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Back to [[Czech Republic|Czech Republic Page]]► <!--{12090800055160} --> | Back to [[Czech Republic|Czech Republic Page]]► <!--{12090800055160} --> | ||
The birth, death and marriage records of the former Jewish communities of Bohemia and Moravia, as well as the Catholic parish duplicates, are located at the Czech State Archives in Prague. These records are in German, and are usually in old gothic script, making it difficult for most people to take advantage of these fabulous resources. There is a catalogue of the archival holdings organized by town name. Reviewing the records takes at least two days if you have not arranged your visit ahead of time. On the first day, you request retrieval of the record books and then must return the next day to actually review the records. The staff will make copies or microfilm for a modest fee. The Czech archives also will conduct basic genealogical research for $10-$14 per hour plus administrative fees and copying costs. Translations are available for $5 per page. | '''The birth, death and marriage records of the former Jewish communities of Bohemia and Moravia, as well as the Catholic parish duplicates, are located at the Czech State Archives in Prague. These records are in German, and are usually in old gothic script, making it difficult for most people to take advantage of these fabulous resources. There is a catalogue of the archival holdings organized by town name. Reviewing the records takes at least two days if you have not arranged your visit ahead of time. On the first day, you request retrieval of the record books and then must return the next day to actually review the records. The staff will make copies or microfilm for a modest fee. The Czech archives also will conduct basic genealogical research for $10-$14 per hour plus administrative fees and copying costs. Translations are available for $5 per page.''' | ||
== Jewish Records [Židovské matriky] == | == Jewish Records [Židovské matriky] == | ||
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Jewish communities are documented in the Czech lands since the tenth century, though Jews were likely present as early as the second century A.D. Most of the Jewish population was in the city of Prague which had both Ashkenazic and Sephardic communities. A Jewish charter was issued by the King of Bohemia in 1254 introducing some protection, but various forms of persecution existed for centuries. In 1726 Charles VI attempted to reduce the Jewish population by his Family Laws which permitted only the eldest sons of Jewish families to marry. This only encouraged Jews to disperse over the countryside. The Edict of Toleration in 1781 guaranteed freedom of worship but other modernizing policies associated with the reforms of the era cost the Jews their internal autonomy and forced Germanization. During the Nazi occupation of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, 78,000 out of the existing 92,000 Jews in the Czech Republic (85%) perished in the Holocaust. Most surviving Jews left after the war. | Jewish communities are documented in the Czech lands since the tenth century, though Jews were likely present as early as the second century A.D. Most of the Jewish population was in the city of Prague which had both Ashkenazic and Sephardic communities. A Jewish charter was issued by the King of Bohemia in 1254 introducing some protection, but various forms of persecution existed for centuries. In 1726 Charles VI attempted to reduce the Jewish population by his Family Laws which permitted only the eldest sons of Jewish families to marry. This only encouraged Jews to disperse over the countryside. The Edict of Toleration in 1781 guaranteed freedom of worship but other modernizing policies associated with the reforms of the era cost the Jews their internal autonomy and forced Germanization. During the Nazi occupation of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, 78,000 out of the existing 92,000 Jews in the Czech Republic (85%) perished in the Holocaust. Most surviving Jews left after the war. | ||
=== Content === | === Content === | ||
'''Non-Vital:'''<br>These generally contain information about royal dealings with specific Jews; also information about Jewish congregations, rabbis, names of members of the congregation; and economic activities. | '''Non-Vital:'''<br>These generally contain information about royal dealings with specific Jews; also information about Jewish congregations, rabbis, names of members of the congregation; and economic activities. | ||
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*Deaths – name of the deceased, date and place of death, cause of death, residence, age, occupation, marital status, spouses' name, often birthplace of the deceased. | *Deaths – name of the deceased, date and place of death, cause of death, residence, age, occupation, marital status, spouses' name, often birthplace of the deceased. | ||
=== Location === | === Location === | ||
Jewish records for the entire Czech Republic were centralized in one location, in the National Archives in Prague: | Jewish records for the entire Czech Republic were centralized in one location, in the National Archives in Prague: | ||
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E-mail: na1@nacr.cz | E-mail: na1@nacr.cz | ||
Contact: PhDr. Lenka Matusikova Czech State Archives Statni istredni archiv tr. Milady Horakove 133 CZ-166 21 Praha 6 Czech Republic E-mail: na1@nacr.cz | |||
additional E-mail address for Dr. Matusiokova: sua@mvcr.cz (can E-mail in English) | |||
Vital and some non-vital Jewish records may be found in state regional archives [''státní oblastní archívy'']. Non-vital Jewish records may be found in district [''okresní''] and city [''městské''] archives. | Vital and some non-vital Jewish records may be found in state regional archives [''státní oblastní archívy'']. Non-vital Jewish records may be found in district [''okresní''] and city [''městské''] archives. | ||
=== Accessibility === | === Accessibility === | ||
Jewish vital records are accessible for research by visiting the archives in person or by hiring a private researcher. Other types of Jewish records are very difficult to access, even by on-site research.<br> | Jewish vital records are accessible for research by visiting the archives in person or by hiring a private researcher. Other types of Jewish records are very difficult to access, even by on-site research.<br> | ||
=== Research use === | === Research use === | ||
These records are a prime source for information about the vital events in an individual's life. They contain information that can be used to compile pedigrees and family groups. They identify children, spouses, parents, and sometimes grandparents as well as dates and places of vital events. They establish individual identity and are excellent sources for linking generations and identifying relationships. | These records are a prime source for information about the vital events in an individual's life. They contain information that can be used to compile pedigrees and family groups. They identify children, spouses, parents, and sometimes grandparents as well as dates and places of vital events. They establish individual identity and are excellent sources for linking generations and identifying relationships. | ||
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The database includes information about all those deported to Terezín ghetto from Austria, Bohemia, Denmark, Germany, Moravia, Netherlands, and Slovakia, as well as those sent to Terezín on death marches at the end of World War II. Information about the Jews who were deported from Bohemia and Moravia to Łódź, Minsk, Oświęcim, and Ujazdów is also included. | The database includes information about all those deported to Terezín ghetto from Austria, Bohemia, Denmark, Germany, Moravia, Netherlands, and Slovakia, as well as those sent to Terezín on death marches at the end of World War II. Information about the Jews who were deported from Bohemia and Moravia to Łódź, Minsk, Oświęcim, and Ujazdów is also included. | ||
== Finding a Professional Genealogist == | == Finding a Professional Genealogist == | ||
JewishGen now has a list of professional genealogists who do research in Central and Eastern Europe. Most live in their native lands. Included with the name of each person is the name of the individual doing the recommending along with their e-mail address. Click [http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/researchers.htm here] to see the list of genealogists recommended by the JewishGen users. | JewishGen now has a list of professional genealogists who do research in Central and Eastern Europe. Most live in their native lands. Included with the name of each person is the name of the individual doing the recommending along with their e-mail address. Click [http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/researchers.htm here] to see the list of genealogists recommended by the JewishGen users. | ||