R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

Italy
Research Outline
  Download the Printable (PDF) Version

Table of Contents
Introduction
Helps For Using This Research Outline
Italian Search Strategies
Records At The Family History Library
Archives And Libraries
     Provincial Archives [Archivio Di Stato]
     Local Civil Offices [Comune]
     Church Archives
     Church Parish
     Other Libraries
     Historical And Genealogical Societies
     Inventories, Registers, Catalogs
     Computer Networks And Bulletin Boards
Biography
Census
     Understanding The Census
     Availability Of Census Records
Church Directories
Church History
     Roman Catholic
     Waldensians
     Eastern Or Greek Orthodox
     Other Churches
Church Records
     General Historical Background
     Duplicate Church Records
     Information Recorded In Church Registers
     Finding Church Records
     Search Strategies
     Records Of Non-catholic Religions
Civil Registration
     General Historical Background
     Information Recorded In Civil Registers
     Finding Civil Registration Records
Court Records
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
     Finding The Emigrant’s Town Of Origin
     Emigration From Italy
     Records Of Italian Emigrants In Their Destination Countries
     Immigration Into Italy
Gazetteers
Genealogy
     Major Collections And Databases
     Family Histories
     Genealogical Collections
Heraldry
Historical Geography
History
     Local Histories
Jewish History
Jewish Records
Language And Languages
Maps
Military Records
     Historical Background
     Military Records Of Genealogical Value
     Finding Military Records
Minorities
Names, Personal
     Surnames
     Given Names
Nobility
Notarial Records
Periodicals
Probate Records
Schools
Social Life And Customs
Societies
Other Records Of Italy
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions

RECORDS AT THE FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY


Microform RecordsLook this term up in the glossary.

The Family History Library presently has about 60,000 microfilms and microfiche containing information about people who have lived in Italy. Most of the library’s records have been obtained through an extensive and ongoing acquisition program. The library has microform copies of records found in government archives, church archives, and private collections. These records include:

  • Birth, marriage, and death records from churches and civil officials.
  • Church—Certificate of Family Status.
  • Notarial documents.
  • Military records.

The library does not have records for every time period or locality in Italy.


Printed Records

The library has some books and other printed materials helpful for Italian research. Copies of a few of these books are available in microform. These include such books as:


FAMILYSEARCH™

FamilySearch™ is a powerful computer system that helps to simplify family history work. The FamilySearch system includes computer files of family history information. The files are gathered from many different sources, and more files will be added in the future.

Once a person using FamilySearch™ selects a file and types in a name, the computer will search the selected file to find any names that match. The computer even matches last names that are spelled differently but sound the same. It can guide users from the matches they find to full screens of information, including dates and places of birth, marriage, and death and names of parents, children, and spouses.

FamilySearch™ is available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City; at hundreds of Family History Centers; and at some public and private libraries in the United States, Canada, and a number of other countries.

The FamilySearch™ files useful for Italian research include:

You are invited to contribute your family history information to Ancestral File. For instructions, see Contributing Information to Ancestral File (34029). You can also correct incomplete or inaccurate information in the file. For instructions see Correcting Information in Ancestral File (34030). For information contact:
Ancestral File Operations Unit
50 E. North Temple Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3400
USA
Telephone: 801-240-2584
Fax: 801-240-4606
  • Family History Library CatalogLook this term up in the glossary.. The Family History Library Catalog on FamilySearch™ is an automated edition of the Family History Library’s catalog. The automated edition simplifies use of the catalog. It allows you to quickly find information, including library call numbers, on sources held by the library.
  • International Genealogical IndexLook this term up in the glossary.. The International Genealogical Index provides the names and vital information—including birth, christening, or marriage dates as well as Latter-day Saint temple ordinance information—of more than 1.5 million deceased people who lived in Italy. The index includes names extracted by volunteers from parish registers and civil registrations and names submitted by other researchers.
  • Social Security Death IndexLook this term up in the glossary.. 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. The index can lead to other social security records which may provide your ancestor’s birthplace in Italy.


Map: Italy Under Napoleon-1812

(This graphic may take a while to download.)


Map: Italy After Napoleon-1815

(This graphic may take a while to download.)


Map: Italy Present-day Regions

(This graphic may take a while to download.)

RECORDS SELECTION TABLE
The table below can help you decide which records to search.In column 1 find the goal you selected.Find in column 2 the types of records that are most likely to have the information you need. Then turn to that section of this outline.Additional records that may also be useful are listed in column 3.The terms used in columns 2 and 3 are the same as the topic headings used in this outline and in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog.Records containing previous research (genealogy, biography, history, periodicals, and societies) could provide information for nearly all of the goals. These have not been repeatedly listed unless they are especially helpful for the goal.
1. If You Need 2. Look First In 3. Then Search
Age Census, Civil Registration, Church Records Military Records
Birth date Civil Registration, Church Records Military Records
Country of foreign birth Church Records, Census Emigration and Immigration, Military Records
Boundaries and origins Gazetteers, Historical Geography Maps, History
Children Census, Civil Registration Church Records
Death information Civil Registration, Church Records
Historical background History, Genealogy Maps, History
Immigration date Emigration and Immigration, Census Military Records
Living relatives Directories, Civil Registration Societies, Periodicals
Maiden name Civil Registration, Church Records
Marriage information Church Records, Civil Registration, Genealogy Biography, Nobility, Periodicals
Occupations Civil Registration, Church Records Notarial Records
Other family members Census, Civil Registration Church Records
Parents Census, Civil Registration Church Records
Physical description Military Records, Emigration and Immigration Biography
Place-finding aids Gazetteers, Historical Geography, Directories, Church Directories History, Periodicals
Place of residence Census, Church Records, Directories, Civil Registration
Place of residence when you know only the province Directories, Census, Civil Registration Church Records, Military Records
Previous research Biography, Genealogy, Societies, FamilySearch™ Nobility, Periodicals
Record-finding aids Archives and Libraries, Genealogy Societies, Periodicals, Church Directories
Religion Church Records, Biography, Civil Registration Cemeteries, Genealogy, History, Church History
Social Activities History, Social Life and Customs

Return to top of page

Previous Document   Next Document

©1998, 2001 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. No part of this document may be reprinted, posted on-line, or reproduced in any form for any purpose without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. FamilySearch is a trademark of Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
[FamilySearchTM: Research Guidance
Version of Data: 6/8/2001]