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==Time Coverage==
 
In 1795, the old Kingdom of Poland was conquered and divided among Russia, Austria, and Prussia. Civil registration coverage varied for each part of Poland controlled by Russia, Prussia, or Austria.
In 1795, the old Kingdom of Poland was conquered and divided among Russia, Austria, and Prussia. Civil registration coverage varied for each part of Poland controlled by Russia, Prussia, or Austria. This article covers information about civil registration in the Prussian-controlled part of Poland.  For the other parts of Poland, see:
*[[Russian Poland Civil Registration|'''Russian Poland Civil Registration''']]
*[[Austrian Poland Civil Registration|'''Austrian Poland Civil Registration''']]
|{{Poland Partition 2|right}}
|{{Poland Partition 2|right}}
|}
|}
===Russian Poland===
==Time Coverage==
'''Duchy of Warsaw:'''  
Civil authorities in the German territories of Poland began registering births, marriages, and deaths in 1874. The people were required to report all births, marriages, and deaths to a civil registrar (Standesamt).
*In 1807, Napoleon created a new Polish state, fashioned out of territories previously seized by Prussia. In 1809 Napoleon’s forces won additional Polish territory from Austria, and the enlarged Polish state was called the Duchy of Warsaw. 
 
*Civil registration of births, marriages, deaths, and sometimes of marriage intentions was initiated according to the Code of Napoleon in the territory of the Duchy of Warsaw on May 1st, 1808.  
==Language of the Records ==
*After the Russian government assumed control upon the defeat of Napoleon in 1815, the practice of maintaining civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths continued, even after Poland became an independent republic in 1918.  
From 1874 to 1918, records were kept in German. Some areas were annexed to Poland after World War I, and began using Polish. After 1945, all those areas were annexed and using Polish.
*Civil registers in the Napoleonic format are found in '''all of Russian Poland, in Kraków and in parts of the Prussian province of Posen''', which are all formerly part of the old Grand Duchy of Warsaw.  
 
*'''Catholic clergy were responsible for all civil registration from 1808 until 1825. '''
==Information Recorded in Civil Registers (1874-1918/1945)==
*Beginning in 1826, Jews, Evangelical Lutherans, Protestants, Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, etc.) were allowed to maintain separate civil registers.  
Information recorded in Prussian civil registration records was quite standardized. German forms were used, which required specific details. After 1918, the records followed the Napoleonic records of Russian Poland.
*From 1826 on, civil records were once more church records in nature, but their form remained true to that of the Napoleonic Code.
==== Prussian Birth Records (Geburten, akta urodzeń) ====
 
Birth records '''usually''' give:
* the child’s name,  
*sex,  
*date and place of birth,  
*and parents’ names.
They '''sometimes''' give:
*the age of the parents,
*occupation of the father, and  
*marital status of mother.
Births were generally registered within a day of the child’s birth by the father, a neighbor of the family, or the midwife. Corrections to a birth record may have been added as a marginal note, sometimes years later.
 
==== Prussian Marriage Records (Heiraten, akta małżeństw)====
 
Marriages were often recorded in the parish where the bride lived. After 1874 Prussian law required a civil marriage ceremony in addition to a church ceremony. There may be records for both. Civil marriage records may include more information than the church records. When church and civil records are available, search both.  
 
Marriage registers give:
*the date of the marriage,  
*the names of the bride and groom, and
*the names of witnesses.  
They '''often''' include:
*the bride’s and groom’s ages,  
*birthplaces,  
*residences,  
*occupations, and
*parents’ names.  
In cases of '''second and later marriages''', the records may include names of previous partners and their death dates. Often a note is made whether a parent or other party gave permission for the marriage.  


===Prussian Poland===
Supporting documents were often filed by the bride or groom in support of their request to be married. Records proving their birth may have been required at the time, although these papers were probably not kept in the marriage register. Information obtained from supporting documents was often written into the actual marriage record. These documents are usually not microfilmed but might be obtained from a civil registration office.
Civil authorities in the German territories of Poland began registering births, marriages, and deaths in 1874. The people were required to report all births, marriages, and deaths to a civil registrar (Standesamt).  


