Eastern European: Civil Registration Records

Optional Print Course Material: Eastern European: Civil Registration Records

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

Church parish registers are the foundation of genealogical research in Eastern Europe, but civil registration of vital events is also an important consideration. Although civil registration generally began during the 1800s in most areas, the depth of information in these records makes them a valuable source for learning more about people who were registered. Most civil registrations of births, marriages, and deaths provide significantly more information than is found in comparable church registers. In addition, they are often indexed and therefore easier to use. Unfortunately, access to such records is often restricted by availability (they often begin much later than research needs would require) and privacy laws regulating public access. In this course, you will learn the value of civil registration records, what types of records are available, how to access them, the nature and extent of access and privacy restrictions. In addition, you will learn about key terminology, how to deal with foreign language challenges, and other obstacles and key tips on reading and interpreting birth, marriage, and death records.