Welcome!

Let’s explore the world of Italian genealogy together, one person at a time.

Mary

Founder and Chair

...over the years we've had fieldtrips to museums, libraries, and even Roslyn's ethnic cemetery! I'm very proud that we have supported each other in our quest to find our Italian ancestors, sharing tips, resources, and celebrating successes.

Please Donate
As many genealogists know, there are many talented and interesting speakers outside our Group. Unfortunately for us, these outside speakers typically require fees for their presentations (generally $75-$200). As our Group has no dues, we are dependent on webinar sponsors and talented IIG individuals for our meeting presentations. This page has been set up to provide information on making a tax-deductible donation toward securing professional speakers.
There are two ways to do this:
1) Electronically from the EGS Special Interest Groups PayPal page
                OR
2) Mailing a check payable to “Eastside Genealogical Society” with the notation “IIG donation” and sending it to Eastside Genealogical Society, PO Box 374, Bellevue, Washington 98009-0374.

PLEASE NOTE:
The Paypal site can accept credit cards the same as most online sites; no Paypal account is needed. We also ask for a minimum donation of $5 as the Paypal utility charges IIG a small fee for each transaction.

Thank You very much for your support!

IIG Meeting – November-2025

DATE:
TIME:
TOPIC:
PRESENTER:

15-Nov-2025 (Saturday)
1:30 pm (PST)
How Italian Migration Laws Affected Our Ancestors
Victoria Calabrese

Description: How easy was it to emigrate from Italy? What was the process like after one made the decision to leave? This presentation will discuss Italian emigration laws regarding migration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and how these laws influenced our ancestors’ lives. The talk will cover topics such as who could and could not emigrate (and why), what was needed to get a passport, how to buy tickets, and travelling to the port of departure.

Speaker Bio: Victoria Calabrese received her Ph.D. in modern European history from the Graduate Center at the City University of New York. Her research focuses on modern Italian history, gender, migration, and nation building. Her book, Italian Women in Basilicata: Staying Behind but Moving Forward during the Age of Mass Emigration, 1876–1914, was published by Lexington Books in 2022. The book examines women in the southern Italian region of Basilicata and the many ways their lives changed when their husbands emigrated. In addition to the women who remained behind, she has written articles on honor and infanticide, and on traveling child musicians. Victoria is an avid genealogist, focusing on southern Italian genealogy research. She is currently an adjunct professor at Lehman College, teaching courses in early modern and modern European history.

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