|
GenTracer |
|
Professional Researchers Tracing YOUR Genealogy
|
Newsletter |
|
|
Preparing for Fall Trip !! It's only three
months until I return to Italy!! I had a wonderful trip in March (see www.gentracer.com/lastrip.html)
in Sicily and Southern Italy. I'm looking forward to returning in November (see
www.gentracer.com/nextrip.html). Last Spring I changed
my usual mode and rented a car at the airport in Rome. I took off down A3 and
stopped for the night in Lagonegro. It is a small town on a hillside, but the
autostrada runs past it and the Hotel Midi was an outstanding experience for
very little money. The next day I continued down south. Sicily seems to call me
and I seemed to drive faster the closer I got. Taking the ferry through the
Strait of Messina is always a thrill as I take the opportunity to greet or depart
my beloved Sicily. Another of my
favorite locations is Mt. Etna. This time I spent my first night back on the
island at the Hotel Biancaneve in Nicolosi, just outside the Etna park. The hotel
is on the edge of the forest and has (weather permitting) a view of the volcano!
She was hiding beneath her cloud cloak, as she frequently does during my
visits. I’d just learned of the death of a friend and drove up the mountain the
next morning for my own private memorial service for him. As one who loved wild
places, I’m sure Bill appreciated it. The next morning, I drove
over to Agrigento and found a room in the beach suburb of San Leone (Hotel Costazzurra).
Walking distance to the beach and Internet access in the lobby. Wonderful!! Good
meeting with my colleague, Emilio, then off the next morning to Sciacca. I was
fortunate to get a room with a view of the coast. With a little imagination, I
could see to Malta, or even the African coast! Monday morning I
arrived in Sambuca di Sicilia before the sun and waited for the church to open.
I then discovered that the priest had to head to meetings in another town and I
needed to return later that week. So, I hopped in the car and took off for
Marsala. I got there relatively quickly on the autostrada and headed for the
old center of town. Sure enough, the Municipio was there, including the Stato Civile.
However, records prior to 1880 were stored in the historic archive a few blocks
away. Both archives allowed me to not only photograph the documents, but made
extracts of them for me. Wonderful! I was then able to
photograph the neighborhood where those events took place and drove down the
road to Petrosino where more of the events of the documents I’d viewed had
occurred. After taking more photos for my client, I headed down the road. I made my way down to
coast to a beachfront hotel outside Licata. More wonderful views! The next day I
arrived shortly after the sun in Militello in Val di Catania. It is in the
mountains outside of Catania and a delightful town! The policeman who directed
me to the Stato Civile also stayed to discuss the research for a little while. While
the clerks were most friendly about making extracts, photographs were not
allowed. I spent that night
just off the highway near Augusta. From a beach in Brucoli, I watched the sunset bring out
the lights of Catania under the shadow of Mt. Etna across the water. That is a charming little town with very little going on when
the tourists are absent (winter). The next day I went
into Siracusa early, but not early enough to beat the traffic. Horrendous! I
was headed out to Ortygia (the old town center) to the old Duomo. I was
following a lead that would hopefully yield microfilm copies of the parish
registers of Carlentini. Although I spoke to the head of the Diocese Archives,
and a representative of the Diocese, and the priest responsible for the records
of the Diocese, none of them know about any records on microfilm. Very
frustrating. I’m hoping that those records were filmed by the LDS church and
are in process to be available to all of us. I returned to Sciacca
that night, to a dismal hotel I won’t even name (my earlier choice was full with
a tour group), and set off for Sambuca again in the morning. The priest interviewed
me briefly and then allowed me to work in his study while he conducted Mass and
met with people afterwards. Those records are wonderful, although it was a disappointment
not to be able to take photos. I returned the
following day to receive a message that the priest had been called out of town and
wouldn’t return until Saturday night. I spent the day touring Sciacca and
checking out the Municipio and Stato Civile for future trips. I also moved back
into the hotel I’d enjoyed earlier in the week. The next morning I took the
chance that the priest would again allow me to work in his study while he
performed his duties and that’s exactly what happened! I was able to find more documents
regarding the family I was researching and judged it a very successful research
trip! I spent that evening
and all of Sunday driving back up to Rome to fly out on Monday morning. Short
trip, but very productive! However, I did decide that the 10 hour drive between
Rome and Sicily should be avoided on future trips when I have no research
elsewhere. The scenery is magnificent, but it is better appreciated as a
passenger than as a driver. Also, it is less expensive to rent a car outside the
airport, and gas costs a lot over there! World War II Studies Conference June 4-7, 2004 Last year I spoke about the 7,000 Italian POWs out of the 15,000 POWs who
were in Utah (see www.gentracer.com/pow.html). I love a
topic with a happy ending! Currently, I’m researching in stories about the
Italian Resistance to the Nazi occupation of Italy for next year’s conference
(another happy ending). Later this month, I'm publishing the first volume (A-B) of the Italian POW lists (in the Continental
US on 31 March 1945). You can order it at www.gentracer.com/powcd.html or order the page containing one specific name using
this email link: gentrace@gentracer.com. The next volume (C-D) will be out
later this summer. I’ll be stopping at College Springs on my way home from Italy
in November to complete the project. New!! Italian Screensavers!! Be
sure to check out the new Italian screensavers, as well as books on things
Italian and maps of Italy, at www.gentracer.com/bookmap.htm.
e-mail © Kathy Kirkpatrick 1997-2003
Next on-site research trip November, 2003
I'm offering professional research services in Southern Italy and
Sicily. The completed report includes a log of locations and records searched,
an analysis of the information found, and copies or extracts of the documents
located. On-site research can also include extracts from local phone books,
and/or photos of the area. Please reserve your time soon, since it fills
quickly. Future trips are planned for each spring and fall. More details are
available at my on-site research page at www.gentracer.com/onsite.html.
So far...I'm planning to research in Messina, Catania, Agrigento, Palermo,
and Termini Imerese in Sicily. On the mainland I expect to work in Pozzuoli, Potenza, and
Avigliano. I'm looking forward to meeting with both American and Italian
friends (old and new), as well as returning to favorite places and visiting
towns I haven't seen before. 
TRACES will be holding its third annual conference at Coe College in
Cedar Rapids, Iowa. More information on this project can be found at www.traces.org. Looking forward to being there!
Search WWW Search
www.gentracer.com
European Focus Photography -
Includes many Italian towns, or order your own!
