East Central European
Genealogy and
Local History: Sources for Research
Introduction
This guide has been prepared primarily to assist individuals
beginning genealogical research at the Library of Congress
concerning families that originated in East Central Europe.
The regions covered correspond approximately to territories
that once formed the Austro-Hungarian empire, which broke
up at the end of World War I. The turbulent history of this
region makes precise demarcations impossible; but the guide
focuses on areas that are now part of Austria, the Czech Republic,
Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, and portions of Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Croatia, Slovenia, and Ukraine. Sources cited here are limited
to basic English-language resources that are useful in the
early stages of research.
Each of the categories employed below has been chosen merely
as a tool for organizing materials. They are inexact and not
exhaustive. In part, they simply reflect the availability
of appropriate resources. Information concerning additional
ethnic groups and regional history may also be found in the
expanding genealogical databases available on the Internet.
Several "gateway" sites are listed in the final
section of this bibliography. The spelling of surnames and
multilingual place names of the region are special problems
for genealogists. Several sources listed in this guide address
that issue. Here again, there are valuable resources on the
Internet to help resolve language problems. (See Selected
Internet Sites.)
After completing their orientation to basic research, all
family historians should check holdings of the Family
History Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints via the Internet, or contact a regional Family History
Center of the Church) before traveling to East Central Europe
to examine primary sources or hiring a professional researcher
to carry out advanced research. Many records from these countries
are available on microfilm or microfiche. Filming is ongoing,
and the Family History Library's holdings should be checked
periodically for additional materials.
In each citation, the designation "LH&G" following
a call number indicates that the title is available as a reference
source on the open shelves of the Local History and Genealogy
Reading Room of the Library of Congress.
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Table of Contents
Genealogical Guides and Handbooks:
Geographic Sources
Non-English Geographic Sources
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic Communities in America:
General Sources
Selected Internet Sites
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