• August 8th Meeting Presentation
• October 2010 PGSA Conference – Early Bird Pricing about to end!
• Polish Military Alliance
• Immigrant Marriage Database St. Joseph County Indiana
• Let us know what you think – Electronic Rodziny
• Book Review: Inside a Gestapo Prison: The Letters of Krystyna Wituska, 1942-1944 by Deborah Greenlee
• Website of Interest
• Pay Membership Dues Online
• Don’t forget, PGSA is always looking for volunteers!
• Rodziny & More CD Just Published
• What's New on the Site

 

August 8^th  Meeting Presentation - "Naturalization: Its History and Records" by speaker Kathryn Barrett

Kathryn Barrett has been a volunteer at the Chicago branch of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for 15 years.  Here are some of her key points.

• First, not everyone was naturalized.
• To search, you need to know the full name, including the maiden name.
• The records are kept in many places, in no consistent order. There is no comprehensive index to naturalization.
• The census data for 1900 to 1930 asked about naturalization; responses are reported in a separate column.
  • AL=Alien
  • PA=Intent to become a citizen has been filed
  • NA=Naturalized
  • UN=Unknown naturalization status
  • May be blank
• While it is important to know where people lived in the period in which they would have been naturalized, they might not have used a court in the same state. Rather, they would have gone to the nearest court.
• Courts
  •  Prior to 1906, people had a choice of many types of courts in which to be naturalized, e.g., federal, state, local, district, criminal.
  • People did not necessarily complete the process in the same court.
  • Each court printed its own forms and certificates.
  • After 27 Sept. 1906, naturalization took place only through the federal courts.
• The process
  • First papers, or Declaration of Intention: indication that the person is going to apply for citizenship.
  • Second papers or Petition for Naturalization: the actual application. It was supposed to have a Certificate of Arrival attached. Eventually, photographs were required.
  • Certificate of citizenship: verified citizenship, but had limited information.
• Women and children
  • Single women rarely registered to become citizens.
  • Wives and children received derivative citizenship when their husbands/fathers were naturalized.
  • Children could establish Lawful Permanent Residency on their own.
  • American women who married aliens lost their citizenship, and had to re-establish it.
• Military
  • As of 1862, any alien 21 or older, who had served at least a year in the army, and had been discharged honorably, was eligible for citizenship upon petition.
  • Marines and navy service members had to serve five years to be eligible.
• Under the 1862 Homestead Act, people could apply for land and naturalization at the same time. Some naturalization paperwork is available from the Bureau of Land Management.
• Entering the United States
  • Ellis Island and Boston were only two of the many entry points. Among others were Baltimore, Galveston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, New Orleans, and Charleston.
  • People arriving in Canada were asked if they planned to remain in the country or go to the U.S. If the latter, St. Albans, VT, was their likely entry point.
  • Ship manifests can be helpful; one list was prepared upon departure, another upon arrival.
  • Names were not changed at Ellis Island, as is commonly believed. Agents had the manifests in hand, and the staff members spoke many languages.
  • People who had emigrated to the U.S., gone home, and then come back prior to citizenship, had to make special arrangements to ensure readmission to the country.
• The best local starting place for an immigration and naturalization search is the National Archives and Records Administration index.
  • The Chicago/Great Lakes branch is at 7358 S. Pulaski. See http://www.archives.gov/great-lakes/index.html for more information
  • Kathryn Barrett volunteers there on Mondays from 8:30 to 4:30, except for a lunch break.
  • NARA has records for the Midwest, including all census records on microfilm. The 1940 census will be made available April 1, 2010; it will not be on microfilm. This may cut down on our availability to find people whose enumeration district we can guess, but not the address.

*          *          *          *

For additional information on the National Archives and Records Administration, go to: 

• www.archives.gov for an introduction to the system;
• www.archives.gov/great-lakes for information on the Chicago branch of NARA.

For additional information, and examples of the forms, here are some additional sources I found in completing this writeup. 

• http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/naturalization/naturalization.html:

Naturalization Records, National Archives

• http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/genealogy/natlzn/records.asp

Naturalization Records, Wisconsin Historical Society

• http://www.archives.state.ut.us/research/guides/naturalizations.htm

Utah Naturalization and Citizenship Records

• http://www.ancestry.com/learn/library/article.aspx?article=2771

"Homestead Records Detail Pioneer Life," Ancestry Magazine, Nov. 11, 1994.

October 2010 PGSA Conference - Early Bird Pricing about to end!

Download a copy of the Conference brochure to see the program and speakers.  Once you have selected the sessions you want to attend, you can Register online or mail in your registration.

