,

GENEALOGICAL GROUP

Visit our web page: www.italiangen.org

Volume 7 No.3 November 2000 October Meeting

Guest Speaker John Martino's "Beginning Genealogy" provided an informative and witty lecture cen­ tered on a series of transparencies of documents belonging to "famous people" that John has uncovered while performing his own research at the various local archives. Included in the lecture was the use of an overhead projector in which John displayed vital records of people such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Meyer Lansky. John urged all members to go into the various repositories and conduct their own research instead of doing it by mail. Our guest lecturer for November will be Jim Grillo who will speak about beginning genealogy focus­ ing on Italian records. Jim, past a vice president of the IGG and longtime researcher in Northern Italian and Sicilian records. Vice President June DeLalio opened the meeting in place of President Sal Sammartano. She distrib­ uted copies of the October (Christopher Columbus) Newsletter to those who had not as yet received their copy prior to the meeting.

(Continued on page 9)

Inside This Issue President's Message Salvatore Samrnartano Computer Corner Pg.2 As we approach the winter, we will hope­ 1930 Population Census Pg.3 fully have more time to perform our genealogical. I would like to remind you that like the four sea­ FGS Conference Pg.4 sons, we all have four grandparents and it is with Editor's Notes Pg.5 their names that we can begin our quest to learn about our family history. Finding My Great-Grandparents Pg.6 Recently, I discovered the passenger list of the steamship that carried my paternal grandmother 9th Annual Italian Experience Pg.7 to America from Italy. I would not have been able to locate this document without the help of the staff The Municipal Archives Pg.8 at the northeast region of the National Archives, Volunteer Profile Pg.9 (Continued on page 9) Computer Corner Ed Hess ITAVrAN GEN EA LOGICAL \.N-~I'\ GROUP Recently Michael Sant' Angelo reminded me of something we have covered in the past but it is al­ ---... ~ :~ ... --- ways worth repeat~g. Go to a Search site and put P.O. Box 626 in your surname or the name of an ancestral home­ Bethpage, New York 11714-0626 town and see what comes up. I tried it with Scla­ fani Bagni and got 453 leads. Many of them were President Salvatore Sammartano of marginal value for my purposes, but others were Editor Tony Sasso Vice President Programming June DeLalio defmitely worthwhile. Don't try it with a big city, Vice Pres. Public Relations John Martino however, unless you put in some modifiers - Pal­ Recording Secretary Catherine Nashak ermo came up with over 343,000 hits. One of my Corresponding Secretary Natalie Aurucci Stiefel favorite Search sites is www.google.com. but try Treasurer Bud Pape this at two or three sites. Here are two places to visit. One is about Committees: FGS Delegate Bill Gimello "Privacy and the Family Page", and can be found at Genealogical Database Paul Grieco www.genealogy.coml71_taylor.html.Itis an arti­ Hospitality Ann Chiappisi cle about using care in setting up your personal Frank Chiappisi website. It covers a number of basic precautions Library Judy Caputo that you should observe to protect yourself and Elaine Massey Caridi Meeting Reception Louise LaGatta your relatives. The other is a Biography Outline at Membership MaryAnn Horn www.thevision.net/tedpacklbioguide. html. Here, Publication Sales Anthony DiMarino you will get a lot of pointers to help you put to­ Publicity JoAnne Holmes gether a life story. There are a series of questions Web Page Frank LaRosa that you can ask your great uncle about, and they Newsletter Associate Rosemarie DiLandro Newsletter Production Joseph Battagliese are broken down to cover different periods of life. Sam Ciccosillo You might even want to use it to do a bio of your­ Catherine Nashak self. You certainly don't want to put your great­ great grandchildren in the same pickle that you are in when it comes to knowing all about the past. Annual Membership: Individual $20 per year; Family $25.00 per year; Outside u.s. Membership $25.00 per year If you are looking for ancestors who might have been in smaller counties in the early to mid 1800s, Newsletter is published 10 times each year. Meetings are held on the and some also from earlier and later periods, be 2nd Saturday of each month from September to June at 10:30AM ISSN 1523-522X sure to visit www.censuslinks.com.This is one of Advertising Rates for each issue: the places where you can begin to see actual census Full Page$80.00 data from various counties throughout the USA. 112· Page$40.00 114 Page$20.00 On the homepage there is a list of the states and Back issues of this Newsletter may be obtained (subject to availability) at a cost of$2.50 per issue by writing to the Italian Genealogical Group. Please note the date and number of the issues requested. (Continued on page 10)

