Volume 10, Number 1 November 2002

GG Matters Feature Articles 2 Coordinator’s Column 14 Abstracts of Some Papers Presented at the Shelley Kellerman Pollero Toronto Conference Summaries of papers that are of special 2 From the Editors’ Desks interest to Galicia researchers Edward Goldstein & Eva Rosenn 18 A Tale of Two Cities 3 Nat Abramowitz: In Memoriam Edward Gelles A Gesher Galicia charter member passes away Brody in Galicia and Livorno in Tuscany Town Updates 21 In Search of My Grandmother Chana, a “Graduated Midwife” 4 Kolomyya E. Jeanne Blitzer Andelman Alan Weiser 23 1923 Polish Business Directory on Library 4 Przemysl of Congress Site Barbara U. Yeager A great addition to on-line research 6 Rzeszow 24 The Archives of Ukraine Marian Rubin Some Q&As from their website 6 Tarnobrzeg Family Album Gayle Schlissel Riley 7 Schoolchildren in Gorlice JRI-Poland Chana Saadia 7 Galician Vital Records – What can You 17 Who Are These Gentlemen? Expect? Anneroos Reich Mark Halpern 23 Marlene Bishow’s Great-grandparents Samples of various vital record headings with Marlene Bishow translation into English 27 Joyce Eastman’s Great-granparents 13 AGAD Project: Is It Too Successful? Joyce Eastman Mark Halpern The success of the AGAD project has caused its costs to rise. What does this development mean to researchers? Coordinator’s Column From the Editors’ Desks Shelley Kellerman Pollero Edward Goldstein and Eva Rosenn Gesher Galicia has played an important part in the “The Family Album” successful growth of Jewish genealogy. The At the Toronto conference, Suzana Leistner Bloch Galitzianer is now a “journal,” having grown in suggested to us that we publish pictures from our scope and content, featuring articles by experts in readers in The Galitzianer. Accordingly, we their respective fields. Members participate in our On-line Discussion Group, create town web pages recently posted a message on the Galicia SIG on ShtetLinks, collaborate in Galicia regional mailing list asking you to send us old family research groups, and volunteer as Town or Shtetl pictures. In this issue, we publish a few we have Co-op Leaders and Archive Coordinators for the received. Let us know what you think. And look Jewish Records Indexing-Poland AGAD and Polish through your boxes of old photographs for inter- State Archives projects. esting ones you can send us (via e-mail attachment We have even more opportunities to expand only, please). Galicia research, especially with the vast amount of URLs and Email Addresses Galicia material in both Yad Vashem and the U.S. Some of you may have found the tiny format of e- Holocaust Memorial Museum. What can we do to tap these wonderful resources? To be sure, many of mail and website (URL) addresses in past issues our valued members are ready, willing, and able to hard to read. We are therefore changing it, begin- enter data into indexes. However, we need a leader ning in this issue. to oversee a variety of research projects!! We could The reasons behind our initial decision to use proceed NOW if only someone would step up to smaller type were: serve as Research Coordinator for Gesher Galicia. Ø When a long URL that does not contain a Look what Mark Halpern has done for the AGAD hyphen starts at the beginning of a line Word records, and Eden Joachim and Roberta Jainchill for breaks that URL (without using a hyphen) at the Rzeszow and Przemysl Archives projects, under the end of the line and continues it on the next the auspices of JRI-Poland! Under their leadership, line. If a long URL contains a “real” hyphen, many have volunteered and the projects have been Word breaks it at the hyphen, an ambiguous extremely successful. Now we can do this with convention for anyone not familiar with it. (Is other Galicia research projects. Who will volunteer to serve as the Gesher the hyphen part of the URL or isn’t it?) Galicia Research Coordinator and take a leadership Ø If a long URL starts within a line, but cannot be role in initiating and managing GG-sponsored fully accommodated on that line, Word moves research projects? Here are some of the duties and its beginning to the start of the next line. This responsibilities: often leaves an ugly white area in the middle of Ø Must be a member of GG and be willing to a paragraph. serve on the GG Steering Committee. Ø In order to minimize both this ambiguity and Ø Be the primary GG contact with the JG Re- unsightliness, we have been using a smaller search VP on GG-sponsored research projects. typeface. Occasionally, we have also com- Ø Identify project leaders for Yad Vashem and pressed the type. USHMM Projects, help recruit volunteers to Not only does this process create a lot of work work on those projects, assist in monitoring for us, but it apparently also makes the URLs and progress, work with the JG Holocaust DB Technical Coordinator. email addresses more difficult to read. Ø Work with the JG Research VP on securing We have therefore decided to use the same type permission for research projects identified by face for URLs and email addresses as for the our members and acquiring donor agreements regular text (11-point Times New Roman). Both and volunteer agreements. will be underlined; as an added bonus, these URLs Ø Have a good grasp of Excel, JG database and email addresses will be “live” hyperlinks in the transcription standards, and budgeting, and an electronic edition (at least on a Macintosh), i.e., you understanding of JG research procedures. can click on them to get connected automatically. Ø Have good interpersonal and project- Just one word of caution: all hyphens that ap- management skills. pear within a URL at the end of a line are real, i.e., I know that someone can do this and many they are part of the URL. W more will then volunteer. Please contact me now.

The Galitzianer 2 November 2002 Suzan Wynne wrote: Nat Abramowi tz: In Memoriam Nat was a very special man, with a big heart Nat P. Abramowitz, a charter member of Gesher and a quiet persistence that won him access to Galicia and a member of its first Steering Commit- sources and information. Not one to brag, he tee, passed away on August 24, 2002 following a seemed humbled by his ability to help others heart attack, according to GG member Eden through his contacts. When I first encountered Nat, Joachim. The members and Steering Committee of Gesher Galicia was just an idea that I had about Gesher Galicia extend their heartfelt condolences to organizing a group with a special interest in the his wife, Lucille, to his family, and to his many territory. Nat immediately "got" it and actively friends. Marian Rubin, former editor of The promoted the idea before and after the SIG was Galitzianer, and Suzan Wynne, Gesher Galicia formed in Toronto ten years ago. Nat Abramowitz founder and first editor of The Galitzianer, wrote was Number One on the list of Gesher Galicia remembrances of Nat; we have edited them slightly. members! Nat was an early pioneer in going to Poland to Marian Rubin wrote: Nat can be credited for important advances in try to access records. He once went to a repository Galician genealogical research. He was one of the in a certain district and was able to get the mayor of first researchers to bring us the news that some the town to violate every rule in the book. Nat had a western Galician vital records and other documents way of making his personal problem or concern so were held in the Lviv Archives. He had met a compelling that people wanted to help him. And, Ukrainian researcher with access to the Lviv boy, did this mayor help! He copied all of the Archives. When Nat became convinced that this Jewish records for the district and mailed them to researcher understood the needs of Jewish genealo- Nat. During his travels, Nat met and later told us gists, he announced in The Galitzianer that Alexan- about researcher Alex Dunai, who has been der Dunai was available to do research, and he enormously helpful to hundreds of Gesher Galicia provided detailed instructions for contacting him. members and others in the years since. Many genealogists were able to make break- During our last phone call just a few weeks be- throughs in their research by hiring Alex, and it was fore his sudden death, Nat shared that he had Nat who made this possible. completed his book about the Romanian side of his Nat did extensive research in Krakow, family. He was thrilled and relieved after several Rzeszow, Tyczyn, and other locations in addition to years of intense genealogical work and writing. I his research in Romania. He was generous in never imagined that this would be the last time we sharing his work, and when he found my family would talk to each other. Nat Abramowitz was a names among the records he obtained, he always treasure who will be missed by many. sent me copies.

Contribute to JewishGen’s First Annual Appeal $300,000 needed by year end $121,058 raised - Aug 5 to Nov 1 $178,942 to go! JewishGen (JG) provides us with the vital resources for our ongoing genealogical research. It is free to us, but not free to JG, which bears the monthly expense of providing all the resources we use daily without a second thought. These costs must be met to overcome the current shortfall. JG ‘s first Annual New Year Donor Appeal hopes to carry JG through to the end of 2002 and to acquire the necessary hardware and software applications for improved online databases. Give what you can afford, be it $25, the suggested annual minimum, or $100 (or more) which will enroll you in the JGFFAlert. With your permission, your name will be listed on a special 2002 Annual New Year Donor Appeal recognition site. We ask that all JG users make a donation to the very best of their financial ability.

