Ukraine Jewish Records: Difference between revisions

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==Online Resources==
*'''1878-1900''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20068/ukraine-odessa-birth-records?s=275764761 Ukraine, Odessa Birth Records] at MyHeritage - index ($)
*'''1939-1945''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61708/ Stanislav, Ukraine (Poland), List of Residents by Street, 1939-1945 (USHMM)] at Ancestry - index and images ($)
*'''1939-1945''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61738/ Ukraine, Applications for ID for the Citizens of Stanislav, 1939-1945 (USHMM)] at Ancestry - index ($)
*[https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20037/ukraine-jewish-birth-records?s=275764761 Ukraine, Jewish Birth Records] at MyHeritage - index ($)
*[https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20036/ukraine-jewish-death-records?s=275764761 Ukraine, Jewish Death Records] at MyHeritage - index ($)
*[https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20050/bucovina-jewish-birth-records?s=275764761 Bucovina, Jewish Birth Records] at MyHeritage - index ($)
 
==Tutorials==
*[https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/session/tracing-your-jewish-roots-in-ukraine Tracing Your Jewish Roots in Ukraine] Tutorial. Instructions for
**[https://www.geshergalicia.org/ Gesher Galicia]
**[https://jewishgen.org/ JewishGen]
**[https://jri-poland.org/ JRI Poland]
*[[Finding Jewish Ancestors from Ukraine]]
==Historical Background==
*The history of the Jews in Ukraine goes back over a thousand years. In the westernmost area of Ukraine, '''Jews were mentioned for the first time in 1030'''.
*Jews worked as '''artisans and merchants''' while a smaller number were farmers.
*'''By the 1760s,'''' the Jewish population in Ukraine had reached about 300,000. Most were '''clustered in communities near the Dnieper River, and in Volhynia, Podolia, Braslav, Rus Czerwona, and Kyiv guberni.'''
*Because of the economic success of the Jews, many '''Ukrainian peasants resented them.''' Tensions between Jews and the Ukrainian populations continued throughout the centuries.
*'''In 1881,''' Alexander II was assassinated and rumors circulated that Jews were behind it. A '''wave of large-scale anti-Jewish violence, called pogroms,''' swept through the southern Russian Empire, including Ukraine throughout the mid to late 1800s.
*'''During the 1917 Russian Revolution and the ensuing Russian Civil War, an estimated 31,071 Jews were killed between 1918 and 1920.'''
*During the establishment of the Ukrainian People's Republic (1917-21), pogroms continued to be perpetrated on Ukrainian territory. '''In Ukraine, the number of civilian Jews killed during the period was between thirty-five and fifty thousands.]]] Massive pogroms continued until 1921.
*'''In September 1939''', the first Jews living in the western regions under Nazi control were '''forced into ghettos, and later sent to death camps, which continued throughout the remainder of the war.'''
*After WWII, many '''surviving Jews left Ukraine for the United States or Israel.'''
*'''After the fall of the Soviet Union, roughly three-quarters of the remaining Jewish population left Ukraine.''' <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "History of the Jews in Ukraine", in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia,'' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Ukraine, accessed 1 Dec 2020.</ref>
 
*To learn more about Jewish history in Ukraine, read [https://yivoencyclopedia.org/article.aspx/Ukraine '''Ukraine, The YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe.''']
*To learn about the history of the shtetl your ancestor lived in, see the [http://jewua.org/ '''Ukrainian Jewish Heritage'''] site.
 
==Find the Town==
*See [[Ukraine Finding Town of Origin|'''Ukraine Finding Town of Origin''']]<br>
In order to research your family in Ukraine, it is essential that you have identified the place where they came from. It is not enough to know only ‘Ukraine;' 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 Frequently Asked Questions] 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.
 
In addition to research in the records of the country they immigrated to, you may also want to examine he following sources to help you determine possible town locations.
====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 and can be searched using the '''[https://www.rtrfoundation.org/lnintro.shtml Surname Database.]'''
*Use the [https://www.rtrfoundation.org/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/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.
 
====Database of the Ukrainian residents born between 1650 and 1920====
 
*[https://pra.in.ua/en '''Pra.in.ua's'''] database contains over 3.7 million individuals. The database is not exclusively Jewish, but does contain Jewish individuals.
 
====Families Being Researched by Members of Gesher Galicia====
For those who lived in what was known as Galicia, visit the '''[https://www.geshergalicia.org/families/ Families]''' page on Gesher Galicia to see what members of Gesher Galicia are researching the same surname, indexed records for the surname found on Gesher Galicia and elsewhere and other ways to connect with people researching the same family. Seeing which areas the surname is commonly found in may help you determine the hometown.
 
==Maps and Gazetteers==
Once you have determined the town your ancestor came from, the next step is locating the town in a map or a gazetteer. This will help you to identify political boundaries, place names, alternate spellings, etc. Gazetteers and historical maps are especially useful for understanding boundary changes or finding communities that no longer exist. In your research, in gazetteers, pay attention to the town's district and province as this will help you locate records such as the 1897 Census and Revision List records.
 
====JewishGen Gazetteer====
 
*The [https://www.jewishgen.org/communities/loctown.asp '''JewishGen Gazetteer'''] is a useful online gazetteer for locations in Eastern Europe. Note that wild card searches are not supported. To view an entry page, click on the '''Jewish star''' to the left of the town name. Entry pages provide jurisdictions for before WWI, the interwar period, after WWII and modern-day. Alternate names and Yiddish and Russian spellings are also included. In the center, you'll find a map and a list of additional Jewish communities located nearby. Finally, under '''Additional Information''' and '''in the green box''' at the top, you'll find links to references and additional resources that may help you in your research.
 
====TKF Ukrainian Shtetl Finder====
 
*[https://www.tkfgen.org '''TKF'''] seeks to locate and share knowledge about Jewish communities in Eastern Europe. There are several resources available on their website including the [https://www.tkfgen.org/shtetls.html '''Ukrainian Shtetl Finder.''']
 
