In the albums of emigrant families, in Italy as all over the world, the pictures portraying the crucial phases of each life play a very important role: births, parties, weddings, and, occasionally, deaths too.
Sometimes, those who have left want to show their loved ones far away how strong is the emotional bond between them. To do so, they are pictured holding a photo of the relatives they wished to have near them.
Brazil, São Paulo, Villa Caracol, 1907. Christening of Luigi Puliti
Argentina, Buenos Aires. Wedding couple from the Piagentini and Bechelli families
U.S.A., New York, 1945. Bridesmaids and their beaux
Australia, Queensland, Meriglia, 1925. Egidio Pierotti with his bride
Argentina, Tandil, 1937. Communion of Olga Marelli
Brazil, São Paulo, San Bernardo. Primo Bechelli with his bride
The Garfagnino Alfredo Rossi, after fifty years spent in Brazil, returns to Italy to see his sister again. It is 1977 and he has Paolo Cresci photographed him holding an old photo of his family in his hands