CHECK-IN begins at 2pm on Friday, October 1^st and single sessions will begin at 3 P.M. There will be opportunity for one-on-one translation help, and a 2-hour dinner break (on your own) midway between sessions. Saturday sessions begin at 9am. Conference includes syllabus, hot plated luncheon (unless option declined), entertainment & presentation of Gwiazda & Wigilia Awards. Vendor/Media Room will open on Friday at 3pm & Saturday, at 8am. Vendors will be exhibiting charts, maps, books, embroidered apparel, items from Poland & genealogical fun stuff in Media/Vendor room. Our photo expert, Eric Basir will be on the premises to do photo restoration on-site so originals can go home with you.

OAK LAWN HILTON has reserved a block of rooms for Conference attendees at a special rate of $99.00 a night+tax. To reserve, call 708-425-7800 by Tuesday, September 14, 2010 and indicate you're a PGSA participant.

A number of experienced presenters with in-depth knowledge of specific aspects of Polish genealogy have agreed to share their insights.  Just a few examples include John Hallman on the previously unaddressed topic of Luther church records; Meghann Pytka explaining the triggers of the mass immigration of Poles; and Judith Frazin unearthing treasures in Polish language records.  And just to hint at other subjects that will appear in lectures, consider these: inquests, urban research, lost children, probate, Polish Archives....and the list goes on.

There will be help for the new researcher in the form of beginning lectures, and for all a Q & A corner and translation help.  If you are serious about Polish Genealogical research, this is a conference you definitely want to attend.

Polish Military Alliance

The Polish Military Alliance Battalion functioned under the Illinois Volunteer Training Corps (IVTC), a state agency.  The battalions that made up the Corps served as the reserve Illinois militia.  During World War I, National Guard units were called upon to send troops for the war effort.  This left the state depleted of a militia "to quell disorder and preserve the public peace within the boundaries of the State."

The members of the Polish Battalion did not receive money from the state for uniforms, so they held a fundraising ball.  A program booklet from January 9, 1918 still survives which includes advertising, sponsors, photos of battalion leaders, names of battalion members, and a brief history of the Polish Military Alliance.  The complete booklet can be found on the PGSA website at: www.pgsa.org/EducationalCenter/PolishBat.php

For more information on the Illinois Volunteer Training Corps, check with the Illinois state archives which has additional documents regarding training schedules and commissions.

Immigrant Marriage Database St. Joseph County, Indiana

This Database contains much more information than its name implies!

The transcription of this database began in 2009, with the objective of making the marriage records of the major Polish Churches in South Bend available on the internet. Care was taken to identify the baptismal village whenever possible to allow the researcher access to LDS records when they were available.

The location of the University of Notre Dame in the area brought many young men from around the country who met, wooed and married young ladies of the area at Sacred Heart Basilica and other local Parishes. Thus this database contains information on families across the Midwest.

 The database grew from the original four Polish churches to eleven multi ethnic churches and it  now contains the largest transcription of Hungarian, Dutch, German and Irish families available on the internet today. We are pleased to see the volunteer effort which brings a number of national origins to the transcription.

 With the addition of St Mary's, Otis,  Indiana, a major Polish community in Laporte county, we have extended our effort west toward Chicago and the ethnic migration to the steel producing area along Lake Michigan known as "The Region". We will add two more ethnic churches in this area by the end of 2010.

Let us know what you think - Electronic Rodziny

With our goal of continual improvement, the PGSA Board of Directors regularly evaluates the services and products it offers.  Recently it was suggested that some members would prefer an electronic version of the Rodziny instead of the printed copy.  In the interest of faster delivery, only the electronic copy would be available to International members.

Each version has its benefits.  We know and love our printed Rodziny that we can sit down with and read at our leisure.  But there are additional advantages to the electronic version:

 Delivery  -  The electronic copy will be posted in the Members Only section of the PGSA at the same time it is submitted to the printing company.  So there is no wait for printing, mailing, or delivery-potentially bringing the Rodziny to you weeks before even first class copies are in the mail.  If you travel or split your time between several home locations, the latest electronic Rodziny will reach you immediately no matter where you may be.

 Searching  -  If you are interested in specific topics, you can find and read you articles of choice first because the material is PDF searchable.

 Copying  -  You can print and store articles or the entire issue, creating your own electronic library.

 Using Websites or Reference Material  -  When reading your Rodziny, how often have you come across a website or reference you wanted to access immediately but then didn't take the time or just forgot?  Now just a click of the mouse will enable you to take advantage of the moment and check it out immediately. 

Inside a Gestapo Prison:  The Letters of Krystyna Wituska, 1942-1944.  Edited and translated by Irena Tomaszewski, 127 pp., several black and white photographs.  Published by Wayne State University, 2006.

 Review by Deborah Greenlee

            Haven't enough World War II diaries been published already?  For a Polish perspective the answer is "No," especially in English.

