Credits

This special dossier, "We shall not stay long", would not have been possible without the generous support and encouragement of the following people and institutions.

Giorgio Cheda

The pre-eminent expert on Ticino emigration overseas. Giorgio is the author of books – among others – on the migrations to Australia and California, “L’emigrazione ticinese in Australia” and “L’emigrazione ticinese in California” (Armando Dadò publishers). He not only gave his time, but also let swissinfo dip into his vast archives.

Ronald and Candida Willemse

Ronald and Candida also gave generously of their time, introducing swissinfo to Ticino’s genealogical society, and opening doors to the past and present in Candida’s native village, Sonogno.

Luigi Lorenzetti and Ivano Fosanelli

The two historians gave useful insights into the historical context of the migrations and the mass movements to Latin America.

Piergiorgio Baroni

The Ticino journalist encouraged this project from the very beginning, offering welcome advice and providing valuable resource material and contacts.

Swiss National Sound Archives

The large collection in the archives, located in Lugano, allowed us to rediscover many old migrant songs.

Giovanni Buzzi

The expert on Ticino’s rural history not only contributed many of his observations about the conditions in the canton at the time of the first mass migrations, but lent swissinfo important documents and objects from his personal archive.

Ballenberg

The staff of the Swiss open-air museum for rural culture provided valuable resource material, including photographs and old documents, and opened the doors of the Ticino houses for swissinfo during the off season.

Peter Barber

The head of Map Collections at the British Library in London, Peter was our expert on the migrations to Britain, and unselfishly acted as our guide to the sites of the former Ticinese café-restaurant sites in London.

Lawrence Desmond

Lawrence, a California resident with Swiss roots, supported the project from the very beginning and provided numerous tips and contacts.