At times, we run into some wonderful resources for research which simply must be shared. Polish research is particularly fussy, with multiple civil and national repositories, wars and uprisings, language and cultural barriers, along with age and distance. Passionate Poles share their genealogic victories, which can assist those who wish to follow in their stead. Here are a couple of our favorite web sources:
Missouri Digital Heritage – Images of early birth and death records for all counties in Missouri. Naturalization indexes are also available.
Castle Garden – Pre-Ellis Island ship records, including passengers and crews.
Cyndi’s List – An venerable source for research sites, this “one stop” site is a base for anyone to begin or advance their research. Because this site is well maintained, dead links are rare and most are primary sources.
The Polish Genealogy Project – A well-rounded resource for all things Polish, from culture to history to research and methodology. Many, many links to forums, discussions, blogs and more. Expect to come back over and over; there are too many great destinations to visit in a day!
From Shepherds and Shoemakers – The genealogical blog of Julie Szczepankiewicz, an accomplished researcher chronicling her forays in the search for Polish family. Her family is from Buffalo, New York, known as a gateway city to Eastern Europeans arriving in North America in the late 19th century. She provides many facts and tools to not only find, but also understand the data found in Polish records.
Polish Genealogy Facebook Group – This group’s nearly 10,000 members provide a place for all those who are interested in researching their ethnic Polish ancestry. Individuals with any level of experience are welcome, from beginner to professional, who are interested in exchanging ideas, information, resources, and research strategies.
