November/December 2002 Volume 4, Number 6

Perhaps no nation in the world has experienced as tumultuous a history as Poland. This historical experience is reflected in the opening line of the Polish national anthem, which proudly declares "Jeszcze Polska Nie Zginela;" this can be translated as "Poland has not yet perished." Invaded and partitioned by its European neighbors, Poland actually ceased to exist between 1795 and 1918. It was during this time that many Poles emigrated to the United States, largely to the Midwest urban centers of Detroit and Chicago. The peak year of Polish immigration was 1912, with more than 170,000 Polish immigrants arriving on the shores of the United States.

When beginning Polish genealogy research, it is helpful to become familiar with both Polish history and the language. Given the intricacies of the Polish language, the country's numerous territorial shifts and boundary changes, and the inevitable spelling errors or surname variations, Polish genealogy presents a unique challenge to the family history researcher.

This publication is a list of notable Polish genealogy resources available at the Library of Michigan. Titles may be located by searching ANSWER, the Library's online catalog. The easiest way to locate Polish resources on ANSWER is with a keyword search using the phrase poland genealogy or polish genealogy, followed by the type of information you are looking for. Our Polish materials are located throughout all of the Library's collections. Here are some additional suggestions to help maximize your search results:

When searching by keyword, it is not necessary to capitalize proper nouns.

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General Resources

Badaczewski, Dennis. Poles in Michigan. East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University Press, 2002.
Michigan F 575 .P7 B33 2002

Davies, Norman. God's Playground: A History of Poland. 2 vols. New York: Columbia University Press, 1982.
Main DK 4140 .D38 1982

Grzebieniowski, Tadeusz. Concise English-Polish and Polish-English Dictionary. Warszawa: Wiedza Powszechna, 1978.
Reference PG 6640 .G72 1978z

Pogonowski, Iwo C. Poland: A Historical Atlas. Rev. ed. New York: Hippocrene Books, 1988.
Genealogy G 1951 .S1 P34 1988

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Genealogical Resources

Chorzempa, Rosemary A., George W. Helon, and William F. Hoffman, comps. Index to the Newsletters, Journals, and Bulletins of the Polish Genealogical Society of America, 1979-1996. Chicago: Polish Genealogical Society of America, 1997.
Genealogy E 184 .P7 C52 1997

Chorzempa, Rosemary A. Polish Roots [Korzenie Polskie]. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1993.
Genealogy E 184 .P7 C5 1993

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Genealogical Department. International Genealogical Index: N, Europe (Central). 1553 microfiches. Salt Lake City, UT: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1988.
Genealogy Microfiche CS 25.C47 1988 Pt.N
Part N includes Poland, Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.

Gnacinski, Janneyne L., and Leonard T. Gnacinski. Polish and Proud: Tracing Your Polish Ancestry. West Allis, WI: Janlen Enterprises, 1979.
Genealogy CS 49 .G57

Hoffman, William F., and George W. Helon. First Names of the Polish Commonwealth: Origins and Meanings. Chicago: Polish Genealogical Society of America, 1998.
Genealogy CS 2840 .H6 1998

Hoffman, William F. Polish Surnames: Origins and Meanings. Chicago: Polish Genealogical Society of America, 1993.
Genealogy CS 2840 .H6 1993

Hoskins, Janina W. Polish Genealogy and Heraldry: An Introduction to Research. New York: Hippocrene Books, 1990.
Genealogy CS 872 .H67 1990

Konrad, J. Polish Family Research. Rev. ed. Munroe Falls, OH: Summit Publications, 1992.
Genealogy CS 49 .K67 1992

Mullerowa, Lidia. Roman Catholic Parishes in the Polish People's Republic in 1984. Chicago: Polish Genealogical Society of America, 1995.
Genealogy CS 873 .M855 1995

Ortell, Gerald A. Polish Parish Records of the Roman Catholic Church: Their Use and Understanding in Genealogical Research. 3rd rev. ed. Buffalo Grove, IL: Genun Publishers, 1989.
Genealogy CS 873 .O77 1989

Poland, 1799. Map. Albany, NY: Jonathan Sheppard Books, 1995.
Genealogy Maps G 7021 .F705 1799 .C3
Illustrates the divisions of Poland in 1772, 1793, and 1795.

Polish Eaglet. Detroit: Polish Genealogical Society of Michigan, 1981-.
Genealogy Periodicals
Official journal of the Michigan society.

Schlyter, Daniel M. Essentials in Polish Genealogical Research. Chicago: Polish Genealogical Society of America, 1993.
Genealogy CS 872 .S34 1993

Tye, James J. Detroit Poles: A Bibliography of Newspaper Articles and Select Books, Pamphlets and Commemorative Publications. Warren, MI: James J. Tye, 1999.
Michigan F 574 .D4 T94 1999

Wellauer, Maralyn A. Tracing Your Polish Roots. Milwaukee, WI: Maralyn A. Wellauer, 1979.
Genealogy CS 49 .W45

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Newspaper Resources

Citizen. Hamtramck, MI: Hamtramck Publishing Company, 1934-. Microfilm Michigan Newspapers
The Library has microfilmed copies of this weekly newspaper from 1934-1973.

Dziennik Polski [Polish Daily News]. Detroit: Polish American Publishing Company, 1904-. Microfilm Michigan Newspapers
The Library has microfilmed copies of this weekly newspaper from 1904-1941.

Hollowak, Thomas L., and William F. Hoffman, comp. Index to the Obituaries and Death Notices Appearing in the Dziennik Chicagoski, 1890-1899. Chicago: Polish Genealogical Society, 1984.
Genealogy F 548.9 .P7 H65 1984
Index to the Polish newspaper in Chicago; companion volumes cover 1900-1930.

Michigan Catholic. Detroit: Michigan Catholic Company, 1873-. Microfilm Michigan Newspapers
The Library has microfilmed copies of this weekly newspaper from 1883-1984.

Treppa, Allan R. Index to Detroit's Polonia in the Michigan Catholic, 1872-1900. Livonia, MI: A.R. Treppa, 1981.
Michigan F 575 .P7 T74

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Archival Resources

This recently acquired collection documents Polish history and genealogy in the state of Michigan, with special emphasis on the metropolitan Detroit area. Resources include Polish newspapers, church anniversary books, local histories, slides and photographs, and much more. As this Collection is processed, items can be located by searching ANSWER. A keyword search using "william gorski collection" will yield the largest number of relevant citations.

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Internet Resouces

Family Search Internet Genealogy Service
http://www.familysearch.org/
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints site contains online Research Helps, including a Polish Letter-Writing Guide.

Polish Genealogical Society of America
http://www.pgsa.org/
Site includes an online history of Poland, maps detailing the country's boundary changes, and a number of searchable databases, including: death notices from a Chicago daily Polish newspaper from 1890-1971, Haller's Army (World War I), and a marriage index for Chicago Polish parishes through 1915.

Polish Genealogical Society of Michigan
http://www.pgsm.org/
Site contains membership information and Polish news from across the state.

Polish Roots
http://www.polishroots.org/
Site with links to current news, maps, online databases, history, and culture.