The Archives of

Il Circolo Filippo Mazzei

Part 8

Last updated January 8, 2003

The Washington, DC Metro Area Il Cirolo Filippo Mazzei (POINT Chapter #6) met on January 12, 2002 at the Dolley Madison Public Library in McLean, Virginia. Seventeen attendees shared their current research experiences. After the meeting several had lunch at nearby Pulcinella's Restaurant.

Lou ALFANO (#2114) chaired the meeting and Bill MENZA (#1029) was the meeting’s reporter.

Jerry POLIZZI (#4530): tracing the Iannantuono family from Orantino, Italy; recently found his second cousin Mike Timmons in Yonkers.

Jim GASTON and his wife Bobbie: researching Jim’s Buttacavoli family from Vallelunga, Sicily. Jim and his wife lived in Italy for three years with two of them in Southern Italy. The family name was changed when members arrived in the United States.

Richard CAMAUR (#3158): found his cousin Marco Fontana who migrated to the United States in 1855. He suggests the use of the 1855 New York City Census because it has detailed information on families. He recommends the book: Five Points by Tyler Anbinder for an appreciation of the migration of the Irish, then the Italians and Jews to the Five Points area of Manhattan, New York City. "Locked into the lowest-paying occupations," as Anbinder writes, "they labored, saved, and eventually moved on, making room for the next wave of immigrants." Richard showed a list of Churches and the dates they were established for those reaching church records in New York City. For example: Most Precious Blood Church, established 1891; Our Lady of Pompeii, 1892; Transfiguration Church 1837; St. Mary’s Church 1826; St. Theresa Church 1863. The list is from St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 263 Mulberry St., NYC, 10012.

Art MANFREDI (#3414): received some civil records from researcher John Rendfrey (#1070) who visited Salerno recently; and has asked Trafford Cole to do some research for him in Italy. He also mentioned that he has been getting emails with viruses attached to him from Italy. (One of the first rules in virus protection: is: Never open any attachments, unless you can verify that it is not infected).

Louis DeSANTI: talked about his recently written book on Fascism, which includes a chapter about a Jewish family that migrated in 1492 from Spain to Italy and who’s descendants ultimately settled in Venice, became well-off and financially helped Pope Pius X. And how one of the descendants of this family was Margherita Sarfatti, who became an advisor to Mussolini as well as his mistress. She is considered a co-founder of Fascism and was known as the uncrowned Queen of Italy. When the persecution of Jews began in Italy she went to Argentina where she stayed until the war ended; then returned to Italy where she remained friendless and poor until she died.

Nancy DeSANTI, Louis’ daughter, passed out a brochure on a ten days trip to Sicily in April being sponsored by the Casa Italiana Language School and Holy Rosary Church of Washington, DC. She also gave copies of the NIAF's Ambassador magazine article on the famous stone sculptor Piccirilli brothers, who gave us the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, the NYC Public Library lions, the Washington Arch in Greenwich Village, and many more works of art. It was also pointed out that the Winter, 2002 edition of Ambassador carried a story about Italian immigrant seamstress Maria Barbella, who was the first woman to be sentenced to the electric chair in the United States. New York City Judge Goff sentenced her to death on July 18, 1895 after she was convicted of murdering her boyfriend who had systematically sexual assaulted and beat her (which he had done to a number of young women) and then laughed at her as he prepared to return to Italy. Only because New Orleans born Italian Countess Cora Slocomb Di Brazza read about Maria’s mishandled trial and supported the overturning of her conviction was Maria spared execution. At her appeal trial several alienists ---so-called experts in criminal psychology were called by Prosecutor McIntyre to say that the shape of Maria’s head, heredity and ethnic background made her predisposed her to commit violent crime.

Donna DENGLER and husband Dan ELSE have been working on her families of Motta, Conci, and Dalore from Caccamo (20 miles south of Palermo) and San Agata di Militello. Donna said that the Family History Center has released 50 more years of microfilm on one of her towns; and that she found out her grandmother was reburied in a cemetery with the date of death put on her head stone that is not the actual date she died.

