Czechia Archives and Libraries: Difference between revisions

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Archives collect and preserve original documents of organizations, such as churches or governments. Libraries generally collect published sources such as books, maps, and microfilm. This section describes the major repositories of genealogical and historical records and sources for the Czech Republic. When one of these institutions is referred to elsewhere in this outline, return to this section to obtain the address.


<br>
If you plan to visit one of these repositories, contact the organization and ask for information about their hours, services, and fees. When writing to an archive in the Czech Republic, you may write in English.  
==Regional Archives==
*Brno Moravian Provincial Archives: [https://portal.ehri-project.eu/institutions/cz-002230 Website], [[Brno Moravian Provincial Archives, Czechia|Research Wiki Article]]
*Litoměřice Regional Archives: [https://vademecum.soalitomerice.cz/vademecum/index.jsp Website], [[Litoměřice Regional Archives, Czech Republic|Research Wiki Article]]
*Opava (Olomouc) Provincial Archives: [https://www.archives.cz/web/ Website], [[Opava Provincial Archives, Czechia|Research Wiki Article]]
*Plzeň Regional Archives: [https://www.portafontium.eu/?language=cs Website], [[Plzeň Regional Archives, Czech Republic|Research Wiki Article]]
*Prague (Praha) City Archives: [https://www.ahmp.cz/index.html?mid=18&wstyle=0&page=%27%27 Website], [[Prague (Praha) City Archives, Czech Republic|Research Wiki Article]]
*Prague (Praha) Regional Archives: [https://ebadatelna.soapraha.cz/pages/IndexPage;jsessionid=8F2D35804298461483ACAB4DFF29C3F3?0 Website], [[Prague (Praha) Regional Archives, Czech Republic|Research Wiki Article]]
*Třeboň Regional Archives: [https://digi.ceskearchivy.cz/ Website], [[Třeboň Regional Archives, Czech Republic|Research Wiki Article]]
*Zámrsk Regional Archives: [https://aron.vychodoceskearchivy.cz/apu/1875fe9a-f56e-4735-866e-12f442ac8eb9 Website], [[Zámrsk Regional Archives, Czech Republic|Research Wiki Article]]


==Clickable Map of Archive Regions==
In the Czech Republic there are several types of genealogical repositories:
{{Czechia image map}}


=== Using Regional Archives  ===
*National archives and libraries
*Czech vital records are kept at the regional archives and most are available online. 
*Regional archives  
*The regional archives are the repositories for most pre-1900 parish books and, therefore, are the archives of primary importance to Czech genealogical researchers.
*Military archives  
*In addition to early parish books, the regional archives house an enormous amount of important material including early cadastral records, maps, architectural plans, historical documents, court records, administrative papers, etc. 
*Church parish offices
*You must know the village, city or parish to determine which archive holds the records of your ancestors.
*University and public libraries
:*If you do not know the name of the village or parish your ancestors lived in, see:
*Historical and genealogical
::*[[Czechia Finding Town of Origin|Czechia Finding Town of Origin]], using United States records
*Societies
::*[[Czechia Determining a Place of Origin|Czechia Determining a Place of Origin]] 
::*[[Czechia Emigration and Immigration|Czechia Emigration and Immigration]]
:*If you know the village/town/parish, use the [http://www.genteam.at/ GenTeam Free Gazetteer] to find out which archive holds the records that you need. [[Media:1-Genteam_Gazetteer-Instruction.pdf|GenTeam Instructions]]


== District Archives  ==
=== Regional Archives  ===
Since most ancestry research is done at the regional archives rather than the district archives, the inventories of the district archives are far from well known. For example, censuses before 1930 (1869, 1880, 1890, 1900, 1910, 1921) are housed at the district archives. Many census records are online
*{{RecordSearch|1930345|Search Czech Republic Censuses and Inhabitant Registers, 1800-1990}} 
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/image/index?owc=https://www.familysearch.org/service/cds/recapi/collections/1930345/waypoints Browse by Town]
*[[Czech Republic, Censuses and Inhabitant Registers - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use This Collection]]


[[Category:Czechia Archives and Libraries]]
[[image:Czech archival regions.jpg|thumbnail|left|290px|Czech Archival Regions]]
 
In the Czech Republic there are seven regional archives. Former Bohemian Region is served by five regional archives in Litoměřice, Plzeň, Praha, Třeboň, and Zámrsk. Former Moravian Region is served by two regional archives in Opava and Brno. The seven regional archives are the repositories for most pre-1900 parish books and, therefore, are the archives of primary importance to Czech genealogical researchers. In addition to early parish books, the regional archives house an enormous amount of important material including early cadastral records, maps, architectural plans, historical documents, court records, administrative papers, etc. The archives maintain extensive catalogs of their holdings but, so far, these catalogs are not available online. The regional archives of the Czech Republic are open to the public.
 