====Gesher Galicia====
This site is useful for areas that are now part of modern-day Ukraine, but were historically Galicia. Use the '''[https://www.geshergalicia.org/galician-town-locator/ town locator,]''' which is organized alphabetically, to determine jurisdictions for your town
 
====Maps of your Ancestor's Town====
Maps will help you locate places where your ancestors lived and give you context for the records you are using. Maps can identify political boundaries, place names, geographical features, cemeteries, synagogues, etc. Historical maps are especially useful for understanding boundary changes or finding communities that no longer exist.
*Miriam Weiner's website offers select '''[https://www.rtrfoundation.org/maps2.shtml historical maps of Ukraine]''', as well as a variety of '''[https://www.rtrfoundation.org/imagesearch.php historical images]''' from towns in Ukraine that may prove useful in your family history.
*'''[https://www.rtrfoundation.org/soviet.shtml Soviet-era Town Plan Maps]''' are also available through Miriam Weiner's Routes to Roots. This collection consists of street maps of individual towns and cities within the current borders of Ukraine. Many of the town maps consist of 1-4 separate maps. The maps are in color and about half of them include a "legend" – primarily an alphabetical listing of street names. The maps are in the Russian language (Cyrillic alphabet). This map collection includes more than 40 localities in present-day Ukraine. Click '''[https://www.rtrfoundation.org/soviet.shtml HERE]''' to see these map lists.
*'''[https://maps.geshergalicia.org/ Gesher Galicia's Map Room]''' has online historical maps for both regions, and specific towns. The collection even has cadastral land maps.
*To view present-day Ukraine at Google Maps, click [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=ukraine&hl=en&ll=48.385442,31.157227&spn=13.140538,33.815918&sll=51.917168,19.160156&sspn=12.211657,33.815918&hnear=Ukraine&t=m&z=6 '''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 [[wikipedia:File:Map_showing_percentage_of_Jews_in_the_Pale_of_Settlement_and_Congress_Poland,_c._1905.png|'''here''']].
*To view an additional historical map showing the historical percentage of Jews in governments, click [http://books.google.com/books?id=sr85AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA531&lpg=PA531&dq=%22percentage+of+jews+in+governments%22+map&source=bl&ots=BK42kcedcz&sig=Eb1EvyRT9xaaOxNAlNit1-q2_yU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=PcwMU5-xMcGBogTyqYKABg&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=%22percentage%20of%20jews%20in%20governments%22%20map&f=false '''here'''].
 
==1897 Census==
The 1897 Russian Imperial Census was the first and only census carried out in the Russian Empire. The census enumerated the entire population of the Empire (excluding Finland), but after statistical data was gathered, many of the census returns were destroyed. There are, however; surviving census returns for many locations throughout Ukraine. Use the resources below to help you determine if census records survive for your ancestor's shtetl and how to access them. Use the [https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/img_auth.php/8/86/Reading_the_1897_Census_-_Instruction.pdf '''Reading the 1897 Census "How to" Guide'''] to learn how to read census records. 
 
====JewishGen (indexed records)====
Census returns still exist for the city of Odessa. A JewishGen indexing project of these records is underway. Learn more about the status of the project [https://www.jewishgen.org/ukraine/RES_Project.asp?id=1917 '''here''']. The records that JewishGen is in the process of indexing are located on FamilySearch in the  [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2380520 '''Ukraine, Odessa Census Records 1897'''] collection. See the FamilySearch heading below for more information.
 
====Lipes Genealogy Database (indexed records)====
[https://lipesdatabase.com/how-to-use-the-database/ '''Lipes Genealogy Database'''] has indexed portions of census records from the City of Odessa and the Kyiv Gubernia. In order to search a limited version of the database, you will need to create an account, which can be done for free. The full version of the database starts at 10 Euros per day. If you wish to order the original document through Lipes, you will be charged an additional fee. 
 
====FamilySearch (digital images)====
Census returns still exist for the city of Odessa. Original images are not indexed, but are available to browse through the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2380520 '''Ukraine, Odessa Census Records 1897'''] FamilySearch collection.
 
There may also be records available through the [[Introduction to the FamilySearch Catalog|'''FamilySearch Catalog''']]. Census records are catalogued at the uyezd level.
 
:a. Click [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId=1927132&query=%2Bplace%3A%22Ukraine%22 '''here'''] to access catalog entries for Ukraine.
:b. Click on '''Places within Ukraine''' and a list of gubernia will appear.
:c. Click on the gubernia, then select '''Places within [Name of Gubernia].'''
:d. From there, a list of uyezdi will appear.
:e. Click on '''Places within [Name of Gubernia, Name of Uyezd].'''
:f. Click on the '''Census''' topic. Click on the blue links to view specific record titles. Look for a title containing something like ''Переписные листы 1897.''
: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 [https://www.familysearch.org/help/fhcenters/locations/ '''FamilySearch Center Finder'''] to discover a location near you.
 
====1897 Census Finding Aids====
Census returns may also exist for other locations, but images or indexes may not be available online. Use sites such as [http://arch1897.histcensus.asu.ru/ '''Archive Fonds of the First 1897 All-Russia Census'''] or the [http://metrics.tilda.ws/perepis1897 '''Catalog of Surviving Census Sheets in Archives of Russia, Ukraine, and Other Countries'''] to help you determine if census records exist for your area. These sites are in Russian, but can be easily navigated using Google Translate. If you are using the Google Chrome browser, just right click anywhere on the page and click Translate to '''English'''. If you are using a different browser (Safari, Firefox, Edge, etc.) you can still use Google Translate, but it requires a few extra steps. Go to [https://translate.google.com '''translate.google.com'''] and change the language settings to translate from Russian to English. Paste the URL of the site you would like translated into the Russian box and then click on the link that shows up in the English box. This will take you a translated version of the site.
 
==Revision and Family Lists==
Revision lists are enumerations of the taxable population (most Jews in the Russian empire fell into a taxable social class). There were ten revisions taken sporadically from 1772-1858. These records are a foundational source in genealogical research as they provide names, ages, and relationships.
 
Supplemental Lists, also known as Family Lists, can be found ranging from about 1860 through the end of the nineteenth century. They are similar in format to revision lists and are often grouped with revision list records in an archive.
 
====JewishGen (indexed records)====
Many Ukrainian revision list records have been indexed and are available through the '''[https://www.jewishgen.org/databases/ukraine/ JewishGen Ukraine Database].'''
 
