THIS STUDY IS DESIGNED TO GIVE A WELL-ROUNDED AND CONTINUOUS HISTORY OF THE TEACHING OF ITALIAN IN THE UNITED STATES. AFTER PRESENTING A BRIEF PICTURE OF EARLY BRITISH INTEREST IN ITALY AND ITALIAN, THE REPORT TRACES THE CONSEQUENT DEVELOPMENT OF THE STUDY OF ITALIAN IN THE STATES FROM THE COLONIAL PERIOD TO THE PRESENT DAY. AREAS DISCUSSED IN OUTLINING THIS HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT ARE (1) LANGUAGE KNOWLEDGE AND STUDY DURING THE COLONIAL PERIOD, (2) PRIVATE INSTRUCTION FROM 1775 TO 1861, (3) THE 19TH CENTURY ITALOPHILIA OF THE AMERICAN INTELLECTUAL ELITE, AND (4) THE STUDY OF ITALIAN IN ACADEMIES FROM 1820 TO 1860. MORE THOROUGH DESCRIPTIONS OF ITALIAN STUDY AT THE ELEMENTARY AND PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL LEVELS AND IN THE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES INCLUDE LISTS OF SCHOOLS OR INSTITUTIONS WHERE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN REGISTERED IN ITALIAN COURSES. AMONG THE ITEMS THAT CONCLUDE THE DOCUMENT ARE ACCOUNTS OF FOUR PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR ITALIAN TEACHERS, TWO SPECIAL COURSES IN THE LANGUAGE, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDY IN ITALY. THIS DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE FOR $6.00 FROM PROFESSOR JOSEPH LAGGINI, SECRETARY-TREASURER OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS OF ITALIAN, RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. 08903. (AB)