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The Galitzianer 3 November 2002 additional sons (Alan’s uncles) who were born 10 Kolomyya to 20 years before his father. More research will Alan Weiser ([email protected]) now be required to learn what had happened to Our Kolomea Research Group (KRG) membership those four uncles. Judi Birnberg believed that her has grown to 70. New members are always wel- maternal grandfather’s tombstone inscription had come. See how to join (under “Member Data”) on his correct age until she found his birth index our Kolomea Administrative District web site at record. He was 6 years older than the date in- www.shte tlinks.jew ishge n.org/kolomea/koloma d.htm . scribed. Another interesting fact to come out of the We have met our AGAD Project/Kolomyya research of the Kolomea Birth Indexes is that there funding goal to have 1865-1899 birth, marriage and are apparently heretofore-unknown blood relation- death records indexed. All birth records have been ships between some KRG members. Some fathers’ indexed. Those donors who gave $100 USD or surnames and mothers’ maiden surnames match more should have received their own Birth Index surnames of interest to different KRG members. files. Those who have donated and requested to This is just a sample of the discoveries being have selected surnames researched by the KRG made in the research of AGAD Birth Indexes. coordinator should have received their birth index There is a lot of exciting information awaiting research reports. Marriage and death records are on persons interested in their roots in the AGAD Index a priority list to be indexed. Best estimate is to have files. The research results can both fill in missing them indexed by June 2003. We are now seeking links as well direct the course of new research. funds to have 1900-1902 vital records indexed. We The KRG shtetlinks Kolomea Administrative have about $670 towards a need of $3,000. It is District (KAD) web site continues to expand. New never too late to donate to the AGAD Project/ data has been added under Research, which Kolomyya and have your selected surnames identifies archives in Poland and Ukraine that may researched. Contact the KRG Coordinator/ Kolo- hold documents of interest to Galitzianers. Another myya Town Leader for details. To avoid disap- new section is under development that will present pointment, please be sure to send donations to the book reports of interest to Kolomeaners specifically correct place. and Galitzianers in general. Watch for it. Con- Those conducting their own research of the In- tributors are welcome. Contact the KRG Coordi- dex files or receiving research reports from the nator. KRG Coordinator should obtain the “AGAD Project Index Files Lessons Learned Sheet,” from Przemysl the KRG Coordinator in order to get the maximum Barbara U. Yeager benefit from these activities. A reminder: the To date, Przemysl Networking Group members AGAD Index provides sufficient information to have received about 300 messages. A Surname order original documents. You can place orders to Index to all PNG messages is available on our AGAD with JRI-PL for $11 USD per record. This website at www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/przemysl. is considerably less expensive than ordering on Following are selected highlights of the infor- your own directly from AGAD. mation shared since the last update: From the AGAD Index files, KRG members Information Sought: have had successes in confirming known informa- I have been contacted by the following individuals tion and discovering new information about their requesting information for their research and film. Kolomyya ancestors. Martin Kesselhaut asked to Please contact them directly if you are interested to have Kesselhaut and Sandek surnames researched. contribute information: It was found that Chune Kesselhaut was married to Ø Research on Polish-Jewish-Ukrainian Relations Ettyl Sandek and they had 6 children. One of those Curt Dunagan, [email protected], is a doc- children was Martin’s grandfather. His family toral student from Brandeis University. Curt is thought his grandfather had only one brother and carrying out research in Poland on a scholarship four sisters, but it turned out there was another from the Kosciuszko Foundation and the Polish brother. Alan Weiser researched FURSETZER and Ministry of Education . The topic of his disser- WEISER surnames. Chaim Fursetzer was married tation is Polish-Jewish-Ukrainian Relations in to Chaje Weiser and Alan always thought there Interwar Przemysl. were only two daughters and 3 sons in that family, his father being the youngest. Research found four

The Galitzianer 4 November 2002 Ø Documentary about World War I containing a collection of fragments of memoirs, Svetlana Palmer [email protected] private letters and testimonies of witnesses per- is interested in the fate of the Jewish population taining to the beginning of the Holocaust in of Przemysl during WWI. This is for a 10-part Przemysl was also published. I have received a documentary project about the WW1 for Chan- LIMITED number of copies of this brochure. If you nel 4 (UK). Ms. Palmer is especially interested are interested, please contact me, preferably by e- in diaries and letters written at the time. mail. Ø Searching for Family Information Przemysl Jewish Personalities in Warsaw Joanna Maria Rostkowska-Wisialska is looking A book about Jewish life in Warsaw (Fuks, for information about her family, Marian. Zydzi w Warszawie. Zycie codzienne. Schuchman/Birbaum (or Burnbaum). She can Wydarzenia Ludzie [Jews in Warsaw. Everyday be contacted at [email protected]. Life. Events. People], Poznan, 1997) includes Susana Elena Mamber–Englender biographic notes about three prominent Przemys- ([email protected]) is looking for infor- lers–Dr. Mojzesz Schorr, Mateusz Mieses and mation regarding the Mamber family in Prze- Rabbi Jakob Mieses. The author mentions them as mysl. important personalities in Warsaw's Jewish intel- Dr Hartman's Book Now Available lectual life, as individuals who clearly made a mark Dr. John J. Hartman's book, I Remember Every on the community around them. This is a reflection on how vibrant and intellectually fertile the Jewish Day: the Fate of the Jews of Przemysl During life in Przemysl once was. Group members received World War II, is now available from Dr. Hartman. information about these individuals. The book was simultaneously published in Polish and in English, and it contains testimonies of Documentary about Stalin’s Prisoners 22 Jews, including Gerry Meister (the President of Some of the local PBS TV stations in the US have the Przemysl Landsmanschaft), Joseph Rebhun, as recently aired a documentary A Forgotten Odyssey. well as Dr. Mordechai Schattner, zl, whose power- Released in 2001, this documentary presents the ful article about the Holocaust period appears in the story of the residents of the eastern parts of (pre- Przemysl Yizkor Book. There are also 8 testimonies World War II) Poland, who were deported by Stalin "From the Other Side of the Ghetto." A historical into the Soviet Union and imprisoned in various perspective is provided by 2 chapters written by labor camps in Siberia, Kazakhstan, etc.. There Jacek Krochmal and Anna Krochmal respectively, were a number of Jews who shared the fate of and a chapter written by Dr. Hartman provides a others deported into the Soviet Union. This aspect psychological point of view. The book includes a of the history of World War II is not very well name index. known in the West. One of the people interviewed For more information contact: Dr. John Hart- for this film was Dorota Leviner, a former Przemysl man, Remembrance and Reconciliation, Inc., 514 resident. For more information about the film, E. William, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, including a schedule of its presentations, see [email protected]. www.aforgottenodyssey.com. Plans for Book about Przemysl Cemetery Old Jewish Encyclopedia On-Line I have been informed about the plans of Mr. Lukasz Information about Przemysl history as well as about Biedka and Mr. Jacek Szwic from Poland to publish 50 other articles regarding Przemysl can be found an album dedicated to the Jewish Cemetery in in an early 1900’s Jewish Encyclopedia on-line at Przemysl. As part of the work on this book, the www.jewishencyclopedia.com. gentlemen have also been indexing the gravestones Przemysl ShtetLinks Website Update at the Przemysl Jewish cemetery. This work is still The Przemysl website on ShtetLinks, in progress. www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/przemysl, has been Commemoration of the First Aktion updated. The site has received a new look, it has Mr. Biedka informed me about a ceremony to been restructured (you may need to update your commemorate the 60th anniversary of the First bookmarks), and new material has been posted, Aktion in Przemysl, which took place in June in the including an Outline of Jewish History (from the Grochowce forest, where a mass execution of Jews 8th through the 20th century). I would like to thank had taken place. A memorial stone was unveiled as Blossom Glasser for her help the compilation of the part of the ceremony. A commemorative brochure, historical outline.

The Galitzianer 5 November 2002 Przemysl Yizkor Book Update Ha Magid was a weekly Hebrew newspaper, The translation of Part III of the Hebrew section of published in Lyck, and distributed throughout the the book has been completed, and the chapters have Pale of Settlement. It began publishing in 1858. been uploaded on the Internet. Part III deals with Now and then over the years, when a disaster befell the Inter-War Period. The Przemysl Yizkor Book a Jewish community or, in later years, as Jews from Translation Project can be found at Eastern Europe began settling in Palestine and were w ww.je wishgen.or g/Yiz kor/prz emysl/pr ze mysl.html . in need of funds to help them survive there, the editor of Ha Magid would publish an appeal for Rzeszow help in the newspaper. The Ha Magid donor lists, Marian Rubin ([email protected]) which can be found under the Documents tab, contain many names of the members of the Jewish The message I received in October from a young community. man I'll call Ben asked, "Do you know anyone still Under the Geographic tab you will find a living who was born in Rzeszow?" Ben is trying to translation into English (by Fred Hoffman) of the unravel the mystery of why his grandfather, who information about our town in the Geographic was born in Rzeszow, remained in Poland after the Gazetteer from Poland and other Slavic areas. We War, dying there years later. Ben's late father would thank Fred and the Polish Genealogy Society of not discuss the family. America. My answer was that I do know people who Under the Photo Album tab there are few of my were born in Rzeszow, including a woman in Israel 45 pre-1920 postcards of Tarnobrzeg. whose maiden name is the same as Ben's grandfa- Lastly, under the Cemetery tab are the last of ther's surname. I had recently exchanged letters the four New York Landsmannschaften plots for with her, so I was able to give Ben her address and Tarnobrzeg. I thank Judi Garfinkel for donating the assurance that she would be interested in some of her Garfinkel data. hearing from him. I had met her 2 years ago when I Thanks to all of you who have helped. I am so attended the Rzeszow Landsmanshaft gathering in pleased with all the data you have made available. Israel. There are perhaps a few hundred natives of Look for some Birth, Death and Marriage data from Reyshe (the Yiddish name for Rzeszow) living in 1857 soon. W Israel, the United States, France, Australia, Eng- land, Belgium, and other countries. Some of them have given me information about their families and have expressed a willingness to help answer questions that others might have. The Rzeszow Research Group tries to help GALICIA VIDEOCLIPS AND PHOTOS those whose families lived in the city of Rzeszow find connections through lists, databases, the STILL NEEDED! Yizkor Book, references to institutions, and through For the GG Gala 2003 Galicia Video. person to person contact. Send videoclips and still photos now! New developments in Rzeszow research will appear on the Announcements section on our Contact Sam Eneman Rzeszow website. From this website you can also [email protected] access the ongoing translation of the Rzeszow Yizkor book and the index that is being compiled as the work progresses. The Rzeszow Shtetlinks website: www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/Rzeszow. WANTED: PHOTOS OF GG MEMBERS 1993-2003 from Conferences, JGS meetings, trips! Tarnobrzeg For the GG Gala 2003 Photo Display Gayle Schlissel Riley There’s good news for all of you who are interested Send still photos via email or postal mail to in Tarnobrzeg, I am happy to tell you we have some Shelley Pollero new sources up on theShtetlink page at [email protected] www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/Tarnobrzeg.

The Galitzianer 6 November 2002 Family Album: Schoolchildren in Gorlice Chana Saadia A friend sent this school photo of children in Gorlice to my late aunt. I have no idea of the identity of anyone in the photo—maybe some readers of the journal will recognize relatives.