====Lipes Genealogy Database (indexed records)====
[https://lipesdatabase.com/how-to-use-the-database/ '''Lipes Genealogy Database'''] has indexed portions of revision list records from select areas in the Kyiv, Podolsk and Volhynia guberni. In order to search a limited version of the database, you will need to create an account, which can be done for free. The full version of the database starts at 10 Euros per day. If you wish to order the original document through Lipes, you will be charged an additional fee.
 
====FamilySearch (digital images)====
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=1927132&query=%2Bplace%3A%22Ukraine%22 '''here'''] to access catalog entries for Ukraine.
:b. Click on '''Places within Ukraine''' and a list of gubernia will appear.
:c. Click on the gubernia, then select '''Places within [Name of Gubernia].'''
:d. From there, a list of uyezdi will appear.
:e. Click on '''Places within [Name of Gubernia, Name of Uyezd].'''
:f. 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 FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, a FamilySearch Center, or FamilySearch Affiliate Library. Take a look at the [https://www.familysearch.org/help/fhcenters/locations/ '''FamilySearch Center Finder'''] to discover a location near you.
 
====[[Krakovsky Documents]] (digital images)====
Alex Krakovsky uses freedom of information laws to make records from Ukrainian archives widely available and then publishes digital images of the records on various Wiki pages.
 
Various Records are available for locations in Transcarpathia and Stanisław Voivodeships; Volhynia, Katerynoslav, Kyiv, Podolsk, Poltava, Kherson, and Chernihiv provinces.
 
Krakovsky's database currently has over 1,600 metric books, revision lists, and other documents from the Ukrainian Archives and is constantly accumulating more records. A backup copy of the records are kept on JewishGen's underlying servers.
 
*The main Wiki portal is found [https://uk.wikisource.org/wiki/%D0%90%D1%80%D1%85%D1%96%D0%B2:%D0%84%D0%B2%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B9%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B5_%D0%BC%D1%96%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%87%D0%BA%D0%BE here.]
 
*The Kyiv Gubernia Revision List portal is found [https://uk.wikisource.org/wiki/%D0%92%D1%96%D0%BA%D1%96%D0%B4%D0%B6%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B0:%D0%A0%D0%B5%D0%B2%D1%96%D0%B7%D1%8C%D0%BA%D1%96_%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BA%D0%B8_%D0%9A%D0%B8%D1%97%D0%B2%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%BE%D1%97_%D0%B3%D1%83%D0%B1%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BD%D1%96%D1%97 here]
 
====Database of the Ukrainian residents born between 1650 and 1920 (digital images)====
There are several revision lists available for various cities, uyezdi, and guberni on the [https://pra.in.ua/en/library/7 '''Pra.in.ua Library'''.] The Library is organized by hashtags. Click on the '''#євреї''' on the webpage to see which Ukrainian Jewish records are available. Revision lists will be titled ''Ревізська сказка'' in Ukrainian. Clicking on the link will take you to a Google Drive folder with images of the records.
 
====Revision List Finding Aids====
If you are unable to locate records online, there are several  resources to help you determine what records are available for your town and which archive they are currently stored in. Revision list records are referred to as "census" records, and may be translated as "Revision tales" or "Fairy tales." See the [https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Ukraine_Jewish_Records#Additional_Records_-_Finding_Aids_and_Record_Inventories '''Additional Resources-''' '''Finding Aids and Records Inventories'''] heading in this Wiki article for more information. 


*[http://www.iajgs.org/members/calendar.html IAJGS Calendar]  
==Vital Records==
*[http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/conference_info 7-10 May 2014 Nat'l Gen. Soc. Conf., Richmond VA] <!-- Add News Items ABOVE -->
Throughout the Russian Empire, birth, marriage, divorce, and death records were required to be kept by the Jewish community beginning in 1835. Jewish records were generally kept in a tabular format with the left-side of the page in Russian and the right-side of the page in Hebrew. Vital records are available online in both indexed and digital image formats.
}}
 
<div style="width: 75%; float: right">
====JewishGen (indexed records)====
{| width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" class="FCK__ShowTableBorders"
Many Ukrainian vital records have been indexed and are available through the '''[https://www.jewishgen.org/databases/ukraine/ JewishGen Ukraine Database].'''
|-
====MyHeritage (indexed records)====
| width="70%" valign="top" | <br>__TOC__
*[https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20046/bessarabia-jewish-births?s=275764761 Bessarabia, Jewish Births] at MyHeritage - index ($)
| valign="top" | <br>[[Image:Israel coat of arms.png|110px|Israel coat of arms.png]]
*[https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20045/bessarabia-jewish-deaths?s=275764761 Bessarabia, Jewish Deaths] at MyHeritage - index ($)
|}
 
====Metryki Wołyń (indexed records)====
Civil records of Volhynia are indexed on [http://wolyn-metryki.pl/joomla/english '''Metryki Wołyń.'''] To search the database by name, look at the very bottom of the page for "''In order to search the database press HERE.''"
 
====Lipes Genealogy Database (indexed records)====
[https://lipesdatabase.com/how-to-use-the-database/ '''Lipes Genealogy Database'''] has indexed portions of metrical books from Kyiv, Cherson and Ekaterinoslav gubernias. In order to search a limited version of the database, you will need to create an account, which can be done for free. The full version of the database starts at 20 Euros for 3 days (About $7.75 per day). If you wish to order the original document through Lipes, you will be charged an additional fee. Lipe's website also offers a translation for the ordered documents for a markup as well.
 
====Gesher Galicia (indexed records)====
'''[https://search.geshergalicia.org/ The All Galicia Database]''' contains indexes of records for areas now located in modern Ukraine that were part of the historic region known as Galicia.
 
====FamilySearch (digital images)====
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=1927132&query=%2Bplace%3A%22Ukraine%22 '''here'''] to access catalog entries for Ukraine.
:b. Click on '''Places within Ukraine''' and a list of gubernia will appear.
:c. Click on the gubernia, then select '''Places within [Name of Gubernia].'''
:d. From there, a list of uyezdi will appear.
:e. Click on '''Places within [Name of Gubernia, Name of Uyezd]'''
:f. Click on the '''Jewish Record''' topic (it may be found at either the town or uyezd level). 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 FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, a FamilySearch Center, or FamilySearch Affiliate Library. Take a look at the [https://www.familysearch.org/help/fhcenters/locations/ '''FamilySearch Center Finder'''] to discover a location near you.
 
