A practical starting point

Write down one research question, such as the birthplace of a grandparent. Gather the names, dates, photographs, and documents already in your family, and record who supplied each detail. Keep an uncertain recollection separate from a document transcription.

If the town is still unknown, follow our guide to finding your Italian ancestral town in U.S. records to compare birthplace, residence, and other location clues.

Once you know the town and approximate year, use our guide to browsing unindexed Antenati registers to follow the records when name search returns no match.

Use the regional and town pages below to orient your search. Compare records using several details rather than assuming that matching names identify the same person. Record the archive, collection, page or image number, and access date so you or a relative can revisit the evidence.

Download the free Family History Starter Kit for a printable checklist and research log. No account or email is required.

Protect living relatives’ private information and obtain permission before publishing their stories. This site offers educational guidance, not a paid record-retrieval service or a determination of citizenship eligibility. The U.S. National Archives’ getting-started guide provides a useful next step.