Galician Vital Records – What Can You Expect? Mark Halpern A great many Galician researchers have acquired 1782 Marriage became a civil matter family records from repositories in Poland and 1784 Civil Registration began. Civil records Ukraine. Over the last five years, the work of maintained by Catholic Church. Regulation on Jewish Records Indexing - Poland has made these how to record “illegitimate” births. records more readily available to all Galician 1789 Jews required to adopt German surnames. researchers. Jewish records maintained by Jewish Com- As the Coordinator for the JRI-Poland AGAD munity. project, I have seen over one thousand Galician 1792 Onerous tax on Jewish marriages imposed. records. Although I am not an expert on the history Law existed until 1830s that only one son of civil registration in Galicia, I am hopeful that the could marry legally. Jews ignored laws as following information will be of assistance to my marriage considered a religious matter. fellow Galitzianers. To Forms used/procedure to record vital events Based mostly upon information contained in 1876 varied widely by town. Finding Your Jewish Roots in Galicia: A Resource 1877 Legislation went into effect that structured and Guide by Suzan F. Wynne, published by Avotaynu standardized collection of Jewish records. in 1998, the following timeline for civil registration Administrative Districts and Sub-Districts of Jewish vital records will provide a historical established. Collection of Births and Deaths perspective to what you find and do not find in your worked well. Civil Marriages still resisted. research. Headings of forms in German and Polish. Record keeping also in either German or Polish.

The Galitzianer 7 November 2002 century Galicia did these polar opinions ever unite. The following pages contain sample vital re- The Austrian Government, in their attempt to cords from before and after 1877, the year in which assimilate Jews, passed a law that only one son in a civil registration laws were changed and record Jewish family could legally marry. In addition, keeping standardized. The headings, whether onerous taxes were levied on Jewish marriages. written in Latin, German, or Polish, have been These laws were further disincentive for Jewish translated to assist researchers in understanding couples to consider a civil marriage ceremony. what information is provided. Before 1877, the Marriage in the eyes of G-d and the Jewish com- format was not standardized and the information munity was the accepted norm. It was not until later that was provided was fairly sparse. After 1876, the in the 19th century that more Jewish civil marriages form and the information requested were standard- were registered. Usually this occurred for legal ized. However, you will find that the amount of reasons, such as inheritance, or to facilitate emigra- information still varies from one Administrative tion. District to another. The example marriage presented here is the Below are some thoughts that may help re- 1898 marriage record of my great-grandparents at searchers determine which records to order when a the ages of 58 and 56. search of the JRI-Poland database results in many Legitimacy index entries of interest. If the parents were not married in a civil ceremony, Ø Records after 1876 have more genealogically the marriage was never officially registered with relevant information. the government. When that couple had children and Ø Birth records have the most genealogical could not show an officially registered marriage, relevant information: the children were considered illegitimate. This · Sometimes the father’s parents’ names are practice was consistent throughout Galicia. How- recorded. ever, the recording of the child’s surname was not · Important events that change the civil status consistent. In some cases, the child was given the of the individual are subsequently recorded. mother’s maiden name. In some cases, the child · Parents’ civil marriage that legitimizes in- was given the father’s surname. In some cases, no dividual. surname was identified to the child. Furthermore, · Death of individual. the identification of a child’s surname on a birth · Marriage of individual. record has no relationship to the use by the family · Name change. or the individual of the mother’s maiden name Ø Marriage records note the occurrence of throughout their lives. previous civil events – birth of bride/groom, Likewise the recording of the father’s name marriage of their parents. was not consistent. In some cases, the record does Ø Many Jews never had a civil ceremony. not show the father’s name. In some cases, the Others had civil ceremony after many years of father’s name was shown in the remarks column religious marriage. accompanying a witnessed statement of paternity. Ø Death records usually identified the following In some cases, the father is identified in the father relative: column even though the birth is identified as · Single or married man – None. illegitimate. · Single woman – Father’s name. In a good number of birth records (maybe 20- · Married woman – Husband’s name. 30%), the parents have subsequently engaged in a · Children – Father’s and/or Mother’s name. civil marriage ceremony, which is then noted on the · There is no hard and fast rule. birth record. This notation has the effect of legiti- Two subjects require some more elaboration – civil mizing the birth after the fact. This notation marriage and legitimacy of children. identifies the place of the civil wedding, the year, Civil Marriage and identifies the document number and volume. The Austrian Government considered marriage to This should allow researchers to obtain a copy or an be an event governed by civil law. Jews consider extract of that civil marriage. marriage to be a religious event governed by the laws of G-d. Never in 19th century and early 20th

The Galitzianer 8 November 2002 BIRTH RECORDS BIRTH RECORD [BEFORE 1877] – ZABLOTOW 1864 Headings in German - m Name of Father Mother’s

Child Male Witness Midwife Remarks (Bris) Date of Female

Baptism Name Name Legitimate Illegitimate House Nu Date of Birth

BIRTH RECORD [BEFORE 1877] – TARNOPOL 1866 Headings in German

Mother’s Surname and Given Father’s Mother’s Father’s Names Given Given Given Name Remarks Msle House Month Day of

Female Name Name and Number Legitimate Illegitimate Surname

BIRTH RECORD [BEFORE 1877] – BRZEZANY 1876 Headings in Latin

Godparent’s Names Parent’s Names

Name of Child Male (Witnesses) (Bris) (AKT) Female Legitimate Illegitimate Occupation Occupation Date of Birth House Number Record Number Date of Baptism Religion - Other Religion - Catholic

The Galitzianer 9 November 2002 BIRTH RECORD [AFTER 1877] –ZBARAZ 1898 Headings in German and Polish Page 1 of 2

Date of Father’s Name, Date of Bris or Born Surname, Birth: Naming Childs’ Given Legitimate or Occupation, and

AKT Day/mont Day/mon Name Male

Female Illegitimate Place of h/year Location: th/ Location: Residence Town/House # Town/House #

Record Number year

BIRTH RECORD [AFTER 1877] –ZBARAZ 1898 Headings in German and Polish Page 2 of 2

Mother’s name, civil Signature of Signature of Signature of marriage status, Report Official or Mohel and Midwife and occupation, parents of Remarks Witnesses and place of place of names, place of Stillbirth place of residence residence residence residence

MARRIAGE RECORDS MARRIAGE RECORD [BEFORE 1877] – HUSIATYN 1868 Headings in German

Age: Age: Name of Years/ Name of Father of Years/ Name of Bride

Birth Bridegroom Month Groom and Bride Date of Widow

House # Months Widower s

The Galitzianer 10 November 2002 MARRIAGE RECORD [AFTER 1877] – KOZLOW 1898 Headings in German and Polish Page 1 of 2

Name and Surname of Groom, Name and Surname of Bride, place of birth, occupation, place of place of birth, occupation, place Single Single (AKT) Record Widow

Number residence, and parents names of residence, and parents names Widower Age -years Age – Years Age – months Age – months

Page 2 of 2

Date of Marriage Civil Official’s Name, title, Witnesses Names and place Remarks Day/month/ and place of residence of residence

year Location

DEATH RECORDS DEATH RECORD [BEFORE 1877] – TARNOPOL 1876 Headings in German

Age at Death Name of Date of Cause of Name of Deceased Years/ Father for

Death Male Death Female

House # Month Child Remarks s

The Galitzianer 11 November 2002 DEATH RECORD [BEFORE 1877] – NADWORNA 1876 Headings in Latin

Age at Name of Deceased Cause of Death Male

Other Death Death Burial Female Date of Date of House # Catholic Religion: Religion:

DEATH RECORD [AFTER 1877] – ROZDOL 1886 Headings in German and Polish Page 1 of 2 -

m Name and Surname of Date of Recording, Deceased, Marital Page of entry, and Status, Occupation, and Death Death Burial Burial Place of Place of House #

Name of Examiner Town of Month of Month of Residence ber (AKT) Town of residence Day of burial Day of Death Record Nu Year of burial Year of Death Hour of Death

Page 2 of 2

Cause of Death Remarks Age: Male Single Female Widow Months Married Age: Years

The Galitzianer 12 November 2002 day-to-day activities with the Polish State Archives. AGAD: Too Successful? Without these people, there would be no AGAD Mark Halpern, AGAD Coordinator, [email protected] indexing. Why am I questioning the success of the AGAD Two significant changes took place late in project and what will be the impact on the indexing 2001: of records? Before we get to that, let me bring you Ø The income to the members of the indexing up-to-date with the project. As of September 15, team had become significant. What had been a 2002: casual activity was now generating sufficient Ø 49 of the 86 towns have been fully indexed, income to warrant formalization of the ar- Ø another 5 towns are partially indexed, rangement. Indexers started paying taxes on Ø 65 of the 86 towns have a level of researcher JRI-Poland derived income. contributions to guarantee indexing of those Ø For the same reasons, we had to start paying towns’records. our representative an administrative fee (prior That means there are still 21 towns vying to be the to October 2001, he did not charge us). next town added to the Indexing Priority List. To These additional items have increased the cost to check on your town, go to the AGAD Status Report index the AGAD records. So the question is: Is the at jewishge n.org/JRI- PL /agad/agadtow ns.html . AGAD project a victim of its own success? 240,000 Please recall that the estimated cost of indexing records have been indexed in about 18 months. was established using 15¢ per record (marriages As fundraising for all JRI-Poland projects are count as two records). Once a town’s fundraising Shtetl or town-specific, all shortfalls must be made reaches 50% of the estimated cost, the town will be up by interested researchers. However, as men- added to the Indexing Priority List. However, the tioned before, the indexing of records in AGAD’s town’s fundraising must reach 75% of estimated collection before 2002 will not be affected by this cost for actual indexing to commence. Once 100% increase in cost. On the other hand, these towns of the estimate is reached, all the indexes will be cannot remain at a deficit indefinitely. We regret added to the JRI-Poland online, searchable database that we must ask researchers to contribute to the for all to enjoy. This procedure will not change for funding of any deficit before indexing can be those records that were held by AGAD as of the undertaken of the many new volumes transferred to end of 2001. AGAD after 2001. You can help by contributing to In the May issue of The Galitzianer, I an- your town. nounced that registers containing over 33,000 To find out the financial status of your town, records for 36 of the 86 AGAD towns were please contact the Town Leader. The name and transferred to AGAD at the beginning of 2002. email address of the Town Leader can be found in Most of these records were for years 1900-1901. In the AGAD Project Status Report online at future years, registers for many of the other towns www.jewishgen.org/JRI-PL/agad/agadtowns.html. will be transferred to AGAD from the Warsaw USC If there is no Town Leader, please contact Mark (Civil Records Office). Halpern at [email protected]. You can find Initially, we estimated the cost of indexing the instructions for contributing at AGAD records based on the history of previous www.jewishgen.org/JRI-PL/visa.htm. Please JRI-Poland projects. However, all previous JRI- specify the town(s) to which the contribution is to Poland projects used index pages as their source. be credited. No such index pages exist for AGAD records and JRI –Poland regrets that this delay in indexing actual records had to be used as the source to create the newly arrived records has become necessary. the AGAD indices. Soon after starting, we also We have been pleased with the productivity and decided to include information about the town efficiency of the indexers. In fact, the project has origin of the people in the record. This added cost. been so successful that we were obliged to pay Productivity of the indexing team has been ex- taxes and coordination fees that we didn't antici- cellent and the number of records indexed per pate. If we chose not to pay, there would be no month has increased. The AGAD indexers work project. Please help us in continuing the success of directly for JRI-Poland. JRI-Poland also employs a the AGAD project. W representative in Warsaw to ensure the productivity and efficiency of the indexing and to coordinate all