====[[Krakovsky Documents]] (digital images)====
Alex Krakovsky uses freedom of information laws to make records from Ukrainian archives widely available and then publishes digital images of the records on various Wiki pages. Metrical books are available for locations in Transcarpathia and Stanisław Voivodeships; Volhynia, Katerynoslav, Kyiv, Podolsk, Poltava, Zhitomir, and Kherson provinces. 
 
*The main Wiki portal is found [https://uk.wikisource.org/wiki/%D0%90%D1%80%D1%85%D1%96%D0%B2%D0%B8/%D1%94%D0%B2%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B9%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B5_%D0%BC%D1%96%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%87%D0%BA%D0%BE here.]
 
*Zhitomir Metrical Books are found [https://uk.wikisource.org/wiki/%D0%90%D1%80%D1%85%D1%96%D0%B2%D0%B8/%D0%94%D0%90%D0%96%D0%9E/67/3 here.]
 
====AGAD Jewish Records (digital images)====
 
[http://www.agad.gov.pl/inwentarze/Mojz300x.xml '''AGAD Archive'''], or the '''A'''rchiwum '''G'''lowne '''A'''kt '''D'''awnych (The Central Archives of Historical Records in Warsaw), is the repository of about 3,000 Jewish metrical books for the area of the former Lwow, Stanislawow, and Tarnopol Wojewodztwa (now Lviv, Ivano Frankivsk, and Ternopil oblasts in Ukraine). These registers are mainly for the period from 1877-1911 when these areas were a part of the Austrian province of Galicia.
 
====State Archives of Volhynia====
The Volhynia archives has recently digitized '''[https://volyn.archives.gov.ua/elekt_archives/elekt_spravi/sprav351.php metrical books for the Jewish community of Male Sedlishche.]''' The records range from 1924-1936 with some gaps in record coverage. To view a record, click on the blue hyperlinked number found in the third column (under the heading ''No. Справи/No. Cases'').
 
====Vital Records Finding Aids====
If you are unable to locate records online, there are several great resources to help you determine what records are available for your town and which archive they are currently stored in. See the '''[https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Ukraine_Jewish_Records#Additional_Records_-_Finding_Aids_and_Record_Inventories Additional Records - Finding Aids and Records Inventories]''' heading in this Wiki article for more information.
 
==Cemeteries==
 
*[https://www.jewishgen.org/databases/ukraine/ '''JewishGen Ukraine Database'''] - includes entries from the JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial Registry.
*[https://toldot.ru/life/cemetery/ '''Toldot'''], database of Jewish graves in Ukraine and Russia. The site can be searched in English.
*[https://mitzvatemet.com/ru/burials '''Mitzvatemet'''], database of Jewish graves in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Lithuania.
*'''[https://forum.j-roots.info/searchdb_form.php Jewish Roots,]''' database of tombstone inscriptions in former Russian Empire countries. The site should be searched in Russian.
 
==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://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://arolsen-archives.org/en/search-explore/search-online-archive/ '''Arolsen Archives,'''] also known as the International Center on Nazi Persecution, is one of the largest archives on the victims of Nazi persecution. Many of their holdings are available to research online.
*[https://yvng.yadvashem.org/index.html?language=en '''Yad Vashem Central Database of Shoah Victims' Names'''] is a database of victims of the Holocaust.
*[https://www.yahadinunum.org/ '''Yahad in Unum: The Holocaust by Bullets'''] is a French organization that works to conduct research on the Holocaust by bullets and identifies killing sites of Jewish victims murdered during WWII.
 
==Yizkor Books==
Yizkor books are memorial books commemorating a Jewish community that was destroyed during the Holocaust. Books are usually published by former residents and records the remembrance of homes, people and ways of life lost during World War II. Most books are written in Yiddish or Hebrew, but in recent years, many have been translated and made available online. You may wish to refer to the [https://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/yizterms.html Glossary of Yizkor Book Terms] list to help you.
 
*Take a look at the [https://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/ '''JewishGen Yizkor Book Project'''] to locate a translation or Yizkor book for your locality of interest.
*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 FamilySearch Library has copies of many Yizkor books. Check the '''[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog FamilySearch Catalog]''' for availability for your town.
 
==School Records==
The Volhynia Archive has digitized a collection of '''[https://volyn.archives.gov.ua/elekt_archives/elekt_spravi/sprav20.php school records from the Lutsk Jewish Gymnasium.]''' Records are organized in tables by year (1923-1938), and then by grade or annual marks. To view a record, click on the blue hyperlinked number found in the third column (under the heading ''No. Справи/No. Cases'').
==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 and Finding Aids/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====
'''[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====
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, pogrom documents, school records, occupation lists, local government and hospital records.
 
*See [http://www.rtrfoundation.org/ '''Routes to Roots Foundation'''] and '''hover over Ukraine''' 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.] For help writing in inquiry in Russian, see the [[Russia Archives and Libraries]] page.  
 
====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, 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.
 
====Database "Inhabitants of Kremenchug and Kremnchug District====
The '''[http://www.kremenchug.su/ database]''' includes information about voter lists, property, and elections in Kremenchug city and district. Contains both Jewish and Christian information.
 
====Harkavy Collection of Pinkassim Vernadskiy Library in Kyiv, Ukraine====
See [https://www.rtrfoundation.org/webart/Harkavycollect.pdf '''this document'''] for an inventory of Jewish related resources found in the Pinkassim Vernadskiy Library in Kyiv, Ukraine. Various society, memorial books, lists of merchants and other records are available.


Go to [[Jewish Genealogy Research|Jewish Genealogy Research Main Page]]<br>Go to [[Ukraine|Ukraine Main Page]]  
====Tsal Kaplun Foundation (TKF)====
[https://www.tkfgen.org '''TKF'''] seeks to locate and share knowledge about Jewish communities in Eastern Europe. There are several resources available on their website including an [https://www.tkfgen.org/inventory_archives.html '''Inventory of Jewish Records in Archives.''']


=== Maps of Ukraine  ===
====[[Krakovsky Documents]]====
In addition to revision lists and metrical records, there are additional records available in the Krakovsky documents collection. Check your area to see what is available.