===Austrian Poland===
==== Prussian Divorce Records (Ehescheidungen, akta rozwodowe) ====
*Austria took possession of the southern part of Poland in 1772. In 1784 the Emperor Joseph, recognizing the need for valid vital records for public use, designated Catholic parish registers as state records and standardized Latin columnar forms were issued. Roman Catholic and Greek Catholic clergy were made responsible for the registration of all vital records for all religions and recorded these in their parish registers.
*Civil transcripts of these registers were prepared for state use. So essentially, the church records functioned as civil registration until 1918. Most of these are now in State Archives where many have been microfilmed.
*In the former Austrian territories, conventional civil registration did not begin until after the establishment of the Republic of Poland in 1918.
*Two areas from Russian Poland are exceptions: some areas of the Duchy of Warsaw that were annexed in 1815, and the independent city of Kraków, annexed in 1846.


==Language of the Records ==
Divorces before the mid-20th century were uncommon. The Catholic Church did not allow divorces, and divorces were discouraged in protestant religions, although some marriages may have been annulled. Civil officials began keeping divorce records with the beginning of civil registration. Records of divorces may contain:
===Russian Poland===
*information on family members,  
From the beginning in 1808, the civil registers were kept in the Polish language. As of April 1868, they were required to be kept in Russian. In 1918, they were again kept in Polish.
*marital history,
*property,
*residences, and
*dates of other important events such as the children’s births.  
Often a record of divorce was inserted later as a marginal note in the marriage register.  


===Prussian Poland===
The Family History Library has almost no divorce records in its Polish collection. You may be able to obtain information from divorce records by contacting the courthouse of the town where the divorce took place or the archives serving the area.
From 1874 to 1918, records were kept in German. Some areas were annexed to Poland after World War I, and began using Pol9sh. After 1945, all those areas were annexed and using Polish.


===Austrian Poland===
==== Prussian Death Records (Tote, akta zgonów) ====
Because the records were technically Catholic church records, they were written in Latin until 1918. After that, they are in Polish.


==Information Recorded in Civil Registers ==
Death records are especially helpful because they may provide important information on a person’s birth, spouse, and parents. Civil death records may exist for individuals for whom there are no birth or marriage records. Deaths were usually registered within a few days of the death in the town or city where the person died.


Early death records generally give:
*the name, date, and place of death.
After 1874 they '''usually''' included:
*the age or date of birth and
*sometimes the birthplace,
*residence,
*occupation,
*cause of death,
*burial information,
*informant’s name (often a relative), and
*the name of a spouse or parents.
Information about parents and birthplace and date of the deceased and other information in a death record may be inaccurate since the informant may not have had complete information.




===Russian Poland Record Information (Napoleonic Format)===
===Polish Records Used After 1918 (Napoleonic Format)===
==== Polish Civil Registration Reading Aids  ====
==== Polish Civil Registration Reading Aids  ====
The following reading aids are designed to help you read a typical birth, marriage, or death entry in Polish civil registration. Since the wording of these records was standardized, it is possible to learn the format, and with careful effort, to read Polish records.   
The following reading aids are designed to help you read a typical birth, marriage, or death entry in Polish civil registration. Since the wording of these records was standardized, it is possible to learn the format, and with careful effort, to read Polish records.   
Line 287: Line 325:
----
----