The Galitzianer 13 November 2002 Abstracts of Some Papers Presented at the Toronto Conference The 22nd IAJGS Conference on Jewish Genealogy, held in Toronto from August 4 to August 9, presented dozens of interesting papers and discussions. The following article presents a somewhat arbitrary selection of abstracts of some of these papers.

Bar-Zev, Dr. Asher—Gravestones and Death names. Others tell the story about the existence of Certificates: Can You Believe What You Read? various categories of names: expensive, cheap and Genealogists use information from gravestones and free of charge. This lecture critically analyzed these death certificates as sources for family history opinions, taking into account the statistical calcula- research. What data might we expect to find, and tions of names used by Jews from Galicia. It also what might some of the pitfalls be in using infor- reviewed the influence of surnames adopted in that mation from these sources? region on those assigned in the neighbouring Dr. Bar-Zev gave a brief overview of various Russian Empire. types of graves and grave markers in Jewish Wrobel, Dr. Piotr: Millennium of Polish Jewry, cemeteries throughout the world. He explained folk Part I—Wandering Jew: Migrations of Polish art symbols, names, dates, abbreviations, and titles. Jews, c. 1000 – c. 2000 We can learn about the deceased and the writer of The “eternal wandering” of the Jews constitutes one the epitaph from what we read. Why may designa- of the most important elements of the Jewish past. tions of Cohen or Levi sometimes be omitted? Case We can almost say that a history of the Jews is a studies of names and dates on gravestones, which history of their migrations. In the 19th and 20th differ from other records for the individual, were centuries, various issues related to these migrations noted. Gravestone information may corroborate shaped important aspects of Jewish socio-economic genealogical records that had been previously in life and initiated the formation of new political question. Alternately, information from the grave- movements and ideologies. The two contemporary stone may bring new information to light, and show main centres of Jewish life, Israel and the United differences from what had been accepted previ- States, were established by the members of 19th- ously. and 20th- century Jewish migrations. After World Information on death certificates may contain War II, over one-third of all the Jews are first- or significant errors in names, dates and places. The second-generation immigrants. The Polish Jews role and state of mind of the informant and the clerk contributed significantly to this phenomenon. was discussed . The lecture reviewed the history of the migra- Ways of seeking corroboration and validation tions of the Polish Jews. It started with the Early of the information found on gravestones and death Middle Ages when the first Jews came to Poland certificates was given. and with the High Middle Ages when a sizable Beider, Dr. Alexander—Jewish Surnames in group of Jews moved to East Central Europe from Galicia Germany. There followed a discussion of the Almost all names originating during the 19th Modern Era, when the Polish-Lithuanian Com- century and the beginning of the 20th century monwealth became the centre of the world Jewry. among Jews in Galicia, which at that time was a Special attention was devoted to the consequences part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, were adopted of the 1648 Khmelnytsky Uprising and the Parti- at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. Numerous tions of Poland. The 19th-century part of the lecture appellations acquired by Jews in this region were concentrated on internal migrations within Austria, based on German words. These words corresponded Germany and Russia, and on the great migration to to various layers of the German languages, includ- the United States, Canada and South America. ing occupational names, adjectives, nouns desig- Finally, the 20th-century portion of the lecture nating animals, plants and minerals. Numerous concentrated on the emigration from Poland to names had two parts, such as Gold-berg (gold Palestine, on the consequences of the Holocaust and mountain), Silber-stein (silver stone), Rosen-thal on the policies of the Polish communist authorities (valley of roses), Morgen-stern (morning star). towards the Jews. Some authors cite Austrian officials who tried to ridicule Jews by assigning such pseudo-romantic

The Galitzianer 14 November 2002 Millennium of Polish Jewry, Part II—How Did the A Shared History, A Divided Memory (Panel Jews in Poland and Eastern EuropeLive and discussion) Why Did They Emigrate? The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth of the late Since the Babylonian exile and the beginnings of 18th century was home to four-fifths of world the Diaspora, Jewish life has been characterized by Jewry. For almost one thousand years Poles and the emergence of major foci of creativity and Jews inhabited the same territory. They created a dynamism. In the period of the second Temple and symbiotic relationship, although not always a after, Mesopotamia with its exilarch (Resh galutha) harmonious one. Jews were first welcomed by and its great academies was an even more important Polish kings in the Middle Ages, and were granted area of Jewish intellectual and legal activity than wide autonomy from the 15th to the 18th century, Erets Yisrael. It remained a major centre under creating a kind of “Golden Age.” They succeeded Islamic rule, to be supplanted in the early middle in creating a diverse and vibrant civilization that ages by the communities of Spain and the Rhine- witnessed the development of movements such as land. When these settlements lost their significance, Hassidism, Mitnadgim, Haskala, Zionism, social- with the persecutions which accompanied the ism, and Bundism. In so doing, they had to deal Crusades and more particularly the Black Death in with the oppressive policies of the Russian imperial Germany and with the expulsion and forced authorities, systematic murderous rampages by conversion of the Jews of Spain, their place was Ukrainian nationalists, vilification by the Polish taken by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Roman Catholic Church, and anti-Semitic behav- the Turkish Empire, along with smaller communi- iour by much of Polish society. ties in Italy, the German lands and the Atlantic It is important for Jews and Poles today, littoral. By the early seventeenth century the Jewish whether in Poland or in each respective Diaspora, to community of Poland-Lithuania had become the learn about this history, to explore it honestly and largest in the Jewish world. The Jewish population openly, and to appreciate the contributions of each grew from between 10,000 and 30,000 at the end of to the character of the other. the fifteenth century (out of a total population of It was in this spirit that the conference organiz- around four million) to between 150,000 and ers chose to host an august panel of experts of Poles 300,000 (out of ten million) by 1650 and 750,000 and Jews to discuss these significant issues. (out of 14 million) in 1764. Birnboim, Dr. Chaim—DNA, the Ultimate Ge- In the years of its flourishing, the Jewish com- nealogical Record: Using Saliva As An Easy munity of Poland and Lithuania gave rise to a Source of DNA unique religious and secular culture in Hebrew and A genetic “fingerprint” based on DNA analysis is Yiddish and enjoyed an unprecedented degree of the ultimate tool for identification of persons. This self-government. In a penitential prayer composed is of interest to genealogists because it can also be in the aftermath of the massacres which occurred used to identify blood relatives. These uses of DNA during the Cossack uprising of the mid-seventeenth are increasing and there is therefore a need for even century, Rabbi Yom-Tov Lipman Heller looked simpler and more reliable methods to collect DNA back to a golden age, recalling “Poland, a country samples. Although blood is considered the most of royalty where we have dwelled from of old in reliable source of DNA, it has many obvious tranquil serenity.” Yet even after the devastating problems. Swabs from the mouth are convenient but effect of these upheavals, which also marked the produce only a small amount of DNA and are less beginning of the downfall of the Polish-Lithuanian reliable. Saliva is known to contain more DNA but Commonwealth, the Jewish community continued is not widely used, possibly because convenient to increase in size and was able to recover some of procedures have not yet been devised. In his its vitality. In the late eighteenth century, these presentation, Dr. Birnboim described a new simple lands saw the emergence and development of home kit for DNA from saliva. This has proven to hasidism, an innovative revivalist movement, which be as reliable as blood but much more convenient. It was eventually to gain the allegiance of a large can easily be self-administered. With this kit it proportion of the Jewish population here and which should be possible to collect DNA samples from remains very much alive in the Jewish world today. possible family members in virtually any part of the Bialystok, Dr. Franklin; Polonsky, Dr. Antony; world. Tuszynska, Dr. Agata; Wrobel, Dr. Piotr: Millen- nium of Polish Jewry, Part III—Poles and Jews:

