Millions of people in North America can claim Polish ancestors, due to the large numbers of immigrants who flooded the new world. A growing population and the consolidation of land in the hands of a few resulted in poverty and hopelessness for millions of Poles in the late 19th and 20th centuries. Once serfdom was abolished in 1807, peasants hungry for a better life fled Poland for the opportunities in the Americas.
Finding Polish Ancestors
A good place to start the search is with a history of Poland. Poland has a long, tumultuous history – it’s been the site of numerous invasions, wars, uprisings, revolutions, unions with other countries, and partitions. At some points it did not officially exist as a country, and its boundaries have changed drastically over the years. Thus the researcher needs to know some background on what his or her ancestors meant by Polish and Poland. It is also helpful to consider when one's immigrant ancestors came to America, whether it was before or after World War I, and where they had lived in Poland.
The number of English-language books about Polish genealogy is somewhat limited, but there are several that can help the beginner in this field get started. In addition, there are several Polish language translation guides that can help in understanding documents and records.
Books about Polish Genealogy
Finding Your Polish Ancestors, by Kathleen Ann LaBudie-Szakall and Jan Steven Zaleski, Heritage Productions, 2003
Going Home: A Guide to Polish-American Family History Research, by Jonathan D. Shea, Language & Lineage Press, 2008
Polish Genealogy and Heraldry: An Introduction to Research, by Janina W. Hoskins, Hippocrene Books, 1990.
Polish Roots, by Rosemary A. Chorzempa, Genealogical Publishing Co., 2000
Polish Parish Records of the Roman Catholic Church, by Gerald A. Ortell, Polish Genealogical Society of America, 1996.
Polish and Proud; Tracing your Polish Ancestry, by Jan and Len Gnacinski, 1995
Polish Family Research, by J. Konrad, Summit Publications, 1992
There are also several books about searching for immigrants that include information on the large numbers of Eastern Europeans who came to North America.
Books about Immigration to North America
They Came in Ships, by John P. Coletta, Ancestry, 2002
They Became Americans; Finding Naturalization Records and Ethnic Origins, by Loretto Dennis Szucs, Ancestry, 1998
Discovering Your Immigrant and Ethnic Ancestors, by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack, Betterway Books, 2000
In addition to books, there are several very useful websites that can help researchers learn more about their Polish ancestors.
Websites for Polish Genealogy
The Polish Genealogical Society of America, headquartered in Chicago, has a very useful website. It offers a lot of information, including many databases of obituaries, marriages, and various other types of records. Some of these databases are restricted to members, but joining the PGSA is not expensive. The PGSA also sponsors an annual conference and other genealogical programs in the Chicago area. The Society’s books are available in the Polish Museum of America Library in Chicago, where they make up part of the 60,000 volume collection on all things Polish.
Other Polish Genealogical societies, including those for Australia, California, Connecticut and the Northeast, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York State, and Texas, provide various resources on their own websites. These societies can be found on Cyndi’s List (www.cyndislist.com) on the Poland page.
Polish Roots is another useful site for researchers, with resources on Polish culture, geography, genealogy, immigration, and history of the Polish people, both in Poland and elsewhere in the world. It provides links to many other resources, and it is home to a growing number of articles on Polish history.
Polish Culture and Customs
Genealogy is not just about names and dates, but is about real people and how they lived. Thus learning about Poland and Polish customs is a good way to engage the entire family in hunting for Polish ancestors. Exploring Polish cookery, sharing Christmas or Easter customs, and understanding religious practices can enhance genealogical research and turn a few cold facts into a warm and engaging family story.
Katharine Garstka - Katharine Garstka specializes in genealogical research and in historical and genealogical writing.
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