Research Aids
Tips for Areas in Slovakia:
Most all of the villages in present-day Slovakia have had
their church records microfilmed by the LDS church. These records
cover periods of time from the early 1900's back as far as (in
some cases) the late 1600's. The microfilms are available for
inexpensive rental and viewing at many thousands of locations
in the U.S. as well as other places in the world. To find a listing
of these microfilms, visit FamilySearch.org
. Remember that all of Slovakia was under Hungarian rule until
1918. To navigate the site more easily, see the article in the TARG e-newsletter
from January 2008. You may find your ancestral village listed
only by it's Hungarian name, although the site is very good about
giving the Slovak names, too. (We will be adding specific information
like this on this website's the individual village pages to help
you.) The record pages for many years were preprinted with headings
in Hungarian, the blanks later filled in by the priest in Latin
or Slavonic. Roman Catholic churches in Slovakia were also required
to submit annual "second writings" to their regional
Diocese office. These second writings are handwritten copies
of the original parish record, and are often easier to read.
These can be viewed in the Spisska Kapitula, Slovakia Archives.
Click this link to see the Spisska
Kapitula Archive map.
Tips for Areas in Poland:
Most all of the villages in present-day South-central Poland
have never been microfilmed by the LDS church, the way the Slovak
records were. Consequently many of these old records are only
available by visiting the individual church. For the few that
are available, visit FamilySearch.org
to find a list. Roman Catholic churches in Poland were also required
to submit annual "second writings" to the Diocese office
in Krakow. These second writings are handwritten copies of the
original parish record, and are often easier to read. These can
be viewed in the Archive office in Krakow. Poland was under domination
until 1918 by the Austrians (part of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire),
but they were allowed somewhat more freedom with keeping records.
Most were kept in Latin or Polish, although you will run across
some German as well.
Tips for Areas Once Part of Slovakia Now in Poland:
The villages of Polish Orawa and Polish Spisz were Slovakian
until 1920. Consequently Roman Catholic "second writings"
exist for them not in Poland, but in Spisska Kapitula, Slovakia
(see Slovakia notes above or view the Spisska
Kapitula Archive map). However, the original records for
these villages, like most in this area of Poland have not been
microfilmed. To see these you must also visit the individual
village church.