We’re Here For You!

 

Although the pandemic is very much still in our midst, I’d like to remind our PGSA members that we are available virtually, providing the services and publications that provide ongoing value for your PGSA membership dollar. Those important member benefits include:

    • Providing assistance with your individual research requests,
    • complementary webinars that expand your knowledge of all things Polish (genealogy data sources & methods, Polish history, and socioculture)
    • a wide range of publications available in our online Bookstore
    • our quarterly journal, Rodziny
    • our monthly electronic newsletter, the Notebook (sign-up required).

In early September, the PGSA Board sent out a survey to all members (via SurveyMonkey) asking for member feedback regarding satisfaction with our programs and services. We received many excellent suggestions from the survey responses, which will help shape the Board’s programmatic road map for 2021 and beyond. A total of 400 responses were received. With a total membership of 1,500+ members spread across 40 different States and 11 international countries, this was an excellent response from a broad cross-section of our membership, and on behalf of the Board and myself, I’d like to say Thank You (!) to each member who took the time to respond.

We are also in the process of re-vitalizing our website, and improving the organization and accessibility of our website’s rich content for members.

Last but not least, it is not yet clear if it will be possible to have an in-person Conference in September 2021. However, we have begun the planning for a Conference and developing several options, including a virtual conference format which may enable more members to participate. More to come on this, so please stay tuned for updates.

In the meantime, stay safe, and stay healthy,
Chet Szerlag President, PGSA

About

We collect, disseminate & preserve information on Polish & Polish-American family history.

Benefits

Members-only information, access and discounts.

Volunteering Opportunities

Here's how you can help!

PGSA Annual Conference

Weekend of September 17, 2021 - Save the Dates!!!

New to the PGSA Store!

Members and non-members can purchase books, CDs, booklets, informational packets and DVDs from https://pgsa.org/shop/. Become a member for savings on many items.

Memoirs of a Peasant

From Serfdom to the Present Day

Written by Jan Słomka, Translated by William F. Hoffman

Published in Poland in 1929, this memoir was written by a peasant who served for years as the administrator of his Galician village. Słomka (1842-1932) paints a graphic picture of every aspect of life – from what villagers ate to how they dressed, from their role as little more than draft animals to developing a social awareness, and living through WWI. As an eyewitness to history he saw his village people move from subservience under Austro-Hungarian rule to living in a free Poland.

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Membership

PGSA Membership Benefits Include:

  • Quarterly journal “Rodziny” with articles specific to Polish genealogy.
  • An automatic 10% member’s discount on all books and CDs.
  • A member’s discount on library research orders.
  • A member’s discount to the nationally recognized annual PGSA conference.
  • Access to the Members-Only section of the PGSA web site.
  • You’ll also be supporting PGSA projects such as indexing and preservation of vital records.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

WEBINAR ONLY – 75 Years After: Stories and Artifacts Witnessing World War II and the Holocaust

Date – Sunday, November 15, 2020, 2-4 pm Central

Guest Speaker: Kiel Majewski

2020 marks 75 years since the end of World War II and the liberation of most of the concentration camps established by Nazi Germany and its allies. This webinar will delve into the Holocaust collection of the Spungen Family Foundation in the Chicago area. Speaker, Mr. Kiel Majewski will moderate a discussion that draws on rare documents and artifacts brought to life by people who were impacted by them. Learn how this historical material can open doors for your genealogical research.

TO REGISTER:

Speaker Information: Kiel Majewski is a public historian and former Holocaust museum director who has curated exhibits and led tours of genocide memorials in North America, Europe, and Africa.  He has worked with youth and adult peace-building advocates. Much of Mr. Kiel’s information and the inspiration for his pursuing this historic subject derives from the personal perspective of tracing his grandfather’s story.

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Search Records

We’ve completed the first 3 phases of the launch of our new search engine and we now have a total of 33 databases available online. Work is now underway on the fourth and final phase of this launch and it consists of migrating the databases located within the Locations/Maps/Towns and Book Review categories to the new search engine.

The new search engine uses an all-inclusive search form to search and display user-requested database records. Although the search form “looks” different, it was designed to “function exactly as it did previously” on our old website. To help you get started, we’ve prepared a “How to Use the New Search Engine” document.

We designed the search engine to be intuitive, accurate and efficient, but if you experience any issues please give us your feedback and let us know what we can do to improve the search process. You can send a note to [email protected].

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