GENEALOGICAL GROUP

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Volume 6 No.9 May 2000 Editor's Notes By G. L. Vincitorio The April 2000 meeting was presided over by Vice President Jim Grillo in the absence of President Gene Capobianco, who was unable to attend because of knee surgery. 1. .A nominations committee was selected to present candidates for all officers in the forthcoming election meeting. (Members of IGG may nominate others as well from the floor). The committee comprising of June DeLalio, Bill Gimello, John Martino, Tony Sasso, and Natalie Stiefel, will choose a chairperson. 2. June DeLalio introduced Bianca Ottone, who is offering genealogical assistance through her group (which includes Trafford Cole and Giulio Salemme). The group offers data on dual citizenship, translation of Italian documents, and searching for ge­ nealogical documents throughout Italy. Her website is www.myitalianfamily.com. 3.The feature attraction of the meeting was a lecture on Probate Records: More Than Wills by the distinguished certified genealo­ gist Suzanne McVetty, who specializes in N.YC. and L.I. families. Her articles have appeared in Ancestry Magazine, The Irish at Home and Abroad, and other journals. In her handout she explained many terms in

records and the probate process. Inside this issue She distinguished among the dif­ ferent kinds of wills (e.g. oral, Computer Corner Page 2 deathbed, holograph, etc.) A lively A Visit to Our Past Page 3 question-and-answer exchange Untold Story of Italian Relocation Page 4 threw light on how the probate Is Destiny Written in the Name Page 7 process unraveled some puzzling legal cases. The Italian Army, PageS 4. Appearing on Public Television in June 2000 New Jersey Research, will be "Ancestors", a thirteen-part series on how Manchester Family History Day and where to find genealogical records and how to Our Italian Genealogy Page 9 make the best use of them. Consult the PBS Web­ Italian Genealogy Group Seminar, Page 10 site at http:www.pbs org/kbulancestors/newseries. Genealogy Humor To find the local station in your area visit hhtp:// Michael Saggese Page 11 www.pbs.org/station finderlindex.htrnl. 5 Ed Hess, Survey results the program chairman, promises us a fascinating lecturer who will focus attention on the preserva­ tion and restoration of old photos. Computer Corner ITADrAN by ed hess GENEALOGICAL v-~"'. GROUP

If you are looking for someone to do research ---·.. 8···--- for you in Italy, consider www.myitalianfamily. com for services via' a network of professionals, P.O. Box 626 who also has genealogists available in the U. S. and Bethpage, New York 11714-0626 Canada, just in case you are still struggling to get over the big pond. If you hire them, the progress of President Gene Capobianco Editor G.L. Vincitorio your project will be available to you on their web­ Vice Pres. Program Ed Hess site. You might want to check out a magazine Vice Pres. Development Anthony Carrano called Comunes Of Italy which is published six Vice Pres. Education Jim Grillo times a year. Each issue features a different prov­ Vice Pres. Facilities Armand Tarantelli ince in its two dozen pages. The material covered Recording Secretary Joanne Heffernan Corresponding Secretary Natalie Aurucci Stiefel ranges from postal codes and church addresses to Treasurer Barbara Florio recipes and historical data. For more information, go to http://members. Committees: ao1.comldininnilcoi.htm or send an Email to gra­ FGS Delegate Bill Gimello Genealogical Database Paul Grieco [email protected] This is an expansion on a previ­ Hospitality Ann Chiappisi, ous mention because it is not only extremely worth­ Frank Chiappisi while, but it also has a new home. The title of this Library Judy Caputo web page is Finding Passenger Lists - 1820 to 1940. Elaine Massey Caridi It is a list of sources of indexes to passenger arrival Library Development Dolores Canavaciol Michael Sant' Angelo records, and it gives a good description of what you Meeting Reception Louise LaGatta will find when you go to them. It is very thorough Membership Sabina Anselmo in its coverage. For instance, under the section Publications Anthony DiMarino covering 1897 to 1940 one entry is for 115 rolls of Public Relations John Martino microfilm covering New York arrivals 1897-1902. Publicity JoAnne HoImes Web Page Frank LaRosa Then it gives a link to the list of the rolls and indi­ Ed Hess cates that the list will show both NARA and FRC Newsletter Editorial Armand Tarantelli numbers for them. Similarly, the Baltimore arrival Associates Jim Grillo index for 1897-1952 is mentioned with another Joseph Battagliese link, and so on. What I found helpful was saving SalSammartano Rosemarie Di Landro the page on my computer. Now when I bring up Newsletter Production Sam Ciccosillo that file and find a list that I want to review, all I John Martino need do is give a right click on the link and then Catherine Nashak click properties and it shows me the URL for that list so that I can go there directly the next time. Annual Membership: Individual $20 per year; Family $25.00 per year; OutSide u.s. Membership $25.00 per year continued on page 7 Newsletter is published 10 times each year. Meetings are held on the IGG DISCLAIMER 2nd Saturday of each month from September to June at 1O:30AM 1. The editors/publisher assume that all correspondence and articles sent to the ISSN 1523-522X Italian Genealogical Newsletter are intended for publication, unless the writer Advertising Rates for each issue: specifically says otherwise. Full Page$80.00 2. In publishing news items, articles, etc the editor and the Italian Genealogical Group assume no responsibility or liability for facts, recommendations, or opin­ 112 Page$40.00 ions of contributors. 1/4 Page$20.00 3. Unless indicated otherwise by the editor and publisher, original articles and Back issues of this Newsletter may be obtained (subject to availability) at a material may be quoted or reprinted by genealogical or Italian-interest publica­ cost of $2.50 per issue by writing to the Italian Genealogical Group. Please tions, providing that they acknowledge and furnish the date of the issue. note the date and number of the issues requested. 4. However, no commercial use may be made of the contents of the Italian Ge­ nealogical Newsletter, its database, or membership lists, "hand-Quts', etc.

