Facts & Stories
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A digital message in a bottle.
(August 14, 2008)
Roman Bronze Works, Brooklyn, circa 1910
A test of the Internet and i-italy.org's power to connect.
A Los Angeles television researcher contacted me this week about information on Italian-American history. He is working on an American version of the BBC program “Who Do You Think You Are?” that traces a celebrity’s family tree. The first email I received read:
“We are looking into the family history of an Italian American family who came from Tuscany and settled in NYC around 1890. He became a sculptor, or molder. In 1920 census. They lived lower east side, also near Greenwich v. also in New Haven.”
We spoke on the phone in what amounted to "Italian-American History 101,” going over emigration patterns, North-South tensions, turn of the 20th century New York City, artisan craftsmen, etc. When I asked who the Italian-American celeb was, he offered to tell me on the condition I signed a non-disclosure agreement. I wasn’t that interested.
His second email provided additional information on the celeb’s immigrant ancestor:
“The artist (actually, perhaps artisan) is Mansueto Rigali, he arrived in 1890 from near Lucca and settled in Manhattan in 1890s, 1900s; he went New haven 1910 (metal worker) and in 1920 I find him in the census for Brookhaven, Suffolk county, NY as a sculptor with his own shop. Family lore says he made religious sculpture. I am interested to find out about his life, his trade, guilds, business and so on. I have other data, e.g. marriage, kids, death in Brooklyn in 1927, (he had 10 kids, 6 died). [. . .] They lived Pearl ST and also Madison for quite a while, I think that’s lower east side.”
He wasn’t asking for specific information on Rigali but sources for photographs, historical accounts of the time, etc., which I provided to the best of my knowledge.
But this TV researcher’s query got me thinking about the power of the Internet. A number of people have contacted me about my various posts to the i-italy blog with invaluable information and contacts I was unaware of previously. What would happen if I posted this little something about Mansueto Rigali? Who would respond? How long would it take?
Here’s my digital message in a bottle. I’ll keep you posted.
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Mansueto Rigali
Buongiorno! I can tell you of two celebrities who are supposed to be connected the Rigali family out of the Tuscan region.
Cardinal Justin Rigali (I know his lineage, as he is my grandfather's cousin). The other, is Susan Sarandon, of which I am not certain of her lineage, but she is supposed to be related to the Rigalis and did go to the Lucca Province of Tuscany seeking out contacts. A relation there did have her picture taken with Susan and they looked similar and are supposedly related.
I am looking into what I can find out for you. My father is pretty much the North American expert on Rigali Genealogy. I sent him a link to your article, perhaps he will have more answers for both you and me!
I did find this article, so it seems as if Susan Sarandon is the correct answer. http://www.provincia.lucca.it/provinciainforma_show.asp?idInforma=7962
Ciao!
an answer!
Hello Giuliana,
Nice to see that my digital message in a bottle finally arrived ashore. :) I would guess that Susan Sarandon is featured celebratory given the nature of television programming. Thanks so much for your comment.
Best,
Joe
Susan Sarandon
I'm one of Giulianna's 3rd cousins. Her father came to me in 1995 to determine where I fit into the family. He ended up enlisting me to help him with research of the Rigali family tree. I think I can now claim to be one of the top Rigali researchers after him.
I'm convinced that the unidentified celebrity about which you were contacted was Susan Sarandon. Many of the Rigali family members have "friended" each other on Facebook, and a large percentage of us (including Giulianna) are currently discussing Susan Sarandon's connection to us. Your "message in a bottle" here has helped to fuel the discussion. Thanks for sharing!
Who Do You Think You Are?
John,
I saw the ads for the new TV program "Who Do You Think You Are?" that will feature an episode with Susan Sarandon.
It's wonderful to read that my blog post has entered in to the family discussion.
best,
Joe