I purchased this 1952 photo ID card because I liked the looks of him, and the fact that he was from Florence and had come to the University of Chicago to study--I imagined a young architect wanting to immerse in Mies van der Rohe. (I love photo ID cards for this reason, providing just the right combination of information to imagine whole lives.) But as I was uploading photos here I decided to search for him, and turns out his real life was even more interesting and notable than I might have imagined (and the story of an immigrant who became an American citizen), and his time at U Chicago was as a Fulbright scholar! Obituary from The New York Times below. I love this for all it spreads out to represent, rolled into one small package.

Mauro Calamandrei was born on March 5, 1925 in Florence, Italy and served bravely in the anti-fascist Italian underground during WWII. He earned his first Ph.D. at the University of Florence in 1947. In 1949 he became one of the very first Italians to be awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study in the US. While he was studying at the University of Chicago he was invited to join the Committee on Social Thought. And earned a Ph.D. for his research re Roger Williams and the History of American Religion in 1953. Early in his career, Mauro taught at the Juilliard School of Music, Middlebury College and the University of Florence. Soon he discovered his true love and passion and began writing articles and books about politics, art and culture in the United States. He wrote numerous books and articles over the years but was best known for his years as the American Correspondent for the Italian magazine L'Espresso. And more recently for his articles for the prestigious newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore. After 62 years in the United States, Mauro became a United States citizen in 2009. Mauro was an esteemed writer and intellectual, with a warm, welcoming, generous personality, who was much loved by many friends. He died in NYC in 2010 died surrounded by loving family.

 3 1/2" x 2". Excellent condition, bright and crisp, with excellent U of C logo on reverse.