Page 2 Italian Genealogical Group Vol. 6 NO.9 A Visit to the Past in 1924 and moved into their tenement apartment by Rosemarie DiLandro in 1928. The Great Depression created hardships for them as well as many others. The Confino Family Apartment Tour visits the recreated dwelling of the Confino family, Sephar­ dic Jews from Turkey. It is set in 1916 and is a "living history" program. A costumed "Victoria Confino" welcomes you as though you are newly arrived immigrants. The experience is interactive and hands-on. The Neighborhood Heritage Tour is a guided tour of the Lower East Side. As you walk the streets, you learn how the community was and con­ tinues to be shaped by different groups of immi­ grants. You view historic buildings and public spaces of that time. The museum can be reached at 212 431-0233 for additional infonnation. It can also be visited in cyberspace at www.tenement.org. You can also take a virtual tour of the Gumpertz and Baldizzi apartments by clicking on Tenement Museum at WNET.org. then Tenement YR. You will need Ap­ ple's Quick Time YR Player. It can be downloaded for free directly from their site.

Lower East Side Tenement Museum 97 Orchard Street, New York

Nestled in Lower Manhattan is the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, a National Historic Site, which is located at 97 Orchard Street. It affords the visitor an opportunity to experience tenement living in the late 19th and early 20 th centuries. All tours Left to right commence at the Visitor Center located at 90 Or­ Victoria Confino and Rosemarie DiLandro chard Street at the comer of Broome Street. The 1863 Tenement House Tour is a guided Best Wishes to our members and their tour of three recreated apartments and one unre­ families over the Memorial day Holiday! stored apartment. You visit the apartment of Natalie Gumpertz, a Gennan-Jewish dressmaker, as it might have been in the 1870s. When her hus­ band, Julius, disappears, she becomes solely re­ sponsible for her four children. The Rogarshevsky apartment is set for sitting shiva for Abraham Ro­ garshevsky, the head of the household, who died of tuberculosis in 1918. The Baldizzi family, Catholic immigrants from Sicily, arrived in the United States