IGG DISCLAIMER I. The editors/publisher assume that all correspondence and articles sent to the Italian Genealogical Newsletter are intended for publication, unless the writer specifically says otherwise. 2. In publishing news items, articles, etc the editor and the Italian Genealogical Group assume no responsibility or liability fo r facts, recommendations, or opin· ions of contributors. 3. Unless indicated otherwise by the editor and publisher, original articles and material may be quoted or reprinted by genealogical or Italian·interest publica· tions, providing that they aclrnowledge and furnish the date of the issue. 4. However, no commercial use may be made of the contents of the Italian Genea· logical Newsletter, its database, or membership lists, "hand·outs', etc.

Page 2 Italian Genealogical Group Vol. 7 No. 3 1930 Population Census Education 1. Attended school or college any time since Sep­ tember 1, 1929 On April 1, 2002, the 1930 census and its ex­ 2. Whether able to read and write. isting soundex indexes will become available at Place of Birth the National Archives Building, 700 Pennsylvania 1. Place of birth - Person. Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20408-0001, and 2. Place of birth - Father. at regional facilities in 13 major cities. This par­ 3. Place of birth - Mother. Mother Tongue (or Native Language) of Foreign Born ticular date is chosen because it ends the statutory I. Language spoken in home before coming to the 72-year restriction on access for privacy reasons United States. (92 Stat. 915; Public Law 95-416; October 5, Citizenship, etc. 1978). The census day was April 1, 1930. 1. Year of immigration to the United States. 2. Naturalization. 3. Whether able to speak English Microfilmed Indexes Occupation & Industry Twelve states are fully or partially indexed. I. Trade, profession, or particular kind of work Indexes, using the soundex indexing system, for done, as spinner, salesman, riveter, teacher, etc. the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, 2. Industry or business, as cotton mill, dry- goo d s Kentucky (part), Louisiana, Mississippi, North store, shipyard, public school, etc. Carolina South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and 3. Class of worker. Employment West Virginia (part). Counties that are indexed in I. Whether actually at work yesterday (or the last the two partial states, Kentucky and West Vir­ regular working day) Yes or No. ginia, are: Kentucky: Bell, Floyd, Harlan, Kenton, 2. If not, line number on Unemployment Schedule. Muhlenberg, Perry, and Pike. West Virginia: Fay­ Veterans ette, Harrison, Kanawha, Logan, McDowell, Mer­ 1. Whether a veteran of U.S. military or naval force - Yes or No. cer, and Raleigh. 2. What war or expedition? [World War (WW), Questions Asked on the Census Spanish-American War (Sp), Civil War (Civ), The 1930 census asked 32 questions about each person: Philippine Insurrection (Phil), Boxer Rebellion Place of Abode (Box), Mexican Expedition (Mex)). I. Street, avenue, road, etc. Farm Schedule 2. House number (in cities or towns) I. Number of farm schedule [Farm schedules no 3. Number of dwelling house in order of visit a­ longer exist). tion How to Get Information before April 2002: 4. Number offamily in order of visitation Name If you need information about yourself or a de­ I. Name of each person whose place of abode on ceased person from the 1930 or later censuses for April I, 1930 was in this family. legal or other purposes, get a Form BCC-600 from Relation the Bureau of the Census Age Search Service and I. Relationship of this person to the head of the return the form with the required fee to that agency. family. Home Data Forms are also available by writing to: U.S. Census th I. Home owned or rented. Bureau, National Processing Center, 1201 East 10 2. Value of home, if owned, or monthly rental, if Street, Jeffersonville, IN 47132. rented. 3. Radio set [Information is from the National Archives Records Admini­ 4. does this family live on a farm? stration Web site at http://www.nara.govlgenealogyI1930cen. Personal Description htm, dated July 24, 1999 the article was submitted by Bill Gi­ I. Sex melio, from "The Forum "]. 2. Color or race [White (W), Negro (Neg), Mexi­ can (Mex), Indian (In), Chinese (Ch), Japanese (Jp), Filipino (Fil), Hindu (Hin), Korean (Kor), other Races spelled out in full]. 3. Age at last birthday. 4. Marital condition [Single (S), married (M), widowed (Wd), divorced (D)]. 5. Age at first marriage