Steve CARFORA (#1279): continues with his home study genealogy course from the National Genealogical Society. He showed an email from the Calandra Italian American Institute in New York City which reported on the Department of Justice November 7, 2000 report to Congress, "A Review of the Restrictions on Persons of Italian Ancestry During World War II." The report is 245 pages long and can be obtained on-line at:

The report mainly concerns Italians living on the West Coast. Some Italians during this time had their citizenship taken away and were then deported back to Italy. Steve is investigating voice transcription programs to use for 50 mini-audio cassettes that he collected on interviews of family members. He is using Sanborn street maps, because they given detailed information about buildings and their inhabitants. They are fire insurance maps, which started to be made about 1855; the Library of Congress has them. For better searching at the Ellis Island website, he suggests using Searching the Ellis Island Database in One Step at:

Elisa ULINO (#2301) showed a photo of her grandfather taken in New York City.

Margaret CUTINO (#3538) and her husband Joe PELCZAR: said that there are cemetery historians who might be helpful in finding grave sites, particularly when bodies have been moved form one grave to another. Persistence in asking cemetery staff for information until you find a helpful person is important, if you want to successfully obtain information. You have to find a staff person who has not learned over the years not to help anyone. Also important is to say that you are a relative looking for information. They recently found Margaret’s grandmother Antonia Formato’s burial site. Margaret downloaded a copy of the above mentioned Report: A Review of the Restrictions on Persons of Italian Ancestry During World War II, which she offered as the meeting’s door prize, which Jerry Polizzi won.

John TROMBA (#2915): reported using FOI requests to the FBI for records on family members, especially any who may have had files kept on them during WW II. You must document in your request how you are a relative of the person you are requesting records on.

Mirella BARONI (#4215): recommends Mario Puzo's book: Family, which was completed and published after he died, for a look into Italy during the Renaissance. Mirella is tracing family in the village of Tenno Riva del Garda, which now has a small population of a few hundred. In its early history it was invaded by the Celts.

Dave NATELLA (#1073): showed his Italian passport and said that it took seven years to have it issued to him. Now he is a dual citizen.

Fran WALLINGFORD: said she had put together for her children a book on the information she has on the family in her Family Tree Maker database, and another book of family photos of their ancestors.

Bill MENZA (#1029) continues to correspond with Frank Menza in Rome and plans to visit him. He received an email from Antonello Barberio who he met in 1976 during a trip to Salerno to visit Antonello’s mother Cristina Menza. Antonello found Bill through the Ancestry.com website. Bill said that his searches on the Ellis Island website were not fruitful, because it only contains passenger records for arrivals from 1892-1924.

Lou ALFANO (#2114): reported that his daughter was successful in getting information on Al Capone, who is reportedly a distant relative to the family. Also, Lou told us that his brother Jim took photos of the Crèche of Solidarity at St. Michael’s Church on West 34th Street, New york City, which is dedicated to those city employees who were killed in the bombing of the Trade Center Buildings on September 11th. The photos have been placed on a website for others to see:

http://www.geocities.com/alfano1/presepio/presep.htm.

Our next meeting will be on Saturday, April 13, 2002, at 10:00 a.m. at the Dolley Madison Library, McLean, VA.

As always, we invite you to our website at

for past minutes and future meetings and events.

or e-mail Paul Traunero or Lou Alfano for additional information.

Il Circolo Filippo Mazzei held a quarterly gathering on April 13, 2002 at the Dolley Madison Public Library in McLean, Virginia. We numbered 25 and after a lively discussion and resource sharing, several members continued the social at Pulcinella's restaurant, nearby. Our remaining meeting dates for this year are July 13 and October 12, 2002.

John Iaconis (2953) attempted to search the 1930 Census for PA and WV. He related that prior familiarization of areas and wards of a town will greatly help to narrow the search.

Will Amatruda has relatives that came between 1900-1924 from Amalfi [SA]. He has been using the Ellis Island records website for another source of indexing.

Dan Else has assisted members with resources from the Library of Congress.

Donna Dengler is reviewing microfilms between 1860-1910 from various areas.

Dick DiBuono (4114) has paternal lineage from Campobasso [CB] and maternal from Pesaro [PS]. He also told us about an Abruzzo-Molise society in Washington, DC.

Mary Madeline King has found a photograph of her grandfather through a DAR source. She has also located a newspaper article about her grandfather among a relative's holdings.

Elisa Ulino (2301) has seen her name spelled as Volino and is amassing documents to validate the name change.

