Finding your Slovak Ancestors

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Finding your Slovak Ancestors, by Lisa A. Alzo; 405 pg; Comb bound; 5.5x8.5; ISBN: 978-1-8940184-9-4; Item HV04

A vast number of Slovaks settled in North America during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, countless numbers of descendants of these early Slovak immigrants are searching for their Slovak roots.

This book lists both traditional and online resources necessary for researching Slovak ancestors, and shows how to document and preserve your findings for future generations.

Table of Contents

Dedication
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Why Do You Want to Know?
Identity
Medical Reasons
DNA Testing
DNA Definitions
Curiosity about Customs & Traditions
Leaving a Legacy
The Journey Begins
Where to Begin?
Start with Yourself
Pedigree Chart/Ancestor Chart
Home & Family Sources
Gather Family Information
Family Group Sheet
Asking Questions
Recording Information
Ancestor Data Sheet
Contacting Your Relatives
Becoming a Good Interviewer
Before the Interview
During the Interview
Conducting the Interview
Questioning Techniques
After the Interview (follow-up/transcription)
Avoiding Duplication of Efforts
Is Your Family Tree Online?
Personal Ancestral File
Ancestry World Tree
RootsWeb
Published Family Histories
Slovak Societies & Surname Databases/Reference Projects
Utilizing the Family History Library
Family History Centers (FHC)
Traditional vs. Online Research
Online Research
Starting in North America
Start with the Census
Canadian Census Records
Locating Canadian Census Returns
Newfoundland Census Returns
How and Where to Consult Census Records
United States Census Records
Federal Census Records
What You Need to Know to Find the Correct Census Records
Sources for Obtaining Street Addresses
Traditional Census Searches
Soundex
Organization of Soundex Records
The Soundex Card
Soundex Information
U.S. Federal Census – Glitches and Problems
Still Missing Your Ancestors?
Public Records Sources: Vital Records
U.S. Vital Records
Death Records
Newspaper Databases
Birth Records
Marriage Records
How to Obtain Vital Records
Other Records: Divorce and Adoption
Canadian Vital Records
Church Records
Special Considerations Regarding Vital Records Research
U.S. Social Security Death Index
Who is Listed in the SSDI?
What Information Does the SSDI Contain?
What do the Numbers in a Social Security Number Mean?
What Other Information is Available from the Social Security Administration?
How can I get a Copy of the Original Records?
Why Can’t I Find the Person I’m Looking for?
LDS
RootsWeb.com
Family Tree Legends
U.S. Naturalization Records
General Guidelines for Obtaining Copies of Naturalization Records
Alien Registration United States
Canadian Naturalization Records
Alien Registration Canada
Land/Probate Records
Land Records United States
Land Records Canada
Land Petitions
Métis Land Claims
Probate (Court) Records
Canada
Online Public Records
Probate (Court) Records – United States
Canadian Military Records
Post-First World War Records
Military Records: United States
Access to Military Service and Pension Records
The Family History Library
Ancestry.com
Other Sources
Immigration Records (Passenger Lists/Ship’s Manifests)
Canadian Immigration Records
Border Entry Records
Emigration from Canada
United States Immigration Records
Searching the Ellis Island Database
How to Find Exotic-Sounding Names
Additional Stumbling Blocks
Morse’s Tools
Another Tools: Edward Rosenbaum
Other Methods for Finding Ancestors Arriving
Before Ellis Island or at Other Ports
To Find Your Ancestor’s Ship
Obtaining a Picture of Your Ancestor’s Ship
Internet Resources
Slovakia: Brief Historical Synopsis
Where is Slovakia?
Brief Historical Background
Overview of Slovakia’s History (all dates, A.D.)
Political Considerations
Language Issues
Slovaks and Religion
Slovaks and Family
Leaving Home: A Glimpse at Slavic Immigration
Are You Really “Slovak?” How to Know?
Czech, Hungarian, Polish, Slovak, Ukrainian? Other?
Czech
Czechoslovak
Hungarian
Polish
Slovak
What is Rusyn?
How to Find the Ancestral Village
Research Steps
Locating the Ancestral Village
Maps
Other Useful Maps
Printed Gazetteer(s) and/or Atlas
Gazetteers of Hungary
Other Atlases/Gazetteers
Online Gazetteers/Atlases
Using Shtetlseeker
Place Name Hungarian-Contemporary Conversions
Accented Characters
Geography
Language Concerns: Slovak, Hungarian, Latin, etc.
Identifying Key Words and Phrases
Records Available for Slovakia
Local Parish Records
Civil Registration
LDS Microfilmed Records
Church Records
Index of Slovak State Archives Church Records
Searching the Online Family History Library Catalog
How to Read and Interpret Birth, Death, and Marriage Records
Marriage Records
Names
Jewish Records
Other Helpful Resources
Census Records (Czech)
Census Records (Slovak)
Other Records
Local Histories
Military Records
Nobility
Tax Lists (berni ruly)
Contacting Relatives
Making Contact
Scaling the Brick Wall: Dealing with False Leads and Pitfalls in Your Research
What if the Records are Not Available on LDS Microfilm?
Writing to the Ancestral Town or Village
Enclosures
Czech & Slovak State Archive Records
Research in Person
State Regional Archive Centers
Research by Mail
Helpful Tips for Mail Requests
Look at Unlikely Sources for Information
Networking: Finding Others
Internet Searching
Posting Queries in Printed Publications
When to Hire a Professional
Identifying “Cluster” Communities
A Glimpse at Slovaks Around the World
Slovaks Living Abroad
How to Located ‘Cluster’ Communities
A Good Place to Begin: The 1990 U.S. Census
Slovak Lineage by State in the U.S.
Slovaks in Canada
U.S. & Canadian Maps
Search Immigration Records and Census Records
Slovak Churches: Rich Repositories of Information
Web or Telephone Directory Searches
Contacting the Parish Priest
Visiting the Parish Cemetery
Attending Church Functions
Viewing Church Records
Analyzing, Interpreting and Organizing Your Data
Analyzing Data
Interpreting Data
Overview of Slovak Traditions
Religious & Social Customs
Weddings (Marriage)
Births (Baptisms/Christenings)
Death (Funeral/Burial)
Identifying Community Celebrations
Slovak Festivals & Other Events
Slovak Communities
Internet Research
Cyndi’s List
Google
Other Websites
Meta Search Engines, etc.
Traditional Research (Society Lists & Publications)
National Organizations
Other Groups
Slovak (Eastern European) Conferences & Local Meetings
Local Meetings
Other National Groups
Benefits of Attending Such Conferences
Other Slovak Websites
Colleges & Universities with Slavic Languages Departments
Language Classes
Historical Societies & Museums
Newsletters & Other Forms of Communication
Networking
Networking Protocols
Web and Directory Searches
Newspaper/Journal/Magazine and Other
Publication Advertisement
Message Boards
Classes
Village-Based Associations
Village-Based Associations: Should You Form One
Funding Issues
Identifying a Membership
Consolidating Research Projects
Fundraising and Other Projects
Sharing the Work
Expanding the Circle to the Ancestral Village
Making Contact with Relatives and Others in Slovakia
Planning a Gathering or Reunion
Sharing Information
Options for Publishing and Sharing Information
Traditional Print Materials (Newsletters, Booklets, etc.)
Electronic Publishing
E-mail Lists
Websites
Public Websites
Private Websites (myfamily.com)
Village Sites: Milpos
Revising & Updating Information
Recruiting “New Blood”
Keeping the Momentum Going
Miscellaneous Resources
Conclusion
Surfing for Slovak Ancestors
References/Further Reading
Appendix