Italian Genealogical Group VoL 7 No.3 Page 3 FGS Conference very limited value, and place studies often include Pat DeStefano surnames and links to surname sites. Among the place sites recommended are: WorldGenWeb (start with this site) www.worldgenweb.org, USGenWeb www.usgenweb.org (includes the USGenWeb Ar­ chives), the Family Search Internet "browse cate­ gories" option www.familysearch.org, and Cyndi's List www.cyndislist.comlxx.htrnl (substitute the two letter state code for the "xx"). After exhausting your place search, you might try two meta-indexes to name databases: www. family tree magazine. com! search and http:// ourworld.compuserve.comlhomepages/CACulmani MultiGen.htm. When you're ready to go to indi­ vidual sites, start with Internet Family Finder www.genealogy.comlifftop.htrnl. Other sites to check for names are Family Nearly 2000 genealogists attended an excel­ Search Internet (a must!) www.familysearch.org, lent conference given by the Federation of Genea­ Roots Surname Listfor Individuals Pre-1900 http:// logical Societies, of which IGG is a member, and rsl.rootsweb.comlcgi-binlrslsql.cgi, USGen Web Ar­ hosted by the Utah Genealogical Association. th 9th. chive by state www . rootsweb.coml~usgenweb/ The conference took place September 6 - m ussearch.htm or all states at once http://searches. Salt Lake City, home of the Family History Li­ rootsweb.comlhtdig/search.htrnl, Gendex www. brary. gendex.coml, and World Connect Project http:// A variety of topics, presented by some of the worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.comlcgi-binl top speakers in the field, provided something for igm.cgi. To fmd sites devoted to particular sur­ everyone. The detailed syllabus that each atten­ names, try www.cyndislist.comlsurnames.htm. dee received is worth its weight in gold. Speaking of Cyndi's List, "Researching with My interests leaned toward Internet topics, Friends, Cousins, and Experts on Genealogy Mail­ and I came home with enough ideas to keep me ing Lists" was presented by Cyndi Howells, author busy for at year - at least! and webmaster (yes, there really is a Cyndi!). She Every presenter who spoke about the Internet described how mailing lists work, and presented stressed that although it's an invaluable tool, we numerous helpful do's and don'ts including: researchers need to be ever conscious of the oc­ 1. Post your surnames and queries regu­ currence of errors in the information we fmd larly. there. It's critical to check out all the "facts" in 2. Keep track of all mailing lists you join, other sources. That being said, here are just a few all messages sent and received, and all of the ideas covered in some of the sessions I at­ queries posted. tended. 3. Do not post personal information on liv Alan E. Mann, A.G., gave two presentations, ing relatives. "Finding Useful Information on the Internet by 4. Before sending a message or query, re­ Place" and "Finding Useful Information on the read it for errors, omissions, etc. (I can Internet by Name." Mr. Mann recommended identify with this one!). starting your Internet search by place, which is the 5. Before replying to someone else's mes­ more common approach among experienced re­ sage, re-read it to make sure of its searchers. By studying the locations your ances­ meaning and intent. tors came from and settled in, you gain a geo­ graphical, historical, and social context for your ancestors' story - names and dates alone have (Continued on page 9)

Page 4 Italian Genealogical Group Vol. 7 No.3 Editor's Notes Genealogy Humor Continued Tony Sasso Compiled by Sue Costa