Joe Pelczar is researching scanners and printers for his home computer.

Margaret Cutino (3538) brought her mother, Rose, who has recently celebrated her 90th bithday! She has received a response from Italy after a period of three years. She is searching for information about Clematina Frezzi. She reminded us that the Social Security Death Index may contain data about where someone worked.

Jerry Polizzi (4530) was pleased to report that his daughter-in-law loaded Family Tree Maker on his computer. He is preparing to enter his data.

Stephen Carfora (1279) saved some money by getting his request for his maternal grandparents SSDI information in before April 1, 2002, before a fee increase. He has also discovered Sanborn maps of communities that were used for fire insurance purposes. His cousin is in the Navy and is stationed near Catania [SI] and has visited relatives.

Jim Gaston found five positive 'hits' on films at the FHC.

John Di Bella is using a Macintosh with PAF and is working on a better write-up of his family. His grandparents are from eastern Sicilia [SI]. He is returning to research after a lapse of six years.

Louis DeSanti found a photograph in the attic of his grandparents. He entertained six relatives here during 'Pasqua.'

Richard Camaur (3158) has a maternal line from Liguria. He proudly announced the arrival of a fifth generation 'italo-americana' in the birth of his granddaughter. He provided a recommendation for reading called Isonzo by John R. Schindler. It is a story of a WW I battle site in the northeast of Italy. He also cautioned us that on the Ellis Island website, he found his Giaccomo Rocca listed under Rocco, arriving in April 1914.

Vito Florimonte went to Salerno [SA] with fellow member Jay Pulli.

Jay Pulli brought a variety of stereoscopic picture cards that he has acquired via his interest in photography.

Marie Bestul (1025), along with her husband Alden, is trying to use the Italian Embassy and the magazine "Family Chronicles" as sources. Between 1892-1900 all four of her grandparents arrived. She is seeking folk costumes and music of Abruzzi/Chieti.

Art Manfredi (3414) is using a website of dioceses by province. He is also using www.gencampania.com.

Jane Ferrigno said her research has shown the families moving from towns to Palermo [PA], which is causing her more work! She has enjoyed videos titled "Visions of Italy."

Lou Alfano (2114) shared his resource material and told us of his planned attendance at the PNC 2002 in October.

Paul Traunero (1541) is planning to inquire about any military records of his cousin, who was captured in Tunisia during WWII and some time in Indiana during his captivity.

Will Amatruda commented that Giovanni Messe was an Italian general in Tunisia in May of 1943. That should help in the search for records.

Il Circolo Mazzei held a quarterly gathering on July 13, 2002 at the Dolley Madison Public Library in McLean, Virginia. We numbered 23 and after discussion of research successes and roadblocks, a dozen members continued the social at Pulcinella's restaurant, nearby. Our remaining meeting date for this year is October 12, 2002. Our meeting for January 2003 is not yet scheduled.

Lou ALFANO (2114) will again be at the PNC (2002) in Salt Lake City, UT in October. He will be speaking about ship passenger lists from an Italian genealogy perspective. He recently purchased the book "The Italian 100" by Stephen Spignesi. It is numbered from Galileo to Madonna.

Stephen CARFORA (1279) is going over Census materials for 1920 and 1930. He is finding the Ancestry subscription on the Internet to be useful.

Carmen DE FRANKS with his wife, Audreenia, are new attendees and reported that Carmen's father was born in 1913 and immigrated in 1921 from Montenerodomo [AB]. The name was changed from DI FANCESCO, and we found two POINTers researching that name from the same city in the latest POINT annual directory.

John DIBELLA passed around information about an upcoming Italian festival in Alexandria, VA.

Bob CARRUBBA (4406) has found useful LDS records. He has made a three-generation family chart dating back to circa 1740. He is now concentrating on writing letters to possible relatives in Italy. He recently spent some time searching for his grandmother's grave in NYC. She died eight months after her arrival in 1906. The death certificate had PC as the burial site. This turned out to be the Department of Public Charities. It is unlikely that any tombstone was purchased.

Jay PULLI notified us of some recent changes to Italian traffic laws. Lights must be used on the autostrada and the DUI limits have been lowered.

Peggy MARSHALL showed us a new press kit of the DAR, and she is starting a new chapter in Sterling, VA.