===Russian Poland Record Information (1868-1918)===
*The Russian language records after 1868 use the same wording as the Polish language records. This means that, by mastering the pre-1868 Polish records, it is possible (with some additional effort) to read the essential data contained in the Russian language records. To do this requires familiarity with the Russian alphabet and learning several key words in Russian. Because the format is the same, the names, dates, ages, occupations, etc., will appear in approximately the same position in the entry as in the Polish language.<br>
====Example of Polish Birth Record in Russian====
{|
|-
|[[File:Polish Birth Record.jpg|Original Document|600px]]
|[[File:Polish Birth Transcript.jpg|Transcribed Document|600px]]
|}
====Example of Polish Marriage Record in Russian====
{|
|-
|[[Image:Polish Marriage Record.jpg|Original Document|600px]]
|[[File:Polish Marriage Transcript.jpg|Transcribed Document|600px]]
|}
====Example of Polish Death Record in Russian====
{|
|-
|[[Image:Polish Death Record.jpg|600px|Original Document]]
|[[File:Polish Death Transcript.jpg|600px|Transcribed Document]]
|}
===Prussian Poland Record Information===
Information recorded in Prussian civil registration records was quite standardized. German forms were used, which required specific details. After 1918, the records followed the Napoleonic records of Russian Poland.
==== Prussian Birth Records (Geburten, akta urodzeń) ====
Birth records '''usually''' give:
* the child’s name,
*sex,
*date and place of birth,
*and parents’ names.
They '''sometimes''' give:
*the age of the parents,
*occupation of the father, and
*marital status of mother.
Births were generally registered within a day of the child’s birth by the father, a neighbor of the family, or the midwife. Corrections to a birth record may have been added as a marginal note, sometimes years later.
==== Prussian Marriage Records (Heiraten, akta małżeństw)====
Marriages were often recorded in the parish where the bride lived. After 1874 Prussian law required a civil marriage ceremony in addition to a church ceremony. There may be records for both. Civil marriage records may include more information than&nbsp;the church records. When church and civil records are available, search both.
Marriage registers give:
*the date of the marriage,
*the names of the bride and groom, and
*the names of witnesses.
They '''often''' include:
*the bride’s and groom’s ages,
*birthplaces,
*residences,
*occupations, and
*parents’ names.
In cases of '''second and later marriages''', the records may include names of previous partners and their death dates. Often a note is made whether a parent or other party gave permission for the marriage.
Supporting documents were often filed by the bride or groom in support of their request to be married. Records proving their birth may have been required at the time, although these papers were probably not kept in the marriage register. Information obtained from supporting documents was often written into the actual marriage record. These documents are usually not microfilmed but might be obtained from a civil registration office.
==== Prussian Divorce Records (Ehescheidungen, akta rozwodowe) ====
Divorces before the mid-20th century were uncommon. The Catholic Church did not allow divorces, and divorces were discouraged in protestant religions, although some marriages may have been annulled. Civil officials began keeping divorce records with the beginning of civil registration. Records of divorces may contain:
*information on family members,
*marital history,
*property,
*residences, and
*dates of other important events such as the children’s births.
Often a record of divorce was inserted later as a marginal note in the marriage register.
The Family History Library has almost no divorce records in its Polish collection. You may be able to obtain information from divorce records by contacting the courthouse of the town where the divorce took place or the archives serving the area.
==== Prussian Death Records (Tote, akta zgonów) ====
Death records are especially helpful because they may provide important information on a person’s birth, spouse, and parents. Civil death records may exist for individuals for whom there are no birth or marriage records. Deaths were usually registered within a few days of the death in the town or city where the person died.
Early death records generally give:
*the name, date, and place of death.
After 1874 they '''usually''' included:
*the age or date of birth and
*sometimes the birthplace,
*residence,
*occupation,
*cause of death,
*burial information,
*informant’s name (often a relative), and
*the name of a spouse or parents.
Information about parents and birthplace and date of the deceased and other information in a death record may be inaccurate since the informant may not have had complete information.
===Austrian Poland Record Information ===
The column headings and translations below should simplify the reading of these records. Several modifications were made in the forms, but the basic format remained the same. Earlier forms simply required less information; thus, many forms will not be exactly the same as those presented here nor will all the information be given in all cases. In reading the records, remember that Latin grammatical forms may change the endings on given names.<br>
[[Image:Austrian Latin Transcript.jpg|700px]]
==Indexes==
==Indexes==
The use of the Polish civil registers is further simplified by the indexes that usually accompany them. Indexes were prepared on a yearly basis. The birth, marriage, and death records were each indexed separately. The index is usually found immediately after the records indexed. In some cases the separate birth, marriage, and death indexes are grouped together at the end of the year’s records.  
The use of the Polish civil registers is further simplified by the indexes that usually accompany them. Indexes were prepared on a yearly basis. The birth, marriage, and death records were each indexed separately. The index is usually found immediately after the records indexed. In some cases the separate birth, marriage, and death indexes are grouped together at the end of the year’s records.  
Line 388: Line 336:
*Use [https://mapa.szukacz.pl/ '''mapa.szukacz'''] to find the province, area, commune, and postal code of the town. Enter the town name in the "place" field in the right sidebar and click "Show". All information will appear at the bottom of the right sidebar. <br>
*Use [https://mapa.szukacz.pl/ '''mapa.szukacz'''] to find the province, area, commune, and postal code of the town. Enter the town name in the "place" field in the right sidebar and click "Show". All information will appear at the bottom of the right sidebar. <br>
*Use [http://Kartenmeister.com '''Kartenmeister'''] to find the Polish and German province, county, Catholic parish, Lutheran parish, and Standesamt (civil registration office), if the town was in the area of Poland once controlled by Prussia
*Use [http://Kartenmeister.com '''Kartenmeister'''] to find the Polish and German province, county, Catholic parish, Lutheran parish, and Standesamt (civil registration office), if the town was in the area of Poland once controlled by Prussia
*If the town was in the area of Poland once controlled by Russia or Austria, look it up in [http://www.wbc.poznan.pl/dlibra/docmetadata?id=12786&from=publication '''Skorowidz Gazetteer Online'''] to find the parishes of various religions. Here are the [https://s3.amazonaws.com/ps-services-us-east-1-914248642252/s3/research-wiki-elasticsearch-prod-s3bucket/images/7/71/1-Skorowidz_Online-Instruction.pdf '''instructions'''.] Use the second option, "Viewing anywhere via the Digital Library of Wielkopolska".<br>
=== Online Indexes to Civil Registration Records  ===
=== Online Indexes to Civil Registration Records  ===
====Jewish Record Indexes====
====Jewish Record Indexes====
Line 449: Line 396:
*[[Polish Genealogical Word List]]
*[[Polish Genealogical Word List]]
*[[German Genealogical Word List]]
*[[German Genealogical Word List]]
*[[Russian Genealogical Word List]]
*[[Latin Genealogical Word List]]


