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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 | 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. | ||
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. | 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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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. | 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. | ||
Efforts are now being made to systematize the records and publish catalogues for the various archives. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is now microfilming a great many records in Russia. The problem remains that many of these records are handwritten in the old Russian alphabet. 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 '''Blitz''' (http://feefhs.org/ | Efforts are now being made to systematize the records and publish catalogues for the various archives. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is now microfilming a great many records in Russia. The problem remains that many of these records are handwritten in the old Russian alphabet. 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 '''Blitz''' (http://feefhs.org/ ) | ||
Some of the types of records that can be accessed in the archives of the former Soviet Union are listed below: | Some of the types of records that can be accessed in the archives of the former Soviet Union are listed below: | ||
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A photograph of the person in uniform is most helpful. Military service medals, even those shown in a photograph, can often be identified as to the campaign. If the service medal is available, it should have a serial number on the back, which can be traced. Records of trials and courts-marshal are also kept. These records often contain much personal family information. | A photograph of the person in uniform is most helpful. Military service medals, even those shown in a photograph, can often be identified as to the campaign. If the service medal is available, it should have a serial number on the back, which can be traced. Records of trials and courts-marshal are also kept. These records often contain much personal family information. | ||
'''Protestant'''''' Church Registers''' - In pre-revolutionary Russia, each year the non-Russian orthodox churches were required to make a copy of their register and send it to St. Petersburg. These records are kept in the Russian State Historic Archives in some 300 large volumes called "Metrical" books. These books are very time consuming to search because they are not indexed and are organized by year and parish. | '''Protestant''''''Church Registers''' - In pre-revolutionary Russia, each year the non-Russian orthodox churches were required to make a copy of their register and send it to St. Petersburg. These records are kept in the Russian State Historic Archives in some 300 large volumes called "Metrical" books. These books are very time consuming to search because they are not indexed and are organized by year and parish. | ||
It is therefore essential to first know the parish name, which can have both a German and a Russian name. Parish boundaries often changed as the population increased or as colonists established new settlements. Sometimes parishes disappeared as they were absorbed into adjoining parishes. | It is therefore essential to first know the parish name, which can have both a German and a Russian name. Parish boundaries often changed as the population increased or as colonists established new settlements. Sometimes parishes disappeared as they were absorbed into adjoining parishes. | ||
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'''Apartment records''' - Some cities have local archives with the listing of apartment residents, the date they moved in, the date they left for an extended period of time, where they went, when they returned, where they returned from and when they moved out for good. In some cases, the records will indicate that a person was arrested. | '''Apartment records''' - Some cities have local archives with the listing of apartment residents, the date they moved in, the date they left for an extended period of time, where they went, when they returned, where they returned from and when they moved out for good. In some cases, the records will indicate that a person was arrested. | ||
'''KGB records''' - During the Lenin and Stalin era many people were arrested, tried and executed as traitors. Sometimes those not executed | '''KGB records''' - During the Lenin and Stalin era many people were arrested, tried and executed as traitors. Sometimes those not executed were later rehabilitated. The records of the trial and rehabilitation proceedings are in the archives of the FSB (former KGB) offices located in the same city (or region) in which the person was arrested. These files can only be accessed by members of the immediate family. | ||
For researchers, these files can only be ordered and viewed 75 years after the date of the original records. The main information center located in Moscow may provide the relatives with such information. Accessing the KGB records is not easy and you should use a local research service. | For researchers, these files can only be ordered and viewed 75 years after the date of the original records. The main information center located in Moscow may provide the relatives with such information. Accessing the KGB records is not easy and you should use a local research service. | ||
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Before visiting an archive, contact it and ask for information about its collection, hours, services, and fees. | Before visiting an archive, contact it and ask for information about its collection, hours, services, and fees. | ||
The Family History Library has an index of the State Archives of St. Petersburg titled: ''Annotated Register'', | The Family History Library has an index of the State Archives of St. Petersburg titled: ''Annotated Register'', call number is => '''947.2 A3''' | ||
Another FHL book is titled: ''Arkhivnye dokumenty poistorii evreev v Rosii v xix - nachale XX vv'' | Another FHL book is titled: ''Arkhivnye dokumenty poistorii evreev v Rosii v xix - nachale XX vv'' Which is a Research guide to materials on the history of Russian Jewry (19th and 20th centuries) in selected archives of the former Soviet Union. | ||
Call number is => '''947 J57d''' | Call number is => '''947 J57d''' | ||
'''''Archives of Russia:''''''' '''''A'''rcheo'''B'''iblio'''B'''ase: Archives in Russia ('''ABB''') | '''''Archives of Russia:''''''' '''''A'''rcheo'''B'''iblio'''B'''ase: Archives in Russia ('''ABB''')'' | ||
''A Directory and Bibliographic Guide to Holdings in Moscow and St Petersburg''. Website => http://www.iisg.nl/~abb/abb_print.html | ''A Directory and Bibliographic Guide to Holdings in Moscow and St Petersburg''. Website => http://www.iisg.nl/~abb/abb_print.html | ||
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Entries for individual repositories include names (and all previous names) in Russian and English, addresses (including e-mail and fax), transportation, major staff, institutional history, surveys of holdings, access, working conditions, reference facilities, and a bibliography of related finding aids. In addition to indexes of authors, personal names, and an index-correlation table linking previous and present acronyms with current names of repositories, the English edition has an extensive subject index. | Entries for individual repositories include names (and all previous names) in Russian and English, addresses (including e-mail and fax), transportation, major staff, institutional history, surveys of holdings, access, working conditions, reference facilities, and a bibliography of related finding aids. In addition to indexes of authors, personal names, and an index-correlation table linking previous and present acronyms with current names of repositories, the English edition has an extensive subject index. | ||
All of the archives listed | All of the archives listed are described in more detail with a full bibliography of their published guides and finding aids in the ABB printed directory, Archives of Russia: A Directory and Bibliography Guide to Holdings in Moscow and St Petersburg. (Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2000). The English edition is considerably expanded from the Russian-language edition, Arkhivy Rossii (Moscow, 1997). | ||
'''Genealogy/Family History''' | '''Genealogy/Family History''' | ||
Regretfully, IISH ([http://www.iisg.nl/ International Institute of Social History], Amsterdam) is not able to handle family history and/or related genealogical inquiries. Furthermore, it should be noted, that neither the Federal Archival Agency nor many Russian archives are staffed or equipped to answer extensive genealogical inquires of a "family history" nature, although some archives have been improving services in this regard. 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 | Regretfully, IISH ([http://www.iisg.nl/ International Institute of Social History], Amsterdam) is not able to handle family history and/or related genealogical inquiries. Furthermore, it should be noted, that neither the Federal Archival Agency nor many Russian archives are staffed or equipped to answer extensive genealogical inquires of a "family history" nature, although some archives have been improving services in this regard. 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. | ||
[[Category:Russia]]<br> | |||