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Beginning Czech Beginning Czech ResearchResearch
By Shon R. EdwardsBy Shon R. Edwards
A.G., M.A.A.G., M.A.
Various Record TypesVarious Record Types
• Matriky of baptisms, marriages, burials (Protestant and Catholic records)
• Census records• Land records• Maps and gazetteers• Migration documents• Military records• Probate records• Jewish records (especially of births, marriages,
and deaths)
CensusCensus
• Censuses are very valuable sources, but exist only in fragments.
• The first census was taken in 1158.• The first census useful as a genealogical
tool is the Soupis poddaných podle víry z roku 1651 or Register of People by Denomination of 1651.
• Censuses from 1825-1840 may list that all-important piece of info, the birth place.
Land RecordsLand Records
• One of the next best sources to church records.• Since the majority of people owned at least some land,
2/3 of them show up in the land records.• There are many types of land records: Zemské desky
(land tablets), patriomoniální knihy (patrimonial books), berní ruly (tax lists), cadastre (land registries), pozemkové knihy (land books), městké knihy (town books), urbáře (land and duties registers) and others.
• Pozemkové knihy, or land books, also called gruntnoví knihy, are probably the most helpful records for genealogical research
Military RecordsMilitary Records
• Originals of military church records up to 1870 are held at the Vojenský historický archiv (Military Historical Archive) in Prague. Karen Hobbs reports that “the Kriegsarchiv [in Vienna] has begun to distribute military records to the various autonomous lands of the former Austrian Empire.“
• Military records date from the 16th century.• Many records were lost in the recent floods of August
2002, but they were the more recent records (post-1880?).
• Military records, if regiment is known, will allow you to find a birth place for an ancestor.
Probate RecordsProbate Records
• Although probate records exist, they will not be covered here (as they often are in other countries), since they are not usually used in genealogical research, and they are difficult to obtain. Also, other sources are better for genealogy research.
Map of the Czech RepublicMap of the Czech Republic
Map of Slovakia and Map of Slovakia and Č.R.Č.R.
Map of České Budějovice, Map of České Budějovice, 1:100 0001:100 000
Small Map of České BudějoviceSmall Map of České Budějovice1:200 0001:200 000
Which maps do I use?Which maps do I use?
• Historical maps• Maps of at least 1:200 000 scale or better
(2nd number is smaller)• Intermediate maps (Czechoslovak
interbellum time period (which period includes Podkarpatská Rus), where town names may have once existed, but don‘t any more)
• Modern maps
Czech archival systemCzech archival system
• Main archive in Prague, under the Ministerstvo vnitra or Ministry of the Interior.
• Státní oblastní archiv (State Regional Archive), where church records can be found. The appellation Zemský archiv (Provincial Archive) is used in Moravia.
• The Okresní archiv, or county archive, where many census records can be found.
Czech Czech State Regional AState Regional Archivrchivee DDistrictsistricts
How to do Czech researchHow to do Czech research
• Do it on your own in the Czech Republic
• Hire a reliable researcher
• Plzeň archive, as far as I know, will still do genealogical requests for around $10.00 U.S. per hour. Other archives have no such service, as they have in the past.
Archival reportArchival report
How do I find a reliable researcher?How do I find a reliable researcher?
• ICAPGen, www.icapgen.org
• Board of Certified Genealogists, www.bcg.org
• Postings in reliable Czech family history research journals, such as CGSI’s Naše Rodina. Also see them online at www.cgsi.org
What to bring if you do research on What to bring if you do research on your ownyour own
• Czech-, German-, Latin-English dictionaries• Czech-, German-, Latin-English genealogical
dictionaries• Gazetteer covering the geographical area you
are researching• Atlases and maps• One or more Czech genealogical handbooks• Laptop computer • Pedigree charts and family group record sheets
Paper or Electronic?Paper or Electronic?
My answer is both. I like to have both paper and My answer is both. I like to have both paper and electronic copies of gazetteers, maps, inventories, electronic copies of gazetteers, maps, inventories,
genealogical charts, etc. That way, if my laptop fails, I genealogical charts, etc. That way, if my laptop fails, I have a backup source. have a backup source. I have had break-downs in the I have had break-downs in the
past. past. Many sources are no longer under copyright. Many sources are no longer under copyright. Also, some writers will allow you to make a personal Also, some writers will allow you to make a personal electronic copy/scan of their material. It can‘t hurt to electronic copy/scan of their material. It can‘t hurt to
ask.ask.
