Italian Government Dissolves City Government of Reggio Calabria

Italy fired all city government employees in Reggio Calabria due to ties to organized crime. See the link below.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19886631

I've been trying to get a document from this town for six months. They asked for more money twice, the last time requiring a record fee and a "greasing of the palms". It wasn't a whole lot, so I did it. Now I know what was going on.

If you need a document from this town, plan on waiting a while.

City of Catania - Holdings of the Town Archives

This town's website has a complete list of the types of records that can be found in their archives.  They have even separated the pre and post-unification records, for clarity.

Comune di Catania

List of Records

I have added a few comments in blue and square brackets about certain records.

Inventario sommario dei complessi documentari prodotti dall'Amministrazione Comunale versati presso l'Archivio Storico

Commissione di ricostituzione dell'antico Archivio Storico (1957-1974)

• Verbali della commissione 1957-1974
• Atti microfilmati ed in riproduzione fotostatica tratti dalla Real Cancelleria di Sicilia dal 1299 al 1515 concernenti la Città di Catania e suoi abitanti.
• Riveli di Catania in microfilm ed in formato digitale, tratti dall'Archivio di Stato di Palermo (548-1753). [These Riveli can often be used to determine property ownership and occassionally relationships are given.  Most towns in Sicily don't list all family members on the Riveli.  It's good that they indicate these records have been digitized.  Perhaps they intend to put them on the internet.]
• Trascrizioni di Atti dei Giurati (1413-1542) di Matteo Gaudioso
• Compendio dell'Archivio dell'Ill. mo Senato della Città di Catania (Giuliana dei fratelli Rizzari) (1647 circa).
• Manoscritti di vari studiosi sulle vicende storico-politiche tra il XIII ed il XIX secolo.

Amministrazione Borbonica e Periodo Dittatoriale (1819-1860)

• Cancelleria delle Sezioni (1840-1845)
• Corrispondenza del Patrizio (1830-1840)
• Corrispondenza dell'Intendenza (1830-1845)
• Consiglio Provinciale degli Ospizi (1830-1840)
• Carte sciolte periodo del Governo Provvisorio Dittatoriale (1860)

[They don't have many pre-Unification records because most would likely have been sent to the Archivio di Stato.]

Amministrazione Post unitaria

• Protocollo Generale 1945 - 1986Protocollo e rubriche (1945 -1986)
  Corrispondenza (1960-1965)
• Segreteria Generale 1908-1980Prerogative della Città
  - Verbali plebiscito di annessione del 21 Ottobre 1860
  - Decreto di concessione dello stemma e del gonfalone (1948)
  Bilanci preventivi Giunta Comunale (1883-1980 non consecutivi)
  Deliberazioni della Giunta Comunale (1945-1953)
  Verbali sedute del Consiglio Comunale (1908-1914);
  Riprese fonografiche sedute Consiglio Comunale (1964-1982 non consecutivi)
  Deliberazioni Consiglio Comunale (1946-1952)
  Ordini d servizio Segreteria Generale (1954-55; 1968-1976)
• Ufficio di Gabinetto del Sindaco 1944-1964Protocollo della corrispondenza e rubriche (1952-1962)
  Atti (1944-1964)
• Comitato festeggiamenti di S. Agata 1948-1986
• Ragioneruia Generale 1926-1986Protocolli e rubriche (1945-1960)
  Mandati di pagamento 1° serie (1926-1934)
  Mandati di pagamento 2° serie (1945-1986)
  Documenti dei Mandati (1945-1986)
  Fascicoli del personale pensionato od eliminato (1950-1960)
  Prospetti di chiusura esercizi finanziari (1952-1959)
  Libri Giornale (1950-1980)
  Libri Mastri (1950-1980)
  Libri mastri Teatro Massimo Bellini
  Ruoli stipendi (1948-1965)
  Fascicoli personale pensionato od eliminato
  Ruoli delle imposte
  Fascicoli individuali dei contribuenti
• Economato 1945-1960Protocollo della corrispondenza e rubriche (1950-1960)
  Rendiconti economali (1950-1965)
  Vaglia (1946-1950)
• Ufficio Personale 1950-1965Protocollo della corrispondenza e rubriche (1950-1960)
  Fascicoli personali (1950-1965)
  Domande di assunzione (1950-1960)
• Ufficio Tecnico 1924-1970Protocollo della corrispondenza e rubriche (1935-1958)
  Fascicoli concessioni edilizie (progetti edilizi) (1924-1968)
  Verbali Commissione Edilizia (1958-1962)
  Lavori Pubblici manutenzione strade ed edifici (1950-1970)
  Assegni di linea (1925-1932; 1950-1974)
• Polizia Urbana ed Annona 1926-1965Protocollo della corrispondenza e rubriche (1926-1959)
  Ordini del giorno VV. UU.(1957-1959)
  Registri numerazione carri (1928-1938)
  Licenze commerciali (1936-1960 )
  Licenze auto pubbliche da piazza (1950-1960)
  Atti notori (1935-1944)
  Concessione spazi pubblici (1948-1960)
  Servizio metrico pesi e misure (1948-1960)
• Nettezza Urbana 1928-1965Corrispondenza e pratiche varie (1942-1960)
  Raccolta Delibere Podestarili su spesa e personale (1928-1941)
  Raccolta Delibere di Giunta su spesa e personale (1952-1965)
  Libri paga Ditta Appaltatrice Mancuso GiuseppeFogli matricolari dipendenti N.U. e Autoparco (1960-1970)
• Anagrafe - Servizi Militari -Servizi Elettorali (1820 -1960) [Most genealogically useful records can be found in this office.]Protocollo della corrispondenza e rubriche (1945-1955)
  Archivio Registri Stato Civile (1820-1895) [This entry, and the next three are civil records.]
  Registri Stato Civile borbonico (1820-1866)
  Registri Stato Civile post-unitario (1866-1905)
  Registri Stati Civile ex Comune S. G. Galermo (1851-1900) [Records of San Giovanni Galermo which is now a quarter of Catania.  It used to be it's own town.]
  Registri di cittadinanza (1866-1903) [Citizenship registers which usually contain permanent moves, not seasonal migrations.]
  Liste di leva - classi 1882-1930 (1900-1948)
  Ruoli matricolari classi 1884-1925 [Military rolls]
  Sussidi militari soppressi (1943-1950)
  Liste Elettorali (1946-1950)
  Registro immigrazione-Emigrazione (1950-1965) [Immigration registers-useful for those ancestors who immigrated after WWII.]
• Atti della delegazione Comunale S. G. Galermo (1932-1960)

