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{{Lithuania | {{CountrySidebar | ||
{{breadcrumb | |Country=Lithuania | ||
|Name=Lithuania | |||
|Type=Topic | |||
|Topic Type=Records | |||
|Records=Jewish Records | |||
|Rating=Standardized | |||
}} | |||
{{CountrySidebar | |||
|Country=Lithuania | |||
|Name=Lithuania | |||
|Type=Topic | |||
|Topic Type=Records | |||
|Records=Jewish Records | |||
|Rating=Standardized | |||
}}{{breadcrumb | |||
| link1=[[Lithuania Genealogy|Lithuania]] | | link1=[[Lithuania Genealogy|Lithuania]] | ||
| link2= | | link2= | ||
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| link4= | | link4= | ||
| link5=[[Lithuania Jewish Records|Jewish Records]] | | link5=[[Lithuania Jewish Records|Jewish Records]] | ||
}} | |||
Go to [[Jewish Genealogy Research|Jewish Genealogy Research Main Page]] | Go to [[Jewish Genealogy Research|Jewish Genealogy Research Main Page]] | ||
==Online Resources== | |||
*'''1795-1940''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10951/lithuanian-jewish-records-from-litvaksig-1795-1940 Lithuanian-Jewish Records from LitvakSIG] at MyHeritage — index ($) | |||
*'''1795-1942''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20670/lithuanian-jewish-revision-lists-from-litvaksig-1795-1942 Lithuanian-Jewish Revision Lists from LitvakSIG] at MyHeritage — index ($) | |||
*'''1808-1940''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20658/lithuanian-jewish-births-from-litvaksig-1808-1940 Lithuanian-Jewish Births from LitvakSIG] at MyHeritage — index ($) | |||
*'''1808-1940''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20657/lithuanian-jewish-deaths-from-litvaksig-1808-1940 Lithuanian-Jewish Deaths from LitvakSIG] at MyHeritage — index ($) | |||
*'''1808-1940''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20661/lithuanian-jewish-marriages-divorces-from-litvaksig-1808-1940 Lithuanian-Jewish Marriages and Divorces from LitvakSIG] at MyHeritage — index ($) | |||
*'''1835-1946''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20672/lithuanian-jewish-household-registers-from-litvaksig-1835-1946 Lithuanian-Jewish Household Registers from LitvakSIG] at MyHeritage — index ($) | |||
*'''1839-1955''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20668/lithuanian-jewish-tax-voter-lists-from-litvaksig-1839-1955 Lithuanian-Jewish Tax and Voter Lists from LitvakSIG] at MyHeritage — index ($) | |||
==Historical Background== | ==Historical Background== | ||
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*Read [https://yivoencyclopedia.org/article.aspx/Lithuania Lithuania YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe] for more information. | *Read [https://yivoencyclopedia.org/article.aspx/Lithuania Lithuania YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe] for more information. | ||
==Find the Town== | |||
In order to research your family in Lithuania, it is essential that you have identified the place where they came from. It is not enough to know only ‘Lithuania;' you must know the town name and the district/province name. The name of a nearby larger town can also be very helpful. | |||
One of the best ways to determine information about your ancestor's pre-immigration origins is to investigate records in the country of immigration. Records that might give clues about your ancestor's birthplace include vital records like marriage or death, vital records of children or spouses, census, synagogue records, obituaries, naturalization/immigration and so on. Find a Wiki page for the country, state, or county that your ancestor immigrated to in order to discover what types of records might be available for the area they lived in. See [https://www.rtrfoundation.org/archdta11.shtml this page] on Miriam Weiner's Routes to Routes page for additional tips on finding your ancestor's hometown. | |||
See the [https://www.rtrfoundation.org/admindist.shtml Administrative Districts and Divisions] article on Routes to Roots Administrative to learn more about jurisdictions in the Russian Empire and their modern-day equivalents. | |||
====JewishGen Family Finder==== | |||
*The [https://www.jewishgen.org/jgff/ '''Family Finder'''] is a database of both ancestral hometowns and surnames that have been researched by their descendants world wide. The Family Finder allows you to connect with others who are researching similar ancestors and origins and collaborate your research. To add the surnames and locations you are researching, click on '''Modify (Edit your existing entries)''' or '''Enter (Add new entries)'''. Type in the surnames and/or locations of interest and hit '''Submit'''. To search the database and see if you can connect to family members and other researchers, choose '''Search (Search the database)''' from the Town Finder home page. You can search for a surname and/or a town. Search results will appear in a chart format giving you the surname, town, country, and researcher information (often includes contact information) and the date they last logged into JewishGen. | |||
====Miriam Weiner's Surname Database==== | |||
Over her 30+ years of working in Eastern European archives, Miriam Weiner collected vast amounts of material that can be searched using the '''[https://www.rtrfoundation.org/newwebsite/lnintro.shtml Surname Database.]''' | |||
