For those of you
who are regular visitors, you probably noticed right away that
the entire style and feel of SicilianFamilyTree has been
updated! The new site went live overnight on June 19th-20th,
2008, and I hope everyone enjoys the new layout. I told the
designer that I didn't want a "touristy" website
filled with white, green and red but a site with a Mediterranean
feel. I hope you agree that we have accomplished that with our
color scheme. We also tried to streamline some of the links by
using drop down boxes for the Research Links, Surname
Registries and Vital Records Databases.
Please explore the new site and visit back soon because now
that it is up and running, I am going to be updating some of
the content, particularly some of the databases, my Family
Tree pages, and more. If you should come upon a page that is
not working properly please use the Contact Jennifer link at
the top to let me know. I already know of at least one page
with an error that I am working on, but as the site is very
large it is difficult to catch them all. Thanks for your help
and welcome to SicilianFamilyTree.com!
Italiangen.org
needs donors and volunteers!
Some of you may
already know about the great databases available on www.Italiangen.org.
This website has incredibly helpful New York City Vital
Records and Naturalization Records databases. I cannot tell
you how many times I have found what I am looking for in their
databases. In order to keep growing the databases, they need
your monetary support and they need volunteers to help
transcribe the data so it can be put online in a searchable
format. If you are willing to help in any way, go to www.italiangen.org
and follow the links to the databases for information about
volunteering and donating.
FamilySearch.org Indexing
Project
As most people know, the Mormons
have the largest collection of genealogy materials in the world,
including thousands of microfilms pertaining to Italy and Sicily.
They have started an ambitious project to get all of their materials
indexed so that it can be posted on the Internet. YES, someday
it will all be available right on the Internet! And YOU CAN
HELP! They need volunteers to help with indexing! Go to www.familysearchindexing.org
for more information.
Genealogy Searches on
Google
By now, most people have used GOOGLE to search the Web for
all types of things. But did you know all the cool genealogy
stuff you can find using GOOGLE? If you go to the Google homepage
and look at the very top, you will see choices such as Images,
Maps, Videos and More. You can use the Images section to search
for pictures on the Internet. For instance, try typing your
surname with the word headstone or tombstone and see what
you get. Or, from the Google home page, click More from the
top toolbar, then Books. Search the name of your town and
you will find all sorts of online books about your town. A
search of Misilmeri turned up one book called Rebels and Mafiosi:
Death in a Sicilian Landscape. Very Interesting and you just
never know what you might find! Give it a try!
Research Books
There are some fantastic MUST
HAVE genealogy research books available on my BOOKSTORE
page. I have also taken the time to add all sorts of great books
with an Italian or Sicilian flare, including cookbooks, novels,
biographies about Italians in different parts of America, like
Brooklyn or Chicago, travel books and history books, as well
as some items that are really unique, like Beautiful Angiola
which is a great folk tale book. I've also added a section for
movies, music, toys and gourmet foods, all with an Italian flair!
Be sure to check it out!
Fantastic Videos
I recently came upon some fantastic
videos from this company, Alidmar
Video Productions. They make videos for travel agencies
to use, but anyone can purchase them and they have one called
A Slice of Sicily and another called Insieme in Italy. Just
love them! View some short videos that they have made of these
great towns in Sicily:
It is the history
of a town founded in the first half of the 17th century by a
Sicilian noblewoman and today mounted in an attractive natural
landscape.
This documentary retraces the events in the history of the old
estate of Calamigna and modern day Ventimiglia di Sicilia, concentrating
on the most significant aspects: the Nature Reserve of "Pizzo
Cane" and the hermitage of San Felice, the discoveries
at the Castellaccio archeological site, the churches, the works
of art, the streets, the squares, the Processions of the Holy
Crucifix, of Our Lady of Grace, and Our Lady of the Rosary.
The video has been sponsored by Jennifer Petrino, Grace
Lancieri Olivo and the descendants of the Saso, Sparacio, Dina
and Bonadonna families.
Giovanni
Montanti, a Sicilian native who has made documentary videos
for 43 other Sicilian towns, has made a wonderful video for
Misilmeri!
Misilmeri is a town rich in history-from the ancient ruins of
the Arab castle on the hill overlooking the town to the interesting
archaeological finds and the incredible works of art. This breathtaking
video contains footage of the most important buildings, churches,
streets, archaeological sites and artifacts, historic centers,
the cemetery, and the procession of the saints and is narrated
in English with the town's history and explanations of the art,
artifacts and beautiful scenery. Giovanni does a great job in
capturing the spirit of the people, and watching this video
will make you homesick for this town of our ancestors.