For contact information please see [http://www.cesarch.cz/foreign.aspx?lang=en The Czech Archive Society] Web site and click on the ''Directory of archives in the Czech Republic'' link at the bottom of the page.
 
=== Personal Visit to the Archives  ===
 
[[image:Opava Regional Archive entry.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|Opava Regional Archive]]
 
It is necessary to reserve a place in the study (or research) room in advance. You can call or write a letter/e-mail. You are asked to fill out a questionnaire and to show your ID or passport when you arrive. Archival materials can be used free of charge. There are special request forms on which to write the call numbers of the items requested. Material for research is retrieved only at certain times. The number of registers one can borrow a day is limited (does not apply to number of microfilms). There are lockers outside of the research room for the storage of large bags and coats. Laptops and digital cameras are allowed (you cannot use flash). Archivists are available to answer questions about archival material. They will, however, not help with the research, read the text of the records or translate.
 
[[image:Opava Regional Archive entry.jpg|thumbnail|left|200px|Opava Regional Archive]]
 
=== Published Archival Directories  ===
 
Inventories of vital records in the Czech Regional Archives have been published and are available through the Family History Library:
 
*Dictionary of Bohemian parishes in the Czech Republic, FHL INTL Book 943.71 E22g
*Register of vital statistics in the Czech State Archives pertaining to Bohemia, FHL INTL Book 943.71 K23g vol. 1-2
*Register of Jewish vital statistics in the Czech State Archives pertaining to Bohemia, FHL INTL Book 943.71 K33g
*Dictionary of Moravian parishes in the Czech Republic, FHL INTL Book 943.72 E22g
*Register of vital statistics in the Czech State Archives pertaining to Moravia, FHL INTL Book 943.72 K23g vol. 1-2
*Register of Jewish vital statistics in the Czech State Archives pertaining to Moravia, FHL INTL Book 943.72 K33g vol. 1-2
 
[[Category:Czech Republic]]

Revision as of 12:51, 30 March 2009

Back to Czech Republic Portal Page

Archives collect and preserve original documents of organizations, such as churches or governments. Libraries generally collect published sources such as books, maps, and microfilm. This section describes the major repositories of genealogical and historical records and sources for the Czech Republic. When one of these institutions is referred to elsewhere in this outline, return to this section to obtain the address.

If you plan to visit one of these repositories, contact the organization and ask for information about their hours, services, and fees. When writing to an archive in the Czech Republic, you may write in English.

In the Czech Republic there are several types of genealogical repositories:

  • National archives and libraries
  • Regional archives
  • Military archives
  • Church parish offices
  • University and public libraries
  • Historical and genealogical
  • Societies

Regional Archives[edit | edit source]

Czech Archival Regions

In the Czech Republic there are seven regional archives. Former Bohemian Region is served by five regional archives in Litoměřice, Plzeň, Praha, Třeboň, and Zámrsk. Former Moravian Region is served by two regional archives in Opava and Brno. The seven regional archives are the repositories for most pre-1900 parish books and, therefore, are the archives of primary importance to Czech genealogical researchers. In addition to early parish books, the regional archives house an enormous amount of important material including early cadastral records, maps, architectural plans, historical documents, court records, administrative papers, etc. The archives maintain extensive catalogs of their holdings but, so far, these catalogs are not available online. The regional archives of the Czech Republic are open to the public.

For contact information please see The Czech Archive Society Web site and click on the Directory of archives in the Czech Republic link at the bottom of the page.

Personal Visit to the Archives[edit | edit source]

Opava Regional Archive

It is necessary to reserve a place in the study (or research) room in advance. You can call or write a letter/e-mail. You are asked to fill out a questionnaire and to show your ID or passport when you arrive. Archival materials can be used free of charge. There are special request forms on which to write the call numbers of the items requested. Material for research is retrieved only at certain times. The number of registers one can borrow a day is limited (does not apply to number of microfilms). There are lockers outside of the research room for the storage of large bags and coats. Laptops and digital cameras are allowed (you cannot use flash). Archivists are available to answer questions about archival material. They will, however, not help with the research, read the text of the records or translate.

Opava Regional Archive

Published Archival Directories[edit | edit source]

Inventories of vital records in the Czech Regional Archives have been published and are available through the Family History Library:

  • Dictionary of Bohemian parishes in the Czech Republic, FHL INTL Book 943.71 E22g
  • Register of vital statistics in the Czech State Archives pertaining to Bohemia, FHL INTL Book 943.71 K23g vol. 1-2
  • Register of Jewish vital statistics in the Czech State Archives pertaining to Bohemia, FHL INTL Book 943.71 K33g
  • Dictionary of Moravian parishes in the Czech Republic, FHL INTL Book 943.72 E22g
  • Register of vital statistics in the Czech State Archives pertaining to Moravia, FHL INTL Book 943.72 K23g vol. 1-2
  • Register of Jewish vital statistics in the Czech State Archives pertaining to Moravia, FHL INTL Book 943.72 K33g vol. 1-2