Languages that are the most Languages that are the most helpful in the Czech Republichelpful in the Czech Republic
• Czech (Czech is the best. Use an interpreter, if Czech is your only option.)
• German (older people often speak German)
• English (younger people are more likely to speak English)
National HolidaysNational Holidays• 1 January – New Year’s Day• 1 May – Labor Day• 8 May – Liberation Day• 5-6 July – St. Cyril and St. Methodius/Jan Hus
Day• 28 October – Czechoslovak Independence
Day• 24-26, 31 December – Christmas Eve,
Christmas, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve
Call or Write Before You Call or Write Before You Go – Plan Ahead!!! Go – Plan Ahead!!! Call or write the archives you plan to visit before you go to Call or write the archives you plan to visit before you go to make sure they will be open. I once, in my early days of make sure they will be open. I once, in my early days of
visiting archives, made the mistake of planning a trip during a visiting archives, made the mistake of planning a trip during a holiday and once during a building rennovation. This can be holiday and once during a building rennovation. This can be a big let-down. Also, it is often necessary to reserve a seat, a big let-down. Also, it is often necessary to reserve a seat,
even 6 months ahead of timeeven 6 months ahead of time or longer or longer..
Czech research helpsCzech research helps
• Genealogical Research for Czech and Slovak Americans, Olga Miller
• A Handbook of Czechoslovak Genealogical Research, Daniel Schlyter
• Czech Research Outline, Shon R. Edwards, http://www.shon.150m.com/czechhtm.htm
• Society journals, such as CGSI‘s Naše Rodina
Find exact birthplace of ancestor in Find exact birthplace of ancestor in the Czech Republicthe Czech Republic
• Gather information from family
• Cemetery records, obituaries, funeral home records
• Birth, marriage, and death certificates
• Census and indexes
• Migration documents, especially Declarations of Intent in the United States
Languages of Czech RecordsLanguages of Czech Records
• Czech (especially more recently) and Třeboň archive
• Latin (older records usually) and Opava and Litoměřice archives
• German (especially during Austrian occupational periods), Litoměřice archive
• Švabach (simply, Czech written in German Kurrent (Gothic) script)
Baptismal recordBaptismal record
Baptismal recordBaptismal record
Marriage recordMarriage record
Czech bCzech baptism and birth aptism and birth certificatecertificate
GazetteersGazetteers
• Gemeindelexikon.• Místopisný slovník Československé republiky.• Gundacker gazetteer (Pfarrortelexikon Böhmen)
and parish register inventory (Matrikenverzeichnis der Böhmischen Staatsarchive) combination, available at http://www.ihff.at/.
• Statistický lexikon obcí České republiky, 2005.
Gemeindelexikon gazetteerGemeindelexikon gazetteer
Gemeindelexikon gazetteerGemeindelexikon gazetteer
Gemeindelexikon gazetteerGemeindelexikon gazetteer
Mistopísný slovník gazetteerMistopísný slovník gazetteer
Gundacker gazetteer, Gundacker gazetteer, http://www.ihff.at/http://www.ihff.at/
Gundacker parish inventory, Gundacker parish inventory, http://www.ihff.at/http://www.ihff.at/
Jewish RecordsJewish Records
• Earliest books are a circumcision book from 1677 and 1779.
• Female birth records begun in 1783.• In 1784, Jews were ordered to keep books
under the direction of the Catholic Church.• Many Jewish records from 1880-1945 were
destroyed by the Nazis in Prague at a German paper mill on 18 April 1945.
• Jewish record inventories in the Czech Republic are available at http://www.ihff.at/, from Felix Gundacker.
Czech alphabetCzech alphabet
Volunteers Needed to Volunteers Needed to Index Czech RecordsIndex Czech Records
Get in touch with me if you are Get in touch with me if you are interested in volunteering to index interested in volunteering to index
Czech Czech (or Slovak records now being (or Slovak records now being digitized from the microfilm) digitized from the microfilm) records records from the parishes now being digitally from the parishes now being digitally
microfilmed.microfilmed.
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR CZECH GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR CZECH RESEARCH!!!RESEARCH!!!
Thank you,Thank you,
Shon EdwardsShon EdwardsEdwardsSREdwardsSR@@familysearchfamilysearch.org .org
