When would it be appropriate to write directly to the Archivio De Stato instead of to the commune?

My understanding is the the Stato di Civili hold the records 75 yrs or newer. Older records are forwarded to the state archives.

Am I reading about this wrong? Is a request for older records forwarded to the state archives when not available in the commune?



lilbees

No, you can get older records from the comune. I have personally gotten records over 100 yrs. old from several comunes. My understanding is that there are two sets of records and after 75 yrs. one goes to the archives. If the comune does not have the records over 75 yrs., then you can ask the archives. Also, I have written to the archives for military records.

Thanks Poipu

So...........we wait for a response from the commune. If no records are found then we write to the archives for the records. But, if we want military records we can write directly to the Archives. Right? Or is there another place we write for military records?

This is what happens when you are a novice. Always learning. But it is important to get the correct information so you can "get it right the first time".

Thanks again

lilbees

Yes, the archives are the place to write for military records. Gina, Riccardo and I (and maybe some others) all have experience in getting military records from the archives, so feel free to ask if you need further assistance. We have done our requests in Italian via e-mail. Some archives charge for these records. Personally, I can tell you that Benevento and Reggio Calabria archives do not charge for military records.

You know, I would never of thought of sending for military records before. Just curious now. What would they tell me. If they only registered but not served would there be any information to gain regarding my family? I just learned of the extended birth act (Integral). If available, would it give me more information than just the regular extract? Would it be worth requesting?

Thank goodness for the book that was recommended to me, "Discovering Your Italian Ancestors" by Lynn Nelson. It is giving me more insight into the information about the family. Of course, it is also confusing somewhat. Reading and re-reading helps. The other recommended book I have is "Italian Genealogical Records". I now believe that I could have saved myself a lot of time and years foundering around trying to find information. Since so few direct ancestors came to the US it has been difficult to learn anything. So I had to concentrate on all I could learn here in the US. Only in the past year have I moved toward Italy.

Thanks again.

lilbees

Well, one ggf did not register and one registered and did not serve. They had a record on each one. The one that did not serve had info. on his date of birth, mother and father's name, place of birth, occupation, the day he was called to register, the reason why he did not show up and then a follow up notation that he was still in the US. The other ggf who registered but did not serve had a host of info.: hair color, eye color, chest measurements, height, freckles (fun to learn that one), mother's name, father's name, birth date, occupation, birth place, residence, and some notation regarding why he was not qualified to serve.

The integral act is the most useful to have. It is quite difficult to read the handwriting on these, but generally you will get the mother and father's names, maybe one of their ages or both or their ages, their occupations, the street on which the child was born, sometimes the names of the grandparents or great grandparents, the hour of birth, the names of witnesses and the occupations of witnesses.

Wow! That would be great information on the Integral Birth Act. When I finally get an actual birth act for one of my grandparents I will send for that. Just to see all the information it may or may not contain.

As for the military record, it certainly would be worthwhile to have that. Will have to put that on my list of documents to send for.

lilbees