Italian Genealogical Group VoL 6 NO.9 Page 3 Male Notte: The Untold Story of Italian Relocation Boats Lie Idle and Sea Food is Needed." The arti­ During World War II (Part II) cle, more than likely written by the Sentinel's leg­ by Geoffrey Dunn endary waterfront reporter Ernesto Otto, was sym­ Submitted by Richard Annotico pathetic toward the fishermen and also noted the confusion and inequities of the government's relo­ With its large populations of farmers and fish­ cation efforts. "With its problem of separating fifth ermen of Japanese and Italian descent, the Mon­ columnists from peaceful and worthy residents of terey Bay area was of particular concern to foreign birth, the Department of Justice has had no DeWitt and the War Department. By January 25, time to work out formulae which will safeguard the 1942, all areas west (or oceanside) of Highway 1 nation, and at the same time allow such men as in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties were de­ Santa Cruz's fishermen to earn a living for their clared "restricted" to all "enemy aliens" (with cur­ families and add to the country's food supply." few, travel, and residence restrictions enforced). Local Italian activists, Mary Carniglia and Local German, Italian, and Japanese immigrants Malio Stagnaro, along with Santa Cruz judge James who had not yet declared American citizenship J. Scoppetone of the Marconi Civic Service Club, were forced to move out of the "restricted" areas wrote letters to government officials on behalf of by February 24, after which time they would also the restricted fishermen, many of whom were their be subjected to a 9 p.m. curfew and permitted to relatives and all of whom lived either in the Italian travel only between their homes and places of em­ neighborhoods of lower Bay Street or in the flats ployment. Signs were placed throughout the east of Neary Lagoon. Monterey Bay area con­ county boldly announcing "ENEMY ALIENS gressman John Anderson responded to these early PROHIBITED AREA NO. 28. The United States pleas with typical political aplomb. "I am doing Government requires all aliens of German, Italian everything I can to bring the [fishermen's] trust­ or Japanese nationality to vacate this area." It was worthiness to the attention of proper authorities, estimated that 1,500 local residents would be af­ and I earnestly hope that a policy will be adopted fected by the decree. The Santa Cruz Sentinel which will permit your people to return to their quickly jumped on the relocation bandwagon. In normal way of living." One of the local fisher­ an editorial dated February 3, the local daily rea­ men prevented from going to sea was Stefano Ghio, soned "The United States can take no chances by father of veteran Santa Cruz fisherman Victor trying to pick for exclusion only those aliens who Ghio. "Here I was in the Navy," Ghio says. "I had are known enemies. All aliens originating from another brother in the Navy and another brother in countries with which we are at war [should] be the Army, and they do this to my father? It was a banned from the defined areas." bunch of B.S., a lot of B.S. I talked to my superiors For Italian fishermen working at the Santa about it, but hell, there was nothing they could do. Cruz Municipal Wharf, restrictions on their activi­ They told me to do my duty and that was it. It's too ties were enforced immediately after the Pearl bad, that's all. My dad and some of the rest lost Harbor bombing. On the day following FDR's some good fishing seasons, I'll tell you that." Vic­ declaration of war, a dozen Italian nationals were tor's older brother, Stevie ("Ghighi") Ghio, recalls no longer allowed to take their boats out to sea. coming home from leave during the spring of 1942 The restricted fishermen included Stefano Ghio, and not being able to find his parents, who had Giovanni Olivieri, Marco Carniglia, Batista and been forced to relocate inland. Frank Bregante, Serafino Canepa, Niccolo Bas­ "I came home to the Barranca (the Italian sano, Giacomo Stagnaro, Agostino Olivieri, For­ neighborhood)," he says, "and I couldn't find my tunado Zolezzi, Johnnie Stellato, and Johnnie folks or my aunts and uncles. All the houses were Cecchini. Their plight became well publicized. boarded up shut. I couldn't find anybody. Finally, In a front-page article with banner headlines, the I went down to the police station and they told me Santa Cruz Sentinel declared: "Fishermen with 23 what had happened. I was still in my Navy uni- Sons in Army and Navy are bound to Wharf while form. They looked through some records and

