Estonia Archives and Libraries
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- Archives collect and preserve original documents of organizations such as churches or governments. Libraries generally collect published sources such as books, maps, and microfilm.
- If you plan to visit a repository, contact them and ask for information about their collection, hours, services, and fees. Ask if they require you to have a reader’s ticket (a paper indicating you are a responsible researcher) to view the records, and ask how to obtain one.
- Although the records you need may be in an archive or library, the Family History Library may have microfilmed and/or digitized copies of them.
One difficulty in Estonian research is the dispersal of sources among various archives. Records can be found in the:
- Estonian National Archives
- National Archives of Sweden
- Russian State Archives
- Latvian State Historical Archives
Archives and Libraries[edit | edit source]
Estonian American National Council, Inc.[edit | edit source]
The purpose of the Estonian American National Council is: "Collecting of Estonian-American materials began before the establishment of the Estonian Archives in the U.S. This included valuable materials from more than a century ago. The overwhelming abundance of preserved, collected and deposited materials has come from Estonians who immigrated to America from the Displaced Persons Camps in Germany, 1945-1950. As a result of a formal appeal in 1965 for additional material about that the DP period a substantial collection was in place and archived. This was initially housed for safe keeping in numerous Estonian American homes."
The Estonian Archives of the United States can be found: Estonian Archives in the U.S., Inc. (EAUS).
Archives[edit | edit source]
Estonian National Archives (Rahvusarhiv)
Nooruse 3
50411 Tartu, Estonia
E-mail: rahvusarhiiv@ra.ee
Telephone: +372 738 7500
Saaga: Online Digital Records
Contact Information
- Digitized records include metrical books (church records), revision lists, military records, farmstead books, land registry records, residential registration records and more. For help navigating Saaga, see the "How to" Guide.
The National Archives of Sweden[edit | edit source]
Original sources concerning the history of Estonian people from the 17th up to the first half of the 20th century can be found in these archives. Their website can be found here.
Russian State Historical Archives[edit | edit source]
Original sources concerning the history of Estonian people from the 17th up to the first half of the 20th century can be found in these archives. Their website can be found here.
Latvian State Historical Archives[edit | edit source]
Original sources concerning the history of Estonian people from the 17th up to the first half of the 20th century can be found in these archives. Their website can be found here.
Some Estonian records have been digitized through the Latvian State Archive's digital reading room, Raduraksti. These records are primarily vital records and 1897 census records for towns of modern day southern Estonia that once belonged to Livland gubernia. To learn how to navigate the site, see the Raduraksti "How to" Guide.
Shefayim Archives[edit | edit source]
The Association of Latvian and Estonian Jews holds records at Kibbutz Shefayim. Thier website is in Hebrew, but you can use Google Translate to help you navigate the site. To see an online inventory of records available, see the JewishGen Latvia and Estonia Research Devision Shefayim Archives page.
Archives Portal Europe[edit | edit source]
- Archives Portal Europe provides access to information on archival material from Belgium as well as information on archival institutions throughout the European continent.