No replies from Ottaviano

[johnnyonthespot]

If I were a different sort of person, I might suggest that the rats are not in the basement but "working" in the offices upstairs.

I could deal with the rats, spiders, snakes, cobwebs, whatever. But, please, can't they just take a moment to send off an email or a short letter explaining the difficulty?

There is nothing - NOTHING! - I hate more than simply being ignored.

[DeFilippis78]

Very true, being ignored is infuriating. Thank goodness you dont need this document for citizenship though. But it still puts a damper on the rest of your genealogy.

Alicia

[blujay]

blujay, thanks for your thoughts.

The truth is, I have already obtained everything I absolutely needed from my paternal ancestral comune (with the help of a gracious lady as described above) and my citizenship jure sanguinis application was approved long ago. However, as I continue researching my family roots, there are additional documents I would love to have and it is these that are causing the frustration now.

All of my early attempts were by postal mail - some with return recipt so I know they were received. With great ambivalance, I even wrote the mayor ("sindaco") once asking him to intervene on my behalf. He didn't reply either... http://www.circolocalabrese.org/resourc ... action.asp

After a two year lull and even sending a 2009 Christmas card to the mayor "and the people of xxxxxxx", (not some cheapo card, either. A very appropriate, reverent, Italian card) I figured I would give it one more shot, this time requesting a different document via the email address which is now on the comune's website. Again, nothing, and my attempt to get a simple, "we recieved your request and..." also failed.

The fact is, I have been trying calmly and with great respect, to get any kind of response from these people since my visit to the comune in March, 2007. In three years, I have never had any response of any kind from any office of this comune. And, no, it is not huge - about 7,000 people with a large and well-staffed (it seemed to me) Ufficio del Municipio.

PS: Unfortunately, the FHL has very few microfilms covering a relatively short time span of this comune's history. Hence, that is not a viable research option.

Have you tried the Archivio di Stato di (name of province)? They are usually more 'professional' and e-mail back within a week or so. I've had much greater success with them than the local comunes. But the records have to be older. It is a great feeling when you can obtain a record from the Archivio di Stato that you could not get from the comune!

-blujay

[johnnyonthespot]

Have you tried the Archivio di Stato di (name of province)? They are usually more 'professional' and e-mail back within a week or so. I've had much greater success with them than the local comunes. But the records have to be older. It is a great feeling when you can obtain a record from the Archivio di Stato that you could not get from the comune!
-blujay

Yep, did that too. The reocrds I am seeking are held only by the comune.

Thanks for the thought, though!

[blujay]

johnnyonthespot,
Is there any government agency that can compel the comune to release these records?
Since they are just hoping that you will go away and not bother them anymore, I would try to be a thorn in their side. Inundate them with letters, emails, phone calls, etc. Keep the pressure on. Get as many people involved as you can. Sooner or later they will have to release the record you are seeking.
Sorry, I could not give you better advice. If there is anything I can do for you, let me know. The best of luck in your endeavor.

Regards,
blujay