Memoirs

Click on the links below and in the side panel to the left to discover more information to guide your research:

Ancestral Trails: integration and assimilation in an age of conflict    

My nebulous cultural identity and sense of home did not sit easily within the twentieth century’s dominant Italian migration narrative. I loosely fitted its demographic but felt I had nothing useful to add to the conversation. This belief faltered during a presentation given by Simona Palladino for one of the webinars I arranged for the Anglo Italian Family History Society.i My memories were not dissimilar to those from the post Second World War era she discussed with members of her study group. It was our interpretations and perceptions that differed, sometimes substantially. I wondered why that was: instead of simply observing, my heritage limbered up, insisting there was value in difference and its two-penneth was worth sharing. 

The Genealogy Corner: Daniel Smith-Ramos

A website following in depth research into his family by Daniel Smith-Ramos, a genealogist and AIFHS member who has presented webinars for the Society which can be viewed here: (Members Only) AIFHS Webinars

The De Felice/Di Felice Family: Memory, Culture and Inheritance: Picinisco, Manchester and Birmingham

"My paternal grandparents, Serafino Di Felice and Filomena Di Felice, formerly Capaldi, and their young sons Eugenio and Ernesto arrived in Manchester in 1876 and with the help of my grandfather's uncle Antonio Crolla and his family, who had settled in Manchester in 1871, they were able to obtain temporary rented accommodation in Gun St in the New Cross Ward of Ancoats where the beginnings of an Italian community was already established. Their third son, my Uncle Antonio, was born in 1878 by which time my grandfather had become established as a confectioner and ice cream trader." 

Fusilier Dennis Donnini: Victoria Cross (VC)

In Sittard War Cemetery, Limburg, Netherlands, is the Commonwealth War Grave of 14768011 Fusilier Dennis Donnini, serving with the 4/5th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers who died 18/01/1945. The son of Alfred and Catherine Donnini, of Easington Colliery, Co. Durham. Dennis ‘Denny’ Donnini was born on the 17th November 1925, one of ten children of Alfredo Pellegrino Donnini, [born 11th October 1883, Castelnuovo, Italy, died 27th February 1950], and Catherine, nee Brown, [born 11th August 1889 at Sacriston, died 1965], at 8 Seaside Lane, Easington Colliery. They had married in 1907.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission: Dennis Donnini

Dennis was 19 years old, and a fusilier in the 4th/5th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers when the following deed took place for which he was awarded a posthumous VC. The citation reads: “War Office 20th March 1945 The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the VICTORIA CROSS to: No. 14768011 Fusilier Dennis Donnini, The Royal Scots Fusiliers (Easington Colliery, Co. Durham).

Belongings: Susan Aldworth    

In 1924, Susan Aldworth’s grandmother – Luigia Berni – left the small town of Bardi, in Northern Italy, for a new life in London. She was 23 years old, newly married and carrying a small baby. She was travelling alone. In her small suitcase, alongside basics for her and the baby, was her grandmother’s linen nightdress which got passed down to each generation. In BELONGINGS Aldworth takes you on an immersive journey through the imagined contents of Luigia’s suitcase to re-create her experience of migration. Thirty-five items of antique clothes are hand-embroidered with family photographs, stories and recipes. Suspended in mid-air, they highlight the transitory and emotional nature of an uprooted life. Belongings by Susan Aldworth

Antonelli Family of Manchester, Lancashire, England

During the 19th century a community of Italian immigrants was established in Ancoats in an area that became known as “Ancoats Little Italy”. This collection, deposited in Manchester Archives by Roland Antonelli, contains the story and documents relating to his grandfather Domenico’s arrival and life in Manchester.

Sam Circelli, a member of the Italian Community of London.

Sam Circelli is a member of the Italian Community of London who has lived in Canada since 1954, when, at the age of 7 immigrated from Italy with his family. He describes his memories of his childhood, his transition in coming to Canada and how he keeps his Italian Culture alive. Sam also touches on how he passes these values onto his children and how Italian Culture evolves over time.

Dimarco’s Electric Studio

During the Great War Agostino De Marco and his brother Eugenio owned a cafe at 23 Snarsgate St., Dover. Agostino also had a photographic buisiness there named ‘Dimarco’s Electric Studio’ After that war, he transferred the studio to his house in Picinisco where it was unfortunately destroyed during WWII. The 300+ photographs on this site are mostly scanned from surviving family albums.

The Ceresa Family from Piemonte

Edoardo Ceresa's family also feature in one of the Society's webinars.

The Pacitti family, and more

This website contains "history, heritage, genealogy, interesting, happy and tragic stories." .A special interest of the author's concerns the internment of Italians in the Britain during the Second World War and the tragedy of the sinking of the Arandora Star, when both of the author's grandfathers died. 

Cabrelli‘s Cafe at the Camps in Wick, by Lyndall Leet

Early in the 20th century, Italian-owned cafes, ice cream parlours and chip shops spread through- out Scotland, run by enterprising immigrants, who saw Scotland as a land of opportunity, at a time when work was scarce in their own country.

The Rizza (Neri) Family from Belmont Castello

In 1907 Domenico Rizza appears on a census roll for Rathven in Scotland as a confectioner, living with Antonio Ianetta, a relative. Domenico’s mother was Celeste Maria Ianetta from Belmont Castello in Frosinone province Italy. Domenic was possibly part of chain migration to a relative; the push factor was serious economic problems in Italy: there were more children than there was land to sustain them. The pull factor was the ambition of a new life and wealth in USA or Britain.

Deefholts: Mapping and rediscovering our Anglo-Italian bloodline to Southern Italy

M50y name is Daniel Deefholts. I am British, however, my family tales and DNA tells an interesting story mapped across many influential countries and fiery cultures with direct ties to Britain. My maternal line means I am a blood descendant of Italian migrants. This connection stems from my mother, Sarah and my grandmother, Theresa. Before my mother qualified as a nurse, she picked up work in an Italian cafè in South London. It explains why some of my favourite dishes and desserts were always Italian growing up. I can identify one lesson learned: you should never upset anyone of Italian descent in the kitchen unless you are brave enough! I have traced my Italian bloodline to 1740 with the help of local residents, my former Italian professor Marzia, and the digitisation of the Portale Antenati. After months of searching high and low for evidence, I located all the references my great-grandfather was unable to source many decades ago. It unlocked new evidence about my ancestral ties and challenges a long-held family hypothesis.