WORKSHEETS

CLUSTER RESEARCH WORKSHEET

Person of Interest
Name
Birth
Marriage
Death
Other details

Person of Interest’s Cluster
Name
Relationship to person of interest, if known
Birth
Marriage(s)
Death
Other events/details

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POLISH, CZECH, AND SLOVAK NAME VARIANTS WORKSHEET

List at least two and as many as four Polish, Czech, or Slovak names you’re researching.

For each name, come up with as many spelling variants as possible, taking into account phonetics, “translation” into English, and possible transcription errors.

Surname
Phonetic variants
Possible “translations” into English
Other spellings or variations
Suffixes for women*

Surname
Phonetic variants
Possible “translations” into English
Other spellings or variations
Suffixes for women*

Surname
Phonetic variants
Possible “translations” into English
Other spellings or variations
Suffixes for women*

Surname
Phonetic variants
Possible “translations” into English
Other spellings or variations
Suffixes for women*

* Czech/Slovak: –ova

Polish: –ówna or –’anka (unmarried women), –owa (married) or –’ina/–’yna (widowed)

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POLISH PARTITION TRACKER WORKSHEET

List the town/village names you uncovered during your research in US sources. Note whether the town/village was within the Russian, Austrian, or Prussian partition. If you don’t know or are unsure, note that and your plan to identify its location.

Ancestor’s Name	Immigration Year	Town/Village Name	Partition	Notes/Next Steps

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VITAL RECORDS CHECKLIST

Ancestor’s name:

Ancestor’s maiden name (if female):

Residence/location(s):

Religion (if known):

Fill in the following information as you discover it and confirm it in your research.

Birth

Date birth records started in birthplace:

Date of birth: ______________ Birthplace:

Mother’s name:

Father’s name:

Source(s):

Marriage

Date marriage records started in marriage place:

Date of marriage: ______________ Place of marriage:

Spouse’s name:

Source(s):

Death/Burial

Date death records started in death place:

Date of death: ______________ Place of death:

Cause of death:

Source(s):

Date of burial: ______________ Place of burial:

Cemetery name:

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FOREIGN RESEARCH TRIP PACKING LIST

First, here’s what not to take along on your heritage travel trip: your original files, photos, or documents. But do make room in your suitcase for these items.

Essentials

paper or tablet device for note-taking
pencils and pencil sharpener or mechanical pencil with plenty of refills (pens are forbidden in many libraries and archives)
smartphone and/or tablet, along with charging cables, to use for taking photos, accessing the Internet, etc. (if you plan to make calls or text on your phone, make sure you have the appropriate plan from your carrier and the appropriate technology built-in to use it internationally)
camera (and/or camcorder), flash, tripod and batteries; consider investing in a close-up lens for copying documents (ask permission before photographing in archives)
maps
change (in local currency) for photocopiers
essential charts and lists of what information you want to find where
business cards with your name, address, and e-mail address to leave behind
file folders
comfortable shoes (preferably thick-soled shoes that can stand up to cobblestone streets)
magnifying glass
passport and/or visa and a photocopy of each
local currency and/or prepaid credit cards
plug adaptor and/or voltage converter (see <www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plug-voltage-by-country>)
little souvenirs or postcards from home you can leave as thank-you gifts
proper clothing—nix the white sneakers, sweatpants, and sports-logo shirts
umbrella

Other Handy Items

rice paper and crayons for tombstone rubbings (ask permission before attempting this)
tape recorder for dictating notes or for taping an onsite translator (if not already on your mobile device)
laptop computer with copies of your files
handheld scanner
gloves and trowel for clearing around tombstones, plus a plastic trash bag to kneel on

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SAMPLE LETTER

Szanowny Panie/Pani !

Piszę do Pana z nadzieją,że Pan zechce mi pomóc w odnalezieniu informacji o historii mojej rodziny.

Interesuję się nastepującą osobą. Podaję wszystkie dane jakie posiadam.

Imię i nazwisko

Data urodzenia

Miejsce urodzenia

Imię ojca

Imię matki

Data ślubu

Data zgonu

Wyznanie

Proszę o przesłanie odpisu świadectwa urodzenia/ świadectwa chrztu/świadectwa zgonu/świadectwa slubu.

Proszę o poinformowanie mnie jakie będą koszta związane z otrzymaniem tej informacji i w jaki sposób mogę to uregulować. Za wszelką pomoc będę bardzo wdzięczny/wdzięczna.

Z poważaniem,

(your complete name and address)

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TRANSLATION

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to you in the hope that you can assist me in gathering information on the history of my family.

I am interested in the following person. I have listed all the information that I possess.

Name and surname

Date of birth

Place of birth

Name of father

Name of mother

Date of marriage

Date of death

Religion

Please send me a copy of the baptismal record/birth record, death record, marriage record.

Please inform me of the charges to obtain the information that I am seeking and how this payment may be sent to you. I will be very grateful for any assistance you give me.

Sincerely yours,

(your complete name and address)

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SAMPLE LETTER

Vážená paní/Vážený pane matrikářko/matrikáři,

Dovoluji si požádat o doslovný výpis matričních údajů pro následující osobu :

Kniha:

Křtů Sňatků Úmrtí

Víra:

Římsko-katolická Evangelická Řecko-katolick Pravoslavná Protestantská Židovská

Jméno:

Příjmení:

Datum narození:

Místo narození:

Otec:

Matka:

Jméno ženicha:

Jméno nevěsty:

Datum svatby:

Místo svatby:

Datum úmrtí:

Místo úmrtí:

Předem děkuji za poskytnutí hledaných údajů.

S pozdravem,

(your complete name and address)

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TRANSLATION

Dear Mrs./Mr. Registrar,

I would like to ask you to do a copy of parish record for following person:

Book of :

Births Marriages Deaths

Religion:

Roman Catholic Evangelical Greek Catholic Orthodox Protestant Jewish

Name:

Surname:

Date of birth:

Place of birth:

Father:

Mother:

Name of spouse:

Name of bride:

Date of marriage:

Place of marriage:

Date of death:

Place of death:

Thank you in advance for providing inquired data.

With best wishes,

(your complete name and address)

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SAMPLE LETTER

Vážený pán/Vážená pani:

Za účelom zistenia informácií o minulosti mojej rodiny Vás týmto chcem požiadať o informácie o mojom predkovi: _____________________________ , narodený________________________________ v___________________________________ .

Môžem Vás poprosiť o zaslanie kompletného výpisu z matriky krstených / narodených týkajúce sa hore uvedeného predka.

Ak by to bolo možné chcem Vás poprosiť aj o zaslanie rodných, sobášnych a úmrtných záznamov týkajúcich sa jeho rodičov, ktorí žili v rovnakej obci. Za Vašu pomoc Vám budem veľmi vďačný.

Na pokrytie Vašich nákladov zasielam _______ dolárov ako aj dva kupóny, ktoré je možné vymeniť za letecké poštovné.

Za Vašu pomoc vopred ďakujem.

S pozdravom,

(your complete name and address)

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TRANSLATION

Dear Sir/Madam,

To complete my family history I would like to have information about my ancestor ___________________________________ , born ________________________________ in ____________________________________.

May I please ask that you send me a complete extract from the birth record for the above named?

Should it be possible to send me extracts of the birth, marriage, or death records for his parents, who lived in the same town, I would be very thankful for this aid.

To cover your fees I am enclosing ________ dollars as well as two coupons that you can exchange for airmail postage.

Thank you in advance for your aid.

Respectfully,

(your complete name and address)

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