As you may know if you have followed the blog for a while, I started a Genealogy Department in January. Since that time I have been busy with our volunteers organizing the library and AV materials. That has been completed. The next step is organizing the flat files which contains such amazing things. I plan to have this project complete by the end of summer if not sooner. In September I will launch a monthly genealogy group and two writer's groups. You can read a little about the writer's groups on the Casa Italia blog.

Next month I will be presenting Finishing the Story which will be held in our Veteran's Museum. Please see our blog post to register for this event.

And finally, the newest project is a Ricigliano Collection. I am putting together a guide of what I would like to include in this new collection. I know I will be looking for donations of the following items. We are collecting copies of items unless you wish to officially turn over originals to Casa Italia.

Photographs
Vital Records
Naturalization Papers
Military Records
Family Histories
Any other documents you have
Oral Histories – I will be conducting oral history interviews at Casa Italia starting this summer and fall.
The goal right now is to begin collecting materials in May and by this time next year put together a reception or exhibit on the Rigis and our new collection. More information will be posted on our blog and through Casa Italia's newsletters in the next few weeks.

Would you like to donate? You can contact me by email.

What Rigi names have I been working on through my client work? There are many but the main surnames are Altier(i) (Galtier), Bagnuolo, Caponigri, D'Ambrosio, DeLeonardis, Iacullo (Yacullo), Indelli, Malpede, Meccia, Pacelli, Palumbo, Parrilli, Pascente, Pintozzi, Rocco, Sabia, Salvatore, Saracco, Serritella, Stolfa, Tortoriello/Turtoriello/Turturiello, Vernieri.

Please note – If you need help getting started in tracing your roots, you can schedule a time to come in and get some free assistance from myself or one of the volunteers. Should you need more in-depth research conducted, I am available or can refer you to other researchers for hire. Several Rigis have worked with me over the last two years on their histories and we have amassed a great deal of information. The public records amassed will become a part of the collection. Private papers and other materials will not at this time unless the clients and those who contributed information choose to donate those items.

by Jennifer Holik, Genealogy Department Manager