===How-to Guides===
===How-to Guides===
For areas of Poland that were once part of '''Russia''':  
For areas of Poland that were once part of '''Russia''':  
*Cyrillic Alphabet - [[Media:1-Russian_Alphabet_Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Russian_Alphabet_Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Russian_Alphabet_Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]<br>
*Cyrillic Script - [[Media:1-Russian_Script-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Russian_Script-Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Russian_Script-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]<br>
*Reading Polish Birth Records - [[Media:1-Poland_Birth_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Poland_Birth_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Poland_Birth_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]  
*Reading Polish Birth Records - [[Media:1-Poland_Birth_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Poland_Birth_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Poland_Birth_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]  
*Reading Polish Marriage Records - [[Media:1-Poland_Marriage_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Poland_Marriage_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Marriage_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]  
*Reading Polish Marriage Records - [[Media:1-Poland_Marriage_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Poland_Marriage_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Marriage_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]  
*Reading Polish Death Records - [[Media:1-Poland-Death_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Poland-Death_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Poland-Death_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]<br>  
*Reading Polish Death Records - [[Media:1-Poland-Death_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Poland-Death_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Poland-Death_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]<br>  
* Reading Russian Birth Records - [[Media:1-Russia_Birth_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Birth_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Birth_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
* Reading Russian Marriage Records - [[Media:1-Russia_Marriage_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Russia_Marriage_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Russia_Marriage_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
* Reading Russian Death Records - [[Media:1-Russia_Death_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Russia_Death_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Russia_Death_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]


===Lessons===
===Lessons===
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**[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/377 Part 2]
**[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/377 Part 2]
**[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/426  Part 3 (German Church and Civil Records)]
**[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/426  Part 3 (German Church and Civil Records)]
*'''Reading Russian Handwriting'''
**[https://www.familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/76 Lesson 1: The Russian Alphabet]
**[https://www.familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/77 Lesson 2: Russian Words and Dates]
**[https://www.familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/78 Lesson 3: Reading Russian Records]
*[https://www.familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/374 '''Latin for Genealogists]


===Other Translation Resources  ===
===Other Translation Resources  ===
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