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Slovakia Beginning Research (view source)
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Back to [[Portal:Slovakia|Slovakia Portal Page]]► | Back to [[Portal:Slovakia|Slovakia Portal Page]]► | ||
== Introduction == | == Introduction == | ||
[[Image:Terchová.JPG|thumb|right|200px]] | [[Image:Terchová.JPG|thumb|right|200px]] | ||
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*Locating the marriage date and place for the parents on a family group record | *Locating the marriage date and place for the parents on a family group record | ||
== Before you start == | == Before you start == | ||
[[Image:Church in Terchová.JPG|thumb|right|150px]] | [[Image:Church in Terchová.JPG|thumb|right|150px]] | ||
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To learn more about Slovak given names and their English equivalents see [[Slovakia Names Personal|Personal Names]]. | To learn more about Slovak given names and their English equivalents see [[Slovakia Names Personal|Personal Names]]. | ||
== Determine the date of birth, marriage, and death == | == Determine the date of birth, marriage, and death == | ||
If you cannot find an exact date, you may estimate dates based on other information. You need at least the approximate year of an event. You may use standard genealogical approximation. From a marriage date, you can estimate that a man was married at age 25 and a woman at age 21. You can also estimate that a first child was born one year after the parent's marriage and that subsequent children were born every 2 years after that. | If you cannot find an exact date, you may estimate dates based on other information. You need at least the approximate year of an event. You may use standard genealogical approximation. From a marriage date, you can estimate that a man was married at age 25 and a woman at age 21. You can also estimate that a first child was born one year after the parent's marriage and that subsequent children were born every 2 years after that. | ||
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In Slovakia, most records used in family history research are kept on a town or parish level. Therefore the exact town of origin must be known before research in Slovak records can begin. Most of the time, the Slovak place of origin is found in sources created in the country of immigration. These records should be searched for the ancestor, possible relatives, and other associated persons. If you do not know the place of origin in Slovakia see [[Slovakia Determining a Place of Origin|Determining a Place of Origin in Slovakia]] for sources that may give you that information. | In Slovakia, most records used in family history research are kept on a town or parish level. Therefore the exact town of origin must be known before research in Slovak records can begin. Most of the time, the Slovak place of origin is found in sources created in the country of immigration. These records should be searched for the ancestor, possible relatives, and other associated persons. If you do not know the place of origin in Slovakia see [[Slovakia Determining a Place of Origin|Determining a Place of Origin in Slovakia]] for sources that may give you that information. | ||
Slovak place names are often mispelled in American sources. Difficult names were shortened and diacritic marks ommitted. A gazetter, which is defined as a geographical dictionary, is an essential tool for identifying places. Look up your place name in the gazetteer to be sure that it is spelled correctly. Please note that many locality names are comprised of two or more words. If you cannot find a place name in the gazetteer under the first word try searching under the second word. | Slovak place names are often mispelled in American sources. Difficult names were shortened and diacritic marks ommitted. A gazetter, which is defined as a geographical dictionary, is an essential tool for identifying places. Look up your place name in the gazetteer to be sure that it is spelled correctly. Please note that many locality names are comprised of two or more words. If you cannot find a place name in the gazetteer under the first word try searching under the second word. | ||
To learn about several important gazetters for Slovakia, including instructions and examples, see [[Slovakia Gazetteers|Gazetteers]]. | To learn about several important gazetters for Slovakia, including instructions and examples, see [[Slovakia Gazetteers|Gazetteers]]. | ||
As mentioned earlier, Slovak place names are often mispelled in American sources. If you still cannot determine correct spelling of your locality even after you searched the gazetteers and the Internet, please post your query on [https://www.familysearch.org/learn/forums/en/ FamilySearch Forums] and one of our research consultants will be happy to evaluate your research problem. | As mentioned earlier, Slovak place names are often mispelled in American sources. If you still cannot determine correct spelling of your locality even after you searched the gazetteers and the Internet, please post your query on [https://www.familysearch.org/learn/forums/en/ FamilySearch Forums] and one of our research consultants will be happy to evaluate your research problem. | ||
== Locate the ancestral home == | == Locate the ancestral home == | ||
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[[Image:Camel in Terchová vicinity.JPG|thumb|right|200px]] | [[Image:Camel in Terchová vicinity.JPG|thumb|right|200px]] | ||
<br>After you have determined the correct name of the town from which your ancestor emigrated, you must still determine its location. Many Slovak localities have similar names that may be easily confused. An example would be the place names Kameň, Kameňany, Kamenec, Kamenica, Kameničany, Kameničná, Kamenín and Kamienka. In addition, there are places called Kamenica preceded by an adjective, such as Nižná Kamenica and places followed by a description such as Kamenica nad Cichorou. Also, Slovak grammatical endings can change an actual place name. | <br>After you have determined the correct name of the town from which your ancestor emigrated, you must still determine its location. Many Slovak localities have similar names that may be easily confused. An example would be the place names Kameň, Kameňany, Kamenec, Kamenica, Kameničany, Kameničná, Kamenín and Kamienka. In addition, there are places called Kamenica preceded by an adjective, such as Nižná Kamenica and places followed by a description such as Kamenica nad Cichorou. Also, Slovak grammatical endings can change an actual place name. | ||
== Determine the religion of an ancestor == | == Determine the religion of an ancestor == | ||
Until the 1900s, vital records were kept by church parishes or Jewish congregations. The records of different religions were kept separately. If you are not sure of your ancestor's religion, start by searching Roman-Catholic records. Catholicism was the dominant religion in the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. | Until the 1900s, vital records were kept by church parishes or Jewish congregations. The records of different religions were kept separately. If you are not sure of your ancestor's religion, start by searching Roman-Catholic records. Catholicism was the dominant religion in the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. | ||
== Determine the record keeping jurisdiction == | == Determine the record keeping jurisdiction == | ||
Not every village in Slovakia had its own parish. Often, several smaller villages belonged to one parish. Use [[Slovakia Gazetteers|gazetteer]] to determine the location of the parish or synagogue where records were kept. Once you have determined the location of the church or synagogue, use the [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.asp Family History Library Catalog] to get the film numbers of the available records. You can then order the appropriate films. | Not every village in Slovakia had its own parish. Often, several smaller villages belonged to one parish. Use [[Slovakia Gazetteers|gazetteer]] to determine the location of the parish or synagogue where records were kept. Once you have determined the location of the church or synagogue, use the [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.asp Family History Library Catalog] to get the film numbers of the available records. You can then order the appropriate films. | ||
== Find your ancestor in the records == | == Find your ancestor in the records == | ||
[[Image:Praying Monk in Terchová Vicinity.JPG|thumb|right|200px]] | [[Image:Praying Monk in Terchová Vicinity.JPG|thumb|right|200px]] | ||
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The best sources of genealogical information in Slovakia are the church records kept by the local parishes. The Family History Library has microfilmed records from all regional archives in Slovakia. Use the [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.asp Family History Library Catalog] to determine what records are available for the locality. | The best sources of genealogical information in Slovakia are the church records kept by the local parishes. The Family History Library has microfilmed records from all regional archives in Slovakia. Use the [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.asp Family History Library Catalog] to determine what records are available for the locality. | ||
== Research by mail == | == Research by mail == | ||
Please refer to the [[Slovakia Letter Writing Guide|Letter Writing Guide]] for detailed information. | Please refer to the [[Slovakia Letter Writing Guide|Letter Writing Guide]] for detailed information. | ||
[[Category:Slovakia]] | [[Category:Slovakia]] | ||