Italian Genealogical Group Vol. 6 NO.9 Page 4 found out where they were. So one of the officers days later, another headline declared, "New Alien drives me up to where my folks had been moved. Rules are Outlined," and the accompanying article They were all so happy to see me, and my mother affirmed that, "no enemy aliens may live, work, or says, 'I was worried you wouldn't find us,' and visit" the restricted areas in the county. The fol­ she started to cry. It was pretty upsetting. They'd lowing day, headlines reported, "No Exceptions for lived here thirty, forty years, and to have this hap­ Santa Cruz Aliens: Confusion [Here] After First Or­ pen to them - well, it just wasn't right, but there der." The article went on to read, "Italian, J apa­ wasn't much we could say." Italian artichoke and nese, German aliens in Santa Cruz may have har­ brussel sprouts farmers on the north coast of the bored a hope that some disposition would come to county were also hit hard by the early restrictions. exclude them from the evacuation order, had those "The growers are definitely facing a labor short­ hopes completely quashed Tuesday in a Justice De­ age," declared Luis Poletti, head of the Davenport partment announcement that 'no exceptions' would Producers Association. "It hits pretty hard. I be made." "There will be no relaxation of regula­ don't know how we're going to replace them in tions to permit the aged and infirm, or those Axis the fields, but we'll have to." aliens living with citizen sons and daughters, to re­ The relatively small German community in main in the area." Santa Cruz also felt the impact of the restrictions A few weeks later, the entire county was de­ and impending relocation. As depicted by John clared "prohibited" to Italian, Japanese, and Ger­ Steinbeck in his novel East of Eden, anti-German man nationals and vast areas inland extending sentiment was particularly virulent along the cen­ throughout the Central Valley were deemed tral coast during World War I, and in Santa Cruz "restricted." Headline after headline in between it was downright nasty. On February 13, the body emphasized the urgency of the "enemy alien" issue. of German national George M. Heckel was found Local Italians did not take the restrictions on a beach near Woodrow Avenue. Despondent lightly. Many violated them fl agrantly, while oth­ over his impending relocation and not wanting to ers vowed to have them overturned. In an inter­ suffer through hostilities like those twenty years view with Elizabeth Calciano conducted for earlier, the seventy-three year old native of Ger­ UCSC's Regional History Project, Malio Stagnaro, many walked out into the surf and committed sui­ who served as a chief boatswain in the Navy during cide. At least four other similar suicides, by both the war, recalled a trip he took to San Francisco to Italians and Germans in the San Francisco Bay confront General DeWitt about the hardships his area took place in the early weeks of February. policies were creating. Stagnaro, a longtime The periodic announcements coming from the spokesman for the Italian community on the wharf, Justice and War Departments, many of them con­ characterized DeWitt as a "damn fool.. . a complete tradictory, had the effect of putting the local Japa­ nut, in my opinion. "I went up to DeWitt to try to nese, Italian, and German communities on edge. talk to him," Stagnaro recalled, "and he wouldn't No one here knew for sure what exactly was going listen to any reason whatsoever, to nothing. Every­ on - and in reality, no one in Washington knew body to him was an enemy that wasn't an American what was going on, either. Various departments citizen. I said, 'General, these are the greatest peo­ and competing bureaucracies established policy ple in the world.' 'Well!' he says. ' Why didn't one day, only to have it overruled and contra­ they become citizens?' I said, 'General, they never dicted by another on the next. Looking back on had the opportunity; never had an opportunity to them from the vantage point of fifty years, the learn; they raised big families, and they stayed at daily reporting of those activities reads something home. '" DeWitt was unmoved. Another vocal op­ lie a Kafkaesque novel. Back then, they must ponent of the alien restrictions was Mary Carmi­ have been a pure nightmare. On February 1, for glia, the matriarch of the local fishing colony, instance, a Sentinel headline declared, "No Zones whose husband Marco, was prohibited from fishing Barred to Enemy Aliens in this County." A few and was facing relocation, while her eldest son,

Page 5 Italian Genealogical Group Vol. 6 No. 9 John, was serving in the Navy. racketeering crisis eventually passed. "The kids are asking their parents, 'What are For Japanese residents, both citizens and non­ they going to do to you?' The smaller children citizens alike, their crisis was just beginning. As can't understand," Camiglia declared in a lengthy the February 24 relocation deadline neared, it was interview with the Sentinel. "The adult Italians becoming more and more apparent that the Japa­ have such faith in the government, they say it's all nese were starting to be singled out by government paper talk. But it hurts. My people have lived here activities, both in Washington and on the West in the same houses for three generations, and I'm Coast. Beginning February 9, Sentinel headlines going into a fourth generation. I'm a citizen, but read: "FBI Arrests 20 Japs in Monterey Bay Terri­ my husband is not." tory." Most of those arrests took place in Monterey "My people are proud to be in America. Their and Salinas, but federal agents also swept Wat­ coming here gave them a taste of paradise. They sonville, where Ben Torigoe, owner of a sporting aren't disloyal. If the government can show disloy­ goods store was picked up for being in possession alty, then they should be punished. I wouldn't fight of a dozen shotguns, a camera, and alleged "illegal for them if I thought they weren't loyal. But I radio," and so-called "subversive literature" that know they are." had been published in Japan. Three Buddhist Camiglia battled to have the local fishermen al­ priests were also arrested in the raids. lowed to return to their livelihoods. She also On February 21, two days following the signing fought against "racketeering" by local landlords of Executive Order 9066, hundreds of aliens - 119 whom she felt were taking advantage of the reloca­ Japanese, 54 Italians, and 9 Germans - were ar­ tion controversy. She charged that is some cases rested throughout California. In Santa Cruz County, landlords were hiking rents, while others were re­ though, arrests were limited to two Japanese resi­ fusing rent to families with children. She also dents, Tommy Kadotani and T. Kai, both active charged that deposits were being stolen. "If we're members of the Santa Cruz Japanese association. all helping toward the aim of victory," she queried Kadotani, a native of Santa Cruz who, ironically, local realtors, "why should these [landlords] throw had grown up on the fringes of the Italian fishing the monkey wrench in at this time? Why crush colony on Bay Street, was a widely respected local these unfortunate people with further blows?" florist and gardener. Both he and Kai were charged Santa Cruz realtor Joseph Jacoby defended his with raising monies that "eventually found their profession against Camiglia's charges. Local land­ way to the Japanese Imperial Army," charges that lords, he declared, were merely charging what the were never substantiated and which Kadotani de­ "market will bear". He also suggested that nied. (Years later, when Kadotani and I were fish­ "Italians were taking advantage of the situation ing on his boat Sake one afternoon, I gently tried to one Italian paid a five dollar deposit, then came broach the topic of his arrest. Kadotani politely, back to say he didn't want the house - with renting though sternly, informed me there was nothing to days having past - and received his money back. talk about, save fishing). Kadotani and Kai were This happened on two instances. In still another, shipped to San Francisco for questioning by the FBI the Italians made an appointment to view the and did not return to Santa Cruz until the end of the house, then never showed up because the rent was war. That weekend, FBI agents arrested ten more too high." Japanese residents in Watsonville, including grocer Camiglia, however, would have none of Ja­ Keijuro Sugiyama, apple dryers Charles and Frank coby's explanation. She called for an emergency Huira, and farmer Saikichi Yamamoto. At the rent-control measure to protect the dislocated resi­ same time, 16 Italians were arrested in Salinas. dents. "People should have more love and wis­ dom," she declared. "These narrow-minded people are taking advantage of these unfortunates." A to be continued in the June issue rent-control measure was never adopted, but the