The Galitzianer 15 November 2002 Bookbinder, Hal—The Changing Borders of years apart; and how, as a result of this journey, Eastern Europe they were able to expand their genealogical re- This lecture traced Eastern European border search, both in the Ukraine and the United States. changes over the past millennium. Recognizing Carynnyk, Marco—The Deadly Triangle: what government was in control at various times Ukrainians, Jews, and Poles in the Summer of can help in understanding the environment in which 1941 our ancestors lived, the events which encouraged In the weeks after the German invasion of the their migration, the languages in which official Soviet Union in June 1941, western Ukraine, records were kept, and the likely locations where western Belarus, and the Baltic republics witnessed these records might be found. Your ancestral home an unprecedented set of double murders. As Soviet may well have been subject to the rule of a number forces retreated from the Wehrmacht, the Soviet of countries when your family lived there. Consider secret police emptied its prisons by murdering the Dubno, which is currently in Rivne Oblast, Ukraine. inmates. When local people rushed to the prisons to So it might be logical to look for records in Rivne. look for missing relatives, they found cells and pits However, recognizing that Dubno was in Russian filled with corpses in at least twenty-two localities Volhynia from 1795 to 1917, one should not in western Ukraine alone. overlook Zhitomir, the capital of Russian Volhynia. Within days after the occupation, a wave of And, since Dubno was in Polish Volhynia from pogroms swept these same regions. Enraged 1569 to 1795 and from 1921 to 1939, one should civilians beat, robbed and killed Jews on the pretext also check out Lutsk, the capital of Polish Volhynia. that they were all Communists and thus responsible Bussgang, Dr. Julian; Bussgang, Fay—Polish for the NKVD crimes. In western Ukraine at least Pronunciation and Grammar Workshop thirty-five such pogroms took place. Having trouble with those Polish town and Drawing on interviews, German and Soviet family names that have several consonants in a military reports, eyewitness accounts and photo- row? Learning a few rules, with a little practice, graphs and newsreel footage, Carynnyk discussed might make you feel more like an expert genealo- relations among Ukrainians, Jews, and Poles and gist and let others understand what you are talking tried to reconstruct the course of events in the town about. of Zolochiv (Zloczów, Zolochev), sixty kilometres Grammatical changes and their spelling often east of Lviv (Lwów, Lvov, Lemberg), where 649 cause trouble in reading documents. It is useful to victims of the NKVD were discovered and where know that "Brzeziny" and "Brzezinach" refer to the between a thousand and five thousand Jews were same town, while "Brzezany" is a completely killed two days later. different place. Greenspan, Bennett—Genetic Genealogy: Fay Bussgang learned both pronunciation and Another Tool in the Arsenal grammar from scratch while her husband, Julian, is All genealogists know that eventually the paper trail a native speaker. goes cold. Records are unavailable, lost, burned, They prepared a handout to help genealogists misplaced or intentionally destroyed. with Polish spelling, sounds, and grammar . Once genealogists have gone back as far as Cantor, Linda & Gudis, Lucille—A Journey to possible, we tend to branch out to seek relatives of Our Ancestral Shtetlach (Ukraine) our ancestors. Eventually, we all run into someone Linda Cantor and Lucille Gudis, longtime ge- with our same (or similar) surname that we can’t nealogists and experienced travellers, discussed match with an authenticated paper trail. The trail their 2001 journey to Ukraine, how they prepared ended, that is, until DNA testing became available. for this journey to their ancestral shtetlach and their Now, genealogy enthusiasts can use this new travels from Krakow in Poland across the Ukrainian method to pass a hurdle that has hounded them for border, through Galicia and Volhynia in western years. Ukraine, ending in Kiev. They provided details Due to groundbreaking work by geneticists about networking with other genealogists in from around the world, a new tool - DNA testing - preparation for this journey, arranging for a guide has been added to the good genealogists’ bag of and transportation; food, hotel information and tricks! While the actual value of mtDNA is a travel conditions; archival visits and available legitimate source for debate, the value of Y-DNA records; conditions in the shtetlach; remains of Jewish life in Ukraine; a family reunion after ninety The Galitzianer 16 November 2002 testing for surname reconstruction and geographic Sources for Jewish Genealogical Research in studies has long been established and documented. Western Galicia Bennett Greenspan, founder of Family Tree In spite of the extermination of Polish Jews by DNA, took us through the basic science behind German occupants in the years 1939-1945 and DNA testing and shared some anecdotes and purposeful destruction during the war of all traces mysteries that remain unsolved or have been solved of Jewish presence in Poland, numerous monu- in the last few years. ments of Jewish culture were preserved, as well as millions of documents on its history and numerous Hondo, Dr. Leszek—Jewish Cemeteries in Western examples of its material culture. Many of those Galicia documents were preserved in state archives, thus The largest Jewish necropolis in the world is providing insight not only into economic history situated in Poland. In Western Galicia there are and history of the Polish-Jewish relationship with about 200 Jewish cemeteries. Research into its far-reaching implications, but also into Jewish cemeteries in Poland still awaits vital complex family life. The holdings of the state archives in work. Jewish cemeteries in Galicia have been the Western Galicia contain rich and often unique focus of intensive research since 1993. This materials documenting the genealogical research. research consists of detailed descriptions of ceme- Jewish family history, in particular, is documented, teries and in stock-taking (inventory) of grave- thanks to the records of local administration offices. stones. The Department of Jewish Studies at Personal records are also amazingly abundant - Jagiellonian University in Cracow is conducted birth, marriage and deaths registers (sometimes research under the direction of Dr. Hondo on the with alphabetical indexes). For example, genealogi- cemeteries in Cracow (the old and new ones), cal research can be based on preserved population Tarnow, Olkusz, Niepo_omice, Krynica and records of Tarnow and on civil register books of Muszyna. The findings from this work were 1808-1941. partially published (Cracow, Tarnow, Pilica). Contemporary times present new challenges in Kelman, Sara Edell Schafler; Kurtz, Joel—19th- the area of collecting and accessing information, Century Jewish Life in Eastern Galicia including those in the research into Jewish ceme- This paper was the first of a series, which describes teries in Poland. Information technology and the last hundred years in the history of a family who utilization of large networks, primarily the Internet, left Pamurin, Galicia (now Pomoryany, Ukraine) in constitute one of those challenges. A database of the late 19th century and settled in Toronto, Jewish cemeteries in Western Galicia is being Canada. Through history and anecdotes, this collected. This database will contain photos and presentation described the evolution of a family detailed descriptions of gravestones, inscriptions unusual in terms of its contributions to the Jewish and translations from Hebrew into Polish. It can community, which includes bringing to Toronto its enrich the genealogical information. first full-time Orthodox rabbi in 1901.

Family Album: Who Are These Gentlemen? Anneroos Reich

Here is a photo of a group of five Jewish men of whom I only know my grandfather (the second man from the left sitting on the arm of a chair). His name was Meschilem Hirsch Reich; he was born in Krakow on 2 November 1899, the son of Nathan Chaim Reich (originally from Kukla) and Sara Ringer from Krakow. I believe this group was in some way a group of friends who primarily shared political (Communist) beliefs, but I might be completely mistaken. W

The Galitzianer 17 November 2002 approach to Jewish communal autonomy. Livorno A Tale of Two Cities maintained its status as a “free” city from 1691 to Edward Gelles 1867. With the gradual loss of its ancient trading Brody in Galicia and Livorno in Tuscany had pre-eminence, the prosperity of the town and of its ancient Jewish communities that in their day Jewish community inevitably declined. enjoyed a rich communal life. It is an astonishing th Brody was once a small town with Polish fact that in the mid-18 century Brody had the overlords. When Poland underwent the first of three second largest Jewish population in Europe and partitions in the late 18th century, the town came Livorno came in third place. The leading commu- under Austrian rule. It was situated near the frontier nity at that time was Amsterdam. Brody had more of the Tsarist Empire, and acquired a modest Jews than say Cracow or Lvov, and Livorno many importance as an entrepot for the Russian trade. In more than say Rome or Venice. The number of cultural as well as economic terms, it lay at the Jews greatly multiplied in the course of the next crossroads between central and eastern Europe. The 150 years. This was accompanied by remarkable Jews of Brody continued to enjoy the large degree demographic shifts. After the First World War, the of self-government that had largest Jewish centers attracted so many of them to included Warsaw, different parts of Poland in Vienna, Budapest, and past centuries. The liberal Berlin, while Livorno and Austrian regime, including particularly Brody had just over a hundred years of faded away. “free” city status, gave the What explained their town a measure of prosperity rise and fall, and what did until the middle of the 19th a famous old seaport in century. The first railway line Italy have in common by-passed Brody, intensifying with a border town lying the diminution in its trading at the furthest corner of position. A natural population the Austro-Hungarian increase was later exacerbated Empire? The fortunes of by the inflow of refugees from an ancient Jewish family Russian pogroms. Changing with links to both of them economic circumstances and provide the answer and overcrowding led to impover- an interesting sidelight on ishment and decline. The their distant past. remains of some tombstones Livorno, or Leghorn are among the reminders of a as the English called it, community that was finally was the third largest port destroyed in the Holocaust. in Italy. It was the busy In their heyday, both the harbor of Florence and an Italian port and the Austrian entrepot for the Levant. border town were strategically Its varied commerce situated and apparently had included a flourishing many similar features. Its Jews coral trade. Artifacts of had certain economic privi- this material became very leges and a vibrant cultural fashionable in the 18th century when they were life. These factors have a direct bearing on the exported particularly to Russia, India, and China. demographic changes that ensued. Florence and Livorno were havens of tolerance The above historical outline may give an indi- under the Medici, whose beneficent rule was cation why some Jews might have felt equally at continued by their successors, the House of home in either Livorno or Brody during the later Lorraine. The Jews of Livorno had the distinction 18th century. They were then in the bosom of among Italian communities of never having substantial orthodox communities and could suffered any significant persecution. An enlightened participate in the thriving trade that both towns economic regime went hand in hand with a liberal