Researching in the Province of Lucca?

If your ancestors come from the province of Lucca, and you are planning a research trip, there is a portal through which you can research what records are available in the libraries and archives of the province.

Lucchese Archive Portal

I do find that the results lean more heavily towards the type of records that are found in local Italian libraries.  However, they can be useful too, especially when researching the history of a town or province.

Italian Provincial Archives (Archivio di Stato) on Facebook

Sometimes you need to think outside the box when it comes to researching your ancestors.  It is often hard to get questions answered from one of Italy's provincial archives, their Archivio di Stato.  I often find that the emails posted on the website are inactive. 

It is the latest rage to find that many of Italy's provincial archives has a Facebook page. Take for example the Facebook page for the Archivio di Stato in Palermo.  

Whilte the archives are just beginning their foray into the Facebook world, it is a unique way to get questions answered about their holdings, keep up with archival activities, and communicate with their staff.  I've had more luck getting questions answered on their Facebook page then through email communication.

Archivio Storico Diplomatico - Records of Italian Consular Offices Around the World

Consular records may be of use to you if you are researching an ex-pat in a foreign country or your ancestors were amongst the diplomatic corps. 

"The Historical Archive Diplomatic (Section III), is responsible for the conservation, and the adjustment of the inventory of the historical diplomatic archives produced by both the central offices of the Ministry and the diplomatic and consular representations abroad and guarantees the accessibility within the limits of consultation. ...It also contains the originals of international acts."

The website of the Ministero degli Affari Esteri in Rome has a good description of what is available for research and the procedure for requesting approval to go research at the Rome archive.  

Archivio Storico Diplomatico

The records below are a few I thought might be particularly useful for genealogical or historical research.  There are many other records available.

Rappresentanze diplomatiche e consolari - Diplomatic missions and consular posts

Ambasciata d'Italia in Turchia 1829 - 1938 Italian Embassy in Turkey 1829 - 1938
Rappresentanze diplomatiche negli Usa 1848 - 1901 Diplomatic missions in the United States 1848 - 1901
Ambasciata d'Italia a Washington 1901 - 1909 Italian Embassy in Washington 1901 - 1909
Ambasciata d'Italia a Washington 1940 -1973 Italian Embassy in Washington 1940 -1973
Legazione Sarda a Copenaghen 1861 Sardinian Legation in Copenhagen 1861
Ambasciata Londra 1861-1950 Embassy London 1861-1950
Supplemento Ambasciata Londra 1938 - 1950 Supplement Embassy London 1938 - 1950
Consolato d'Italia a Tripoli 1879 - 1911 Consulate of Italy in Tripoli 1879 - 1911
Rappresentanze diplomatiche Francia 1861 - 1950 Diplomatic missions France 1861 - 1950
Rappresentanze diplomatiche Russia (Urss) 1861 - 1950 Diplomatic missions Russia (USSR) from 1861 to 1950
Rappresentanze diplomatiche Berlino 1867 - 1943 Diplomatic missions Berlin 1867 - 1943
Rappresentanze diplomatiche Vienna 1862 - 1938 Diplomatic missions Vienna 1862 - 1938
Rappresentanza diplomatica in Egitto 1864 - 1940 Diplomatic representation in Egypt 1864 - 1940
Rappresentanza diplomatica in Perù 1867 - 1953 Diplomatic representation in Peru 1867 - 1953
Vice Consolato Sebenico (Jugoslavia) 1915 - 1941 Vice Consulate Šibenik (Yugoslavia) from 1915 to 1941
Vice Consolato Spalato 1915 - 1941 Vice Consulate Split 1915 - 1941
Ambasciata d'Italia a Praga e Ufficio Commerciale 1919 - 1945 Italian Embassy in Prague and Sales Department 1919 - 1945
Legazione d'Italia a Fiume 1921-1924 Italian Legation in Rijeka 1921-1924
Ambasciata d'Italia presso la Santa Sede 1929 - 1946 Italian Embassy to the Holy See 1929 - 1946
Ambasciata d'Italia presso la Santa Sede 1946 - 1954 Italian Embassy to the Holy See 1946 - 1954
Ambasciata d'Italia a Parigi 1951 - 1960 Embassy of Italy in Paris 1951 - 1960
Consolati di Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, New Orleans e S. Consulates in Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, New Orleans and St. Francisco 1879 - 1958 Francisco 1879 - 1958
Legazione Albania 1913 - 1916 Legation Albania 1913 - 1916