Italian Genealogical Group Vol. 6 NO.9 Page 6 Is it Destiny Written in the Name? was a major with Garibaldi's corps of "Hunters of Reincarnation? Or Coincidence? the Alps," and wrote a book in 1859. In 1861, he by Major General Anthony 1. Carrano became an aide-de-camp of the King and a deputy in the Seventh Legislature in the Italian Parliament. The name CARRANO reveals itself to have an evolution to the word "Carraio," meaning wheel­ Anthony - 1983. After serving in four campaigns wright or "carrottiere," a carrier who carts loads on in the Pacific in WW, he served in the wheels. General Anthony Carrano was the opera­ Reserves and became a Major General, tions chief for the Bus Division of the New York serving as Deputy Commanding General Transit Authority and later General Manager for the in New York State. In 1985, he was Long Island Bus Authority. elected a Commissioner in his Long Is land district. Matteo - circa 1590, Amalfi, Italy. Author of de Origina Ducatus Amalphiae, written in Luigi - 1880. A patron of the arts, who donated Latin describing the history of the maritime a collection of arms and heraldry to the republic. Bargello Museum in Florence, Italy.

Anthony - 20th century, USA. Author of A Poly Anthony - 1994. A patron of the arts, who had a dyne Approach to Cam DeSign, Le 1700 painting restored for the Church Autobus de Domani, and In Search a/the Of Santa Maria in Positano, Italy. Family: Past, Present, and Future, a chronicle. Quo Vadis Dominae?

Andrea - May 16, 1714. Knighted as a Cavaliere in Italy.

Anthony - May 16, 1918. Knighted as a Cavaliere, USA.

Gaetano - 1803. An officer in the War Department and attache to Secretary of State. Also appointed General Secretary of Education. Computer Corner -continued Anthony-1975. Appointed to New York State When you go to one of the lists it would proba­ Labor Relations Mediation Board. bly be a wise move to download it. It would not take up much room on your . computer and the Luigi - 1814. A loyal Bourbon in the Register chances are you will want to consult it again in the of the Royal Bodyguards of the King future. The only problem will be finding it, and the dom of two Sicilies. solution to that is creating a new folder to hold that and other similar lists that you save for future refer­ Anthony - 1973. Appointed Chief of Logistics in ence. Oh yes, the website is http://home.att.neti US Army Reserves. ~wee -monster/passengers.html Francisco - 1816. An officer in the Bourbon Army; HAPPY HUNTING took part in the First War ofIndependence. During the Second War of Independence, he Ed Hess

Page 7 Italian Genealogical Group Vol. 6 No.9 The Italian Army Manchester, CT, Family History Day by Tony Annicelli by June DeLalio