The Galitzianer 18 November 2002 enjoyed. The produce and manufactures of the his base in Brody, where his firm continued to Mediterranean littoral could find their way to maintain trading connections with the Tuscan eastern Europe and vice versa. A pre-eminent branch. example was provided by the export of coral A Leone Chajes is listed in the 1841 Livorno products from Livorno to the east via Brody, with census as born in Brody, aged 47, and engaged in diamonds and other precious stones, furs, and so on the coral trade. He would have been closely related coming the other way. All this is exemplified by the to Meir Chayes, who had numerous sons and history of one ancient family that contributed much nephews. The director of the Archivio di Stato di to both towns. Livorno, Dr. Paolo Castignoli, has sent me details When the Jews were expelled from Portugal at of family members entered in the register from the end of the 15th century, some of the Chayot 1869 to 1928, and the director of the Portuguese family took refuge in Southern France and in Italy. National Archives, Dr. Bernardo Vasconselos e Isaac ben Abraham Chayot of Provence became Sousa, has kindly provided me with references to chief rabbi of Prague in 1584 and later moved to family documents. These records chart the rise and Poland. His family ultimately settled in Brody decline of the family in Tuscany. where their name was polonized to Chajes. For Guido Chajes was given the title of Count by three centuries, they produced a succession of King Carlos I of Portugal in 1904 for his services as rabbis and distinguished scholars culminating in Zvi Vice-Consul in Livorno. A letter issued by King Manuel II in 1909 confirms the title to Giorgio de Chajes, son of the 1st Count. It is gratifying that some amends were made after four centuries for the great wrong suffered by this family in Portugal. The Villa Chajes is a fine mansion and still a landmark in Livorno. It was acquired by the Count and his brother in 1906 and passed to several of their descendants. When I enquired of a local scholar whether the name of Chajes is still remem- bered in Livorno, I was amused to learn that everyone is familiar with the name, as the Villa Chajes is located near the football club. Paolo Galmarini of Livorno kindly sent me a book entitled The Villa Chajes and its Surroundings. The man- sion is now converted into a hotel. A research grant from Tad Taube and the The Villa Chajes Taube Family Foundation is gratefully acknowl- edged. W Perez Chajes (1876-1927), who was born in Brody, became a professor at the University of Florence, chief rabbi of Trieste, and finally chief rabbi of Vienna between the two world wars. He was a great-grandson of Meir Chajes of Brody, whose father had grown rich in the coral trade in Livorno. The latter married the granddaughter of the first chief rabbi of Galicia and founded the banking house Berenstein, Chajes, & Co. in Florence. Many Jews of Livorno were of Portuguese ex- traction and in earlier times much business was indeed conducted in Portuguese. Their Sephardic origin, Italian ancestors, and multi-lingual skills put the Chajes specially at ease in Livorno, while they had made their mark in Galicia in scholarship as well as in business. Meir Chajes was a partner in the Italian family bank but eventually returned to

The Galitzianer 19 November 2002 In Search of My Grandmother Chana, a “Graduated Midwife" E. Jeanne Blitzer Andelman “The midwife was respected and loved but there was no status or yikhus involved. She was paid. If it was a boy she usually got more pay because at the circumcision all the guests left something for her. She was paid according to the means of the family. The child will stand in a special relationship to the woman who attends his mother at his birth. He pays her visits and she participates in all the festivals and celebrations of his life. He gives her gifts, especially when he is married, and he mourns at her funeral. She calls the children she delivers her ‘babies’ and she in turn is known to all the commu- nity as ‘granny,’ di Bobeh.” (Mark Zborowski and Elitzabeth Herzog, Life is With People: The Jewish Little Town of Eastern Europe, International Universities Press, 1952)

In June of 1990, I joined the Cleveland Jewish Genealogy Society. The time seemed right to pursue a childhood dream: to investigate stories my mother had told me about her mother, Chana Fleischmann Reiter, 1851-1939. Were they exag- This photograph could be from ca. 1880—Chana’s picture to Fischel when they were going to be gerations or facts? married in a religious ceremony—or ca. 1890 when My mother, Lena Reiter Blitzer, talked about they had a civil marriage. her mother, Chana, with an air of pride that seemed Note the gold watch and chain. I could write a story about it. But in this picture, Chana to say, “you can't know what my family was then tucks the watch in her belt. I’m not sure if this is and how many people came to pay their respect unique to midwives or the dress style then. when she arrived in New York in 1913.” And mama It was a long, heavy gold chain, with a would tell me that her mother was a graduated large gold watch. All the “outlaws” you might say were in hot pursuit of it. Chana, feeling indebted to midwife who, at the age of 65, when she came to the families who took her in over the years, the US, traveled to Columbus, Ohio, and took an promised each a “piece.” One daughter-in-law said, examination to be re-certified to practice mid- “For all the people Chana promised, the chain wifery. Lena did not mention where the test took would stretch the length of a city block.” In the end, she gave the watch and brooch place or the exact year; she just added that Chana to my mother, the chain to someone else. practiced about 10 more years. Pictures of my grandmother delivering babies, The only bits of information I had about baking at holiday time, and sending my mother on Chana's past was that she had married three times. the trolley to deliver baskets of pastries to clients Lena told me that Chana's first husband had were rich images to feed my imagination. The idea tuberculosis. He and several of their children died of a professional woman fascinated me, too, as I from this dread and prevalent disease. Later, I was beginning to think about my future. The learned that Chana married again, but divorced after thought of a girl, especially a Jewish one, in the one year. Her third marriage was to my grandfather, 1800s having the opportunity to be educated (Chana Fischel Reiter, 11 years her senior. They had had graduated from a gymnasium), build a career, several children, but only three grew to adulthood. contribute to and hold a responsible position in the In all, Chana bore about ten children. community, and of course, provide additional I decided to find out what I could about Chana income for her family, whetted my appetite to know and her career. My older siblings (I'm the sixth of more about this woman I had never met, for Chana seven children) recalled seeing a diploma, about had died in Cincinnati, age 89, when I was about 7. The Galitzianer 20 November 2002 three feet square, hanging on the wall in our house. When I returned to Cleveland, I called Victor They thought it might have been from the Univer- Wagher, the archivist of Bowling Green State sity of Vienna. University, about another matter and, in speaking to After numerous dead-end investigations, I made him, I mentioned the film I had seen in Toledo. He an appointment to meet Ms. Jenkins, curator of the told me there would be a copy of it in his depart- Ditrick Archival Medical Museum, housed in the ment, too. I asked him to check it. He did—and Allen Memorial Medical Library on the campus of found Chana listed: “Anna Reiter, Feb. 27, 1917.” Case Western Reserve University. At that point, I The exam was given twice a year, in January and just wanted to learn about the history of midwifery July. The cost was $5, plus $10 ($10 in 1917 is and look at artifacts, such as diplomas and applica- equivalent to about $150 today) paid to the Probate tions, or find anything related to the profession. To Court. Soon after, I received a 1917 copy of the my delight, this wonderful woman spent an entire Toledo Directory that listed Anna Reiter, midwife, morning showing me a variety of items and articles on a separate page from her husband, Philip. This pertaining to midwifery written in the United States was the first time Anna's name had appeared in the during the years 1919-20. For example, Florence S. City Directory since arriving in Toledo in 1913. Wright, Supervisor of Midwifery, New Jersey State A few years later I visited an elderly relative. Department of Health, wrote at least six articles on She told me she remembered Chana traveling with the subject from July to December, 1919, and more my aunt to Columbus, taking the exam in German, in 1920. and being told she had a perfect score. They told Midwifery, it turns out, was the catalyst of my grandmother that her medical knowledge was women's issues at that time. It was not unlike the such that she could have passed the physician's Women's Rights Issues of the 1960s. exam, too, but because she didn't speak English The prize item in the museum, as far as I was (although she could read and write several lan- concerned, was a small, red, silk-bound book, dated guages), she could never practice in an American 1898. It was probably a woman's personal directory hospital. Chana continued to practice among the containing names of physicians, surgeons, dentists, immigrants for 10 more years, retiring at the age of nurses, midwives, chiropractors, and masseurs. 75. One question continued to haunt me. Why did The gold-edged pages contain a digest of state my grandmother, at this stage of her life, decide to laws pertaining to each profession: when and where return to the practice? the exams were given, the state law number, the I found the answer in the Toledo City Directo- costs, and the laws for revoking such certification, ries, 1913-1928. They show my grandparents Philip etc. Ohio State midwifery regulation had become and Chana REITER starting out in a two-family law in 1896. One page listed "Graduated Midwives" house they shared with one of their sons. Over the with the names of hospitals and the graduation year; next 15 years, they moved several times to smaller another page showed those who were "Experienced lodgings, yet the 1920s economy was booming. Midwives." For the first time I understood why my Finally, in 1928 (Philip died in 1921), Chana was mother referred to Chana as a "graduated," rather renting the back bedroom of someone's home. I than as a graduate, midwife. “Graduated” was the imagine the economics of her situation when she correct term, (I thought it was my mother's Eng- arrived to Toledo were a jolt to her self-image — lish), designating the midwife had passed compre- for the first time Chana and Philip were dependent hensive oral and written examinations. on their sons for sustenance. Soon after this visit to the museum, I traveled to Over the years, I gathered more information. Toledo to do research at the Main library. Their When Chana lived with us (she moved from holdings include archival records of the Toledo relative to relative), she would remain in her Probate Court and, to my shock, listed was a bedroom until formally dressed, as if going to work. microfilm of the very diplomas granted to persons Her wig, which she made from her own hair (I was with the professions contained in the red silk book! told this was a special art form—she made and sold The description of the film listed the diplomas them) would be combed, and her gold watch and (1898-1945) covering doctors, nurses, dentists and brooch in place. One day when my oldest brother, "others." I began reading, but finding no midwifery then about 16, sneaked a cigarette, Chana in her 80s records, stopped short of continuing to the end. said, "Let me have one, I used to smoke them in Europe."