My first month as the Editor of our newsletter A family reunion is an effective form of birth has passed and I would like to acknowledge my control. staff. They will surely make this an easy job for A family tree can wither if nobody tends its' me. Everything is running smoothly. roots. The major complaint I hear is that many mem­ A new cousin a day keeps boredom away. bers are receiving their newsletter late. My sugges­ After 30 days, unclaimed ancestors will be tion to remedy this is to write a letter addressed to adopted. the IGG at the address listed in on page 2 of this Am I the only person up my tree? Sure seems newsletter, attention to the Membership Commit­ like it. tee. Include in this letter your zip code +4. This 4- Any family tree produces some lemons, some digit extension will speed up the delivery of your nuts and a few bad apples. newsletter quite a bit. Results may vary. Ever find an ancestor HANGING from the fam­ While I have a little space at my disposal, I ily tree? would like to acknowledge the great job done by FLOOR: The place for storing your priceless Paul Grieco on the IGG Database. Paul really out­ genealogy records. did himself with this one and he should be very Gene-Allergy; It's a contagious disease, but proud. Remember, this database will only be as I love it. good as the information submitted by you, the Genealogists are time unravels. membership. In the back of the database is a form Genealogy is like playing hide and seek; they for you to fill out if you have to change any of your hide .... I seek. information (or add to it). Check your email ad­ Genealogy, tracing yourself back to better peo­ dress and other pertinent data and use the form. ple. Paul gave you everything but the ink and the stamp. "Crazy" is a relative term in my family. Again, Great job Paul. A reminder: If you would like to write an article for the newsletter, you can email it to me at A Poem [email protected] or mail it to the IGG, attention Tony Sasso. A woman, who was at the Hofstra Festiva~ sent the following poem to Frank Chiappisi. Her name is Jennie Clary (Pen name "Jene"'). Her maiden name is Giovaninna Helena Ambrosio.

SSDI FINDS MARRIED SURNAMES WE ITALIANS We Italians are a special lot You know that the female sibling of your an­ Musicians, artists, hard workers we've got. cestor married, but you don't have a clue about her Down through the ages came our peers, married surname. Or maybe your female ancestor We can stand tall, and have no fears. remarried, and you'd like to fmd out what surname Many good Italians stick out in a crowd. she had when she died. If you have her exact birth We can be happy or at times a bit loud. date, try searching the Social Security Death Index We are kind, we are loving, hard to tease. with just a first name and the birth date entered. We are good natured and easy to please. Leave the surname field blank. You may be pleas­ Give us a job, it will be well done. antly surprised at the hits you get! At weddings and parties we are lots of fun. We are Americans first through and through But we are glad we are part Italian too (ReprintedJrom Ancestory.com)