*Use the [https://www.rtrfoundation.org/newwebsite/lnsearch.php Standard Surname Database] if you know your ancestor's given name, surname, or town name. This database is comprised of name lists from local historians and heads of Jewish communities, name lists from books, and name lists from various archives. | |||
* Use the [https://www.rtrfoundation.org/newwebsite/ocrsearch.php OCR Surname Database] (optical character recognition) to search for your ancestor's surname. The search of the database is done using Cyrillic spellings, but the search form allows you to enter the name in Latin letters and automatically transliterates it into Cyrillic for you. This database is comprised of information from business directories, address calendars, telephone books, typed name lists, and name lists from books and from archives. | |||
You may also be able to use the database to help narrow down a more specific location for where individuals lived who shared your ancestor's surname. | |||
* | |||
==Maps and Gazetteers== | ==Maps and Gazetteers== | ||
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*Use the [https://www.litvaksig.org/research/map/ '''Shtetl Map and List'''] tool from Litvak SIG to determine the location of the town, spelling and district. Knowing the district will be important for knowing which [https://www.litvaksig.org/research/district-research/ '''District Research Group'''] to join in Litvak SIG. | *Use the [https://www.litvaksig.org/research/map/ '''Shtetl Map and List'''] tool from Litvak SIG to determine the location of the town, spelling and district. Knowing the district will be important for knowing which [https://www.litvaksig.org/research/district-research/ '''District Research Group'''] to join in Litvak SIG. | ||
====Maps of | ====Maps of your Ancestor's Town==== | ||
To view present-day Lithuania at Google Maps, click [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=lithuania&hl=en&ll=55.166319,23.884277&spn=5.650241,16.907959&sll=51.165691,10.451526&sspn=12.413452,33.815918&hnear=Lithuania&t=m&z=7 '''here'''] | |||
*Miriam Weiner's website offers select '''[https://www.rtrfoundation.org/maps5.shtml historical maps of Lithuania]''', as well as a variety of '''[https://www.rtrfoundation.org/imagesearch.php historical images]''' from towns in Lithuania that may prove useful in your family history. | |||
*To view present-day Lithuania at Google Maps, click [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=lithuania&hl=en&ll=55.166319,23.884277&spn=5.650241,16.907959&sll=51.165691,10.451526&sspn=12.413452,33.815918&hnear=Lithuania&t=m&z=7 '''here'''] | |||
*For a Jewish population density map of Europe in 1900, click '''[[Jewish Population Maps|here]].''' | *For a Jewish population density map of Europe in 1900, click '''[[Jewish Population Maps|here]].''' | ||
*For a map showing the percentage of Jews in the Pale of Settlement and Congress Poland, c. 1905, click [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Map_showing_percentage_of_Jews_in_the_Pale_of_Settlement_and_Congress_Poland,_c._1905.png '''here''']. | *For a map showing the percentage of Jews in the Pale of Settlement and Congress Poland, c. 1905, click [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Map_showing_percentage_of_Jews_in_the_Pale_of_Settlement_and_Congress_Poland,_c._1905.png '''here''']. | ||
==1897 Census== | ==1897 Census== | ||
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There may also be records available through the '''[[Introduction to the FamilySearch Catalog|FamilySearch Catalog]].''' Revision list records are catalogued at the uyezd level. | There may also be records available through the '''[[Introduction to the FamilySearch Catalog|FamilySearch Catalog]].''' Revision list records are catalogued at the uyezd level. | ||
:a. Click [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId= | :a. Click [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId=1927032&query=%2Bplace%3A%22Lithuania%22 '''here'''] to access catalog entries for Lithuania. | ||
:b. Click on '''Places within Lithuania''' and a list of places will appear. | :b. Click on '''Places within Lithuania''' and a list of places will appear. | ||
:c. Click on the location. In some cases, you will need to select '''Places within [Name of Location].''' | :c. Click on the location. In some cases, you will need to select '''Places within [Name of Location].''' | ||
:d. Click on the '''Taxation''' or '''Census''' topics. Click on the blue links to view specific record titles. | :d. Click on the '''Taxation''' or '''Census''' topics. Click on the blue links to view specific record titles. | ||
:e. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the listing for the record. The magnifying glass indicates that the record is indexed. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the records. A camera with a key on top means the record is viewable but with certain restrictions that may mean the record can only be viewed at the | :e. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the listing for the record. The magnifying glass indicates that the record is indexed. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the records. A camera with a key on top means the record is viewable but with certain restrictions that may mean the record can only be viewed at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, a FamilySearch Center, or FamilySearch Affiliate Library. Take a look at the FamilySearch Center Finder to discover a location near you. | ||
