Archive for May 2023

Tools for Eastern European Research

Sunday, May 28, 2023

If you have Eastern European roots and want to learn more about your family history, you are in luck! While researching family history can be complex and time-consuming, the internet offers a wealth of resources to help you uncover your Eastern European ancestor’s stories. In this article, we will look at some of the available tools for researching family history in Eastern Europe.

1. Genealogy Databases
A genealogy database is a software package designed to store, retrieve, and manage family history data. These databases provide a wealth of information, including birth, death, marriage records, census data, military records, and more. Some popular genealogy databases include Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, MyHeritage, and Findmypast. These databases contain extensive information from Eastern Europe.

2. National Archives and Libraries
Many countries in Eastern Europe have national archives and libraries that contain historical records and documents. These archives and libraries are great places to find information about your ancestors, including census data, immigration records, naturalization records, and church records. Some popular archives and libraries to check out are the National Archives of Hungary, the National Archives of Poland, and the National Archives of Romania.

3. Maps and Gazetteers
Maps and gazetteers are valuable tools for researching family history in Eastern Europe. They can provide a snapshot of what life was like in a particular area and help you locate ancestral villages. Some popular online resources for maps and gazetteers include Geogen, Genealogy Maps, and JewishGen.

4. Social Media
Social media platforms can be helpful for connecting with family members and distant relatives. Facebook groups and genealogy discussion forums are great places to ask for advice, share your research, and find others with common research interests.

5. DNA Testing
DNA testing is a powerful tool that can help you uncover genetic matches and find new cousins. It can also help you trace your ancestry and ethnicity. Some popular DNA testing companies include AncestryDNA, 23andMe, and MyHeritage. Although, i still feel there are unresolved issues with the current technology and process. I don’t recommend but include it here for completeness.

In conclusion, researching family history in Eastern Europe can be challenging, but with the help of online resources, you can uncover hidden gems about your ancestors. Genealogy databases, national archives and libraries, maps and gazetteers, social media, and DNA testing are just some of the available tools for exploring your Eastern European roots. Happy researching!

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Another Re-Post: My Father’s Parish Church

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

From October 13, 2019

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As I was browsing a few of the genealogical groups on Facebook I came across a posting showing a picture of a church. The church looked familiar like I’ve seen the picture previously. I did. My father had a photograph of this church and he had commissioned a painting to be made from it.

At the time I didn’t know that name of the church just that my father said that it was the church from the village that he grew up in, Lutowiska. According to the information I now have is that the name of the church is Church of Archangel Michael in Lutowiska. The information on this church is in Polish (you’ll have to enable Google translator to read the details).

Church of Archangel Michael in Lutowiska

Unfortunately, according to the information about this church it no longer exists. In 1979, the church was handed over to the local Latin parish, which in May 1980 demolished the church, and used wood for further use in the construction of the church in Dwernik.

Now I’ve got a few more gaps in my father life filled in and more research material to investigate. From the documents that I had previously received I know that my father was a Greek Catholic. I didn’t know which parish records I had to chase down. Having stumbled onto this bit of information has helped in filling that gap. What I need to find out now is where are the records from this church and do they even still exist? If anyone has any information on this church or its records I’d appreciate hearing from you. You can contact me through this site or via Facebook Messenger.

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Church Records

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

The following is a re-post of a blog article of mine from October 19, 2019.  I am re-posting this blog post because I will be posting an update with new infrmation.

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I’m at the point of my research where I am now attempting to search records in Eastern Europe. I have already found records pertaining to my father’s time spent in Germany during WWII. I know that he was forcibly taken from his home to Germany in 1942. I know that he married my mother in 1945 in Sulingen Germany. I have the passenger list showing him and his family arriving into the Port of New York in 1950.

Now I’m trying to locate church records for my grandfather, Michael. Thanks to a couple of people on Galicia Family History Group I was directed to another site called State Archives in Przemysl where I was told records from my father’s church in Lutowiska were stored and scanned. At this point I am just searching for anyone with the surname of Iwaniw. The difficulty is that the handwriting is a very elaborate cursive and some of the writing is very faint. Lastly, none of these records are indexed.

This is one of those family research tasks that are very labor intensive and tedious. I usually only spend about an hour doing this and/or tend to take a lot of breaks. Another problem is that I have no way of knowing if the records are complete.