Italian Genealogical Group Vol. 7 No. 3 Page 5 Finding My Great-Grandparents were a huge number of John Wilson's to wade Joe Arrighi through, I found a likely pair, got out the referenced roll of microfilm and discovered my great­ I have been doing genealogical data collection grandparents, or at least one set of them, those on and research for some time now on the four fami­ my mother's side. There were six children listed, lies making up the family group of concern to my amongst whom was my grandfather, Arthur Wilson progeny, two of mine and two of my departed and four other children's names about which I wife's. In fact, it was the organizational prospects knew. A sixth, who was 2 years old, was not of the software program, "Family Tree Maker," and known to me and probably represented a child who its connection to what 1'd been doing which con­ didn't live much longer. There was also a child's vinced me to give up my word processor for a Pc. name, which I knew about but which wasn't pre­ But that's another story. sent. I reasoned that this was probably someone A few years ago, I wrote to the New Jersey De­ who was born after the census. partment of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics for Well, this was great, but there was a disturbing the death certificate of my grandfather on my age given for Arthur. It did not correspond to his mother's side, one Arthur Wilson. From a small birth date (census year minus age should be within notebook kept by an aunt, I already knew his death one year of the birth year). His age was given as 8 date and burial place, but I wrote to this Bureau on years old on the census date of 3 July 1870, which the off chance that his death certificate might pro­ would have him born in either the year 1862 or vide additional information. What I got were the 1861, depending on whether his birthday was be­ name of his father, one John Wilson, and the fore or after 3 July (ages in the census are given as maiden name of his mother, one Jane Ellison, and age at last birthday). The date of birth I had for Ar­ the fact that they were both born in Ireland. Well, thur was 7 January 1864. In spite of this difference this was something new, but not much. in apparent ages, I was willing to go forward with Then, early in 1999, I began making trips to the the census data, which, in the light of what I later National Archives in New York City, with a friend, found, would be proven correct. On the census list­ Paul Gitto, also a member of the IGG, to do more ing for John Wilson there is a column labeled serious research. After spending considerable time "Male citizen of the U.S. of21 years and upward," trying to trace my father's family's arrival in this in which there was a checkmark opposite the name country, I took a little time to research my mother's John Wilson. Since he was listed as born in Ireland father's family. By the way, I also knew her fa­ (I knew this beforehand), this could only mean that ther's birth date, that he was born in New York he was naturalized since immigrating here. I then City, and had four known siblings. Byapproximat­ searched for his naturalization papers and, eureka, I ing the dates of marriage of his parents from his found them. There were additional surprises in birthday I fastened on the 1870 census as the place store for me on his naturalization papers. John to look for evidence of John and Jane (Ellison) Wil­ Wilson's address was given, and a witness to his son. Fortunately, searching the census of 1870 is naturalization was given as Arthur Ellison (his wife rather easy. There's an index of names, alphabeti­ Jane's father??), and Arthur Ellison's address was cally arranged, of all those involved in the census, also given, not too far from John's, both on the and there are references for each name to the sub­ west side of downtown New York City. Have I ject's age, to his/her Ward (WD) and Enumeration gone back another generation? I think so. It's too District (ED), and to the publication number and much of a coincidence to think otherwise. the roll number of the microfilm containing the ap­ Armed with this success I went looking for my plicable census sheet. Only parents and older chil­ mother's mother's family in the same 1870 census. dren's names are listed. All I knew was my mother's mother's name, her I searched for all John and Jane Wilson's of date of birth and that she was born in New York about the age I imagined they would be, and who City. Without too much difficulty I also found my were located in the same WD and ED. And, mother's grandparents, Louis and Maria Opperman, eureka, without too much trouble, although there (Continued on page /0)

Page 6 Italian Genealogical Group Vol. 7 No. 3 The Ninth Annual Italian Experience chestra under the tent. They played to a hushed Barbara Florio crowd for almost 2 hours and had everyone listen­ ing to all the songs that remind us of our heritage. The audience enjoyed each piece immensely. The music was interspersed by 2 stars that sang with such feeling that only Italians are capable of. The male singer had just come off a cruise ship a few hours before. . The wine tasting and the pasta nibbling was a big draw and was made possible by many wine companies and a local restaurant. The organiza­ tions represented were Fieri, Italian American Committee on Education, Italian American Women Association, Italian Genealogical Group, and New York State Grand Lodge Order Sons of Italy in America. It is difficult to imagine a more memorable day. All of it honored the true culture Ed Hess and June DeLalio and spirit of Italians who have contributed so much to the world in so many ways. Our own Frank Chiappisi won third prize in the 2000 Hofstra Uni­ versity Scho larship Fund Raffle, a gift certificate Sunday, September 24th, with overcast skies, for four valued at $350 courtesy of Barbetta Res­ the 9th Annual Italian Experience at Hofstra taurant. opened to the public at lOAM. However, the Next year will be the 10th Annual Festival and crowds did not start arriving until after noon when promises to be the biggest and best ever. Make the opening ceremony took place. sure you look for the announcements in local pa­ Among the outstanding presentations were a pers and here in our Italian Genealogical Group sing-a-Iong and a dance-a-Iong Italian style. Heard Newsletter as well as other various organizations. I throughout the Hofstra Campus at different times was pop Italian music by Tony Modica and tradi­ tional folk music by I Paesani, dancing was a big crowd pleaser. For the children there was a petting zoo with a variety of live animals. Katie's Puppets presented a puppet show which had the little ones laughing at the antics of the puppets. A magic show for both kids and adults alike was a thrill per­ formance. The Bronx Opera Company offered a program of both vocal and instrumental classical and popular songs. The Gray Wig Society pre­ sented a rendition of "The Phantom of the Opera" in the Cranford Adams Playhouse at no charge. Filippo Voltaggio from California wowed the la­ dies and gents also with his voice giving meaning Mike Florio (center) and Anthony DiMarino to Italian favorites. Gino DiNapoli, a terrific local (right) working the tables. talent who once sang at our Christmas Party, enter­ tained with an one hour performance of mostly Neapolitan songs and had the audience enthralled. The highlight of the day's festivities had to be our very own Long Island Guitar and Mandolin Or-

