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| ==About Archives== | | ==Genealogy/Family History in Russian Archives== |
| | | *Neither the Federal Archival Agency nor many Russian archives are staffed or equipped to answer extensive genealogical inquires of a "family history" nature. |
| Archives collect and preserve original documents created by organizations such as churches or governments. Libraries generally collect published books, maps, microfilms, and other sources. This section describes major repositories of Russia’s genealogical and historical records. When you need the address of an archive or library, look in this section.
| | *Unless the exact archive involved has already been identified, family-history inquiries should normally be addressed directly to more specialized genealogical services, many of which are listed and described in the Resource Guide on the website of the Federation of East European Family History Societies ([http://www.feefhs.org/ http://www.feefhs.org] ). Genealogical inquiries and family history in Russia can be performed reliably through Russian Society of Historians and Archivists (ROIA) (e-mail: [mailto:roia@rusarchives.ru roia@rusarchives.ru] ; fax: [7-095] 245-09-45) in Moscow. Information and appropriate questionnaires are available at the "Arkhivy Rossii" website. |
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| There are many government archives in Russia as well as in the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union. These archives contain a rich assortment of materials for the genealogist tracing families in the Russian Empire. However, the archives do not communicate with each other and information on similar subjects is not coordinated. Each archive will provide specific information on subjects sought if they are found within their archive. They may recommend another archive if they are unable to provide such a work.
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| Information in the archives can now be accessed by contacting the archives directly or by contacting a commercial research service such as [http://www.feefhs.org/members/blitz/frgblitz.html BLITZ]. However, unlike research in many western countries, it is not possible to simply request a birth, marriage or death certificate. Archives in the former Soviet Union were not organized to respond to this kind of straight forward request or to provide such information or documentation.
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| In general, the archives in the former Soviet Union are poorly organized, poorly indexed and in poor physical condition. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the budgets from the central government for maintaining the many archives have been drastically cut or are non-existent. Archives must now pay for their own electricity, heating and fire protection services.
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| You may write to request information. However, most archives are not staffed to do research for clients and only a few do it. The more provincial areas cannot read English. If you choose to go yourself, your success will depend largely on making prior arrangements so that the archive knows you are coming. Even then access may be restricted by the disposition or mood of the archivist. Travel conditions and facilities are primitive in many areas, usually worse the further east you go. Unless you speak the native language you are advised to hire a local guide/interpreter.
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| Unfortunately, a great many records have been lost during wars and by fire. Some records were discarded after they were thought not to be useful any longer and some records have simply not been catalogued so their existence is not known even to the Archive.
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| Efforts are now being made to systematize the records and publish catalogues for the various archives. The FamilySearch is now microfilming a great many records in Russia. Filming has occurred in Armenia, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine.
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| The problem remains that many of these records are handwritten in the old Russian alphabet. You will need language skill depending on the area you research. Primarily you will need to know Russian. Other major languages of the records are Polish, German and Latin. You will need to determine the proper spelling of place names and determine the correct place if there are locations with the same name. Needless to say, these records are very difficult to read and translate. Unless you are skilled in reading old Russian, this is a good reason to use a local research service such as [http://www.feefhs.org/members/blitz/frgblitz.html BLITZ].
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| ==Types of Records== | | ==Types of Records== |