*To view the present-day Ukraine at Google Maps, click [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=ukraine&hl=en&ll=48.385442,31.157227&spn=13.140538,33.815918&sll=51.917168,19.160156&sspn=12.211657,33.815918&hnear=Ukraine&t=m&z=6 here].
The main Wiki portal is found [https://uk.wikisource.org/wiki/%D0%90%D1%80%D1%85%D1%96%D0%B2%D0%B8/%D1%94%D0%B2%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B9%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B5_%D0%BC%D1%96%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%87%D0%BA%D0%BE 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].
*To view an additional historical map showing the historical percentage of Jews in governments, click [http://books.google.com/books?id=sr85AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA531&lpg=PA531&dq=%22percentage+of+jews+in+governments%22+map&source=bl&ots=BK42kcedcz&sig=Eb1EvyRT9xaaOxNAlNit1-q2_yU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=PcwMU5-xMcGBogTyqYKABg&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=%22percentage%20of%20jews%20in%20governments%22%20map&f=false here].<br>Definition of "Pale of Settlement" from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pale_of_Settlement Wikipedia.org]:<br>The Pale of Settlement (Russian: Черта́ осе́длости, chertá osédlosti, Yiddish: דער תּחום-המושבֿ, der tkhum-ha-moyshəv, Hebrew: תְּחוּם הַמּוֹשָב, tḥùm ha-mosháv‎) was the term given to a region of Imperial Russia in which permanent residency by Jews was allowed and beyond which Jewish permanent residency was generally prohibited. It extended from the eastern pale, or demarcation line, to the western Russian border with the Kingdom of Prussia (later the German Empire) and with Austria-Hungary. The English term "pale" is derived from the Latin word "palus", a stake, extended to mean the area enclosed by a fence or boundary.


=== Jewish History in Ukraine  ===
====Gesher Galicia Inventory of Records====
For an inventory of existing records for Galicia in both Polish and Ukrainian archives, please see '''[https://www.geshergalicia.org/inventories/ Gesher Galicia Inventories.]''' 


*To learn read the Wikipedia.org article ''History of the Jews in Ukraine'', click [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Ukraine here]].
==Reading Records==
{{Template:Jews in Eastern Europe}}
Ukrainian Jewish records are most commonly written in Russian or Hebrew, although you may see records written in Polish or Ukrainian. Use the resources in this list to help you learn how to read the records. You may also consider using free translation services offered by [[FamilySearch_Genealogy_Research_Groups#U|FamilySearch Genealogy Research Groups]] or [https://www.jewishgen.org/viewmate/ JewishGen View Mate].  


{{Template:JewishGen Family Finder}}
====Russian====


=== The JewishGen Ukraine Database  ===
*[[Russia "How to" Guides|The Russian Alphabet "How to" Guide]]
*[[Russia "How to" Guides|Deciphering the Handwriting and Understanding the Grammar "How to" Guide]]
*[[Russian Genealogical Word List]]
*[https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/learning-center-search/?q=russian+handwriting&show=all FamilySearch Learning Center - Russian Handwriting Courses]


More than 1.5 million records for Ukraine, from a variety of sources, including: voter lists, business directories, vital records, diplomatic records, yizkor books, and others. ''Requires free registration.'' To search, click [http://www.jewishgen.org/databases/#Ukraine here].
====Hebrew====


=== AGAD Jewish Records (scanned images) ===
*[https://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/tombstones.html Reading Hebrew Tombstones]
*[https://njop.org/hebrew/ National Jewish Outreach Program Hebrew Resources]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl8e0nMUHvk Hebrew Naming and How to Read Hebrew Headstones (YouTube Video)]


[http://www.agad.gov.pl/inwentarze/Mojz300x.xml AGAD Archive] (In Polish language. Chrome browser will offer to translate.)<br> <br>AGAD, the '''A'''rchiwum '''G'''lowne '''A'''kt '''D'''awnych (The Central Archives of Historical Records in Warsaw), is the repository of about 3,000 Jewish metrical books for the area of the former Lwow, Stanislawow, and Tarnopol Wojewodztwa (now Lviv, Ivano Frankivsk, and Ternopil oblasts in Ukraine). These registers are mainly for the period from 1877-1911 when these areas were a part of the Austrian province of Galicia.
====Ukrainian====


=== Volhynia  ===
*[[Ukrainian Genealogical Word List]]


'''Volhynian Civil Records Indexes'''<br>Metryki Wołyń, public registers of Volhynia are being indexed [http://wolyn-metryki.pl/joomla/english here].<br>To search the database by name, look at the very bottom of the page for&lt;br&gt;"In order to search the database press HERE"
====Polish====


=== Miriam Weiner Routes to Roots Foundation  ===
*[[Polish Genealogical Word List]]


*For ''A Genealogical and Family History guide to Jewish and civil records in Eastern Europe'', click [http://www.rtrfoundation.org/ here] and '''hover over Ukraine'''.
==Additional Resources==
*See also the book, ''Jewish roots in Ukraine and Moldova'' by Miriam Weiner<br>FamilySearch Catalog Number 947.71 F2w 1999


=== Ukrainian State Archives  ===
*[https://www.jewishgen.org/Ukraine/ '''JewishGen Ukraine SIG''']
*[https://www.geshergalicia.org/ '''Gesher Galicia SIG''']
*[https://www.jewishgen.org/romsig/ '''Romanian SIG'''] (including Moldova and southern Ukraine)
*[https://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/Ukraine.html '''JewishGen KehilaLinks Ukraine''']
*[https://libraria.ua/en/collections/23/ '''Interwar Jewish Press of Galicia, Volhynia, and Bukowina''']
*Get ideas and help with Ukrainian Genealogy at [https://www.facebook.com/pg/Jewua.info '''Jewish Genealogy in Ukraine Facebook'''].