Italian Genealogical Group Vol. 7 No.3 Page 7 Municipal Archives will see a pedestal based display, there are more Tony Sasso microfilms on this display including the indexes and certificates for Brooklyn births, Manhattan For many of you, the trip into the Municipal birth indexes, Manhattan and Brooklyn death in­ Archives in Manhattan is not made because you dexes (pre 1900) and the marriage indexes for all feel a little intimidated by the unknown. Hopefully, boros. this outline will tell you exactly what to expect. From the front desk and facing the door you en­ 1. Pick up a schedule for the LIRR and take the tered from, you will see two large file cabinets. The train into Penn Station. The ride takes about 1 hour; cabinet on the left contains more microfilms with depending on which station you depart from. I usu­ Brooklyn and Manhattan marriage certificates. The ally park at a friend's house that lives near the Sea­ cabinet on the right contains films of Brooklyn di­ ford station. You should also consider getting a ride rectories (1797-1933), Manhattan directories to the station to make it easier. (1786-1933), birth indexes (all boros), Early Man­ 2. Once at Penn Station look for the signs for hattan birth, death and marriage indexes, 1890 Po­ the subway. Take the 1/9 train downtown, nine lo­ lice census, Jury census (1816-1821), Bronx mar­ cal stops, to Chambers Street. Walk up the stairs, riage certificates and the Kings County Census out of the subway station and you will find yourself (1905-1915). standing on the comer of Chambers and West My most important suggestion to you is to go Broadway, wondering to yourself which way you there prepared. Sit down the night before and sort should go. Look down all four streets and at the end through your prior research and make a list of of one of them you will see a large white building, things you want to find. In other words, go with a with tiers and a golden colored statue on top. This "game plan" and try to stick through it. If you know building will be right in the middle of the street. Uncle Joe died in the mid 1940's and that he lived Start walking the three blocks towards that build­ in Brooklyn you should find the index for death re­ ing. Right before you get to this large building, you cords and check several years prior and after the will see 31 Chambers Street, it is the last building date you think it is. Also, do not rule out any of the on the left. This is where you want to be. Walk up other counties. Once you find the record indexed, the 4 or 5 steps and enter the building (you will no­ you should write down the date, boro, and certifi­ tice the beautiful solid doors) and walk straight to cate number. You then must fmd the microfilm the large building directory sign in front of you. As with that certificate on it. Once you find this docu­ soon as you pass this sign, tum right, within 20 feet ment you can then fill out one of the 112 page forms you will see room 103 on your right. You can let (which are found at the far end of the front desk) yourself in. and give one of the clerks there that form and the 3. Once you enter the room, walk straight to the microfilm you just found the document on. While front desk and sign in. The information needed is the clerk is printing out your request you can be date, time, name, address and the reason for being looking for your next record. You can continue in there (just write "Gen"). If there is a wait for a mi­ this method and then pay for all of your documents crofilm reader you will also have to put your name when you are finished for the day. The cost of each on the waiting list for that. The fee for the micro­ document you have printed is also $5.00. film reader is $5.00 for the whole day. Sit down at Your first trip to the Municipal Archives may the reader that is assigned to you, organize your only produce one or two documents but you will things and be prepared for a day of research. grow accustomed to this procedure and on your When you are at the desk, tum around and you subsequent trips you will find more and more re­ will see three large file cabinets facing you. They cords. Remember, always go prepared. are about six feet from the desk. In these cabinets When you are finished for the day, exit the are thousands of microfilms. Most of these are the building the same way you entered it, turn right, actual birth, marriage and death certificates for all walk the three blocks to the subway station. Get on of the counties of New York City. the 119 train and go 9 stops to Penn Station. Once When you are facing these three cabinets you there, find the train that will take you home.