Richard CAMAUR (3158) told us how the Soundex system did not work for him because a census taker spelled the name BRIGNOLI as 'Brigoli.' He also cautioned us on the spellings of placenames in the ellisisland.org database. He is planning a personal and business trip to Italy in November.

Marie Varrelman MELCHIORI (CGRS, CGL) (2828) told of an uncooperative cousin who would not make copies of the only available picture of a great-grandfather. However, on a recent trip to see her, they snapped a digital picture of the photograph, with nice results.

Robert MELCHIORI showed us some photographs of the recent canonization of his cousin at St. Peter's square. While there, a relative gave him the baptism certificate of Bob's father from 1909.

Art MANFREDI (3414) visited the northern area of Italy last year and is planning a trip to southern Italy this fall.

Jerry POLIZZI (4530) is compiling bibliographies of genealogical materials for his use. He recently read "Dances with Luigi" and recommends it.

Louis DE SANTI said that Caesar Rodney was thought to be the only Italian-American who signed the Declaration of Independence. His name is on the Delaware commemorative quarter. Lou has heard of another claim that William Paca of Maryland also have Italian heritage, but it is unfounded, as yet.

Nancy DE SANTI passed around copies of an article titled "Mille Miglia" about an Italian road race.

Marie (with husband, Alden) BESTUL has a long-standing interest in finding some additional information about a relative who deserted Napoleon's army while in Italy. He later married in Abruzzo. Several members thought that LDS records should be available for that area.

Elisa ULINO (2301) has been 'leading' groups of friends to the National Archives' research room to start them in genealogy. She showed us an article in NIAF that was about a PBS show on "Prisoners in Paradise." It is a documentary about Italian POWs that were interned in the US during WWII.

Kay HILL is also attending the PNC 2002.

Kay TORPEY (2543) wrote to Italy in August 2001, because there are no LDS microfilms of Muro Lucano. After seven months, she received some copies of documents and the return of her $10US. She felt that one of the documents was not from her lineage and wrote again to have them search again and they sent the correct document, but kept the $5US that she sent. She notes that it pays to be patient and persistent!

Margaret CUTINO (3538) (with husband Joe PELCZAR) is helping a friend by trying to seek out the POLVINALE surname. They have come up totally empty searching through Italian sources on the Internet.

Fran WALLINGFORD sent $US and Lire and received 19 pages of information and also received her $US back and change from the Lire. She had a relative who was always known as Philip. But the obituary and a recent find on the ellisisland.org site reports that his name was Frank and Francesco, respectively.

Paul TRAUNERO (1541) is using the information gathered from fellow MAZZEI members to continue research into a cousin who was an Italian POW during WWII.

Il Circolo Filippo Mazzei met again on Columbus Day, October 12, 2002 at our usual meeting place, the Dolley Madison Library, in McLean, Virginia. Ten members were in attendance, while our Lou Alfano was away presenting at the POINT National Conference. The meeting followed our usual format of "show-and-tell", where we all share information. Check our web site for the latest PIP chapter news at:

DAN ELSE is researching in Calabria. He provided the group with a short compilation of geographic and map resources at the Library of Congress. He followed up with a description of many of the items listed.

DONNA DENGLER is reviewing records from Messina and Palermo. She has been using 'allegati' records (marriage docs in Latin) held by the LDS. She has found that some NY marriage records had been sent to Italy.

BOB CARRUBBA is interested in Troino (Enna) and Menfi (Agrigento). Out of 40 letters he sent out, he has received 3 responses. He also relayed the following web site:

NANCY De SANTI reported that her trip to Italy has been postponed until Spring 2003.

LOUIS De SANTI told of the Caponi aviation museum in Trento. A seven-year-old witnessed the downing of two pilots by the Nazis in W.W.II. The museum has an accounting of the event. Lou visited the museum during a Smithsonian tour of aviation museums in Germany, Switzerland and Italy.

MIRELLA BARONI told of a group called "Trentini nel Mondo":

MARGARET CUTINO (along with mother, ROSE and husband JOE PELCZAR) related her use of Ancestry.com for some of her research.

PAUL TRAUNERO is planning a family trip to Italy in April 2003. His father-in-law is planning to go along and visit his relatives in the Ascoli Piceno area in the Marches. His father-in-law last visited Italy in 1983.