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Unexpected Connections

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

I’ve been searching for Iwaniw relatives online peertaining to my genealogy research. I have come across many people with the Iwaniw surname but, unfortunately, I haven’t come across anyone that is related to my family line. What I have found regarding that situation will be a blog post for another time.
As I stated I have been searching for relatives with the surname of Iwaniw with little luck. But if i look at the family tree I can see why. My father had 3 brothers and one sister. Well, his sister married and took on her husbands name, Marika Iwaniw became Marika Koval. Even though she had 3 children, none of them would have carried the last name of Iwaniw.
My farther’s oldest brother, Wasyl, had disappeared during the war and he was the reason I started my gemealogy research. I am not aware of any of his descendnents. So, taht is a temporary dead end. My father’s other brother, Mukola (Nicholas) has never contacted my father but I may have a lead on him from information I found through Anolsen Archives. But that is for another blog post.
Then there is my Uncle Ivan. I met him in when he came to visit. The actual year escapes me but it was some time in the 1970’s. He had 5 daughters. All would marry and none would carry on the Iwaniw name. Fast forward to this past January when I received a message my account on MyHeritage.com from someone names Julia. She was writing to me to find out if I had a picture of her great-grandfather, my Uncle Ivan. I come to find out that Julia is the granddaughter of my cousin, Olga, who is the daughter of my Uncle Ivan. So, now I have a connection to a relative in my father’s fmily line. And as a bonus, she is also interested in conducting her family research. She has helped in filling in the many gaps that I have in thqt line. My Uncle Ivan had 5 dughters and they are all still alive in Easter Ukraine.
Using information that Julia has provided, I have been able to connect with other descendents of my Uncle Ivan and build out the family tree. It was by sheer luck that I was able to connect and communicate with my 1st cousin twice removed. Due to the war in Eastern Ukraine I have not been able to connect or contact my cousin Olga except through Julia or her mother Svilana. who I also was able to connect with.,

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The Challenge Researching in Eastern Europe

Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Genealogy research can be a challenging and rewarding process, but it can be particularly challenging when researching Eastern European ancestry. Here are some of the difficulties you may face when conducting genealogy research in Eastern Europe. Lack of Records and Documentation: One of the biggest challenges you face in Eastern Europe genealogy research is the lack of records and documentation. There are multiple reasons for this. Firstly, many records were destroyed during wars or political upheavals in the region. Secondly, many countries in Eastern Europe did not have a tradition of keeping records, especially in rural areas. This makes it difficult to trace both paternal and maternal lines. Moreover, in many cases, records were poorly or inaccurately kept, making it challenging to determine the accuracy of information. Language and Cultural Barriers: Another significant challenge in Eastern Europe genealogy research is language and cultural barriers. Researchers may need to navigate through different languages, alphabets, and dialects, making it difficult to read and interpret records. In addition, cultural differences may result in researchers struggling to understand the context of record-keeping and attitudes towards genealogy. Inconsistent Borders: Countries in Eastern Europe have experienced numerous border changes throughout history, causing confusion and making it challenging to track location and lineage. For instance, Poland, Germany, Ukraine, and Russia have gone through various territorial changes that may impact a person’s ancestral heritage. Political Challenges and Unstable Governments: Political challenges and unstable governments can pose obstacles to Eastern Europe genealogy research by limiting access to records and altering record-keeping systems. Despite renewed efforts in recent decades to restore and digitize records in Eastern Europe, bureaucracies and political movements impact a country’s document management systems, thereby thwarting genealogy researchers’ attempts to access historical records. Limited Resources and Infrastructure: Finally, limited resources and infrastructure can impede Eastern Europe genealogy research. Public records offices may have limited access hours, missing staff, or limited technological resources like computers, scanners, and internet bandwidth, making research time-consuming and expensive. Despite the challenges, embarking on an Eastern Europe genealogy research journey can be worthwhile and illuminating. With patience, perseverance, and determination, you can overcome obstacles and discover your ancestral heritage.

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My New Genealogy Blog

Sunday, May 21, 2023

My old genealogy blog had to be shut down.  The previous web host company decided to increase their quarterly hosting fee by almost 500%.  From $23 USD every 3 months to $114 USD every 3 months.  They weren’t worth it.  So, I found a new web hosting company to host my genealogy blog.  

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to move the old articles to this new blog.  Don’t despair.  You can still access the old articles here. 

 

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