Africa
Ministero Africa Italiana vol. Ministry of Italian Africa vol. I 1857 - 1939 The 1857 - 1939
Ministero Africa Italiana vol. Ministry of Italian Africa vol. II 1859 - 1945 II 1859 - 1945
Ministero Africa Italiana vol. Ministry of Italian Africa vol. III 1879 - 1955 III 1879 - 1955
Ministero Africa Italiana vol. Ministry of Italian Africa vol. IV 1855 - 1962 IV 1855 - 1962
Ministero Africa Italiana vol. Ministry of Italian Africa vol. V 1926 - 1948 V 1926 - 1948
Archivio Eritrea 1880 - 1945 Archive Eritrea 1880 - 1945
Ministero Africa Italiana Affari Politici 1880 - 1945 Ministry of Italian Africa Political Affairs 1880 - 1945
Ministero Africa Italiana Affari economici e finanziari 1913 - 1944 Ministry of Italian Africa Economic and Financial Affairs 1913 - 1944
Consiglio Superiore Coloniale 1923 - 1939 Colonial High Council 1923 - 1939
Comitato per la documentazione delle attività italiane in Africa 1951 - 1980 Committee for the documentation of the Italian activities in Africa 1951 - 1980
Ministero Africa Italiana Gabinetto Archivio Segreto 1925 - 1942 Ministry of Italian Africa Cabinet Secret Archives 1925 - 1942
Fondo Comitato attività italiane in Africa 1951 - 1980 Fund Committee of the Italian activities in Africa 1951 - 1980
Direzione Africa Orientale 1943 - 1950 Direction East Africa 1943 - 1950
Consiglio di tutela - Nazioni Unite 1946 - 1950 Trusteeship Council - the United Nations 1946 - 1950
Ministero dell'Africa Italiana - Ispettorato scuole Ministry of Italian Africa - Schools Inspectorate


Inventari pubblicati dal Ministero degli affari esteri - Inventories published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

• Le scritture della segreteria di Stato degli affari esteri del regno di Sardegna, a cura di R. The records of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Sardinia, edited by R. Moscati, Roma 1947 (Indici dell'Archivio Storico, I) Moscati, Rome 1947 (the Historical Indexes, I)
• La Legazione sarda in Vienna (1707 - 1859), a cura di E. The Sardinian Legation in Vienna (1707 - 1859), edited by E. Piscitelli, Roma 1950 (Indici dell'Archivio Storico, II) Piscitelli, Rome 1950 (the Historical Indexes, II)
• Le Legazioni sarde a Parigi, Berna, L' Aja, Lisbona e Madrid, a cura di F. The Sardinian Legations in Paris, Berne, L 'Hague, Lisbon, Madrid, edited by F. Bacino, Roma 1951 (Indici dell'Archivio Storico, III) Basin, Rome 1951 (Index of the Historical, III)
• La Legazione sarda in Londra (1730 - 1860), a cura di M. The Sardinian Legation in London (1730 - 1860), edited by M. Pastore, Roma 1952 (Indici dell'Archivio Storico, IV) Shepherd, Rome 1952 (the Historical Indexes, IV)
• La Legazione ei consolati del regno di Sardegna in Russia (1783 - 1861), a cura di F. The legation and consulates of the Kingdom of Sardinia in Russia (1783 - 1861), edited by F. Bacino, Roma 1952 (Indici dell'Archivio Storico, V) Basin, Rome 1952 (the Historical Indexes, V)
• Le scritture del Ministero degli affari esteri del Regno d' Italia dal 1861 al 1887, a cura di R. Entries in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Italy 'from 1861 to 1887, edited by R. Moscati, Roma 1953 (Indici dell'Archivio Storico, VI) Moscati, Rome 1953 (the Historical Indexes, VI)
• Le scritture del "Gabinetto Crispi" e le carte "Sonnino", a cura di F. Entries in the "Cabinet Crispi" cards and "Sonnino", edited by F. Bacino, Roma 1955 (Indici dell'Archivio Storico, VII) Basin, Rome 1955 (the Historical Indexes, VII)
• Le scritture della Legazione e del consolato di Toscana in Roma dal 1737 al 1859, a cura di R. The writings of the Legation and Consulate of Tuscany in Rome from 1737 to 1859, edited by R. Mori, Roma 1959 (Indici dell'Archivio Storico, VIII) Mori, Rome 1959 (the Historical Indexes, VIII)
• Inventario della "Serie D" (Direzione dell' archivio storico), a cura di S. Inventory of the "Series D" (Directorate of 'historical archives), edited by S. Ruggeri, Roma 1988 (Indici dell'Archivio Storico, IX) Ruggeri, Rome 1988 (the Historical Indexes, IX)
• Inventario dell'Archivio del Consolato del Granducato di Toscana in Roma (1817-1853), a cura di C. Inventory of the Archives of the Consulate of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany in Rome (1817-1853), edited by C. Lisi, Roma 1996 (Indici dell'Archivio Storico, X) Lisi, Rome 1996 (the Historical Indexes, X)
• Le carte del Gabinetto del Ministro e della Segreteria generale dal 1923 al 1943, a cura di P. The papers of the Cabinet of Ministers and the Secretary General from 1923 to 1943, edited by P. Pastorelli, Roma 1999 (Indici dell'Archivio Storico, XI) Pastorelli, Rome 1999 (the Historical Index, XI)
• Inventario della serie "Affari politici" 1931 - 1945, Roma 1976 Inventory of the series "Political Affairs" 1931 - 1945, Rome, 1976
• Inventario delle rappresentanze diplomatiche: Londra 1861 - 1950, Roma 1976 Inventory of diplomatic missions in London 1861 - 1950, Rome, 1976
• Inventario della serie "Affari politici" 1946 - 1950, Roma 1977 Inventory of the series "Political Affairs" 1946 - 1950, Rome, 1977
• Inventario delle rappresentanze diplomatiche: Francia e Russia (URSS), Roma 1979 (FranciaRussia) Inventory of diplomatic missions: France and Russia (USSR), Roma 1979 (FranciaRussia)
• Inventario delle rappresentanze diplomatiche: Berlino 1867 - 1943, Vienna 1862 - 1938, Roma 1981 Inventory of diplomatic missions in Berlin 1867 - 1943, Vienna 1862 - 1938, Rome 1981
• Inventario dell'archivio riservato della segreteria generale 1943 - 1947, Roma 1985 Reserved inventory of the archive of the general secretary 1943 - 1947, Rome 1985
• Inventario del fondo "Commissione centrale arbitrale per l'emigrazione" (1915 - 1929), a cura di P. Assets of the Fund "Central Commission for arbitration emigration" (1915 - 1929), edited by P. Santoni, Roma 1986 (Fonti per la storia dell'emigrazione, II) Santoni, Rome 1986 (Sources for the history of, II)
• Il fondo archivistico "Serie Z - Contenzioso", a cura di L. The archival collection "Z - Litigation", edited by L. Pilotti, Roma 1987 (Fonti per la storia dell'emigrazione, VI) Pilotti, Rome 1987 (Sources for the history of, VI)
• I fondi archivistici della Legazione sarda e delle rappresentanze diplomatiche italiane negli USA (1848-1901), a cura di CM Aicardi e A. The archives of the Legation Sardinian and Italian diplomatic representatives in the United States (1848-1901), edited by CM Aicardi and A. Cavaterra, Roma 1988 (Fonti per la storia dell'emigrazione, III) Cavaterra, Rome 1988 (Sources for the history of, III)
• I fondi archivistici dei consolati di Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, New Orleans e S. The archives of consulates in Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, New Orleans and St. Francisco conservati presso l'Archivio storico diplomatico, a cura di P. Francisco kept at the Archives diplomat, edited by P. Catani e R. Catani and R. Zuccolini, Roma 1990 (Fonti per la storia dell'emigrazione, V) Zuccolini, Rome 1990 (Sources for the history of emigration, V)
• Il fondo archivistico Commissariato generale dell'emigrazione (1901 - 1927), a cura di P. The archival Commissioner General of emigration (1901 - 1927), edited by P. Santoni, Roma 1998 (Fonti per la storia dell'emigrazione, VIII) Santoni, Rome 1998 (Sources for the history of, VIII)
• Supplemento all'Inventario dell'Ambasciata in Londra (1938 - 1950), a cura di P. Supplement to the Inventory Embassy in London (1938 - 1950), edited by P. Busonero e F. Busonero and F. Onelli, in “Storia e Diplomazia” n. Onelli, in "History and Diplomacy" n. 1, luglio 2008 (Ministero degli Affari esteri, Unità per la documentazione storico diplomatica e gli archivi), Roma, pp. 1 July 2008 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Unit for historical documentation and diplomatic archives), Rome, p. 131 - 158
• Regia Legazione d'Italia Fiume (1921 - 1924), a cura di P. Directed by Italian Legation River (1921 - 1924), edited by P. De Santis, in “Storia e Diplomazia” n. De Santis, in "History and Diplomacy" n. 1, luglio 2008 (Ministero degli Affari esteri, Unità per la documentazione storico diplomatica e gli archivi), Roma, pp. 1 July 2008 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Unit for historical documentation and diplomatic archives), Rome, p. 159 - 168

