In 2012, an earthquake devastated the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Among the damage, the civil registry offices of Cavezzo and Mirandola suffered serious damage. To preserve this memory, the initiative “Adopt a Registry” has been promoting the restoration of historical documents since 2023.
Currently, the only accessible records are those in the Modena State Archives. However, previous poor conservation — in damp and flooded locations — has worsened the state of the documents. This has made it impossible to consult some of them, compromising the personal and collective memory of the community.
How does the project work?
The project aims to restore around 200 civil records, including births, marriages and deaths between 1866 and 1920. Each record goes through rigorous steps:
- Review of numbered pages;
- Cleaning and removing dirt;
- Testing and fixing of soluble inks;
- Washing and restoring the leaves;
- Rebinding with new cover.
The restoration will allow public access to these documents, which are essential for genealogical and historical research, to be reopened. According to the organizers, funding is provided by donations, making each contributor an active part in preserving local memory.
Get to know the project: Adopt a Reg Projectistro
Donation and participation
To participate, simply visit the project website and make a donation indicating “Progetto Adotta un Registro”. The cost to restore each record varies, such as in the case of a birth registry from 1870, with a value of €78,17 to be raised.
The action not only protects history, but also reinforces the community's role in preserving its identity.
Donations can be made via bank transfer to:
Headline: Non-school, former memoca
IBAN: IT06 L056 5212 901C C012 0012 263
Causal: “Adopt a registry” project
Bank: Banca Popolare di S. Felice sul Panaro
Agency: Modena B – Strada delle Morane, 417
After donating, please contact the organizers to confirm your contribution.
Contacts for more information
If you have any questions or need assistance, you can contact us using the following methods:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +39 059 826242 (Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 17pm to 19pm)