            This book is a translation of hundreds of letters written by Krystyna Wituska during her imprisonment by the Nazis between 1942 and 1944.  The letters were gathered from several people with whom Wituska corresponded during her confinement.

            Krystyna came from a fairly well-off family in Warsaw and enjoyed a peaceful life until the Nazis invaded Poland.  She was 19 years old when arrested as a Polish spy.  Krystyna's last years on earth were spent in four Nazi prisons, three of them in Germany.  Though she tries to put on a happy face in her letters to avoid worrying her parents, Krystyna paints a horrific picture of her time in prison waiting to be sentenced.  Krystyna's experiences are certainly no different than millions of other Poles who were imprisoned, tortured and killed by the Nazis.  Here though, we experience the day-to-day gruesome details.

            Tomaszewski was able to translate Krystyna's letters (most were written in self-taught German so the Nazi censors could read them) in such a way as to convey Wituska's personality.  Tomaszewski has succeeded in maintaining what she calls the "emotional nuances" of this young woman's letters-difficult to do, considering the precision of the Polish language.  Krystyna's saintly attitude towards her captors, cell mates and family is almost unbelievable.  She was more concerned about the suffering of others than her own adversity.  The book leaves the reader hoping that they too, can some day attain a similar philosophy towards life as Krystyna.  This books is more than just an account of suffering, it is a memorial to Wituska.

            Surprisingly, perhaps, Krystyna turns out to be a modern woman who believes in the higher education of women and saw no reason why a woman could not work outside the home and still have a husband and children.

            The author includes a few photos to help the reader to connect even more with Krystyna and her situation.  Included in the appendix is an annotated list of her family and friends.  These people are mentioned so often in Krystyna's letters that Tomaszewski sees fit to alert the reader as to the outcome of their lives.  Clearly this took some research.

            Many people ignore the introductions in books.  To do so would be a mistake in this case.  The introduction to Krystyna's letters must be read because the amount of background history and little-known information provided is surprising and useful well beyond what is needed just for an understanding of the letters.  People who read this book will come away knowing a great deal more about what went on during World War II concerning Poland and her people.

Website of Interest

Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective combines photography, history and genealogy to help individuals discover a wealth of information in old photographs.  Learn how she does it and perhaps avail yourself of her services.  For more information go to: www.photodetective.com

Tired of writing checks?
You can now join the PGSA online. Click on New Membership and then click on the "Become a member of PGSA" link. Complete the registration form and safely pay for your membership via PayPal with your credit card. Former members whose memberships expired on January 31 or before will need to register using the New Membership option above.  Current PGSA members, particularly those whose membership expires on or before April 30 of this year, can renew online but the process is only slightly different. Click on Renew Membership and sign in. Unless you changed it, your password is your membership number (see your Rodziny mailing label). You will be taken to your Membership Profile. One of the links on this page is "Renew My Membership Online". Follow the link to select the renewal option you want. Payment can be made via PayPal.

Don't forget, PGSA is always looking for volunteers!

When done right, genealogy is not a solitary hobby.  Oh, you do a lot of your work by yourself, concentrating on books or microfilms or photocopies of records.  But you'll make the most progress if you also mix with others who do research.  Trade ideas, compare notes - you'll almost always find yourself returning to research with renewed enthusiasm, and with fresh ideas on how to get around those "brick walls."

That's why many of our volunteers step forward thinking they'll be helping others - and no question, they do! - but they help themselves most of all.  Nothing does more to stimulate your imagination and rekindle your interest than investing effort in aiding others.

Suppose, for instance, you volunteer to key in a long list of Polish parishioners' names for a searchable database: you think what you're doing is making that data available for others, and you are.  But the unexpected bonus is that when you get through, you suddenly realize you know more about Polish names than you did before-and that helps you recognize names scribbled in records.

Or maybe you compile a list of marriages for a particular parish and a particular time-frame.  When you're through, it dawns on you that you now understand, on a gut level, how young people usually were when they got married, or how often their first husband or wife died and they remarried.  From then on, you don't just gather facts; you have a deeper appreciation of the real lives behind those facts.  It makes you a better person, as well as a better researcher.

There are many ways to volunteer.  It's just a matter of finding what interests you well and how to use that talent to advantage.  But the little secret most volunteers discover is that doing something for others is the surest way to do something for themselves.

So be good to yourself and volunteer!  Think about what talents you have and how they might be useful.   Here are just a few possibilities:

Publications Chair - Someone who can help find CD's or books of merit for the Society to promote and assist the editors of the Rodziny and Notebook (our electronic e-zine).  Perhaps you could offer ideas on information not yet readily available that would be of help to our members.

Volunteer Coordinator - Do you like working with people, have an ability to assess someone else's talents and a willingness to work towards involving others in activities that are of benefit to the Society and rewarding to them?  Plus, at the same time, you have an opportunity to learn more about PGSA.

