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There are several geographic terms by which the records are organized because they represent the jurisdictions administered by government agencies. Click [[Russia Historical Geography#Localities|here]] for geographic terminology and to learn about various Russian jusrisdictions. | There are several geographic terms by which the records are organized because they represent the jurisdictions administered by government agencies. Click [[Russia Historical Geography#Localities|here]] for geographic terminology and to learn about various Russian jusrisdictions. | ||
Often, the records of several modem provinces are found in the archive of a single province, whose capital happened to have been the capital of an imperial province. | Often, the records of several modem provinces are found in the archive of a single province, whose capital happened to have been the capital of an imperial province. | ||
Borders fluctuated greatly along the western edge of the Russian Empire. Click [[Russia Historical Geography#Border_Changes|here]] for the table that identifies some of the more significant changes. | Borders fluctuated greatly along the western edge of the Russian Empire. Click [[Russia Historical Geography#Border_Changes|here]] for the table that identifies some of the more significant changes. | ||
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*Ukraine | *Ukraine | ||
*Western Ukraine | *Western Ukraine | ||
==Research== | |||
The collection of the Family History Library is rapidly increasing for the area once comprised by the Russian Empire. | |||
To research the microfilms, one needs to know some Russian. Other major languages of the records are Polish, German and Latin. With the assistance of gazetteers and other locality aids, one needs to determine the standard spelling of place names, determine the correct place if there are locations with the same name, and learn the intermediate jurisdiction. Once a filmed locality is identified in the catalog, a film can be retrieved from the collection. | |||
The researcher can write to a Russian archive requesting information. A directory of archival addresses for all nations including Russia was published in 1992 by the International Council of Archives in volume 38 of ''Archivum''. However, most archives are not staffed to do research for clients and only a few do it. The are limited reference aids and indices to help them find the records. The more provincial areas cannot read English and do not have copy machines. | |||
Research can be conducted personally in the archives but the degree of success will depend largely on making prior arrangements so that the archive knows a researcher in coming. Even then access may be restricted by the disposition or mood of the archivist. Travel conditions and facilities are primitive in many areas-usually worse the further east one goes. Researchers are advised to hire a local guide/interpreter if they do not have native language skill. Research services may be available. | |||
[[Category:Russia]] | [[Category:Russia]] | ||