Picture yourself traversing the bustling streets of Astoria, Queens, where the air is thick with Italian dialects and the spirit of a robust, tight-knit Abruzzese community permeates every corner. Our guest today, Maria Fosco, raised amidst the lively Italian neighborhood, retraces the vibrant roots of her ancestry, offering a fascinating glimpse into the migration patterns of Italians and their profound imprint on Astoria.
Join us as we follow Maria’s engaging narrative, journeying all the way back to her great-grandmother’s house in Italy, purchased in the 1890s, and the subsequent chapters of her family’s history. Experience the profound saga of her family’s transition from Italian-speaking immigrants to English-speaking American citizens. Maria unveils an intriguing tale of reconnecting with long-lost cousins through ancestry and DNA, and offers insights into her visits to her family’s ancestral house in Italy.
Maria emphasizes the profound significance of knowing one’s roots and sharing those stories with the world. She has documented her family history in compelling chapters, and shares tales from her daily storytelling sessions with her late mother. From performing in a folkloric group in traditional costumes to tracing the path of the seasonal journey of sheep. Maria’s experiences have been rich and diverse. So, tag along for a ride through time and heritage as Maria paints a vivid picture of the Italian-American history and the importance of preserving our past.
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Maria is a member of the board that is creating the new Italian-American Museum in NYC, to open in the spring of 2024. Here is our interview with Dr. Scelsa.
Researching Biccari, Foggia
Join us for a discussion with people born in, or descend from parents to grandparents born in Biccari. If you are from Biccari, you most likely have cousins on the panel. Many have done extensive research on the town Lucia Galdi Marone – NJ Mark Lucera – NJ Elaine Champi – D.C. Mike D’Imperio – NJ Rich Leto – Columbus, Ohio Joanne Tursi Barone – NJ Peg Baselice – Pennsylvania Paolo Saltarello – Auburn, NY
An Italian-American Tale of Migration, War, and Family Bonds
Have you ever been captivated by the stories of your ancestors, the journeys they embarked on, and the experiences that shaped their lives? In our latest episode, we’re joined by Arnie Aranci, whose Italian-American roots are as rich and flavorful as the cuisine of his heritage. Arnie enthralls with tales of his father’s migration from the picturesque Italian countryside to the United States, his consequential return as a soldier in World War II, and the
Retracing Italian Family History from Torino to São Paulo and back
Embark on an intimate odyssey with our guest Regina Vighetto, as she unveils her family’s vibrant migration tapestry from Italy to the coffee farms of São Paulo, Brazil. Her tale is one of resilience and discovery, and unearthing a narrative enriched by ancestral dreams and the quest for prosperity in a new world. As Regina shares her genealogical saga, I can’t help but interweave my own pursuit of Italian citizenship, which sparked a genealogy fervor
Discovering Cultural Roots in East Harlem, Bari and Ponce
As distant cousins intertwined by Puerto Rican roots, Valerie Evans joins us to unravel the vibrant story of her dual Italian and Puerto Rican lineage. Our conversation traverses the multicultural neighborhoods of East Harlem, brushes through the historical cobblestones of Sannicandro di Bari and Salerno, and touches on the personal transformations ignited by a family accident and the consequential search for identity. Valerie’s account of her mother’s life and her quest to reveal her mysterious
Echoes of Our Ancestry: A Journey Through Italian Heritage
We set sail on a fascinating voyage through time, guided by our guest, Heath Orcutt-Abert. With Italian roots running deep, Heath unveils enthralling tales of her family’s immigration from Castagna, Calabria, Italy to the U.S. in the 1880s. We venture through their journey of adaptation and survival in a new country, reflecting on the gripping tales from the novel ‘Umbertina’, authored by none other than her mother’s first cousin, Helen Barolini. As Heath peels back
Buona Pasqua From Italian Genealogy
Buona Pasqua from Italian Genealogy. Hard to believe that we are in our sixth year. This year has been great. Since last Easter I finished and published “Farmers and Nobles” and I am now working on a documentary about Italian-American Research with a Hollywood director/producer. Pick up a copy of “Farmers and Nobles” Available here or on Amazon. Thank you and have a Happy Easter! Click here to Join Italian Genealogy on Facebook