The Galitzianer 21 November 2002 Chana was a strict orthodox Jew, and read the comment (again in her 80s) made to my sister who Bible daily until she died. What was she doing and was about 12 sums up Chana's feelings: "A girl where could she have been in the late 1800s that doesn't have to know too much in this world." Was smoking was acceptable for women? I never found this her way of expressing the difficulty she the answer, but I surmise that my disciplined experienced juggling the roles of wife, mother, grandmother clung to her professional persona as mother-in-law, professional, and immigrant? best she could. Contrarily, Chana could not change The above story is a revised excerpt of an arti- her ways to live as a housewife; she was chided for cle originally written for a contest sponsored by the this by the female "in-laws" of the family. Petty Southern California Genealogy Society. It was jealousies, rather than appreciation and/or respect chosen as "Editor's Choice” and published in the for Chana and her accomplishments, prevailed January/February, 2002, issue of their quarterly among them. journal, The Searcher. The full article can be found Chana's life in her later years is a sad contrast to at www.reiterblitzer.com. what it had been in the old country. Perhaps her

Family Album: Marlene Bishow’s Great-grandparents

was known as ‘alter Dorf’, an exotic street, along rivulets, old homes connected by quaint bridges facing the rising hills. There lived Shloime Shmerl, a man of great humor, there was the beautiful home of Alter Bermann, the homes of the Deutschers and finally the last house in town along the river Duba, the home of Mrs. Chaje Adler.” Chaim married Feiga Nussbaum (b. 1868), daughter of Mordecai and Sosia Deutscher, in about 1881. Their first child, Shlomo (Samuel), born October 15, 1883, emigrated to NYC in about 1903. From that point there was a stream of Deutscher children to the United States. After Chaim's death in 1912, Feiga came to the US on board the SS President Grant. Along with Feiga were the re- maining children: Golda (Gussie), Yetta (Henri- ette), Malka (Mollie), Mordecai (Murray), and Devorah (Dora). With the assistance of HIAS, they arrived on May 29, 1913. In this photograph and another from many years later, Feiga is wearing a long heavy gold chain. According to family lore, upon Feiga's death on May 11, 1934, this chain was divided into equal This is a photograph of my great-grandparents, pieces, which were given to each of her surviving Chaim Deutscher and Feiga Nussbaum Deutscher daughters. Each had a bracelet or earrings made, but of Rozniatow, Galicia. The photograph was taken in none of these pieces remain in the family. about 1908 and it is the only known photograph of In the 1950’s, Feiga recounted childhood my great-grandfather. memories of the family business, the roadhouse, Chaim Deutscher, born ca. 1864, was one of and also the egg wholesale business run by her eight children born to Sheah Mendel and Ceral father and brothers. She recalled helping out in the Deutscher. Chaim was a prosperous innkeeper on roadhouse and also cleaning the chicken coops. She the outskirts of the town. According to Simon recounted that the children ran and played on the Lieberman's account of Rozniatow in the Yizkor small bridges that connected their homes and the Book, published in 1971, “Past the pond the road roadway. W

The Galitzianer 22 November 2002 1923 Polish Business Directory on Library of Congress Site offered, followed by the word(s) in each of the languages above, for example the listing for pharmacies or drug stores: Apteki Pharmacies Apothetken Chemists Lekarny (with accent marks) Apteki (in Cyrillic) Apteki (in Cyrillic) After the listing of the type of business or serv- ice, you will see listed in alphabetical order in bold print the towns in Poland where businesses have listed their information. Within each town listing is the name of the business and/or person and some- times what appears to be a street address. Of particular interest to Galicia researchers, the The 1923 Polish Directory is now on-line on the name Malopolska indicates a region in Southern Library of Congress website at Poland, formerly in Galicia, of which Krakow is the hdl.loc.gov/loc.gdc/scd0001.20020613002po.2. It is capital. Next to some town names may appear a wonderful addition to our on-line research. Since (Woj.), the abbreviation for Województwo (prov- it is not (yet) searchable, you may need some help ince) or Powiat (district) in which this particular in getting started… town is located, as towns with the same name are The above URL will take you to the starting sometimes located in several different Polish point. At the top of that page you will find a field provinces or districts. into which you can enter an Image number. Enter- The text below is part of Image #119 (Intro- ing 118 into that field will take you to an image of duction) and contains a description of the organiza- the Table of Contents in English. The images tion of the Directory: following the Table of Contents contain the Introduction in English. You can click on the PREV IMAGE | NEXT IMAGE hyperlinks for additional navigation. Introductory material is presented in seven lan- guages at the following image numbers: Polish 38-65 French 66-83 German 84-117 English 118-134 Czech 135-155 Russian 156-175 Ukrainian 176-191 Once on an image, you can enlarge the image by clicking on it. To go back, select your usual BACK icon. Note that the image numbers do not correlate with the page numbers of the directory itself. A map of Poland is located at IMAGE 37. The index of Branches and Goods begins on Image 198 and is in alphabetical order by the Polish word(s) for the branches of industry or goods

The Galitzianer 23 November 2002 Is there a specific time period after which records are The Archives of Ukraine transferred from a ZAHS office to the state archive? Some Q & As from their Web Site The RAHS's archival system holds their records for Editor’s Note: The following Q & As have been 75 years. After this time period, according to law, extracted from www.scarch.kiev.ua (“Archives of all documents must be transferred to the state Ukraine”), an interesting site containing material archives. At this time (2002), the RAHS archives in both Ukrainian and English. Some details of the have holdings not earlier that 1925-1927. answers have been omitted; anyone planning to Sometimes an individual book covers many contact the Archives should consult the web site. years. For example, birth records in small towns. What is your policy regarding access to archival Therefore, until the last year included in the book is material by foreigners? more than 75 years old, the book remains in the According to the new National Archival Law ZAHS office. adopted in December 2001, foreigners have the Are there other archives in Ukraine beside the State same rights to access and use of the national Historical archives and the oblast archives that hold archival records and the same obligations as documents that could be useful for genealogists? Ukrainian citizens. Yes, in addition to the two national historical Is there a specific time span before records are made archives (Central State Historical Archive in Kyiv available to the public? and the same in Lviv) that include unique sources The archival records are available to the public reflecting the national history from ancient times from the time of their acquisition; however, if the (since the 12th century) until 1917 (in Kyiv) and documents contain personal information, then 1939 (Lviv), there are other archives useful for access is restricted for 75 years, according to law. genealogists: In this event, a person (or relative) whose interests Ø The Central State CinePhotoFono Archive of and rights may be violated must give written Ukraine, containing videotapes, photographs permission to access these records. and audio-visual materials; What is the relationship between the State Committee Ø The Central State Archive and the Museum of on Archives of Ukraine and the oblast archives? Literature and Arts of Ukraine preserving mate- State regional (oblast) archives and state archives of rials on Ukrainian culture; cities of Kyiv and Sevastopol are structural subsec- Ø The State Archive in the Autonomous Republic tions of local bodies of executive power - State of Crimea; oblast administrations. These archives preserve Ø 24 state regional (oblast) archives; documents of the National Archival Fund (NAF), Ø State archives of the cities of Kiev, Sevastopol, which have local significance, and execute func- Kamianets-Podilskyi. tions of local governing bodies in archival affairs Additionally, there are family papers and other and records management on the oblast (city) level. genealogical records in archival divisions of major At the same time, local State archival institu- libraries under the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine tions are an integral part of the State archival in Kyiv and Lviv; scientific libraries in Odesa and system and the oblast archives are subordinate to Kharkiv; archives of the academic institutes of the State archival service. archaeology; art studies, folklore and ethnology; What is the system of ZAHS offices throughout literature. Many personal papers and photos are Ukraine? kept in the manuscript divisions of museums. The system of RAHS (registration acts of civil state Are there any restrictions or requirements for [formerly ZAHS]) state archives is under the genealogists who want to research records in jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine Ukrainian archives to discover their ancestral past? and is based upon the same structure as the state Genealogists are included among the ordinary users archives system under the State Committee on of the Ukrainian archives. They have the same Archives. There are district (raions) archives of rights as all other users. However, there is the 75- RAHS, city archives and oblast archives. year restriction on private records, so the user must The network of RAHS archives numbers over have permission from the person who ordered the 700 institutions. They work as structural subsec- research about his ancestral past. tions of the local administrations of justice and exist Should researchers with roots in Ukraine expect to in each administrative-territorial unit (oblast, find genealogically useful records in the archives in district, city) in districts of Kiev and Sevastopol. Moscow and St. Petersburg? For example, where

The Galitzianer 24 November 2002 would the czarist (Imperial Russian) army records of Ø Historical region of Ukraine (Galizien, Tran- soldiers from the Ukrainian gubernias be? scarpatian, Volhynia, Podillia, etc.) where his Of course, the National Archival Fund of Ukraine ancestors lived. does not contain all information about citizens and Ø Name of exact village or town. other peoples who lived in Ukraine. Many records Ø Surname of ancestor (original surname), including military, census, merchant's and nobility including maiden names of women. of the 18th – 19th centuries are held in the former Ø Dates of birth, marriage and death. Central Archives of USSR (now Federal Russian Ø Inquirer’s name, postal address, e-mail address, Archives), including: fax number. Ø Russian State Historical Archive Each inquirer should be prepared to sign an indi- Address: 190000, St. Petersburg, Angliiskaia vidual research agreement with the State Archive. nab. 4; The research fee depends on the time and com- Telephone: 311-09-26; Fax: (812) 311-22-52; plexity of research and is determined by the general RdngRm: 314-99-48; E-mail: [email protected]; price list. In General, the average fee for an uncom- Web: www.rusarchives.ru/federal/rgia; plicated research does not exceed $500 (excluding www.iisg.nl/~abb/abb_b3.html. copy costs). Payment of fees are by bank (wire) · Russian State Archive of Early Acts transfer to the State Archives' account or by mail Address: 119817, Moscow, ul. Bol'shaia Piro- remittance. An alternative payment method may be govskaia, 17; a wire money transfer to a charitable foundation Telephone: 245-83-23; Fax: (095)245-30-98; associated with the State Archives or to the account RdngRm: 245-83-25; of the Society of Ukrainian Archivists (24 Solomi- Web: www.rusarchives.ru/federal/rgada; ans'ka Street, Kyiv, 03680). Please contact: www.iisg.nl/~abb/abb_b2.html. [email protected]. Ø Russian State Military Historical Archives Has the State Committee on Archives of Ukraine any Address: 107005, Moscow, ul. 2-ia Bauman- plans to publish an inventory of metrical records? skaia, 3 The publication of archival guides is part of the Telephone: 261-20-70; Fax: (095) 267-18-66; State Committee on Archives of Ukraine publishing RdngRm: 267-44-62; activity and is among the first priority tasks. Since Web: www.rusarchives.ru/federal/rgvia; 2000, we have launched an extensive publication www.iisg.nl/~abb/abb_b4.html. program entitled Archival Repositories of Ukraine A comprehensive two-volume guide by Patricia with two sub-series, one is Archival Guides (Putiv- Kennedy Grimsted was published in 2000: Archives nyky) and another is Special Reference Books of Russia: A Directory and Bibliographic Guide to (Spetsialni Dovidnyky), i.e., different directories, Holdings in Moscow and St. Petersburg. An inventories, surveys, catalogues, etc. There are abbreviated and updated version is available in some recently published guides within the first electronic form: ArcheoBiblioBase Archives in series, i.e., "guides of the new generation," includ- Russia. ing: See also the Russian website for archives and Ø Archival institutions of Ukraine: [General archival affairs throughout the Russian Federation Institutional] Directory (Kyiv, 2000) (in Russian). Ø Tsentral State Archive of Public Organizations What procedures should be followed by someone of Ukraine (Kyiv, 2001) who wants to obtain information from Ukrainian Ø Tsentral State Historical Archive of Ukraine in archives by correspondence? What is the fee Lviv (Kyiv, 2001) structure for research conducted by archives? What is the present situation regarding methods of Ø State Archive of Chernihiv Oblast (Chernihiv, payment? 2001). Someone who wants to obtain genealogical infor- The main distinctive feature of the new series' mation by mail, should consult the contact list of guides is the full list of archive's fonds and collec- archives including postal addresses, e-mail ad- tions included in each of them (this was absolutely dresses, tax numbers of Ukrainian State Archives. impossible during the Soviet times). Visitors can The inquirer should write to the appropriate view summaries and contents of these guides at our regional archive and provide the following infor- website (www.scarch.kiev.ua). Electronic versions mation: (in a database form) soon will be available through the Internet.