Indirizzo dell'archivio storico diplomatico  - Address of the Diplomatic
Ministero degli Affari Esteri - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

Piazzale della Farnesina 1 Piazzale della Farnesina 1
I-00194 Roma I-00194 Rome
Italia Italy
archiviostorico@esteri.it

Tel. 06 /3691 3213; 3235; 3233 Tel. 06/3691 3213, 3235, 3233
Fax: 06/ 36914067 Fax: 06/36914067

Dr.ssa Stefania Ruggeri – Capo sezione III Archivio storico diplomatico – Responsabile Sala Studio e Servizio al pubblico Dr. Stefania Ruggeri - Head of Section III Archival diplomat - Head Study Room and service to the public
stefania.ruggeri@esteri.it  

Dr.ssa Paola Busonero – Responsabile ricerche – Sezione Affari generali e relazioni esterne Dr. Paola Busonero - Research Manager - General Affairs and External Relations Section
Tel. 06/3691 3231 Tel. 06/3691 3231
Fax: 06/36914067 Fax: 06/36914067
paola.busonero@esteri.it

Sicilian Civil Record Abstractions

The Sicilian Family Tree website has a list of multiple projects where researchers are abstracting the civil records of Sicilian towns.

If your ancestors came from Sicily, check this website before consulting the microfilmed civil records to see of there are indexes which can be used to guide your search. This may be a significant time saver.

http://www.sicilianfamilytree.com/additionaltowns.html

Italian Civil Political Jurisdictions - Town and City

There are several political jurisdictions to be aware of in order to understand how and why the records were created and where they can be found now.

Comune - a town or municipality. Citta ["a" is accented] - a city.