During the search for my family history, of all The 2nd annual Family History Day in Man­ the bits and pieces that I have obtained thus far, the chester will be held on May 13, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at most interesting and informative is my great grand­ Manchester Town Hall, 41 Center Street. father's discharge papers from the Italian army. He Family History Day is free and open to the pub­ was Pietro Barasso, born in 1835 in Mirabella, lic. It is a full day of events and seminars con­ Province of Avellino. He enlisted in the army in ducted by experts in genealogical research and re­ 1857 at the age of twenty-two as a substitute for lated specialties. The event aims to support the Pasquale Giannino. Pietro was a shoemaker before public's growing interest in genealogical research, enlisting in the army. celebrate the rich human heritage of Manchester, He enlisted in the Army of Two Sicilies and and promote a greater understanding and apprecia­ was posted to northern Italy, where he served in the tion of town and state history and the institutions 15t Regiment of Piacenza Hussars (cavalry). In 1862 that care for our historical treasures. he was discharged in Siena having been kicked in The Town Clerk's office will provide tours of the stomach. This developed into "slow Peritonitis" the vault, assist visitors in using various tools and which eventually killed him. But, lucky for me, not records, explain the laws regarding public access, before he had a daughter, Rosaria, who had mar­ and help them become familiar with what records ried my grandfather, Gennaro Ianniciello. While in are available. Experts will conduct free seminars the service, the Army of Two Sicilies was dis­ on such topics as Genealogy for Beginners, Track­ banded and it became the Bourbon Army. ing Immigrant Ancestors, Fact Gathering for Oral It took some time for me to get all the docu­ Histories, "Cyber-Sleuthing" for information on the ments translated because of their age and flowery Internet, and more. Visitors may also try a hands-on penmanship. On the Internet I found Juliet Viola computer search for their family name with the who did an excellent job. She can be reached at (e­ help of experts from the Latter Day Saints (LDS) mail) [email protected], if anyone is interested. Family History Center . A special attraction is a guided tour of the his­ New Jersey Research toric East cemetery (220 East Center St, Manches­ By June DeLalio ter ), conducted by John Spaulding, founding mem­ ber of the Connecticut Gravestone Network. The New Jersey State Archives in Trenton, Exhibitors at the event include the Buckland New Jersey, moved in the month of April and re­ Times, Connecticut Gravestone Network, Con­ opened on April 25 in its new location in the De­ necticut Society of Genealogist, Connecticut State partment of State Building, Second floor, 225 West Library and Archives, DAR-Orford Parish Chapter, State Street, Trenton. While their microfilm and Ethic Heritage center at SCSU, Irish American His­ frequently referenced collections are now available, torical Society, LDS Family History Center, Man­ most of the other collections will only be accessible chester Engineering Department, Manchester His­ in the future. If you are planning to go to the Ar­ torical Society, Manchester Probate Court, North­ chives to research a specific item, call ahead for east Professional Genealogy, Veterans Administra­ availability at (609) 292-6260 or check their web­ tion, and the Town Clerk of Manchester. Food site (www.state.nj.us/state/darm/archives.html). booths and concessions will be available. The Man­ The new facility has more microfilm readers chester Town Hall is handicapped-accessible. Park­ and printers which should ease the overcrowded ing is free. Contact Joe Camposeo, Town Clerk, situation for the many genealogists who go there Manchester, CT 860-647-3036. for New Jersey vital records and state and federal censuses, their most used microfilms.

Italian Genealogical Group Vol. 6 NO.9 Page 8 Our Italian Genealogy; Paths of Progress I was curious to find. The reason behind the by Pamela M. Shooks journey from Gildone, Campobasso, Italy to Cleve­ land, Ohio. Recently I received information from My husband's mother (b.1922), the youngest the Ohio Historical Society, which will provide member of the Colicchio family knew very little brief research information for a small fee. The about the family's history. As I began to compile street where Angelo Antonio Colicchio lived in the family history several years ago, she was certain Cleveland was Carrabelli Street and we were aware that her parents must have come from Italy to the that this street no longer exists. I was provided US about 1906 since their first child, her brother, with the new street name and·the history of Carra­ was born in Italy. They lived briefly in the Bronx belli Street. These supplied the probable motives at first with some · of her mother's family for Angelo to go to Cleveland. In the 1870 Census (Germano). By 1912 they had moved to the East­ there were only thirty-five Italians living in Cleve­ chester/Scarsdale area and had built a two-family land, but within fifty years, there were 20,000. Jo­ house, which has remained in the family up to the seph Carrabelli came to the US in 1870 and after present time. 10 years in NY (When he carved the statues for the This seems like a clear-cut story as to when city's Federal Bldg.), went to Cleveland and estab­ they emigrated. I decided to check the 1920 Cen­ lished the Lakeview Granite & Monumental Works sus for year of Naturalization information. Surpris­ near Lake View Cemetery. This became a huge ingly, this information was unreadable, as the dates business and recruitment of large numbers of Ital­ had been written over several times. It could have ians from Italy followed especially from the South been 1888, 1898 or 1908 perhaps. None of these of Italy (including the province of Campobasso) seemed correct and we were all perplexed. I sent a where poverty was extreme. The area became request for naturalization information to West­ known as "Little Italy," and there is even a "Little chester County. No record of Angelo Antonio Italy Historical Museum," there. Many changes Colicchio was found. Scanning through ship pas­ continued in Cleveland after Angelo left. So far, senger arrival records (Italians to America) was we presume he was not a stonecutter but was not helpful because there were no clear-cut prompted to go to an area where many of his fellow matches found. villagers were going. Perhaps the work was not There was no record of Angelo in the 1900 agreeable to him. It was obvious he returned to It­ Census in New York nor could it be determined aly several times and perhaps on one of those visits, where he was living in 1910. Then, I was advised he decided to try New York where his wife's family that the Westchester County Archives in Elmsford, had settled. NY has the 1925 Census and would do "look ups" The above information, along with the micro­ for a small fee. Fortunately, that information was films of the town, have helped to compose the pic­ clearly written and has provided the much-needed ture of the Colicchio and Germano family as they data and was a complete surprise to all of the fam­ reestablished themselves in this country. Angelo ily. My husband's grandfather had arrived in this was born March 7, 1870171. Their marriage was country, indeed in 1888, which was eighteen years noted in "Comune di Gildone, Provincia di Cam­ before the birth of the first child who was born in pobasso," in 1904 Registro. Angelo was listed as a Italy and was naturalized in Ohio! No one had ever contadino and in his naturalization petition in heard him talk of anything other than living in Italy Cleveland as "Laborer". We have located several and New York. Requests were sent to Cleveland, brothers and sisters as well but the work remains Ohio, and a great deal of information has been ob­ ongoing. Each door we open sheds more light. tained such as his address in Cleveland and other Sources: Ohio Historical Society/ArchiveslLibrary Division: presumed relatives' names. "The Dictionary of Cleveland Biography," David Van Tassel, Editor and "The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History," David