The Galitzianer 25 November 2002 While preparing to visit Ukrainian archives one In the archives, are there any indexes to records or should consult the available guides (in English), for finding aids in English? example , Unfortunately there are no finding aids in English. · Grimsted, Patricia Kennedy. Archives and You should ask someone in the archive for (limited) Manuscript Repositories in the USSR: Ukraine assistance in translating the available materials or and Moldova. Book 1: General Bibliography bring your own translator. and Institutional Directory. Princeton, NJ, Where can I find a town-by-town inventory of archive 1988; documents, in English? The only known town-by-town inventory of archive · Weiner, Miriam. Jewish Roots in Ukraine and documents in English is the book by Miriam Moldova: Pages from the Past and Archival Weiner, Jewish Roots in Ukraine and Moldova: Inventories. Secaucus, NJ/New York, 1999. Pages from the Past and Archival Inventories (Press-release, Ukraine opens its archives and a (Secaucus, NJ/New York, 1999). Please view the new book is born, 1999). Routes to Roots Foundation website: For the last ten years, archivists in Ukraine have www.rtrfoundation.org. been cooperating with the Routes to Roots Founda- tion, Inc., headed by Miriam Weiner to compile a Do the archives hold documents that relate to particular religious groups, for example, Jewish town-by-town inventory of archival documents records? available in a searchable database (at no cost to Yes, there are many records that relate to religious inquirer) and this database [has been posted] to the groups. The comprehensive survey of church foundation website: www.rtrfoundation.org. This archives in Ukrainian repositories will be published website includes extensive information about our on our website soon in a chapter "On-line Re- archival documents as well as several chapters sources" (on the Ukrainian website). The main written by Ukrainian archivists. groups of Jewish records in the archives of Ukraine Many visitors to Ukraine who are interested in their are listed in Jewish Roots in Ukraine and Moldova roots have never been to an archive. What advice can (see above). you give them so that their research can be effective and so that they are not a burden to the archive staff? What is the actual process for a researcher upon If visitor comes to 24 Solom'ianska Street, how can arrival in an oblast archive? he or she proceed from there? The process is the same as in the central archives in There is no special reception. The simple way Kyiv and Lviv. The visitor is asked to complete a to proceed from the door at 24 Solom'ianska Street registration form in the reading room, then place an is to ask for assistance from the security officer. order for indexes or books from the archival library. There are two central state archives in the Usually, it takes less than one hour to receive building (Central State Historical Archive of indexes, surveys or books from the library. Major Ukraine in Kyiv, Central State Archive of the guides and many inventories are available in the Higher Organs of Power and Government of reading room and are accessible immediately. The Ukraine) and another one in a separate building specific files of documents requested will be inside the court at the same address (Central State delivered next day or the time may be shortened, if CinePhotoFono Archive of Ukraine). possible, to accommodate the visitor's schedule. If I come to the archive to do this research person- However, the general procedure is to deliver actual ally, is there an archivist fluent in English who can files of documents or books the day after the order help me? is placed. In many larger archives, there are archivists who Please note there are new Rules of work of speak English, but they may not be available to reading rooms in the state archives of Ukraine assist researchers because of their other duties. In adopted in 2001 (full text in Ukrainian). any event, they could only spend a brief amount of Is it possible for the visitor to bring his own elec- time during the research process. If the researcher is tronic and photographic equipment to the archives not fluent in Russian/Ukrainian, they must provide (including laptop computers, scanners, portable copy their own translator for the research process, machines, cameras, video cameras)? preferably someone who is experienced with The only restriction regarding equipment are items archival research. that may damage documents (scanners or portable copy machines) because of the unique medieval documents or book bindings. In any event, the researcher is requested to consult the specialist in

The Galitzianer 26 November 2002 the reading room before using this equipment. Any people, most of them working as archivists for other equipment (including laptop computers, many years, so any request will be met by staff with cameras and video cameras) is permitted. Visitors extensive knowledge and experience. Younger who plan to use equipment that operate on both archivists have some language skills that would be battery and electricity should be prepared to use the helpful for those who do not speak Ukrainian or batteries rather than electrical outlets. Russian. We are doing our best to help researchers We would like to encourage visitors to come to and visitors. our archives. There are very skilled and qualified Family Album: Joyce Eastman’s Great-grandparents

Top row from right: Ballet in the same capacity. She died in New York David Scheier was born in 1878 in Sucha, Poland. City at the age of 77 in 1957. He became my granduncle when his son married Bottom row from right: my grandmother's oldest daughter (sister of my Max SCHEIER, brother of my maternal grand- mother). He was a maker of handbags and belts. He mother, appears to be about 9 or 10 years of age in married Clara Robinsohn, and they settled in Berlin, the photo. He was married to Bertha (surname Germany, where their children were born. They unknown), who became blind later in life and later emigrated to the US, where they had a leather- probably died during the war. Max survived the war goods store in Los and lived in Berlin, Germany. Angeles, CA, and He came to visit our family in then in Jackson New York a few times during Heights, NY. He the 1950's and 1960's prior to died in 1960 in his death in Germany. Jackson Heights at Aron SCHEIER, my ma- the age of 82. ternal greatgrandfather, born The young in Stanislau in 1847, was the woman next to son of Markus SCHEIER and David may be his Dinah (surname unknown). future wife, Clara His parents moved to Biala, ROBINSOHN. where he was raised. He was Clara came from a an innkeeper. wealthy family in Abraham SCHEIER, Biala. She was the brother of my maternal daughter of Reuben grandmother was born in in ROBINSOHN and Rosalia (surname unknown). Sucha in 1886 and died in 1897 at the age of 11. He She died in 1960 in Jackson Heights, age 84. is buried in the Bielsko-Biala cemetery. Sidonie SCHEIER, my maternal grandmother Sali SCHEIER, sister of my maternal grand- was born in 1880 and appears to be about 12 to 14 mother married Jakob (surname unknown). They years of age in this photo. She married Philip had one son. Jakob and their son may have perished FRANKL (who later changed his surname to in the holocaust. Sali was able to emigrate from FODOR). He was born in Vag Ujhely, Hungary and Slovakia and lived in Bermuda for many years was the son of Ignaz FRANKL (a professor of before her death (prior to 1957). languages) and Rozalia WEISZ. Sidonie FODOR Fani RUFEISEN, my maternal greatgrand- (SCHEIER) came to the US in 1934 with her mother, was born in Szare in 1846. She was the younger daughter (my mother). She had started a daughter of Jakob RUFEISEN and Feigle (surname sewing school in Trencin, Slovakia, in order to unknown). She was a distant cousin of Oswald make money after the death of her husband. She RUFEISEN. Date of death unknown. was a seamstress and a miliner as well, and also Sam SCHEIER, brother of my maternal grand- taught her daughters this trade. After coming to the mother, was a plumber and was married to Cecilia US, she worked for the Roxy Theater in New York (surname unknown). It is believed that they both City as a costumer, and also for the City Center perished during the Holocaust. W

The Galitzianer 27 November 2002 GG Steering Committee © 2002 by Gesher Galicia. The Galitzianer is Coordinator: Shelley Kellerman Pollero intended to provide a venue for the free exchange 549 Cypress Lane of ideas, research tips and articles of interest to Severna Park, MD 21146 Gesher Galicia members researching Jewish (410) 647-9492 family history in the communities that in 1872 [email protected] were part of Galicia, a province of the Austro- [email protected] Hungarian Empire. The Galitzianer welcomes Membership Chair: Leon Gold articles, lists, book reviews and other relevant P.O. Box 31093 contributions from its readers, whether they are Santa Barbara, CA 93130-1093 members or not. [email protected] Treasurer: Sylvia Gordon [email protected] Editor, The Galitzianer: Edward Goldstein 24 Euston Street Brookline, MA 02446 (617) 232-9166 [email protected] Editor, Family Finder: Peter Zavon [email protected] Research Chair: Vacant. Volunteer needed Webmaster: Mark Heckman [email protected] Yizkor Book/JewishGen Liaison: Joyce Field [email protected] JRI-Poland Liaison: Peter Jassem [email protected] At Large: Barbara Krasner-Khait [email protected] At Large: Nelson Pollack [email protected] At Large: Melody Katz [email protected]

The Galitzianer 28 November 2002