BANAT-L Archives

Archiver > BANAT > 1997-05 > 0864136737


From: Sue Clarkson <>
Subject: Romanian visit-where to go? (fwd)
Date: Tue, 20 May 97 09:58:57 EDT


I have been to the archives in Timisoara twice to do family history
research. It is necessary to obtain permission in advance by writing
to:

Directia Generala A Arhivelor Statului
B-dul Mihail Kogalmiceanu 29
70602 Bucuresti Romania

The director's name is Marin Radu Mocanu. You can write in English.

In your letter, state the dates you plan to be in Romania and state
the records you want to see, e.g. church records from the towns of xxx.
Name all the possible towns you think you may want to see. If you do
not list a town, you will not be able to view the records. In addition
to church records, also list family book (familienbuch) as a possibility.

In the past, it has taken three to five months to receive a reply. John
Donis found a fax number: 4-01-312-58-41 and received a quicker reply.

When you receive a reply, be sure to take it with you when you go. The
director in Bucharest sends a copy to the director in Timisoara, but the
second time I went, the director in Timisoara did not receive the copy,
but admitted me based on the copy I brought.

The archives in Timisoara is located at: Str. A. Moccioni, Nr 8. The
street runs along a canal in the city centre. When I was there, you could
only write your own notes copying from the book. Photographing is forbidden
and there was no photocopying available. John Donis said that when he
was there, the director spoke about the possibility of getting a copy
machine.

The archive is only open certain days of the week, but the director has
allowed foreign visitors to enter on days when it is not normally open.
I always took along something to eat and drink so I could maximize the
time and not leave for lunch. Also, I also took toilet paper as there
was never any in the bathroom. One of the employees told my cousin that
the toilet paper would get stolen. There are soldier guarding the entrance
to the archive and you sit in a small room with a glass window and they
can observe you. They are young men. The official rule in Romania is
that soldiers and other government workers are not supposed to accept
bribes, but they do, and will a little friendlier is you slip them something
while no one is looking - cigarettes are good, even if they don't smoke, they
know somone who does and can trade cigarettes for something they want. The
staff at the archive will not accept personal gifts, but they did accept
coffee for the staff coffee pot. Some tea cookies would also be appreciated.

-- Sue Clarkson

----------------------------Original message----------------------------

I have been fortunate enough to visit my father's family in Bebe Veche,
Banat, Romania a couple of times, and glean information from them. Now I
will have a cousin here in July to visit, and plan to return with her for a
several-weeks stay in Bucharest and Timisoara. Any suggestions as to where
one might go to find census records, or any other records that might help me
get further back, would be appreciated. I want to be as prepared as
possible. Thanks Maria

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