The International Genealogical Index is available on microfiche and on compact disc as part of FamilySearch™. If you are using the microfiche, you need to know which province to search. If you are using the compact disc edition, however, the computer will search the entire country for any name.

• Ancestral File. This file, which is part of FamilySearch™, contains family history information linked in family groups and pedigrees that has been contributed since 1979. As of 1992, the file contains the names of millions of persons, including thousands of Italian families. Ancestral File can print pedigree charts, family group records, and individual summary sheets for any person in the file. See page 5 of this outline for more information about Ancestral File.
  
• Family Group Records Collection. More than 8 million family group record forms have been microfilmed in the Family Group Records Collection. This includes many Italian families. There are two major sections: the Archive Section and the Patrons Section. The film numbers for both sections are listed in the Author/Title Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:
  

FAMILY GROUP RECORDS COLLECTION

• Social Security Death Index. The Social Security Death Index lists all the people in the United States who held social security numbers and who died between 1962 and 1988.
  

Family Histories

A few Italian families have produced histories or newsletters that may include genealogical information, biographies, photographs, and other excellent information. These histories and newsletters usually include several generations of the family.

The Family History Library has a few published Italian family histories and newsletters. You can find them in the catalog by using the Surname Search. Not every name found in a family history is listed in the Family History Library Catalog because it only includes the major surnames discussed in the family history.

Some individuals in Italy have unpublished family histories. These histories pertain mostly to descendants of Italian nobility. Some individuals have collected a variety of unpublished records pertaining to their own families. These materials are generally not accessible for research unless you can establish contact with the appropriate individuals.

Many Italian family histories are indexed in:

Archivio biografico italiano (Italian biographical archive). [München; New York]: K. G. Saur, 1992. 1,046 microfiche. (FHL fiche 6002169 A-Z, 600228 supplement A-Z; computer number 794422.) An index to this work is:

Indice biografico italiano (Italian biographical index). 4 vols. München: K. G. Saur, 1993. (FHL book EUROPE 945 D32i v. 1–4; computer number 788758.)

A new series of this work contains biographies:

Archivio biografico italiano. Nuova serie (Italian biographical archive. New Series). München: K. G. Saur, 1997. 690 microfiche. (FHL fiche 6109292–6109322; computer number 792574.) An index to this source is:

Internationaler biographischer Index (World biographical index). 3rd CD-ROM ed. München: K. G. Saur, 1997. (FHL disc AUTOMATED RC CD no. 50; computer number 792574.)

Genealogical Collections

The Family History Library has a few collections of genealogical material for Italian families. These may include published and unpublished collections of family histories and lineage. Some of the major genealogical collections are:

Archivio genealogico (Genealogical studies). Firenze: Società Italiana di Studi Araldici e Genealogici, 1961–. (FHL book EUROPE 945 B2as; films 908856, item 2 and 97317, item 2; computer number 19265.)

Bolletino della Società di studi Valdese (Bulletin of the Society of Waldensian studies). [Torre Pellice, Italia]: Società` di Studi Valdesi, 1935–. (FHL book EUROPE 945 F25b; computer number 199054.)

Genealogical collections are listed in the Family History Library Catalog under:

ITALY- GENEALOGYITALY, [PROVINCE]- GENEALOGYITALY, [PROVINCE], [TOWN]- GENEALOGY