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In order to research your family in Belarus, it is essential that you have identified the place where they came from. It is not enough to know only 'Belarus;' you must know the town or shtetl that they came from. In addition to research in the records of the country the immigrated to, you may also want to examine the following sources to help you determine possible town locations. | In order to research your family in Belarus, it is essential that you have identified the place where they came from. It is not enough to know only 'Belarus;' you must know the town or shtetl that they came from. In addition to research in the records of the country the immigrated to, you may also want to examine the following sources to help you determine possible town locations. | ||
==== JewishGen Family Finder ==== | ====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. | *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 ==== | ====Miriam Weiner's Surname Database==== | ||
aUsing the '''[https://www.rtrfoundation.org/newwebsite/lnintro.shtml Surname Database]''' on Miriam Weiner's Routes to Roots Foundation website can help narrow down a more specific location for where individuals lived who shared your ancestor's surname. | aUsing the '''[https://www.rtrfoundation.org/newwebsite/lnintro.shtml Surname Database]''' on Miriam Weiner's Routes to Roots Foundation website can help narrow down a more specific location for where individuals lived who shared your ancestor's surname. | ||
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*Use the [https://www.rtrfoundation.org/newwebsite/ocrsearch.php OCR Surname Database] (optical character recognition) to search for your ancestor's surname in either the Latin alphabet or in Cyrillic. This database is comprised of information from business directories, address calendars, telephone books, typed name lists, and name lists from books and from archives. | *Use the [https://www.rtrfoundation.org/newwebsite/ocrsearch.php OCR Surname Database] (optical character recognition) to search for your ancestor's surname in either the Latin alphabet or in Cyrillic. This database is comprised of information from business directories, address calendars, telephone books, typed name lists, and name lists from books and from archives. | ||
== Maps and Gazetteers == | ==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. | 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. | ||
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====Radzima==== | ====Radzima==== | ||
*The [https://radzima.net/eng/search_place/ '''Radzima Gazetteer'''] is a useful online tool for locations in Belarus, parts of Poland and Lithuania. In addition to searching by place name, you can also browse locations by governorates (gubernia), voivodeships, and modern day regions by clicking [https://radzima.net/eng/places/ here]. Radzima also includes historic maps. | *The [https://radzima.net/eng/search_place/ '''Radzima Gazetteer'''] is a useful online tool for locations in Belarus, parts of Poland and Lithuania. In addition to searching by place name, you can also browse locations by governorates (gubernia), voivodeships, and modern day regions by clicking [https://radzima.net/eng/places/ here]. Radzima also includes historic maps. | ||
====Maps of your Ancestor's Town==== | ====Maps of your Ancestor's Town==== | ||
* Miriam Weiner's website offers select '''[https://www.rtrfoundation.org/maps4.shtml historical maps of Belarus]''', as well as a variety of '''[https://www.rtrfoundation.org/imagesearch.php historical images]''' from towns in Belarus that may prove useful in your family history. | *Miriam Weiner's website offers select '''[https://www.rtrfoundation.org/maps4.shtml historical maps of Belarus]''', as well as a variety of '''[https://www.rtrfoundation.org/imagesearch.php historical images]''' from towns in Belarus that may prove useful in your family history. | ||
*To view present-day Belarus at Google Maps, click [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=belarus&hl=en&ll=53.709714,27.949219&spn=11.721718,33.815918&sll=40.379214,-111.733668&sspn=0.11769,0.264187&hnear=Belarus&t=m&z=6 here]. | *To view present-day Belarus at Google Maps, click [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=belarus&hl=en&ll=53.709714,27.949219&spn=11.721718,33.815918&sll=40.379214,-111.733668&sspn=0.11769,0.264187&hnear=Belarus&t=m&z=6 here]. | ||
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==Additional Records and Finding Aids/Record Inventories== | ==Additional Records and Finding Aids/Record Inventories== | ||
====Genealogy Indexer==== | ====Genealogy Indexer==== | ||
'''[https://genealogyindexer.org/ Genealogy Indexer]''' is a free database that provides access to thousands of records including city directories from the Russian Empire, Yizkor books, WWI casualty lists and other military records, as well as school records. Links to the original records are included. | '''[https://genealogyindexer.org/ Genealogy Indexer]''' is a free database that provides access to thousands of records including city directories from the former Russian Empire, Yizkor books, WWI casualty lists and other military records, as well as school records. Links to the original records are often included. | ||
====Miriam Weiner Routes to Roots Foundation==== | ====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). | 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). | ||
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*Discover over 50 web pages of Jewish information available online at the Archives of Belarus by clicking [http://www.archives.gov.by/eng/index.php?id=search '''here'''] to search. Follow up by starting a search for the word '''"Jewish"''' and clicking the '''"Search"''' button. | *Discover over 50 web pages of Jewish information available online at the Archives of Belarus by clicking [http://www.archives.gov.by/eng/index.php?id=search '''here'''] to search. Follow up by starting a search for the word '''"Jewish"''' and clicking the '''"Search"''' button. | ||
== Historical Photos == | ==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. | 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. | ||