Within a town/city there could be:

1. quartiere [neighborhoods, useful when trying to determine your ancestor's parish];

 2. contrada [pl. contrade, like a U.S. township, usually an area of town in the countryside surrounding a town], sometime indicated as l.d. or localita districata [local district];

3. frazione [hamlet under the jurisdiction of a larger town];

The records for all quartieri, frazioni, and contrade of a town/city can be found within the Municipio [town hall].  A second copy of the civil records are kept in the local court, Tribunale, for 75 years then transferred to the provincial archives (Archivio di Stato).  Normally, the records would not be available for researching while in the Tribunale. However, FamilySearch is being allowed to microfilm some of their records.  Take, for example, the records of Messina below.

Italy, Messina, Messina, civil registration (Tribunale) = Italia, Messina, Messina. Stato civile, 1896-1939

One other designation I've come across, while rare, is:

4.  Ex Fuedo - likely meaning country land/estate that used to belong to a landowner in the fuedal system of southern Italy and Sicily.  Some of the feudal land is likely still in the hands of the descendants of the original owner, hence this designation.

Genealogical Database Online - Muro Lucano, Potenza Province

On the internet, there is a wide variety of Italian-Americans who have abstracted the indexes to the civil record's of the Comuni [towns] that their ancestors came from in Italy.  Ocassionally, I will highlight a particularly good database or website on a town or province.

Today I want to bring your attention to the Muro Lucano Genealogical Website.  Not only does it contain a database of abstracted indexes, it provides good information and links on Italian genealogy in general, and gives contact information for the city hall, where the civil records are kept. 

"The City Hall is located in Via Roma 39, phone ++39 0976 75111, fax ++39 0976 75111; the E-Mail address is info@muro-lucano.it. Phone Number: (+39) 0976-75111; Fax: (+39) 0976-71917."

There are also two discussion forums, Genereal Discussion and Surnames, where you can interact with other descendants of this town.

Even if your ancestors do not hail from this town, take the time to look at this website.  It is very well designed!

Do you want to research in the Diocesan Archives of your ancestor's hometown?

If you need to determine what parishes were in your ancestor's hometown, and what diocese they belonged to, the Chiesa Cattolica Italiana website is a good start.  Be aware that these are the current parishes and diocesan jurisdictions so there may be some differences from when your ancestors resided in Italy.

Each diocese has an archive usually named the Archivio Diocesano or Archivio Storico Diocesano.  Once you have the name of the diocese you can Google it and it often provides contact information, hours, and information on patrimony.  For example, the link below is for the archives at the Diocese of Lodi:

Archivio Storico Diocesano- Diocesi di Lodi

Research at the diocesan archives is at their discretion and usually by appointment only.  It would be good to verify that they have the types of records you seek before making an appointment.  Do not expect them to do research for you.  This is one type of Italian archive where you need to do the research yourself!

Italian Repatriation from the United States

My quest for continuing education led me to read a book this week on the above topic.   Italian Repatriation from the United States, 1900-1914 by Betty Boyd Caroli is rife with statistics and explains this issue as seen by both the Italian and American government as well as scholars on both sides of the ocean.

Most interesting to me, was the interviews with actual immigrants who had returned.  I highly suggest this book if you wish to further your understanding of this topic.  The book is available on Amazon.com.

Why won't the civil registration office in my ancestor's hometown answer my research requests?

The website for Rome's Anagrafe, Stato Civile, and Leva offices provides a good example into how much work Italian civil registration offices really handle a year, how much work this particular cities' 3,800,000 citizens generate.  

Citta di Roma - Anagrafe, Stato Civile, Leva

Amongst the list are:

Transciption of 130,000 civil records (births, adoptions, acknowledgements disclaimers, marriages, citizenship, burial)

Managing the 8,700,000 civil records being stored in this office (1871-onward)

Managing the 70,000 (adoptions, awards, marriages, divorces, separations, etc.

Transcibing 15,000 marriage banns

Performing and transcibing 4,800 civil marriages

Issuing 500,000 ID cards

Managing the register of residents abroad (A.I.R.E.) - this is the register you are transcribed into when you get your dual citizenship.

Managing the population database

Military registration

Digitization of records for non-centralized access

...and it goes on.

This is why they often don't have time to do extensive research for you.  I used Rome as an example because their website is so descriptive but the concept applies no matter what civil office you need to contact in Italy. Your genealogical requests need to be clear, concise, and not require them to do a lot of research.  Many offices, especially those in large cities like Rome, simply do not have the time to do more then is specifically asked for.

So, I would suggest researching in U.S. records first to get as close to the true information as possible before sending letters to Italy.  Then make them as clear as possible and include all the information they need to locate the record for you quickly.  If you do this, your success rate will be much higher!

The Municipio (Town Hall)

Each Italian town (Comune) has a town hall where that town's set of civil records are kept.  This office is called the Municipio.  That is usually the name you will see posted above the doorway leading into the town hall.  Below is a picture of the Municipio in Rovetta, Bergamo Province, Italy.  Most times the buildings will be marked with flags or a banner.

However, there are usually separate offices within the town hall that do separate things.  Some small towns may combine these offices as well as the duties of a few employees.  Isnello in the Palermo Province is one town that comes to mind that does have both offices combined.  The Municipio of Sciacca, Agrigento Province is marked by a banner out front and has separate offices for the Stato Civile and the Anagrafe, the main town offices useful for genealogical research.  There was an inner courtyard which is hidden from the street.

Rarely, are the Stato Civile and the Anagrage offices not in the same building.  Most times, the offices are open to walk into during their posted office hours.  The Rovetta Municipio (top picture) had electronic locks on the door and you had to speak into the speaker to gain entrance.  It is always good to have made an appointment.  You will get better service, if they know you are coming!

