Ethnic Heritage Toolkits

• Diecezje Polskie (Polish Dioceses)

<www.amen.pl/diecezje.html> If you’re looking for Catholic church records in Poland, find the right diocese with this site’s clickable map.

• Genealogy and Poland

<www.polishroots.com/genpoland/index.htm> A great starting point for newcomers to Polish genealogy. It covers where to begin, what to look for and how to find it.

• German-Polish and Polish-German names in Poland & Russia

<www.atsnotes.com/other/gerpol.html#PO> The names of Polish towns switched as borders changed over time, so learn both the Polish and German versions here.

• Jewish Records Indexing — Poland

<www.jewishgen.org/jri-pl/jriplweb.htm> Search this site’s database for Jewish vital records just by knowing a surname. Includes more than 700,000 records from 130 Polish towns.

• Official Website of Poland

<poland.pl> Information about issues in the country today.

• Poland.net

<www.poland.net> Online guide to Polish businesses and Internet culture.

• PolandGenWeb

<www.rootsweb.com/~polwgw> Information about each Polish province as well as guides to researching in America and obtaining Polish records.

• Poland’s Central Archives of Historical Records

<members.xoom.com/agadadm/> Don’t let this site about Poland’s Central Archives of Historical Records fool you: While the Polish titles appear first, there are English translations of nearly everything, including an explanation of what civil and church records are available in Poland and how to go about getting them. Forms help you prepare your requests.

•Poland’s Holocaust: A Family Chronicle of Soviet and Nazi Terror

<www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Parliament/6764/intro.html> One man tells the story of how his Polish parents survived the reign of Nazis and later Soviets, through the diaries, letters and photographs they left behind.

•Polish Genealogical Word List

<www.familysearch.org/sg/WLPolish.html> Quick guide to common words you’ll run across in research.

•PolishRoots

<www.polishroots.com> Nifty site with links and information on everything from culture and customs to databases to an events calendar.

• Polish World

<www.polishworld.com> Links to Polish news, organizations and travel.

• The Polish Genealogy Home Page

<hum.amu.edu.pl/~rafalp/GEN/plgenhp.htm> Links to local Polish genealogy resources, Polish genealogy links and links of general interest to Polish researchers.

• Roman Catholic Church in Poland

<www.ipipan.waw.pl/~klopotek/church/rcc_in_p.htm> Find out more about the Catholic Church’s strong roots in Poland.

• State Archives of Poland

<ciuw.warman.net.pl/alf/archiwa/> Site explains types of holdings in both English and Polish. It also may point you to more local holdings in branch offices. For information about documents produced before 1945, write Archiwum Glôwne Akt Dawnych, 00-263 Warszawa, ul. Dluga 7, or call +48 (22) 831-54-91

• Tracing Your Roots in Poland

<www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/pl%2Dtrav.txt> Are you ready to go to Poland and start digging? Read about one couple’s experiences first.

BOOKS

• In Their Words: A Genealogist’s Translation Guide to Polish, German, Latin, and Russian Documents — Volume I: Polish by Jonathan D. Shea and William F. Hoffman (Languages. Lineage Press)

• And My Children Did Not Know Me: A History of the Polish-Americans by John J. Bukowczyk (Indiana University Press, out of print)

• The Polish Americans by Sean Dolan (Chelsea House)

• Polish Parish Records of the Roman Catholic Church: Their Use and Understanding in Genealogical Research by Gerald A. Ortell (Polish Genealogical Society of America)

• Polish Roots by Rosemary A. Chorzempa (Genealogical Publishing Co.)

• Polish Surnames: Origins and Meanings, 2nd edition, by William F. Hoffman (Polish Genealogical Society of America)

ORGANIZATIONS AND EMBASSIES

• American Center of Polish Culture

2025 O St. NW Washington, DC 20036 (202) 785-2320 <www.polishcenter.org> Lobbies on behalf of Poles and Polish-Americans and seeks to build interest and a positive image for Polish life and culture.

• American Institute of Polish Culture

1440 79th St. Causeway, Suite 117 Miami, FL 33141 (305) 864-2349 <www.ampolinstitute.org> Seeks to share Poland’s rich heritage and promote endeavors of Polish-Americans.

• Consulate General

Ulica Stolarska 9 31043 Krakow, Poland +48 (12) 429-66-55 <www.usconsulate.krakow.pl>

• Indiana University Polish Studies Center

1217 E. Atwater Ave. Bloomington, IN 47401 (813)855-1507 <www.indiana.edu/~polishst/> Offers lectures, concerts and holiday activities at the eight Indiana University campuses.

• Polish American Association

3834 N. Cicero Ave. Chicago, IL 60641 (773) 282-8206 <www.polish.org> Aims to improve the well-being of Poles and Polish-Americans today.

• Polish American Congress

<www.polamcon.org> Umbrella organization for fraternal, educational and other types of Polish groups.

• Polish American Cultural Center

308 Walnut St. Philadelphia, PA 19106 (215) 922-1700 <www.polishamericancenter.org> Aims to keep Polish heritage alive. Nice listing of Polish-American radio programs; there’s also a museum and gift shop.

• Polish Embassy

2640 16th St. NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 234-3800 <www.polishworld.com/polemb/>

• Polish Genealogical Society of America

984 N. Milwaukee Ave. Chicago, IL 60622 <www.pgsa.org> Provides books, newsletters, bulletins and an annual workshop. The Web site includes book reviews, tips and links. More extensive files are available at the office. The Polish Museum of America is just steps away.

• Polish National Tourist Office (Orbis)

275 Madison Ave., Suite 1711 New York, NY 10016 (212) 338-9412 <www.polandtour.org>

• US Embassy

Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00540 Warsaw Poland +48 (22) 628-3041 <www.usaemb.pl>