Family Event: What’s Your Story?
- Wix User
- Aug 31
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 4
Exploring your family’s past can help you better understand where you come from - and perhaps even gain a deeper understanding of yourself.
As a first-generation American with roots in Sicily and Italy, I’ve always been passionate about learning more about my heritage. Every time I visited my mother’s hometown in Sicily, I discovered something new about my ancestors and the unique blend of cultures that have shaped the island. I’ve always taken great pride in my mother’s journey and her decision to immigrate to America.
Growing up, I was fortunate to spend nearly every summer in Sicily, speaking both Italian and Sicilian, and building a strong connection to my cultural roots. Over time, this curiosity extended to my father’s side of the family. I knew his maternal grandparents also came from Sicily, but there was always a mystery surrounding his paternal grandparents. We knew they were from Calabria, but the origin of our last name remains unclear. As I learned more about Sicily, it sparked a desire to explore Calabria’s traditions and history as well. I am still learning about my roots to this day!
October is National Family History Month - a perfect time to celebrate your family's stories and culture. Join us by creating your own family history artwork! Stop by the youth room between September 1 and 26 to register and pick up a poster board to take home and design something special that represents your family - whether it’s a family tree, a crest, a flag, or anything else that tells your story.
Then, join us on Saturday, September 27 at 11 a.m. in the multipurpose room to share your creation and tell us about your family’s history. All posters will be proudly displayed in the library throughout October.
Not sure where to start? Talk to family members or explore RHPL’s genealogy resources to uncover your roots.
Visit:
Ancestry Library Edition (can only be accessed at RHPL)
We hope you’ll join us in celebrating National Family History Month—we can’t wait to learn about where you come from!
Today’s blog post was written by Lucia Modestino-Ulmer, Youth Services Librarian at RHPL.