Notebook Editor - If you are constantly exploring the Internet for websites of interest to genealogists as well as events pertaining to the Polish Community and can put together brief articles; perhaps producing the monthly Notebook could be your creative outlet.

Writing/Reading/Editing - How about writing a review of a book related to Polish culture, history or genealogy or an article of interest to our members.

Web site - Our PGSA Forum needs someone to be a gatekeeper to insure that inquiries and information related to genealogy are the only messages getting on line.  The skill for this is easily learned and in turn, you may discover information in the commentaries that could help in your own research.

Content Management of Website pages - If you are detail oriented, like to see information that is current and willing to make the updates; we sorely need your help to keep our Web site fresh.

Jubilee Books- An ongoing project that is always seeking individuals to help with entering data (from the comfort of home and on your own schedule).  And, if you don't mind traveling to the Polish Museum, you can help with making copies of the books so that others may index.

Welcoming Committee - How about helping at our quarterly meetings: set up the seating, help with refreshments, put out the sign-up sheets, welcome attendees, clean-up afterwards.  This is a great way to meet and make new friends.

Legal Counsel - From time to time the Society needs some legal advice on an issue and would certainly appreciate having someone who could discuss ideas, offer solutions and give us guidance.

Photographer - It would be nice to post more pictures of our members, both at work and at  social events i.e., meetings/conference either in the Rodziny, in the Notebook or on-line.  Perhaps produce a video that can go on U-Tube!

I have no doubt these examples are only a fraction of the ways in which you can contribute.  If any of these areas interest you and you'd like more information please contact the Society at pgsamerica@pgsa.org, Attn: President or write to PGSA, 984 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL, 60642.

Rodziny & More CD JUST PUBLISHED!  --  Give a friend--or yourself--a gift of 30 years of award winning periodicals--1979-2008--published by the Polish Genealogical Society of America®.  PGSA's newest CD, Rodziny & More, can bring this wealth of information right to your computer screen.Over the years most subjects of interest to the Polish genealogists--and in some cases other researchers as well, have been addressed in PGSA's periodicals. You'll find articles on history, the partitions, surnames, language, records in Poland, town descriptions, information and surname exchanges, and other topics too numerous to mention. The CD's  Introduction, by William (Fred) Hoffman, Editor of Rodziny, provides a brief history of the publications and a brief "How-To" instruction follows. Most importantly, included for 1979 through 1992 are electronically searchable indexes for author, subject, and title. Publications from 1992 forward are directly searchable PDFs.  With these tools you can zero in on a subject of interest or just browse an article, a single publication, or the entire CD. Rodziny & More is an asset to any Polish researcher's library.  The CD is for sale at $35, but  PGSA members with a verified PGSA Store profile can purchase it for $25.
To order yours today, visit the PGSA Store CD section.

LOOKING FOR MORE GIFT IDEAS?

Regardless of the season, PGSA Membership makes a great gift for the Polish researchers in your life or to get other family members interested in joining you in the family history challenge.  For those already involved, PGSA's books are great additions to their reference shelf.  Check out the list today.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT, PGSA FORUM Back Again

The Polish Genealogy Forum had been removed because of serious spam attacks. A Forum works best when it is open to all, but periodically, garbage creeps in. We will continue to remove it when it's reported. Thank you to those Forum users who take the time to report problems. The Polish Genealogy Forum is back!

THANK YOU WEB PAGE ADOPTERS

A big Thank you to Web Page adopters Janet Paluch - Home Page and Suzanne Hetland - Calendar for pitching in to help us make your PGSA  website experience current & educational. Please give them your support !

Members Only Area - New Additions

Immigrant Family Tree Database - Additional Families have been Uplaoded

St. Joseph County Marriage Database - Now 10,000 plus entries

March 2010 - St.Stanislaus Kostka,Terre Coupe, IN 1889-1935 (Transcribed by Barbara Zwickl)

June 2010 - St Patricks, South Bend, 1866-1926

July 2010

- St Marys, Otis, Indiana 1873-1930

- St Marys of the Assunption, South Bend, 1882-1928 (Transcribed by Chris Kovatch)

Minnesota Baptism Records -  over 3100 new entries, Thanks to John Rys

PWEA Non-Death Insurance Database

Public Area - New Additions

Polish Geographic Index - 1500 new entries, Thanks to Mark Kaszniak

Michigan Resources

Document your Genealogy - Get an overview of the process

Kuryer Polski Indexing Project - Updated through 1934.  Thanks to Karen Wolniakowski Duffy

Jubilee Book Index -  Updated with over 10,000 records on March 29, 2010

Summary of Eric Basir's presentation on 9 August 2009.