Page 9 Italian Genealogical Group VoL 6 No.9 The Italian Genealogical Group Semi­ Bill Gimello nar for the Millennium Jo Heffernan John Martino by June C. Delalio Catherine Nashak Bud Pape Our Seminar on Tracing Italian Roots into the Frank LaRosa Millenium was by all measures a big success. At­ Sal Sammartano tendance grew by more than 20% which made for a Gene Reale lively group of gesticulating and demonstrative Ital­ Tony Sasso ians each wanting to talk about his research and Armand Tarantelli asking many questions. The interaction of the at­ tendees was more than matched by the information For those of you who were unable to attend this given by our very knowledgeable speakers. By the year, plan on making next year's Seminar which is way, many of our attendees traveled a good dis­ usually held in the beginning of March. We are al­ tance to come. To those from Pennsylvania, Vir­ ready formulating our subjects and ideas for next ginia, Florida, Ohio, West Virginia, and our neigh­ year. If you have any subjects or speakers you boring states, we hope you enjoyed your day and would like to hear next year, please contact me at felt it worth the trip. [email protected] or send a letter to me in care of Our main speakr, Guilio Salemme, in his inimi­ the organization. We will also try to find more rea­ table Italian-American speech, was a fount of sonable accommodations in the area for those of knowledge about finding information in Italian rec­ you who need to stay overnight. Unfortunately, the ord facilities and how and where to do it. Our area near the University is an area only a somewhat other .speakers rounded out the program with help less expensive than New York City. We aim, as al­ on usmg the facilities in the United States and ad­ ways, to make next year's Seminar better and bigger vising us about new record sources to use with our for all our members and invitees. research. For workers and attendees alike it was an exciting and exhausting day. Of course, this kind of event does not happen without the work of many Genealogy Humor people. Plans for our yearly Seminar start almost 1. My family coat of arms ties at the back...... is as soon as the current is finished. As Chairman of that normal? ~he Seminar, I would like to thank all of the people 2. My family tree is a few branches short! I?volved. The names of our Committee people are lIsted but there were many more who worked on 3. My ancestors must be in a witness protection program! the day of Seminar and whose names I am not list­ 4. Shake your family tree and watch the nuts fall! ing fo~ fear of leaving one out. They are equally 5. My hobby is genealogy; I raise dust bunnies essentIal to the smooth flow of events on the Semi­ as pets. nar ~ay. I wish to especially thank Bud Pape for 6. How can one ancestor cause so much trouble? cOI?mg on board as co-chairman and assisting me whIle he could, until the Federal goyernment gob­ 7. I look into my family tree and found out I was a sap. bled him up for work on the Census 2000. When you are living in North Carolina, you need help in 8. I'm not stuck, I'm ancestrally challenged. 9. I'm searching for myself; have you seen me? New York to coordinate this Seminar. 10. If only people came with pull-down menus and Grazie tante a tutti! on-line help. . Sabina Anselmo 11. Isn't genealogy fun? ...... The answer to one Madeline Capponi problem, leads to two more. Judy Caputo 12. It's 2000 ...Do you know where your-Great-G. Anthony DiMarino Grandparents are? Barbara Florio

