CHICAGO-POLISH-L Archives

Archiver > CHICAGO-POLISH > 2005-01 > 1105104585


From: Cynthia Piech <>
Subject: Re: Marriage in Lodz, Poland--Stanski and Dynkowski
Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2005 05:29:45 -0800 (PST)
In-Reply-To: <200501062000.j06K06Ui001319@lists5.rootsweb.com>


Kenn,

It sounds like you are just starting with your
research. I'm going to give you a couple of specific
suggestions and then, because at this time of the year
a lot of people get interested in genealogy having
spent the holidays talking to family, I'm going to
give some general suggestions about doing Polish
genealogy research.

You mentioned that you went to the LDS site, but that
the information about the films was in Polish. If you
click on the highlighted title of the film, it will
take you to another page with "Film Notes", which will
be in English and describe what is on the film. Also,
if you go to a LDS Family History Center, you will
find volunteers that will be able to help you with the
catalogue entries and other resources they provide
access to.

You mentioned the family names you are researching,
that you don't speak Polish and that you speak some
Greek and Hebrew. Which leads to the question what
faith were your ancestors - Roman Catholic, Orthodox
or Jewish - because at times records were maintained
by the churches on behalf of the civil authorities.
If your ancestors were Jewish, their records may not
-or may - be in the Catholic church films.

I think before you go on, it would be good to learn a
bit more about doing Polish genealogy research, Polish
history, etc. So I offer the following suggestions:

There are many genealogy sites on the web that give
advice on how to do Polish genealogical research.
This is a link to the getting started suggestions of
the PGSA: http://www.pgsa.org/DearResearcher.htm.
While youre there, you can search the databases that
are available. Because history plays such an
important role in doing genealogical research in
Poland, you should also read up on the history of
Poland. Another very good website about genealogy in
general is www.cyndislist.com. There is an excellent
website for Jewish genealogy (and Polish genealogy
because so many Jews came from Poland):
www.jewishgen.org.

Either purchase or borrow from your local library a
book titled Polish Roots written by Rosemary
Chorzempa. Its available from any major bookstore.
Its a little dated but is still an invaluable
reference. You will save a lot of time, money and
frustration if you learn how to do research correctly
from the start. This book will explain how to do
research here on this side of the pond in the U.S.
(naturalization records, census, LDS Family History
Centers, etc.) and Poland (churches and archives).

Join at least one Polish genealogy society. If you
can, one that is local so you can attend meetings
where you can meet others doing research and ask
questions and learn. The PGSA is located in Chicago,
but has 2,000 members worldwide, so although the
meetings and annual conference are in Chicago, the
PGSA tries to provide research tools and information
that can be available to members through the web site
and the quarterly magazine, Rodziny. Membership in
societies isn't expensive and besides the benefits to
you of things like a newsletter, this provides funds
for the societies to maintain web sites and create
databases and do other things that can be so helpful
in research.

It works best if you give some kind of idea of what
level of research you have already done so that those
giving advice dont take the time to tell you to do
something when you have already tried that avenue of
research. In other words, do you have the
birth/marriage/death records, naturalization papers,
etc. or is this just information told to you verbally
by a great aunt.

Give as much information about your family members
that you know in an orderly manner so that it is easy
to see what information you have. For example, names,
dates of birth/death, where they came from or if this
is not know, where they lived in the U.S., etc.

Spell very carefully. People tend to be casual
(sloppy) with emails, but one letter can be the
difference between the name being your family's name
or not. For example, Rutkowsky versus Rutkowski.
Both legitimate names, but entirely different.

Good luck and have fun!

Cynthia
PGSA

> Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2005 20:10:35 -0500
> From: "Shirley, Kenn" <>
> To:
> Subject: Marriage in Lodz, Poland--Stanski and
> Dynkowski
>
> Fellow Chicago Researchers,
>
> Piece by piece I have been able to add to the story
> and history of my
> wife's great grandparents who immigrated to Chicago
> in 1908 and 1910.
> They are Ignacy and Marya (nee') Stanski Dynkowski.
> One year ago I knew
> almost nothing about them and today I know much
> more. I need some
> direction on how to continue. I recently acquired
> Ignacy and Marya's
> divorce papers from Cook County dated 1912. It is a
> nice collection of
> information, although a sad story. In the documents
> their marriage date
> and place is listed: October 15, 1892 in Lodz,
> Russia (Poland).
>
> I would love to know if there is any possibility
> that this marriage
> certificate might still exist? I'm a little stumped
> here. I've glanced
> at the LDS site and see some things about church
> records in Lodz, but
> they are (of course) Polish to me and I only speak
> English, French, some
> Hebrew and Greek. I think I am a little overwhelmed
> and am curious how
> some of you experts have gone on with this.
>
> I would appreciate any direction with this. I am
> hoping that the
> marriage certificate might give more information or
> confirm one or two
> facts. Help me know where to go from here.
>
> As usual, thanks so much in advance for all your
> help.

> Best wishes!
>
> Kenn



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