==Vital Records== | ==Vital Records== | ||
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====JewishGen (indexed records)==== | ====JewishGen (indexed records)==== | ||
Vital records, or records of birth, marriage, and death, for many shtetl in Lithuania have been indexed and are searchable via the [https://www.jewishgen.org/databases/Lithuania/ '''JewishGen Lithuania Database'''] or the [https://www.litvaksig.org/all-lithuania-database/about-ald/ '''All-Lithuania Database''']. Some vital records are available through FamilySearch. See the article, [https://www.litvaksig.org/all-lithuania-database/fhl-film-navigation/ '''Finding your Record in | Vital records, or records of birth, marriage, and death, for many shtetl in Lithuania have been indexed and are searchable via the [https://www.jewishgen.org/databases/Lithuania/ '''JewishGen Lithuania Database'''] or the [https://www.litvaksig.org/all-lithuania-database/about-ald/ '''All-Lithuania Database''']. Some vital records are available through FamilySearch. See the article, [https://www.litvaksig.org/all-lithuania-database/fhl-film-navigation/ '''Finding your Record in FS Library Films.'''] | ||
====FamilySearch (digital images)==== | ====FamilySearch (digital images)==== | ||
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There may also be records available through the '''[[Introduction to the FamilySearch Catalog|FamilySearch Catalog]].''' | There may also be records available through the '''[[Introduction to the FamilySearch Catalog|FamilySearch Catalog]].''' | ||
:a. Click [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId= | :a. Click [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId=1927032&query=%2Bplace%3A%22Lithuania%22 '''here'''] to access catalog entries for Lithuania. | ||
:b. Click on '''Places within Lithuania''' and a list of places will appear. | :b. Click on '''Places within Lithuania''' and a list of places will appear. | ||
:c. Click on the location, in some cases, when you select one, there will be '''Places within [Name of Location].''' | :c. Click on the location, in some cases, when you select one, there will be '''Places within [Name of Location].''' | ||
:d. Click on the '''Taxation''' or '''Census''' topics. Click on the blue links to view specific record titles. | :d. Click on the '''Taxation''' or '''Census''' topics. Click on the blue links to view specific record titles. | ||
:e. A combination of icons will appear at the far right of the listing for the record. The magnifying glass indicates that the record is indexed. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the records. A camera with a key on top means the record is viewable but with certain restrictions that may mean the record can only be viewed at the | :e. A combination of icons will appear at the far right of the listing for the record. The magnifying glass indicates that the record is indexed. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the records. A camera with a key on top means the record is viewable but with certain restrictions that may mean the record can only be viewed at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, a FamilySearch Center, or FamilySearch Affiliate Library. Take a look at the FamilySearch Center Finder to discover a location near you. | ||
==Cemeteries== | ==Cemeteries== | ||
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==Holocaust== | ==Holocaust== | ||
==== Holocaust Lists Database at Routes to Roots ==== | |||
Use the new '''[https://www.rtrfoundation.org/holocaust.php Holocaust Lists Database]''' at Miriam Weiner's Routes to Roots to determine the location of Holocaust documents such as victim and survivor lists, survival testimonials and more. Holocaust Collections included in this database are from select towns in Belarus, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, and Ukraine. | |||
Database entries include information about archive the records are stored in and the archival file number. This information will help you locate the original record in the archive. | |||
To determine what holocaust lists may survive, simply search the database by town. Click on an entry to view additional information about the record and its location. After you have determined that Holocaust documents for your town are available, consider searching your surname in the Surname Database. Miriam Weiner has digitized many Holocaust lists and they are accessible through the Surname Database. Keep in mind that this is an ongoing project, so check back often for new information and updates. | |||
==== Additional Websites ==== | |||
*[https://www.jewishgen.org/databases/Lithuania/ '''JewishGen Lithuania Database'''] | *[https://www.jewishgen.org/databases/Lithuania/ '''JewishGen Lithuania Database'''] | ||
