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Church records are crucial for research in Poland. They are often the only source of family information. | Church records are crucial for research in Poland. They are often the only source of family information. | ||
Civil authorities did not begin registering vital statistics until after 1874 in the former German areas and not until after 1918 in the rest of Poland. For these later records, | Civil authorities did not begin registering vital statistics until after 1874 in the former German areas and not until after 1918 in the rest of Poland. For these later records, see the "[[Poland Civil Registration- Vital Records|Civil Registration]]" section in this outline. | ||
=== General Historical Background === | === General Historical Background === | ||
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'''1563''' The Roman Catholic council of Trent required Catholic parishes throughout Europe to record baptisms and marriages. Few Polish parishes complied until the 1590s. | '''1563''' The Roman Catholic council of Trent required Catholic parishes throughout Europe to record baptisms and marriages. Few Polish parishes complied until the 1590s. | ||
'''1614 '''A revised church proclamation repeated the order to keep church books and added a requirement to maintain death registers. Many more parishes complied. | '''1614'''A revised church proclamation repeated the order to keep church books and added a requirement to maintain death registers. Many more parishes complied. | ||
'''1772 '''First partition of Poland. Polish territory was divided between Austria, Prussia, and Russia, creating differences in record-keeping styles. More partitions in 1793 and 1795. | '''1772'''First partition of Poland. Polish territory was divided between Austria, Prussia, and Russia, creating differences in record-keeping styles. More partitions in 1793 and 1795. | ||
'''1781''' The Austrian Empire recognized the religeous rights of non-Catholics with the Edict of Toleration. | '''1781''' The Austrian Empire recognized the religeous rights of non-Catholics with the Edict of Toleration. | ||
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'''1807''' Duchy of Warsaw established under jurisdiction of Napoleon’s French Empire. Expanded to the Grand Duchy of Warsaw in 1809. | '''1807''' Duchy of Warsaw established under jurisdiction of Napoleon’s French Empire. Expanded to the Grand Duchy of Warsaw in 1809. | ||
'''1808 '''Napoleon’s civil code introduced. Civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths were to be kept in the Duchy of Warsaw written in Polish language. Catholic clergy were generally responsible for making transcripts of their church records for the state, including records of the Protestants and Jews. | '''1808'''Napoleon’s civil code introduced. Civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths were to be kept in the Duchy of Warsaw written in Polish language. Catholic clergy were generally responsible for making transcripts of their church records for the state, including records of the Protestants and Jews. | ||
'''1815''' The Congress of Vienna settled the distribution of territory after the defeat of Napoleon. The borders between Russia, Prussia, and Austria were realigned. Most of the Duchy of Warsaw was awarded to Russia and designated Congress Poland or the Kingdom of Poland. Napoleonic-style civil transcripts of church records continued there. | '''1815''' The Congress of Vienna settled the distribution of territory after the defeat of Napoleon. The borders between Russia, Prussia, and Austria were realigned. Most of the Duchy of Warsaw was awarded to Russia and designated Congress Poland or the Kingdom of Poland. Napoleonic-style civil transcripts of church records continued there. | ||
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'''1827''' Revision of the civil transcript law of Congress Poland let Protestants and Jews keep their own vital records. | '''1827''' Revision of the civil transcript law of Congress Poland let Protestants and Jews keep their own vital records. | ||
'''1830s '''Protestants and Jews in Austria, including those of the Polish area of Galicia, were allowed to keep their own civil transcripts of vital records. The practice was standardized by 1840. | '''1830s'''Protestants and Jews in Austria, including those of the Polish area of Galicia, were allowed to keep their own civil transcripts of vital records. The practice was standardized by 1840. | ||
'''1868 '''Russian law required civil transcripts throughout Congress Poland be kept in Russian language. | '''1868'''Russian law required civil transcripts throughout Congress Poland be kept in Russian language. | ||
'''1918 '''The Republic of Poland was created, reuniting Polish territory. Laws regarding keeping vital records were gradually standardized throughout the republic. | '''1918'''The Republic of Poland was created, reuniting Polish territory. Laws regarding keeping vital records were gradually standardized throughout the republic. | ||
=== Civil Transcripts === | === Civil Transcripts === | ||
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Your ancestor may have lived in village that was part of a parish located in a nearby larger town. | Your ancestor may have lived in village that was part of a parish located in a nearby larger town. | ||
Over time, some villages may have belonged to more than one parish as jurisdictions changed. Some gazetteers indicate parish jurisdictions. For help identifying parish boundaries, see | Over time, some villages may have belonged to more than one parish as jurisdictions changed. Some gazetteers indicate parish jurisdictions. For help identifying parish boundaries, see the "[[Poland Gazetteers|Gazetteers]]" and "[[Poland Maps|Maps]]" sections in this outline and the following section on church record inventories. | ||