There's a Crazy Dog Under the Palace! - Sotto Un Palazzo C'e' Un Cane Pazzo!

In my pursuit to learn more about the Italian culture of our ancestors, I sometimes run across Italian Americans, or descendants of Italians residing in other countries, who are making a contribution to the Italian culture in unusual ways.  Davide Cuccia is one of those people.  He has written and illustrated a children's book, available in both English and Italian, inspired by a Sicilian children's limerick.  I briefly interviewed Mr. Cuccia and he was kind enough to tell us about his book and his inspiration for it.

Interview with Davide Cuccia

Let's just start talking about the book, why you wrote it, what was your inspiration, what in the book might further a person's knowledge of Italian culture?

"What was my inspiration? Family!  As I get older, I appreciate the logic and "the flow" that comes from one thing naturally leading to another.  I rediscovered my family ties in Sicily in 1994, and subsequently my wife and I made our first trip (of three trips for three weddings) to Sicily in September of 1995.

After taking some basic courses in Italian at a local church in Columbus a good friend helped me prepare a small phrase book so that I could ask specific questions of my new-found family, and hopefully fill in some of the gaps in my family research.  My cousin, Antonino Cuccia, love the fact that I'd taken the time to prepare such a book, and helped me in everyway possible with anunciation of words, and even some fun phrases that would challenge my too-American tongue!  One phrase that I loved in particular was a children's limerick that goes "sotto un palazzo c'e' un cane pazzo...te pa stu cane stu pezzu' ri pane!" or "there's a crazy dog under the palace...here, crazy dog, a piece of bread."  I loved the flow of the phrase and practiced it often.

Flash forward to early 2010 - the three trips to Sicily and a three week visit from cousin Nino and his wife Rita (in 1999) are now wonderful memories...my wife and I are walking our black lab, Jasmine, and I'm telling her how I would love to illustrate a children's book involving animals.  She turns to me and simply says "why don't you use that phrase your cousin taught you about the crazy dog under the palace, and use Jasmine in the storyline as the crazy dog?"

It was a brilliant idea.  Simple and brilliant.  The logic lined up perfectly with the opportunities...if I hadn't found the family in Sicily through genealogy, I would never have heard the limerick...and if I hadn't heard the limerick, I would never have found the idea for a story to illustrate!  That was the beginning of the process."

What in the book might further a person's knowledge of Italian culture?

"For the setting: I've set the story at the Palazzo Comitini, a real palace in Palermo, Sicily which we've toured on one of our visits.  I've tried to portray the entrance, hallways, balconies, statues and artifacts found in the palace as accurately as possible for a greater sense of realism to envelop the characters as the story progresses.

For the Italian "feel" to the story: I didn't "grow up Italian", as the phrase goes, because my grandfather, Sebastiano Cuccia, left the family during the Depression when my father was 10 years old.  I grew up with no trace of Italian culture or language in the home, just loving, caring parents who taught me that friendship and a smile can do wonders for most situations!  That's something I wanted to bring to this book, first and foremost.  To me that represents the warmth and love of the Italian people. Period.  I'd also decided that if I were going to write and illustrate this book, the finished product would have to appear in two versions, English and Italian...after all, the whole concept started with a Sicilian limerick...it wouldn't be fair not to see it through to it's logical conclusion!"

Doesn't this book sound great!  If you have a child in your life you would like to share something related to the Italian culture with, please consider buying this book.

The book can be ordered by going to www.cucciacreative.com and clicking on the Online Store link

Hardcover is $29.95 per book
Paperback is $21.95 per book

Both can be ordered in either English or Italian

Bravo, Davide!!!

FamilySearch Unites with Italian Archives to Digitize records

I have been waiting with baited breath for this announcement. It's my understanding that not only will they digitize what is already on microfilm but that there are also many new records that will be digitized in the process!

see the link below for more details:

https://www.lds.org/church/news/familysearch-unites-with-italian-archive-organization-to-digitize-civil-registration-records?lang=eng&query=italian&cid=facebook-shared

Understanding Your Italian Ancestors - Part II

More information on the use of population registers can be found in On the Move: Migration in an Italian Community, 1865-1921, published in Social Science History, authors: David I. Kertzer and Dennis Hogan.

"Each administratively defined houehold and each individual were to be continuously followed and their changing characteristics recorded.  In the case of Casalecchio there was both a system of household folders and a system of individual registration cards with cross-reference to the successive household folders in which the individfual could be found through his or her time in the commune.  Each resident of the commune thus had his or her own data card in the register, as well as appearing as an entry in the household folder in which he or she lived.

As part of the Italian population register system there were also separate immigration and emigration registers.  Each person or family group who entered the commune had to register with the communal authorities, at which time a listing of the individuals was made and transcribed into a new population register entry.  The inividual or family group was also listed alphabetically in a year-by-year index of immigrants.  When a person emigrated, the commune of immigration was obligated to make a copy of the immigration certificate and send it to the commune from which the individual emigrated.  These certificates formed the emigration register of that comune, and the information was used to provide a dated closure for the individual's population register entry.  An alphabetically-ordered emigration index was also compiled."

This gives us a more intimate look into the civil process regarding population registers, emigration, and immigration that no book on Italian research provides.  It pays to look beyond the standard references when you are trying to more fully understand your ancestors lives and the evidence you find within the records.

Digitization of Parish Records Underway in Ischia and Procida

La Grande Famille De Procida & Ischia is a non-profit organization which has been digitizing the parish records of these two islands, which are located in the Gulf of Naples, since before 2004.  They also plan to digitize the records of Capri, Monte di Procida, Ponza, and Ventotene.

