Letters to Possible Relatives

lilbees · Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 2:13 pm Post subject: Letters to Possible Relatives

I know my family is a long time removed from Italy but I have located 26 named individuals in the commune where some of my family was born. Should I just send a letter to all 26 and do I enclose money for return postage with a self-addressed envelope?

I am not sure just how I would find Italian stamps for the return envelopes.

Thanks for any help.
lilbees

chanchisfea · V.I.P. Joined: Jul 11, 2007 Posts: 250

When I was considering doing the same as you are, sending letters to all families in the given town with the surname you are researching, I contacted Riccardo to have an idea of what I should do.

I ended up sending 13 letters, with self addressed and stamped envelopes inside. Riccardo was the person I went to for Italian stamps. I sent him the amount it would cost him to purchase the stamps for me, I sent dollars, and he sent me the stamps pretty quickly... it took one week between me sending the money and him sending the stamps back Wink

So, I would definitely recommend sending a shout out to Riccardo and see if he can do the same for you. I highly recommend him.

About sending 26 or more letters, that's up to you. I would cross check the address for the people you are considering sending a letter, as sometimes there are one or two who live very much in the same street and more likely than not, they are related Very Happy

Liz

Poipu04 · Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 5:56 pm Post subject: Re: Letters to Possible Relatives

I would include my e-mail address in those letters too. In fact, the only relativeswho contacted me were through e-mail. For some reason, it is easier for people to shoot out an e-mail than to write an old fashioned letter. Of course, like the US, I am sure some of the older people would prefer to write an old fashioned letter or don't have easy access to a computer. What I did was send out one letter by post. I got no response, so I sent out two e-mails by searching google and yahoo for the same surname as mine in the relevant towns. I got replies to those very quicky. I would do what Liz said, and only send out a few letters instead of mailing a whole bunch. Word of mouth will travel fast to others, if they are related. I think it was Nuccia who also said to include a small picture of yourself (to show good will and perhaps a family resemblance). That way they know you are earnest and not some nut.

Gina501 · Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 6:16 pm Post subject: Re: Letters to Possible Relatives

Hello. I did the same thing. I sent 54 letters to Italy over a period of three months. All that responded did so with email. I wouldn't waste the time and money on return envelopes. But that is just my opinion. Most people are computer savvy these days and I even got some responses from some relatives that were in their 60s by email.

lilbees · Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 7:34 pm Post subject: Re: Letters to Possible Relatives

Hey, thanks everyone. I will still contact Riccardo about stamps but I never though of Googling for possible relative there. Hum.....I will do that. Maybe I can either add to my list or just use those I find on Google.

I will have to think about that.

Thank you once again. You have all been very helpful.

lilbees

lilbees · Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 7:38 pm Post subject: Re: Letters to Possible Relatives

Forgot to add: I am corresponding via email with a long lost relative on a part of the family I was never aware of. He is a very young 83 years old. He worked actively until about 5 or 6 years ago so came by his comfort with computers while still on the job and is very proficient.

Quite a sharp man.

lilbees

lilbees · Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 7:57 pm Post subject: Re: Letters to Possible Relatives

Okay, what am I going wrong. All I am getting are websites for genealogy sites or forums related to the surname. I know I am putting it in wrong. The same thing with Yahoo.

Help!!! Sad

lilbees

Poipu04

Try this: people.yahoo.com/

One of my Italian cousins was listed with this. Also, I followed the trail with google. I found a web page of where a relative worked and wrote to their work place and asked them to pass the letter on. You sort of have to be creative and use trial and error.

Poipu04

Oh, and try www.yahoo.it and www.google.it Maybe you will get people instead of genealogy sites (of course the hits will be in Italian).