*[https://portal.ehri-project.eu/ '''European Holocaust Research Infrastructure Online Portal'''] offers information on Holocaust archival material held in institutions in Europe and throughout the world. | *[https://portal.ehri-project.eu/ '''European Holocaust Research Infrastructure Online Portal'''] offers information on Holocaust archival material held in institutions in Europe and throughout the world. | ||
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*Use '''[https://genealogyindexer.org/ Genealogy Indexer]''' to find indexes to over 364 Yizkor books. | *Use '''[https://genealogyindexer.org/ Genealogy Indexer]''' to find indexes to over 364 Yizkor books. | ||
*The '''[https://libguides.nypl.org/yizkorbooks New York Public Library]''' has a large collection of Yizkor books, and many have been digitized. | *The '''[https://libguides.nypl.org/yizkorbooks New York Public Library]''' has a large collection of Yizkor books, and many have been digitized. | ||
*The | *The FamilySearch Library has copies of many Yizkor books. Check the '''[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog FamilySearch Catalog]''' for availability for your town. | ||
==Historical Photos== | |||
The [https://www.rtrfoundation.org/newwebsite/imagesearch.php '''Image Database'''] on Miriam Weiner's website contains photographs and postcard views of many towns and cities throughout Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Lithuania, Poland, and other select countries dating back to the early 1900s. These include pre-WWI and current town views, photos of synagogues, Jewish cemeteries, and Holocaust memorials. Even if you are unable to find a picture of your ancestor's town, it may still be interesting to see what other towns in the area looked like, which will allow you to a get a feel of what life may have been like for your ancestor. | |||
==Additional Records - Finding Aids and Record Inventories== | ==Additional Records - Finding Aids and Record Inventories== | ||
Additional records such as city directories, school records, additional tax records, etc. may exist for your locality. Use some of the sources listed below to help you locate those records. Many of these records may be located in an archive. To learn more about archives in Eastern Europe, read the YIVO article, '''[https://yivoencyclopedia.org/article.aspx/Archives Archives]''', by Miriam Weiner. | |||
====Genealogy Indexer==== | ====Genealogy Indexer==== | ||
'''[https://genealogyindexer.org/ Genealogy Indexer]''' is a free database that provides access to thousands of records including city directories from the Russian Empire, Yizkor books, WWI casualty lists and other military records, as well as school records. Links to the original records are included. | '''[https://genealogyindexer.org/ Genealogy Indexer]''' is a free database that provides access to thousands of records including city directories from the Russian Empire, Yizkor books, WWI casualty lists and other military records, as well as school records. Links to the original records are included. | ||
====Miriam Weiner Routes to Roots Foundation==== | ====Miriam Weiner Routes to Roots Foundation==== | ||
[https://www.rtrfoundation.org/ | Use the '''[https://www.rtrfoundation.org/search.php Archive Database]''' to locate what records exist for your ancestor's town, and where to find them. Search for the name of your ancestor's locality, and the database will provide results for known surviving records from that location, and where the records are held. (Remember to adjust the search criteria for Soundex options or spelling variations). | ||
This database contains documents such as army/recruit lists, family lists and census records, Jewish vital records (birth, marriage, death, divorce), immigration documents, voter and tax lists, property and notary records, Holocaust documents, police files, and pogrom documents, school records, occupation lists, local government and hospital records. | |||
*See [http://www.rtrfoundation.org/ '''Routes to Roots Foundation'''] and '''hover over Lithuania''' for a Genealogical and Family History guide to Jewish and civil records in Eastern Europe | *See [http://www.rtrfoundation.org/ '''Routes to Roots Foundation'''] and '''hover over Lithuania''' for a Genealogical and Family History guide to Jewish and civil records in Eastern Europe. | ||
For information about the repositories referred to on Miriam Weiner's Archive Database, see the [https://www.rtrfoundation.org/webs.shtml '''Archives in Eastern Europe'''] page which includes archival contact information. Contact/visit the respective repository for details on their holdings. For instructions on contacting archives and accessing records, see Q11 on [https://www.rtrfoundation.org/archdta11.shtml#Q10 this Routes to Roots page.] | |||
====Jewish Roots==== | ====Jewish Roots==== | ||
The '''[https://forum.j-roots.info/searchdb_form.php Еврейские Корни (Jewish Roots)]''' site is an excellent resource to help you locate archival documents. The website is in Russian, but if you are using the Google Chrome browser, | The '''[https://forum.j-roots.info/searchdb_form.php Еврейские Корни (Jewish Roots)]''' site is an excellent resource to help you locate archival documents. The website is in Russian, but if you are using the Google Chrome browser, simply right click anywhere on the page and select ''Translate to English.'' Search using the name of the town (find the Cyrillic spelling of the town on [https://www.jewishgen.org/Communities/Search.asp JewishGen Town Finder]) to see what archival records might be available for your location. In addition to the database, use the '''[https://forum.j-roots.info/index.php Forum]''' to connect with other researchers and find other potential resources for your location. | ||
