Research Services

Our Role

The role of the Polish Genealogical Society of America is to assist and guide individuals in their quest to uncover and organize family data and histories.
PGSA does not have the staff to perform genealogical research. However, PGSA offers limited assistance through the following services.

Website Research Support

The PGSA website homepage indicates three categories of support. Information in each of these categories is a combination of that available to the public and that available only as a benefit of membership in the PGSA.

  • The Surname Databases section provides access to proprietary and publicly available indexes, both domestic and foreign, by which to search for information or sources of information based on surnames.
  • The Research Sources section consolidates a wide range of domestic and foreign sites, plus materials and databases other than those that search by surnames.
  • The Education Library is a collection of sites, articles and videos helpful to researchers from the novice to the experienced.

Specific Research Services

Donations partially cover the costs of equipment and supplies, software and system upgrades, etc.
Donations are discounted for members of the PGSA; thus, non-members making numerous requests may wish to consider a membership.
Only requests accompanied by the applicable fee are filled. Refunds are given only in the case of a PGSA error.

Documents from Website Surname Searches

For some of the Surname Databases on the website, PGSA has access to the original documents or sources from which it is able to provide copies to the researcher.

SURNAME DATABASEMembersNon-MembersOrder Form
Dziennik Chicagoski Obituaries: 1890-1971$5.00$8.00Print
Chicago Parish Birth Records
* St. Stanislaus Kostka: 17 September 1869 to 13 October 1907
* Holy Trinity: 7 March 1889 to 31 December 1915
* St. John Cantius: 26 December 1893 to 30 December 1915
$6.00$10.00Print
Chicago Parish Marriage Records
* St. Stanislaus Kostka: 17 September 1869 to 13 October 1907
* Holy Trinity: 7 March 1889 to 31 December 1915
* St. John Cantius: 26 December 1893 to 30 December 1915
$6.00$10.00Print
Polish Roman Catholic Union of America (PRCUA)
Life insurance death claims: nnnn to nnnn
$10.00$15.00Print
Poles of Chicago 1837-1937$$Print
Kuryer Polski (Milwaukee)
* Marriages: nnnn to nnnn
* Deaths: nnnn to nnnn
$$

Special Research

PGSA provides research support in these additional subjects.

SUBJECTMembersNon MembersOrder Form
Heraldry Search$5.00$8.00Print
Surname Search in Polish Indexes$5.00$8.00Print
Village/Town Search – Basic information$8.00$12.00Print
Village/Town Search – Expanded information$$Print

How to Request Research Services

● Submissions are by mail with the order form and inclusion of the total amount of donation.
● Each research option has its specific order form with complete instructions.
● Multiple order forms can be used if there is insufficient space on one form.
● Requests without the proper order form will be returned.
● Surname Databases:
– Order forms are printed either from the search results page,
– or by the “Print” link above for the appropriate database search.
● Special Research:
– Order forms are printed by the “Print” link above for the specific service.