Italian Genealogy - Where to go to obtain records?

Question

Okay, I live in the US and my husband's family came from Italy in 1917. What would be the best way to obtain birth records, death records from Italy, without physically travelling there? I believe they came from Arce. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you :)

Answer 1

Ancestry.Com has lots of immigration records. One night I was able to locate an entire family along with a photo of the ship that a young lady's family came over on from Italy.  If you find it too pricey, your public library might have a subscription to it.

I have a friend that has gone to the National Archives in D. C.  Her mother came from Calabria and her father from Sicily. She stated she has found lots of information on her family there.  Actually, a cousin of hers told her that she(my friend) had managed to come up with more info that she(her cousin) did going to Italy.

My friend said when you first go there you have to go through a lot of rigamarole to get signed up and a name tag.  She said once you get your name tag, anytime you go back, just show them the tag and you are in.  She said they have volunteers there to help you.

Answer 2

If youre looking for birth records from pretty much anywhere in Italy prior to 1900, you won't find it online. Baptismal records in musty old Church basements are probably the only records, especially for ancestors born before the (Italian) revolution, at least in most parts of the country. My suggestion: learn the local italian dialect, visit churches. I've been to several church basements in Austria to do the same, and it isn't as tedious as it sounds.

Answer 3

Hmm, look on the website for Records in that Region of Italy.

Sorry, I don't know Italy well and cannot tell you what region it is...but you surely know that :) so look on it's local registry website.

Hope I helped.