The town where the church building was located is considered the parish headquarters. Although the church building was often named for a saint, the Family History Library Catalog refers to a parish by the name of the town where the parish church was located. In large cities where there may be many parishes for each religion, the catalog uses the parish name (such as St. John) to distinguish records of different parishes. | The town where the church building was located is considered the parish headquarters. Although the church building was often named for a saint, the Family History Library Catalog refers to a parish by the name of the town where the parish church was located. In large cities where there may be many parishes for each religion, the catalog uses the parish name (such as St. John) to distinguish records of different parishes. | ||
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The Family History Library has church records on microfilm from many parishes throughout Poland, some to 1875, some to the 1880s, and some as late as the 1960s. The library does not have copies of records that were destroyed, have not been microfilmed, or are restricted from public access by the archivist or by law. | The Family History Library has church records on microfilm from many parishes throughout Poland, some to 1875, some to the 1880s, and some as late as the 1960s. The library does not have copies of records that were destroyed, have not been microfilmed, or are restricted from public access by the archivist or by law. | ||
The specific holdings are listed in | The specific holdings are listed in the Place section of the Family History Library Catalog. | ||
Look in the catalog under the name of the town where the parish was, not necessarily the town where your ancestor lived: | Look in the catalog under the name of the town where the parish was, not necessarily the town where your ancestor lived: | ||
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Poland has no single repository of church records. The present location of records depends on nationality, religion, and local history. Church records are available at: | Poland has no single repository of church records. The present location of records depends on nationality, religion, and local history. Church records are available at: | ||
* '''Local parishes.''' Most Catholic church records are still maintained by the parish, which will generally answer correspondence in Polish. You can write directly to the parish with a nonspecific address (Catholic parish, Town name with postal code, Poland), but using the specific parish address is better. For specific addresses, consult a church directory (see | * '''Local parishes.''' Most Catholic church records are still maintained by the parish, which will generally answer correspondence in Polish. You can write directly to the parish with a nonspecific address (Catholic parish, Town name with postal code, Poland), but using the specific parish address is better. For specific addresses, consult a church directory (see the "[[Poland Church Directories|Church Directories]]" section in this outline). If the records you need have been moved to a diocese or state archive, your request may be forwarded to that archive. | ||
* '''Diocese archives.''' Some parish registers are collected in diocesan archives. Generally the very old records (before 1800) are in diocesan archives. Some dioceses have parishes archive their records after 100 years. Protestants also maintain church archives, although their records are likely to be in a state archive. Church archives are often unable to handle genealogical requests, but they can tell you if specific records are available. | * '''Diocese archives.''' Some parish registers are collected in diocesan archives. Generally the very old records (before 1800) are in diocesan archives. Some dioceses have parishes archive their records after 100 years. Protestants also maintain church archives, although their records are likely to be in a state archive. Church archives are often unable to handle genealogical requests, but they can tell you if specific records are available. | ||
* '''State archives.''' Many parish records and transcripts are in state archives. Most of these records have been microfilmed and are available at the Family History Library. For more recent records and for those not yet microfilmed, write to the Directorate of the State Archives and request searches of the records. See the [[Poland Archives and Libraries|"Archives and Libraries]]" section in this outline for that address. | * '''State archives.''' Many parish records and transcripts are in state archives. Most of these records have been microfilmed and are available at the Family History Library. For more recent records and for those not yet microfilmed, write to the Directorate of the State Archives and request searches of the records. See the [[Poland Archives and Libraries|"Archives and Libraries]]" section in this outline for that address. | ||
* '''Civil registration offices.''' Transcripts (copies) and sometimes originals of church records or Jewish records may be deposited in local civil registration offices. These are generally sent to state archives after 100 years. See the "[[Poland Civil Registration- Vital Records|Civil Registration]]" | * '''Civil registration offices.''' Transcripts (copies) and sometimes originals of church records or Jewish records may be deposited in local civil registration offices. These are generally sent to state archives after 100 years. See the "[[Poland Civil Registration- Vital Records|Civil Registration]]" section in this outline. | ||
The Family History Library has microfilmed records at state archives and in the diocesan archives of several dioceses. The library is continuing to acquire film copies of additional records. This is a major ongoing project. | The Family History Library has microfilmed records at state archives and in the diocesan archives of several dioceses. The library is continuing to acquire film copies of additional records. This is a major ongoing project. | ||
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# If earlier generations are not in the parish records, search the records of neighboring parishes. | # If earlier generations are not in the parish records, search the records of neighboring parishes. | ||
# Search the death registers for all family members. | # Search the death registers for all family members. | ||
# [[Category:Poland]] | |||