PageS Italian Genealogical Group Vol. 7 No. 3 (Continued from page J: October Meeting) A Profile Of Our Volunteers Barbara Florio October is Family History Month: 1. The Sons of Italy are conducting Regional Lorraine Torre Lazzaro Cooking classes each Thursday at the Hofstra Li­ Lorraine is a very active member of our organi­ brary. zation and presently in charge of renewal applica­ 2. Westchester Community College will con­ tions. She was born in Brooklyn and educated at duct a Italian Fair at their Student Center on the University of Bridgeport. 10/29/00. Her father's parents were born in Calveri, 3. The LDS will hold a Family History Seminar Genoa in Liguria and San Gregoria, Salerno in at their Lincoln Center facility on 1114/00. Admis­ Campagna. Her mother's mother was born in Mon­ sion is $10.00. temurro, Potenza in Basilicata. Both her parents 4. Saint Bridget's Church of Westbury will be were born in the United States. holding Italian Lessons for adults and children on Lorraine married Joseph Lazzaro. They have Thursdays, 7:30 to 9:30 P.M. Call 294-0862 or three children, John, Joanna and Melissa, and two 334-0021 for more info. grandchildren, Jennifer and Brian. June announced that a 1998 copy of the Catho­ Lorraine is very grateful to the Italian Genea­ lic Church directory has been add to the IGG li­ logical Group for much of the success she has had brary collection and added LDS now has 275 crews with the research of her ancestors. The below pho­ filming all over the world. The State Archives of tograph was taken in Italy at the butcher shop of a Naples are closed; the crews in Naples are now try­ Torre relative. ing to film at local offices. The LDS has issued a CD index of microfilmed Italian records; the infor­ mation is also available on the Family History web site. The CD index can also be ordered from the web site familysearch.com. Nassau County Clerk, Karen Murphy, thanked the IGG members and especially John Martino for their efforts in computerizing Nassau Naturaliza­ tion and Veteran Discharge Records. John could still use some more volunteers, email him at [email protected] if you would like to help. Louise La Gatta urged all to make early reser­ vations for the IGG Christmas Party.

(Continuedfrom page I President 's Message) located at 201 Varick St., in New York City. I encourage our members to use this vital facility (Continuedfrom page 4 FGS Conference) to its full extent. Two sites mentioned are www.rootsweb.coml You may have noticed that our database ~jfuller/gen_ mail.html and of course, Cyndi's List. has been updated and revised to make searching Finally, a word about my first-ever visit to the family names easier. Now searches can be ac­ Family History Library in Salt Lake City. I re­ complished by looking up the ancestral town. In trieved a fifty-one page report, "Valledolmo (To) this way, you may be able to locate an elusive Fredonia," and found birth records for three of my marriage record. Our thanks go to member Paul grandparents and four great-uncles, as well as get­ Grieco who is responsible for this improved ver­ ting some translation assistance, which the library sion. provides. That's not bad for less than three days' research.

