In line with other portals dedicated to genealogical research and family history, which have been launched in many countries, the Antenati Portal was created to make available online the enormous documentary heritage of registry and genealogical interest – in particular, acts of civil status, the conscription lists and matricular roles – existing in the Italian State Archives, which is indispensable for conducting research on family and individual history, but also of great interest for historical, genealogical, demographic and social science research.

The digitisation and publication of this extensive documentation in the Ancestry Portal is made possible by the agreement signed in June 2011 and currently being renewed between the General Directorate of Archives of the Ministry of Culture and Family Search, the operational arm of the Genealogical Society of Utah.
Under the agreement, Family Search will digitise civil status registers and conscription lists in cooperation with the individual State Archives.