*View the Ukrainian State Archives home page by clicking [http://www.archives.gov.ua/Eng/ here]. Includes a "Contacts" link.
*[https://www.tkfgen.org/archive_montefiore.html '''Montefiore Censuses of the Holy Land (XIX Century)'''] citizens from Palestine who arrived from the Russian Empire.
*Discover over 100 web pages of Jewish information available online at the Ukrainian State Archives by clicking [http://www.archives.gov.ua/search.php?cx=010182261712504343955%3A2plhvyikuzw&cof=FORID%3A9&ie=windows-1251&q=jewish&sa=%CF%EE%F8%F3%EA&siteurl=www.archives.gov.ua%2FEng%2F&ref=&ss=1448j702912j6 here].
*[https://feefhs.org/resource/ukraine '''FEEFHS Ukraine Resources''']
*'''[https://bloodandfrogs.com/compendium/ukraine B&F Compendium of Jewish Genealogy - Ukraine]'''


=== Facebook Research Community  ===
===References===
<references />


*Get ideas and help with Ukrainian Genealogy [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ukraine-Genealogy-Research-%D0%93%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B3%D1%96%D1%87%D0%BD%D1%96-%D0%B4%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%BB%D1%96%D0%B4%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D1%8F-%D0%B2-%D0%A3%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%97%D0%BD%D1%96/307439229321561 here].
[[Category:Jewish Records]]
</div>
[[Category:Jewish Records by Country, Region, and City]]
[[Category:Jews]] [[Category:Jewish_Research_by_Country,_Region,_and_City]]
<references />

Latest revision as of 18:02, 21 May 2024


Ukraine Wiki Topics
Flag of Ukraine
Ukraine Beginning Research
Record Types
Ukraine Background
Ukraine Genealogical Word Lists
Cultural Groups
Local Research Resources


Ukraine Wiki Topics
Flag of Ukraine
Ukraine Beginning Research
Record Types
Ukraine Background
Ukraine Genealogical Word Lists
Cultural Groups
Local Research Resources



Online Resources[edit | edit source]

Tutorials[edit | edit source]

Historical Background[edit | edit source]

  • The history of the Jews in Ukraine goes back over a thousand years. In the westernmost area of Ukraine, Jews were mentioned for the first time in 1030.
  • Jews worked as artisans and merchants while a smaller number were farmers.
  • By the 1760s,' the Jewish population in Ukraine had reached about 300,000. Most were clustered in communities near the Dnieper River, and in Volhynia, Podolia, Braslav, Rus Czerwona, and Kyiv guberni.
  • Because of the economic success of the Jews, many Ukrainian peasants resented them. Tensions between Jews and the Ukrainian populations continued throughout the centuries.
  • In 1881, Alexander II was assassinated and rumors circulated that Jews were behind it. A wave of large-scale anti-Jewish violence, called pogroms, swept through the southern Russian Empire, including Ukraine throughout the mid to late 1800s.
  • During the 1917 Russian Revolution and the ensuing Russian Civil War, an estimated 31,071 Jews were killed between 1918 and 1920.
  • During the establishment of the Ukrainian People's Republic (1917-21), pogroms continued to be perpetrated on Ukrainian territory. In Ukraine, the number of civilian Jews killed during the period was between thirty-five and fifty thousands.]]] Massive pogroms continued until 1921.
  • In September 1939, the first Jews living in the western regions under Nazi control were forced into ghettos, and later sent to death camps, which continued throughout the remainder of the war.
  • After WWII, many surviving Jews left Ukraine for the United States or Israel.
  • After the fall of the Soviet Union, roughly three-quarters of the remaining Jewish population left Ukraine. [1]

Find the Town[edit | edit source]

In order to research your family in Ukraine, it is essential that you have identified the place where they came from. It is not enough to know only ‘Ukraine;' 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 Frequently Asked Questions on Miriam Weiner's Routes to Routes page for additional tips on finding your ancestor's hometown.

See the Administrative Districts and Divisions article on Routes to Roots Administrative to learn more about jurisdictions in the Russian Empire and their modern-day equivalents.

In addition to research in the records of the country they immigrated to, you may also want to examine he following sources to help you determine possible town locations.

JewishGen Family Finder[edit | edit source]

  • The 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[edit | edit source]

Over her 30+ years of working in Eastern European archives, Miriam Weiner collected vast amounts of material and can be searched using the Surname Database.

  • Use the 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 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.

Database of the Ukrainian residents born between 1650 and 1920[edit | edit source]

  • Pra.in.ua's database contains over 3.7 million individuals. The database is not exclusively Jewish, but does contain Jewish individuals.

Families Being Researched by Members of Gesher Galicia[edit | edit source]

For those who lived in what was known as Galicia, visit the Families page on Gesher Galicia to see what members of Gesher Galicia are researching the same surname, indexed records for the surname found on Gesher Galicia and elsewhere and other ways to connect with people researching the same family. Seeing which areas the surname is commonly found in may help you determine the hometown.

Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]

Once you have determined the town your ancestor came from, the next step is locating the town in a map or a gazetteer. This will help you to identify political boundaries, place names, alternate spellings, etc. Gazetteers and historical maps are especially useful for understanding boundary changes or finding communities that no longer exist. In your research, in gazetteers, pay attention to the town's district and province as this will help you locate records such as the 1897 Census and Revision List records.

JewishGen Gazetteer[edit | edit source]

  • The JewishGen Gazetteer is a useful online gazetteer for locations in Eastern Europe. Note that wild card searches are not supported. To view an entry page, click on the Jewish star to the left of the town name. Entry pages provide jurisdictions for before WWI, the interwar period, after WWII and modern-day. Alternate names and Yiddish and Russian spellings are also included. In the center, you'll find a map and a list of additional Jewish communities located nearby. Finally, under Additional Information and in the green box at the top, you'll find links to references and additional resources that may help you in your research.

TKF Ukrainian Shtetl Finder[edit | edit source]

  • TKF seeks to locate and share knowledge about Jewish communities in Eastern Europe. There are several resources available on their website including the Ukrainian Shtetl Finder.

Gesher Galicia[edit | edit source]

This site is useful for areas that are now part of modern-day Ukraine, but were historically Galicia. Use the town locator, which is organized alphabetically, to determine jurisdictions for your town

Maps of your Ancestor's Town[edit | edit source]

Maps will help you locate places where your ancestors lived and give you context for the records you are using. Maps can identify political boundaries, place names, geographical features, cemeteries, synagogues, etc. Historical maps are especially useful for understanding boundary changes or finding communities that no longer exist.

  • Miriam Weiner's website offers select historical maps of Ukraine, as well as a variety of historical images from towns in Ukraine that may prove useful in your family history.
  • Soviet-era Town Plan Maps are also available through Miriam Weiner's Routes to Roots. This collection consists of street maps of individual towns and cities within the current borders of Ukraine. Many of the town maps consist of 1-4 separate maps. The maps are in color and about half of them include a "legend" – primarily an alphabetical listing of street names. The maps are in the Russian language (Cyrillic alphabet). This map collection includes more than 40 localities in present-day Ukraine. Click HERE to see these map lists.
  • Gesher Galicia's Map Room has online historical maps for both regions, and specific towns. The collection even has cadastral land maps.
  • To view present-day Ukraine at Google Maps, click here.
  • For a Jewish population density map of Europe in 1900, click here.
  • For a map showing the percentage of Jews in the Pale of Settlement and Congress Poland, c. 1905, click here.
  • To view an additional historical map showing the historical percentage of Jews in governments, click here.