Italian Genealogical Group Vol. 7 No. 3 Page 9 LDS Microfilms You Need At Home The Family Tree June DeLalio I climbed my family tree and found it was not worth the climb; The Family History Library has recently re­ and so, I scampered down, convinced it was a leased it entire Family History Library Catalog on waste oftime. CD-ROM. Instead of having to go to your local Some branches of my tree, I found, were rotten to Family History Center and use their computer or the core. microfiche, or spend time on the Internet, you can And, all the tree was full of sap and hung with nuts just pop the CD into your computer in the comfort galore! of your own home and fmd out what films are I used to brag of my kinfolk, before I made the available for the town you are researching. The climb, cost is a mere $5.00 and the CD can be ordered by but truth compels me not to tell of those not worth calling 1-800-537-5971 or ordered at their website a dime. www.familysearch.org And I beg friends, who boast aloud of their ances­ The data is as of March 2000 and they will tors great, probably update it again next year with a new CD. to climb their family tree and learn of those who It's the best $5.00 bargain around. weren't so straight. I've learned what family trees are like, I've seen Volunteers Needed them growing 'round. They're like a 'tater' vine because, the best are un­ Volunteers are still needed to do some work on two derground! projects. 1. Nassau County naturalization project headed Author Unknown by John Martino, needs typists for data entry and proofreaders. Whatever time you can give would be greatly appreciated. You can email John at (Continued/rom page 2: Hess) the number of files to be found for each. If you Johnm16881@aoLcom click on, let's say Indiana with 204 files, you will 2. The Our Lady of Loreto Church project. Two fmd a breakdown by county. Now click on Clay or three volunteers are need for data entry using ei­ County and you will see four entries for the cen­ ther Microsoft Works or Excel. Every baptismal suses of 1840, 1850, 1870, and 1900. Look at 1840 and marriage record for this church from 1896 to and you will fmd about 500 names. present is being placed into one large database. Some places also show other records, such as This church is located in the East NY section of births, 1820 to 1840, etc. This site, as you can now Brooklyn and is predominately of Italian ancestry. see, leads to many sites that represent a lot of work If you have roots in Brooklyn I'm sure your sur­ by a large group of genealogists. It also is growing names are listed. If you can donate some time, constantly. There are a few foreign lists as well but email Tony Sasso at Pignola@aoLcom. at this point a hit would be one in two million. (Continued/rom page 6 Arrighi) Next year, who knows? immigrants from Bavaria, who had a daughter, Elizabeth (my mother's mother), who was listed as Happy Hunting, born in this country and who was ofthe correct age, Ed Hess [email protected] i.e., within one year of what I knew of her birthday, close enough to my way of thinking. They also had a son about which I knew nothing. With Elizabeth being born in this country, and since she was either 2 or 3 years old at the time of the 1870 census, I Happy now have almost precise data to use for further re­ Thanksgiving search on her parent's immigration. Hallelujah!

Page 10 Italian Genealogical Group Vol. 7 No.3 ITALIAN GENEALOGICAL GROUP CHRISTMAS PARTY "2000"

Saturday, December 9,2000 1:OOPM to 5 :OOPM The Galaxie 1184 Route 109 Lindenhurst, N.Y. 11757 1-631-957-9595 Menu Antipasto Fruit Pasta (penne a La Vodka) Choice of: Roast Beef Veal Parmagiana Salmon With Dill Sauce Green Beans and Carrots Roasted Potatoes Unlimited Soda

Desert Italian Cannoli Cake Coffee, Tea

Music by John Geida for your Dancing Pleasure Gala Raffles During the Evening

$25.00 Per Person Guests Welcome

Check Payable to Italian Genealogical Group Send to Mrs. Barbara Florio 259 North Beech Street North Massapequa, N.Y. 11758 1-516-798-8346 Sorry, No Refunds

Reservations by November 11, 2000 Table Reservations Accepted

Italian Genealogical Group Vol. 7 No.3 Page 11 Future Meeting Dates for the Italian Genealogical Group November 11, Christmas Party December 9, January 13,2001, February 10, 2001 All meetings start at 10:30 A.M.

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 Beth­ page. 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 Sea­ ford-Oyster Bay Expressway (Route 135). Exit Route 135 at the Powell Avenue Exit. Pro­ ceed 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 GENEALOG ICA L GRO UP PERMIT NO. 54 DEER PARK, NY 11729

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