fund to the Milco Family
Foundation, 1983-1986 (in General Oversize Box #1)