Page 10 Italian Genealogical Group Vol. 6 No.9 MICHAEL SAGGESE president. On the occasion of the building of a tech­ by Mariassunta Palumbo nical college there, the society held a party to col­ lect funds and forwarded $1,550. When it learned that a monument to the dead of the First World War Signorina Palumbo has contributed several arti­ was planned they collected funds for it, as well as cles to this newsletter. As a student in the Univer­ for the families of the soldiers. The society wid­ sity of Naples, she has directed some of her studies ened its scope by collecting funds for tubercular to the experience of emigrants from her home town children of Fiume and for wounded veterans. of Sant' Angelo dei Lombardi in the province of Michael Saggese is only one among many who Avellino. Some immigrants to the United States never forgot their origins and contributed what they could not easily forget their native land; they kept could to worthy causes in their paese while at the in close touch with relatives and friends; and they same time they served their adopted land with de­ contributed generously to Italian charities and to votion and gratitude. public works. A sterling example is a Brooklyn bro­ ker, who specialized in Long Island real estate, Mi­ Survey Results chael Saggese. Editor's Note: by Ed Hess In 1917 when he was sixteen years old, Mr. Here are the major points from the recent com­ Saggese emigrated from S. Angelo to seek employ­ puter survey. First, congratulations are in order. ment in New York. After working as an interpreter There were (43) replies, which I think is a terrific for the city of New York, he managed a real estate response. I would imagine that the computer itself office. But the First World War intervened. Sag­ has much to do with that result. The majority of gese volunteered for service and was soon involved the responses, (38), came via e-mail. It is an easy in the American Army's offensive. At the battle of way to communicate.' S. Quentin, he was seriously wounded, which re­ Only one reply came from a member without a sulted in the loss of a leg. computer, and that party was undecided about get­ Returning to Brooklyn, he founded the Comi­ ting one. The most popular computer was Gate­ tato pro S. Angelo which collected funds for public way, of which there were (7). Next, with (4) each works. He added his war injury pension. There were Dell, IBM Aptiva, Compaq and Hewlett Pack­ was no water line to serve the townspeople other ard. There were (2) Mac products, (2) Packard than the public fountains. Hardships were espe­ Bells, and the rest were only one each. cially severe during winter. In addition to the aque­ As for genealogy programs, Family Tree Maker duct, he spent monies for the Church and Convent had (21) users; PAF, Family Origins, and Reunion of Santa Maria intended to provide central heating each had (2); and five others had one each. Most of and pews for the church and furniture for the or­ the remaining respondents expected to get a pro­ phanage. Another project was the construction of a gram soon. Regarding ISPs, there were (25) people public square where the kindergarten children and using AOL, (2) with Optimum online (cable), and the orphans could play. His funds also went toward (2) with Prodigy. The rest were all one of a kind, the construction of toilets in the public square. but for the most part were familiar names, not a lo­ When he was eighty years old, he did his last cal ISP. There will be more information next good deed by depositing in the Bank of Naples month on the remaining questions. $270,000 for the "Onorina Foundation" to provide scholarships for the high school graduates. Until To our members and their families, his death in 1981 , he was a frequent visitor to his a Very Happy Mother's Day! home town. He was tireless in efforts to encourage fri ends and acquaintances with the needs of S. Angelo. He founded the Society of Mutual Aid of ./ East Brooklyn of S. Angelo of which he was

Italian Genealogical Group Vol. 6 NO.9 Page 11 Future Meeting Dates for the Italian Genealogical Group

May 13, June 10, Sept 9, Oct 14, Nov 11

All meetings start at 10:30 AM.

Directions to the Bethpage Library, 50 Powell Ave., Bethpage, NY:

By train: The Bethpage Library may be reached by taking the Long Island Railroad to Bethpage. You can then walk east one block to Broadway, turn left go (north) 3 blocks on Broadway; then (at the second traffic light) turn right on Powell Avenue; the library IS about 500 ft. on your right.

~ By Car: Use the Southern State Parkway or the Long Island Expressway. If using the Southern State Parkway take Exit 28A and go north on the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway (Route 135). If using the Long Island Expressway take Exit 44S and go south on the Seaford­ Oyster Bay Expressway (Route 135). Exit Route 135 at the Powell Avenue Exit. Proceed in a westerly direction towards the village, about 3 blocks. There is ample parking across the street from the Library. Our meeting will be in the downstairs meeting room.

NON-PROFIT US POST AGE PAID GENEALOGICAL .,!\, GROUP PERMIT NO. 54 I'./" DEER PARK, NY 11729

P.O. Box 626, Bethpage, New York 11714-0626

583 9/1/00 Joseph Battagliese 326 Half Hollow Road Deer Park , NY 11729

/' Or