1897 Census[edit | edit source]

The 1897 Russian Imperial Census was the first and only census carried out in the Russian Empire. The census enumerated the entire population of the Empire (excluding Finland), but after statistical data was gathered, many of the census returns were destroyed. There are, however; surviving census returns for many locations throughout Ukraine. Use the resources below to help you determine if census records survive for your ancestor's shtetl and how to access them. Use the Reading the 1897 Census "How to" Guide to learn how to read census records.

JewishGen (indexed records)[edit | edit source]

Census returns still exist for the city of Odessa. A JewishGen indexing project of these records is underway. Learn more about the status of the project here. The records that JewishGen is in the process of indexing are located on FamilySearch in the Ukraine, Odessa Census Records 1897 collection. See the FamilySearch heading below for more information.

Lipes Genealogy Database (indexed records)[edit | edit source]

Lipes Genealogy Database has indexed portions of census records from the City of Odessa and the Kyiv Gubernia. In order to search a limited version of the database, you will need to create an account, which can be done for free. The full version of the database starts at 10 Euros per day. If you wish to order the original document through Lipes, you will be charged an additional fee.

FamilySearch (digital images)[edit | edit source]

Census returns still exist for the city of Odessa. Original images are not indexed, but are available to browse through the Ukraine, Odessa Census Records 1897 FamilySearch collection.

There may also be records available through the FamilySearch Catalog. Census records are catalogued at the uyezd level.

a. Click here to access catalog entries for Ukraine.
b. Click on Places within Ukraine and a list of gubernia will appear.
c. Click on the gubernia, then select Places within [Name of Gubernia].
d. From there, a list of uyezdi will appear.
e. Click on Places within [Name of Gubernia, Name of Uyezd].
f. Click on the Census topic. Click on the blue links to view specific record titles. Look for a title containing something like Переписные листы 1897.
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.

1897 Census Finding Aids[edit | edit source]

Census returns may also exist for other locations, but images or indexes may not be available online. Use sites such as Archive Fonds of the First 1897 All-Russia Census or the Catalog of Surviving Census Sheets in Archives of Russia, Ukraine, and Other Countries to help you determine if census records exist for your area. These sites are in Russian, but can be easily navigated using Google Translate. If you are using the Google Chrome browser, just right click anywhere on the page and click Translate to English. If you are using a different browser (Safari, Firefox, Edge, etc.) you can still use Google Translate, but it requires a few extra steps. Go to translate.google.com and change the language settings to translate from Russian to English. Paste the URL of the site you would like translated into the Russian box and then click on the link that shows up in the English box. This will take you a translated version of the site.

Revision and Family Lists[edit | edit source]

Revision lists are enumerations of the taxable population (most Jews in the Russian empire fell into a taxable social class). There were ten revisions taken sporadically from 1772-1858. These records are a foundational source in genealogical research as they provide names, ages, and relationships.

Supplemental Lists, also known as Family Lists, can be found ranging from about 1860 through the end of the nineteenth century. They are similar in format to revision lists and are often grouped with revision list records in an archive.

JewishGen (indexed records)[edit | edit source]

Many Ukrainian revision list records have been indexed and are available through the JewishGen Ukraine Database.

Lipes Genealogy Database (indexed records)[edit | edit source]

Lipes Genealogy Database has indexed portions of revision list records from select areas in the Kyiv, Podolsk and Volhynia guberni. In order to search a limited version of the database, you will need to create an account, which can be done for free. The full version of the database starts at 10 Euros per day. If you wish to order the original document through Lipes, you will be charged an additional fee.

FamilySearch (digital images)[edit | edit source]

There may also be records available through the FamilySearch Catalog. Revision list records are catalogued at the uyezd level.

a. Click here to access catalog entries for Ukraine.
b. Click on Places within Ukraine and a list of gubernia will appear.
c. Click on the gubernia, then select Places within [Name of Gubernia].
d. From there, a list of uyezdi will appear.
e. Click on Places within [Name of Gubernia, Name of Uyezd].
f. 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 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.

Krakovsky Documents (digital images)[edit | edit source]

Alex Krakovsky uses freedom of information laws to make records from Ukrainian archives widely available and then publishes digital images of the records on various Wiki pages.

Various Records are available for locations in Transcarpathia and Stanisław Voivodeships; Volhynia, Katerynoslav, Kyiv, Podolsk, Poltava, Kherson, and Chernihiv provinces.

Krakovsky's database currently has over 1,600 metric books, revision lists, and other documents from the Ukrainian Archives and is constantly accumulating more records. A backup copy of the records are kept on JewishGen's underlying servers.

  • The main Wiki portal is found here.
  • The Kyiv Gubernia Revision List portal is found here

Database of the Ukrainian residents born between 1650 and 1920 (digital images)[edit | edit source]

There are several revision lists available for various cities, uyezdi, and guberni on the Pra.in.ua Library. The Library is organized by hashtags. Click on the #євреї on the webpage to see which Ukrainian Jewish records are available. Revision lists will be titled Ревізська сказка in Ukrainian. Clicking on the link will take you to a Google Drive folder with images of the records.

Revision List Finding Aids[edit | edit source]

If you are unable to locate records online, there are several resources to help you determine what records are available for your town and which archive they are currently stored in. Revision list records are referred to as "census" records, and may be translated as "Revision tales" or "Fairy tales." See the Additional Resources- Finding Aids and Records Inventories heading in this Wiki article for more information.

Vital Records[edit | edit source]

Throughout the Russian Empire, birth, marriage, divorce, and death records were required to be kept by the Jewish community beginning in 1835. Jewish records were generally kept in a tabular format with the left-side of the page in Russian and the right-side of the page in Hebrew. Vital records are available online in both indexed and digital image formats.

JewishGen (indexed records)[edit | edit source]

Many Ukrainian vital records have been indexed and are available through the JewishGen Ukraine Database.