100% of the parish records in Procida have been digitized and 50% of them are up on the website in index form.  They have begun digitization of several parishes in Ischia but the project is not as advanced on this island.

If your ancestors came from these islands it would be to your advantage to join this association and gain access to the records being digitized.  Their membership fee is a reasonable 40 Euro. 

Also, in coordination with the archives in Naples, you are able to obtain rccords of children who were abandoned in Santissima Annunziata in Naples.  I don't know of any other project to make available the records of abandoned children so this is an extremely valuable resource.

They have an English version of some of their website's pages so check it out!

Blog Makes FamilyTree Magazine's Top 40!

I found out yesterday that FamilyTree Magazine named this blog as one of the top 40 blogs for international research!

FamilyTree Magazine's Top 40

I hope to continue to provide content that it helpful in your research!  If there is ever any subject you would like to see discussed, please do not hesitate to contact me at Melanie@holtzresearch.com or leave a comment on this site.

Melanie

Fortunato the Bastard Child

Sometimes the bluntness seen within the records surprises me.  Most times when you encounter the birth record of a child born out of wedlock they say he was abandoned, that his mother or parents were not known, that he was found on the "ruota" or wheel on which abandoned children were placed for the church or state to raise.  You don't often see the child called a bastard.

The record linked below is the exception.  This may be because his father claimed him but the mother did not.  This situation happened but not as often as the abandonment of the child.  Found in the civil records of the town of Ota, Corsica, the record reads, in part:

"...the act of birth of Fortunato, a bastard, who is hereby being presented and who was born yesterday at eight in the evening to Domenico Luciani, a resident of this town who hereby recognizes this male child..."

Birth Record of Fortunato, the Bastard

Would you change this word when translating it?  No.  If we change what these records say to meet modern sensibilities, could we not misinterpret the records?  

Understanding Your Itaiian Ancestors - Part I

There comes a time, when researching your Italian ancestors, where you  realize you will need to seek educational sources in order to more fully understand the lives that your ancestors left behind and why they left.  Family history is more than a bunch of names and dates on a chart.  Digging into historical books and scholarly offerings can really help you to understand their lives.

One scholar that stands out in researching Italians is David I. Kertzer.  He has written several books on a multitude of subjects and written many articles for different scholarly journals.  Use WorldCat to find some of the articles and order them through your local library.

One article I read years ago was published in 1985 in the journal Social Science History.  Written by David I. Kertzer and Dennis P. Hogan, the article is titled "On the Move: Migration in an Italian Community, 1865-1921".  There are a  several interesting parts of this article that furthered my understanding of the Italian culture.  The quote below is taken from this article.

Within the agricultural peasant class, one often sees families moving between a home in a larger city and a farmhouse in the country.  Sometimes there are citizenship (cittadinanza) records that are available by microfilm but these do not usually contain non-permanent moves.  How then does one research these moves?

"The possibility of obtaining a longitudinal view of migration behavior over the life course of individuals in nineteenth-centry Italy is afforded by the population register....a population register system was only mandated nationally with the emergence of the Post-Unification government in the 1860's ...Each commune was to undetake a census of its population and, on the basis of that census, it was to follow all changes in its population brought about by immigration, emigration, internal population movement [emphasis added], births, marriages, and deaths."

Here then we see that using the population registers would perhaps be the most direct way to track such migrations.  These types of registers were called Stato di Famiglia in some places and their survival rate is not high.  Some civil record's officals know what you are talking about when you ask for them and some don't.  Several civil record's offices in Italy that I visited last summer said that the old population registers [pre-1900] were destroyed with the onset of regular country-wide censuses.  One office, after telling me they were destroyed, remembered that they had been stowed in a back cabinet and pulled out a six-inch high stack of loose register pages for me to go through.  While the information was crossed out as they transferred the information to the 1900 census, I was still able to glean valuable information from these Stato di Famiglia records for my client.

More information will follow in future posts...

Researching in the Town of Cerreto Guidi, Province of Florence

The website of this town has a great guide to what is found in their "Archivio Storico", a town archives that opened in October of last year, and whose holdings are available for research.  It can be accessed at the link below:

Holdings of the Archivio Storico

They've divided their list of holdings by whether they were created before or after Italian Unification.  Some holdings of particular interest for genealogical researchers are:

Stato Civile ( civil records - birth, marriage, death, citizenship, miscellaneous acts, etc.)
1808-1909 (records after this date are available in their civil records office)

Censimenti (census)
from 1899
(census records are often hard to access so their advertisement of their availability is wonderful)

Anagrafe (registry office records)
from 1910
(This is the office that will prepare State of the Family Certificates when needed for your research.  Their holdings often contain town censuses in addition to the Censimenti)

Leva Militare (military conscription)
from 1865
(These are often found in a separate provincial millitary archives and not usually kept in the town archives)

....and many more types of records.  Check it out!

Archivio di Stato di Venezia - Digitization of Military Conscription Records and Ancient Maps

The provincial archives in Venezia (Venice) has begun digitization of the military conscription records of this province.  The military conscription project is several years underway but is not yet complete.  However, they have made a good start.

These records can be used to find the town of origin of your immigrating ancestor when all you know is the province they came from.  The high increase in requests for these records for dual citizenship purposes is indicated as the main precipitating factor in this digitization project.

Military Conscription Records

There are also some great, very old maps of this area of Italy available in .pdf form.

List of Available Maps

For those of you who may be engaged in deep scholarly study of this region's history there are a few other online resources available for you on their website.

Other Research Resources

Have fun!  Let me know if this information helps you in your research!

