| Categories: Advanced Eastern European Records | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| # Courses | Base Price | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Courses | 2 | $238.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Package total: | 2 | $238.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Optional Print Course Material: Eastern European: Problem Solving
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
This course focuses on six of the most common Eastern European genealogy research problems and the methods to solve them. We will begin with the issue of names and the problem of spelling. Next, we will address the problems of identifying the name of the ancestral town or village and locating places those places using current borders. Then, we will review the issue of records access (especially how to acquire records that are not online) and address the challenges of reading records in unfamiliar languages. Finally, we will discuss the basics of what it means when your DNA test results indicate Eastern European ancestry.
Course Length: 7 weeks
MODULE 1
GETTING THE ANCESTOR’S NAME RIGHT
Why Spelling Counts
Determining an Ancestor’s Original Name
Surname Research Basics
How to Overcome Name Obstacles
Three Categories of Name Changes
Resources for Researching Names
Polish Surnames / Naming Patterns
Czech & Slovak Surnames / Naming Patterns
Hungarian Surnames
Russian Surnames
Ukrainian Names
Jewish Names
Name Changes—Myths, Misconceptions & Misnomers
Ellis Island Name Change Myth
Search Tips
Recommended Reading & Resources
MODULE 2
THEY CAME FROM WHERE? PROBLEMS WITH PERPLEXING PLACE NAMES
Why are place names so perplexing?
Best Sources for Finding a Town/Village Name
“Hit or Miss” Records
Other Resources
Tracking Down Fellow Villagers
Tips to Make Sure You Have the Right Location
Recommended Reading & Resources
MODULE 3
WHERE IS THAT? RECONCILING CURRENT & HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY
General Guidance
Dealing with Multiple Places Which One is Correct?
Determining Name Variations
Missing Villages
Shifting Borders & Ancestral Migration
Old versus Present-day Place Names
Old Magyar (Hungarian) Place Names
Place Name Conversion Tips
JewishGen
Recommended Reading & Resources
MODULE 4
WHY CAN’T I FIND THE RECORDS?
Where are Eastern European records located?
Use the Resources of the Family History Library
How to Get Records When They’re Not Online
Write to Archives
Visit the Archive
Missing or Incomplete Records How to Handle Gaps & Conflicts
Finding Records of Yesterday in Today’s Eastern Europe
Recommended Reading & Resources
MODULE 5
WHAT DOES THIS SAY? READING FOREIGN RECORDS
Overview of Languages
Paragraph vs. Columnar Records
Languages of Jewish Records
How to Dissect Key Eastern European Records (Paragraph vs. Columnar)
Column Headers
Recommended Reading & Resources
MODULE 6
WHAT TO DO WITH DNA RESULTS
My DNA Test Results Indicate Eastern European—Now What?
Ethnicity Estimates
Reference Panels by Company
Brief Comparison of Tests & Testing Companies
Merging DNA Results with Your Genealogy Paper Trail
Recommended Reading & Resources
Optional Print Course Material: Eastern European: Onsite Research in the Ancestral Homeland
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
No matter how convenient it may be these days to research ancestors without leaving home, you probably still dream of visiting your family’s homeland. You are yearning to see where your ancestors lived, stand in the church where they were baptized, enjoy traditional cuisine, and understand what life was like for your ancestors before they made the journey to America. With heritage travel, you have an opportunity to go beyond the same old research strategies and discover those details you can’t get from online databases, books, or microfilm. In this course, you will learn about “immersion genealogy”—the process of discovering where and how our ancestors lived, worked, and worshiped, and experiencing first-hand those customs and traditions they passed down through the generations. We will begin with planning your trip (including packing and travel tips). Then, we will cover how to contact relatives and locals (mayors and priests) in advance, what to do when you meet them, and creating an itinerary. Finally, we will review what to do after the trip to document your meetings, travels, and research.
Course Length: 7 weeks
MODULE 1
PLANNING YOUR VISIT
Determine Your Destination(s)
Build Your Itinerary
Hiring a Guide/Translator
Getting Around Europe
Packing for Your Trip
Tips for a Successful Trip
Recommended Resources
MODULE 2
IMMERSION GENEALOGY
Planning Your “Who Do You Think You Are?” Experience
Research the Locality
Learning the Language
Research Customs & Traditions in Advance
Recommended Resources
MODULE 3
VISITING YOUR ANCESTRAL TOWN
Meeting Relatives & Locals
Should You Ask for a DNA Sample?
Meeting Local Residents
Churches & Synagogues
Viewing Church Records
Cemeteries
Setting Realistic Expectations
Handling Disappointments & Research Roadblocks
Recommended Resources
MODULE 4
VISITING ARCHIVES & LIBRARIES
Preparing for Your Visit
Types of Archives
Common Archival Terms
Libraries
University Collections & Other Repositories
Military Sources
Five Key Steps to Follow
Guidelines for Onsite Research
Abiding by Rules & Policies
Communication Challenges
Recommended Resources
MODULE 5
TOURING HISTORICAL SITES & MORE
Tourist Attractions
Museums
Village Celebrations
Serendipity & Heritage Travel
Recommended Resources
MODULE 6
AFTER THE TRIP
Follow Up with Relatives & Contacts
Organizing Photographs & Information
Evaluating Your Genealogical Information
Creating a Research Log
Sharing Your Experiences
Books/Keepsake Photo Albums/Smashbooks
Journaling the Journey
Blogs
Will You Plan a Return Visit?
Recommended Resources
APPENDIX