MyHeritage (indexed records)[edit | edit source]

Metryki Wołyń (indexed records)[edit | edit source]

Civil records of Volhynia are indexed on Metryki Wołyń. To search the database by name, look at the very bottom of the page for "In order to search the database press HERE."

Lipes Genealogy Database (indexed records)[edit | edit source]

Lipes Genealogy Database has indexed portions of metrical books from Kyiv, Cherson and Ekaterinoslav gubernias. In order to search a limited version of the database, you will need to create an account, which can be done for free. The full version of the database starts at 20 Euros for 3 days (About $7.75 per day). If you wish to order the original document through Lipes, you will be charged an additional fee. Lipe's website also offers a translation for the ordered documents for a markup as well.

Gesher Galicia (indexed records)[edit | edit source]

The All Galicia Database contains indexes of records for areas now located in modern Ukraine that were part of the historic region known as Galicia.

FamilySearch (digital images)[edit | edit source]

There may also be records available through the FamilySearch Catalog.

a. Click here to access catalog entries for Ukraine.
b. Click on Places within Ukraine and a list of gubernia will appear.
c. Click on the gubernia, then select Places within [Name of Gubernia].
d. From there, a list of uyezdi will appear.
e. Click on Places within [Name of Gubernia, Name of Uyezd]
f. Click on the Jewish Record topic (it may be found at either the town or uyezd level). 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 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.

Krakovsky Documents (digital images)[edit | edit source]

Alex Krakovsky uses freedom of information laws to make records from Ukrainian archives widely available and then publishes digital images of the records on various Wiki pages. Metrical books are available for locations in Transcarpathia and Stanisław Voivodeships; Volhynia, Katerynoslav, Kyiv, Podolsk, Poltava, Zhitomir, and Kherson provinces.

  • The main Wiki portal is found here.
  • Zhitomir Metrical Books are found here.

AGAD Jewish Records (digital images)[edit | edit source]

AGAD Archive, or the Archiwum Glowne Akt Dawnych (The Central Archives of Historical Records in Warsaw), is the repository of about 3,000 Jewish metrical books for the area of the former Lwow, Stanislawow, and Tarnopol Wojewodztwa (now Lviv, Ivano Frankivsk, and Ternopil oblasts in Ukraine). These registers are mainly for the period from 1877-1911 when these areas were a part of the Austrian province of Galicia.

State Archives of Volhynia[edit | edit source]

The Volhynia archives has recently digitized metrical books for the Jewish community of Male Sedlishche. The records range from 1924-1936 with some gaps in record coverage. To view a record, click on the blue hyperlinked number found in the third column (under the heading No. Справи/No. Cases).

Vital Records Finding Aids[edit | edit source]

If you are unable to locate records online, there are several great resources to help you determine what records are available for your town and which archive they are currently stored in. See the Additional Records - Finding Aids and Records Inventories heading in this Wiki article for more information.

Cemeteries[edit | edit source]

  • JewishGen Ukraine Database - includes entries from the JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial Registry.
  • Toldot, database of Jewish graves in Ukraine and Russia. The site can be searched in English.
  • Mitzvatemet, database of Jewish graves in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Lithuania.
  • Jewish Roots, database of tombstone inscriptions in former Russian Empire countries. The site should be searched in Russian.

Holocaust[edit | edit source]

Holocaust Lists Database at Routes to Roots[edit | edit source]

Use the new 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[edit | edit source]

Yizkor Books[edit | edit source]

Yizkor books are memorial books commemorating a Jewish community that was destroyed during the Holocaust. Books are usually published by former residents and records the remembrance of homes, people and ways of life lost during World War II. Most books are written in Yiddish or Hebrew, but in recent years, many have been translated and made available online. You may wish to refer to the Glossary of Yizkor Book Terms list to help you.

School Records[edit | edit source]

The Volhynia Archive has digitized a collection of school records from the Lutsk Jewish Gymnasium. Records are organized in tables by year (1923-1938), and then by grade or annual marks. To view a record, click on the blue hyperlinked number found in the third column (under the heading No. Справи/No. Cases).

Historical Photos[edit | edit source]

The 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 and Finding Aids/Record Inventories[edit | edit source]

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, Archives, by Miriam Weiner.

Genealogy Indexer[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

Use the 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, pogrom documents, school records, occupation lists, local government and hospital records.

  • See Routes to Roots Foundation and hover over Ukraine 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 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 this Routes to Roots page. For help writing in inquiry in Russian, see the Russia Archives and Libraries page.  

Jewish Roots[edit | edit source]

The 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 JewishGen Town Finder) to see what archival records might be available for your location. In addition to the database, use the Forum to connect with other researchers and find other potential resources for your location.

Database "Inhabitants of Kremenchug and Kremnchug District[edit | edit source]

The database includes information about voter lists, property, and elections in Kremenchug city and district. Contains both Jewish and Christian information.

Harkavy Collection of Pinkassim Vernadskiy Library in Kyiv, Ukraine[edit | edit source]

See this document for an inventory of Jewish related resources found in the Pinkassim Vernadskiy Library in Kyiv, Ukraine. Various society, memorial books, lists of merchants and other records are available.

Tsal Kaplun Foundation (TKF)[edit | edit source]

TKF seeks to locate and share knowledge about Jewish communities in Eastern Europe. There are several resources available on their website including an Inventory of Jewish Records in Archives.

Krakovsky Documents[edit | edit source]

In addition to revision lists and metrical records, there are additional records available in the Krakovsky documents collection. Check your area to see what is available.

The main Wiki portal is found here.

Gesher Galicia Inventory of Records[edit | edit source]

For an inventory of existing records for Galicia in both Polish and Ukrainian archives, please see Gesher Galicia Inventories.

Reading Records[edit | edit source]

Ukrainian Jewish records are most commonly written in Russian or Hebrew, although you may see records written in Polish or Ukrainian. Use the resources in this list to help you learn how to read the records. You may also consider using free translation services offered by FamilySearch Genealogy Research Groups or JewishGen View Mate.

Russian[edit | edit source]

Hebrew[edit | edit source]

Ukrainian[edit | edit source]

Polish[edit | edit source]

Additional Resources[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Wikipedia contributors, "History of the Jews in Ukraine", in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Ukraine, accessed 1 Dec 2020.