Tracking Emigration Using Stato di Famiglia (State of the Family) Certificates

State of the Family Certificates can be used to track the emigration of your ancestor (or their siblings and cousins).  Sometimes you will find that different family members emigrated to very different parts of the world.

Take for example the family of Guido Colotti.  If you follow the link by clicking on the title of this post, you will see the State of the Family record for Guido Colotti, son of Bartolo.  This family had no idea where this sibling went and would never have guessed that he emigrated to Russia.  Different members of this family dispersed to Russia, Switzerland, and South Africa, three very different places.  

These records have not always survived.  Multiple civil record offices have informed me that these records were destroyed with the onset of regular censuses. However, I would suggest you ask in case they are still available, and because the censuses are often much harder to access.

Leave no stone unturned.

A Look at Southern Italian Life in the 19th Century - Part III

"...Clothing differed as much from section to section among the poor in Italy from which our immigrants came as did language, housing, and culinary methods.  Its variations depended upon local traditions, the materials available, and the needs of the people as defined by occupation and climate.  Much of the peasant clothing, regardless of design, was made from sheep's wool, woven, and sewn in the home...Shepherds thus wore long hooded capes that fell below the knees and sheepskin leggings and trousers as such that adorn American cowboys.  Fisherman, on the other hand, used heavy breeches, woolen stockings, sweaters, and caps when out on the open water in cold weather; and trousers and shirts open at the neck, with feed bare, in the summer.  Peasants who worked in the fields donned trousers and coats or sweaters in summer, both coats and sweaters in the cold season.  Most of these work garments were dark colored, but the somberness was relieved at times by a bright scarf, and the cap, blouse, or shirt might be pink, green or light blue..."  

Rome Archivio di Stato's Blog

Looks like the provincial archives in Italy have forayed into the blogging world.  What a great way to help reseachers keep abreast of new acquisitions and to learn about new resources they didn't know existed. 

Have fun exploring Rome's blog (in Italian)!  Click on the title of this post to link directly to it.

A Look at Southern Italian Life in the 19th Century - Part II

"...Inability to provide children with shoes in South Italy became a contributing factor to irregular attendance at school. Old people say, when speaking of their life in Italy, that they never saw a child at school without shoes. Clothes of a certain standard as well as shoes were thought necessary for school attendance, and these were only too often beyond the purchasing power of a child's family.

Men had themselves shaved only once or twice a week by the village barbers. Since such manufactured articles as razors were very expensive, their possessors had almost a monopoly of the shaving business. In some Sicilian towns, the men had the peculiar custom of permitting one lock of hair to grow on the nape of the neck. Called the trizzi di donna (women's tress), it was never combed or cut, "and the owners think themselves fortunate in the possession of it, because they consider it a special gift -- a sign of being favored by Fortune.""

A Look at Southern Italian Life in the 19th Century

In 1938, Phyliss H. Williams, a research assistant in Sociology at the Institute of Human Relations at Yale University, published South Italian Folkways in Europe and America: A Handbook for Social Workers, Visiting Nurses, School Teachers, and Physicians.

This handbook is a fascinating glimpse into the world of Southern Italians, in Italy as well as in America after immigration. I will be posting exerpts from this handbook from time to time on this blog as they teach us much about our ancestors. Here's the first exerpt.

"Many South Italians who came to America around 1890 and 1900 settled in cities, whereas North Italians took up truck gardening or more extensive farming. This choice depended on the economic resources of the two groups. The North Italian more frequently brought money with which to buy land on his arrival. This the southernor lacked, and by the time he had saved enough to go back to farming his American-born children insisted upon remaining city-dwellers. These second generation southerners constitute the bulk of Italian urban population.....Families of the same local origin in Italy (paesani) tend to live in the same parts of town and generally speaking North Italians lived in sections distinctly separated from those of the southerner. Great prosperity and success, however, often cause members of both group to penetrate the more generalized America quarters of the towns."

Stillborn Births in Italy

There was no one way of recording the death of a stillborn child in Italy. Most times you will see only a death record created (and not a birth record) and it will note that the child was born "senza vita" or "without life."

Occasionally, stillborn births will be recorded separately, often amongst the death records of town residents who died elsewhere. Below is a death record created for a stillborn birth whose form was pre-printed for this purpose. I have not come across pre-printed stillborn birth/death records very often. The title reads "Atti di Morti Nati" or "Act of Dead Birth".

Death Record for Stillborn Female Child of Nicolo di Sergio and Rosa Latuno

What I find fascinating is the fact that normal procedure was to present a child at the civil record's office to have it's birth recorded. When someone died the civil record's official often came to the person's home to visually verify that the person was dead. One has to wonder whether they carried the body of their baby to the town hall or if the civil official came to their home as would have been done for any other death.

The Death Record of Saverio Arturi

Sometimes you come across the most interesting records when doing Italian research. Below is a link to the image of a death record of a Calabrian soldier "gunned down in the public piazza" in Isnello, Sicily in 1863.

1860-1870 was a time of much unrest in Italy and in Sicily, in particular. Italian soldiers were sent to quell the uprising of the Sicilian people against yet another ruler who made promises they did not keep. Some towns in Sicily have records that are missing during the 1860-1864 time frame.

Death Record of Saverio Arturi

FamilySearch Posts a Guide to the Records of Order Sons of Italy

This new book posted by FamilySearch is said to describe the manuscript collections of the main office and Grand Lodges held in the Immigration Center in Minnesota.

The call number of the book is 973 A3and and can be found in the US/Canada section of the Family History Library.