Serena Baldessari

I first became interested in genealogy in 1991. At the time, like everyone else, I had the modest goal of finding a few ancestors from my family tree. In those days, genealogical research was a complex and very time-consuming process: consulting parish registers on microfilm using large reels required time and patience. From 1994 onwards, the microfilms were kept at the Diocesan Archives.

Today, genealogical research in Trentino is much more accessible and efficient. The old microfilm reels have been replaced by modern computer workstations specifically dedicated to genealogical research, available at the Vigilianum Centre on Via Endrici in Trento.

A few years ago, I finally gave in — quite willingly — to the requests of several descendants of Trentino families who had emigrated to the United States and were trying to trace their origins with the help of someone based here in the region. I have never stopped since. Today, I also work with specialized collaborators whose expertise covers a range of related disciplines.

Many people would like to reconstruct their family tree: people from abroad who want to rediscover their Trentino roots, as well as Italians — and people from Trentino itself — who want to explore their family history, whether out of curiosity or as part of a personal journey.

Often, because of a lack of time, difficulty accessing historical sources, or simply because they are unfamiliar with genealogy as a discipline, people choose to entrust their research to a professional.

But it is worth remembering that anyone can, with patience and a willingness to learn, approach genealogy and reconstruct their own family history.