ABOUT ME
Introduction
Ruth Lapioli Merriman, BA, MLS, AG Emeritus, is an emeritus Accredited Genealogist in Italian research through ICAPGen. She retired from FamilySearch after 35 years of service as a cataloger, research specialist, and manager of the Family History Library’s International floor. Her work focused primarily on Italian records, and she has taught Italian genealogy locally, nationally, and internationally.
Ruth remains actively engaged in the genealogy community, participating in what she calls “Random Acts of Genealogy” by helping others break through brick walls via Italian genealogy Facebook groups. During the COVID lockdown, she helped over 100 LDS missionaries in Italy learn to index Italian records and perform basic research. Many indexed records from Rome and its province are thanks to these volunteers.
Her paternal ancestry originates from towns in the provinces of L’Aquila and Pescara, which she has visited multiple times—despite a self-proclaimed neurotic fear of flying. Her passion for family history is what gets her on the plane every time.