====Archives of Lithuania==== | ====Archives of Lithuania==== | ||
*Visit the Office of the Chief Archivist of Lithuania website by clicking [http://www.archyvai.lt/en/news.html '''here.'''] | *Visit the Office of the Chief Archivist of Lithuania website by clicking [http://www.archyvai.lt/en/news.html '''here.'''] | ||
*To view the ''Genealogical Search'' page at the archives, click [http://www.archyvai.lt/en/genealogical-search.html '''here.'''] | *To view the ''Genealogical Search'' page at the archives, click [http://www.archyvai.lt/en/genealogical-search.html '''here.'''] | ||
==Reading Records== | ==Reading Records== | ||
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*[https://www.jgsgb.org/pdfs/Handout_Researching_Your_Lithuanian_Roots.pdf '''Researching Your Lithuanian Roots Research Guide'''] | *[https://www.jgsgb.org/pdfs/Handout_Researching_Your_Lithuanian_Roots.pdf '''Researching Your Lithuanian Roots Research Guide'''] | ||
*[https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6378/ '''Lithuania, Jews Saved by Passports From the Japanese Diplomate Chiune Sugihara, 1940'''] | *[https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6378/ '''Lithuania, Jews Saved by Passports From the Japanese Diplomate Chiune Sugihara, 1940'''] | ||
*'''[[The Knowles Collection]],''' is a collection of records of the Jewish people from all over the world. Further information on the collection including announcements of updates can be | *'''[[The Knowles Collection]],''' is a collection of records of the Jewish people from all over the world. Further information on the collection including announcements of updates can be found at [http://www.knowlescollection.blogspot.com '''knowlescollection.blogspot.com.'''] | ||
*'''[https://lithuaniangenealogy.org/ Lithuanian Global Genealogical Society]''' | *'''[https://lithuaniangenealogy.org/ Lithuanian Global Genealogical Society]''' | ||
* | * | ||
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*[https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/show?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fcatalog-search-api%3A8080%2Fwww-catalogapi-webservice%2Fitem%2F1236125 '''A guide to Jewish genealogy in Lithuania'''] | *[https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/show?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fcatalog-search-api%3A8080%2Fwww-catalogapi-webservice%2Fitem%2F1236125 '''A guide to Jewish genealogy in Lithuania'''] | ||
*''[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/show?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fcatalog-search-api%3A8080%2Fwww-catalogapi-webservice%2Fitem%2F1011103 '''The Litvaks: A Short History of the Jews in Lithuania''']'', by Dov Levin, has a listing of Jewish communities (both Lithuanian and Yiddish spellings) from war time Lithuania. | *''[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/show?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fcatalog-search-api%3A8080%2Fwww-catalogapi-webservice%2Fitem%2F1011103 '''The Litvaks: A Short History of the Jews in Lithuania''']'', by Dov Levin, has a listing of Jewish communities (both Lithuanian and Yiddish spellings) from war time Lithuania. | ||
*''[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/show?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fcatalog-search-api%3A8080%2Fwww-catalogapi-webservice%2Fitem%2F1055708 '''Where Once We Walked- Revised Edition: A Guide to the Jewish Communities Destroyed in the Holocaust'''] | *''[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/show?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fcatalog-search-api%3A8080%2Fwww-catalogapi-webservice%2Fitem%2F1055708 '''Where Once We Walked- Revised Edition: A Guide to the Jewish Communities Destroyed in the Holocaust'''] ''lists the names of the towns with their variant spellings and also provides some information, such as the estimated population of the community pre-WWII. | ||
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/show?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fcatalog-search-api%3A8080%2Fwww-catalogapi-webservice%2Fitem%2F773722 '''''Jewish vital records, revision lists, and other Jewish holdings in the Lithuanian Archives'''''] by Harold Rhode and Sallyann Sack lists what records are available in Lithuania, and how to access them in the Lithuanian Archives. | *[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/show?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fcatalog-search-api%3A8080%2Fwww-catalogapi-webservice%2Fitem%2F773722 '''''Jewish vital records, revision lists, and other Jewish holdings in the Lithuanian Archives'''''] by Harold Rhode and Sallyann Sack lists what records are available in Lithuania, and how to access them in the Lithuanian Archives. | ||