GG Matters Town Updates JRI-Poland Feature Articles Gesher
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Vol. 9, No. 3 Electronic Distribution May 2002 GG Matters 7 Book Review: “In the Beginning” by Chaim Potok 2 Coordinator’s Column Alan Weiser Shelley Kellerman Pollero Review of a classic of special interest to 2 From the Editors’ Desks Galitzianers Edward Goldstein & Eva Rosenn 8 Galicia Administrative Districts Town Updates Shelley Kellerman Pollero 9 Jews in Haller’s Army 3 Kolomyya Edward Goldstein Alan Weiser Recent research by the author raises troubling 3 Przemysl questions Roberta Jainchill & Ilan Bech 13 Economic Background to “Some Family 4 Invitation to Skalat Links” Segal, Weinberg & Braunstein Edward Gelles In July, survivors will once again travel to This article focuses on how the family we read Skalat about in the February issue of The Galitzianer 5 Tarnobrzeg achieved its wealth Gayle Schlissel Riley 15 Ashkenazic Family Names: Origin & Devel- 5 Skala Podolskaya opment Tony Hausner Isaac Goldberg One of two articles in this issue on how our 8 Krakow forebears got their names Judy Wolkovitch 18 Polish Surnames and Suffixes JRI-Poland Fred Hoffman Not specifically addressed to Jewish sur- 6 More Records for AGAD names, but of interest nevertheless Mark Halpern An update 21 Jewish Genealogy: More Than a Family Tree? Feature Articles Valerie Schatzker 7 A Guide for New Researchers A moving essay on genealogical research in a Shelley Kellerman Pollero post-Holocaust world An update of tried and true suggestions for 23 Gesher Galicia Family Finder Update those who are just starting out Gesher Galicia's 10th Anniversary Gala Washington, DC July 2003 Volunteers needed for committees. Contact Shelley Pollero Coordinator Column From the Editors’ Desks Shelley Kellerman Pollero Edward Goldstein I’ve been a little busy lately! My son, Eric, was mar- Eva Rosenn ried on March 24 in Scottsdale, AZ and my daughter, We recently obtained a review copy of Polin: Studies Bonnie, on May 11 in Annapolis, MD. My school in Polish Jewry, Volume 12 – Focusing on Galicia: year will be over in June and my thoughts have fi- Jews, Poles, and Ukrainians, 1772-1918. It was pub- nally turned to the summer and the IAJGS Interna- lished in 2000 by the Littman Library of Jewish Civi- tional Conference in Toronto (August 4-9). lization for the Institute for Polish-Jewish Studies and According to conference planners, the program the American Association for Polish-Jewish Studies. will be “unique and innovative” and “useful, enter- The Polin series was established in 1986 for the taining, and educational.” A major emphasis of the purpose of publishing “authoritative material on all program is on the historical and social context of the aspect of Polish Jewry. Contributions are drawn from Jewish experience that motivated the emigration of many disciplines: history, politics, religious studies, our relatives from the “Old Country.” A variety of literature, linguistics, sociology, art, and architecture topics, presented by internationally known historians and from a wide variety of viewpoint.” The series and experts, will allow us to better understand the won one of the year 2000 National Jewish Book historical context and background that affected our Awards. family histories. Volume 12 was edited by Israel Bartal, Professor Among the speakers of interest to Galicia re- of Modern Jewish History and Director of the Centre searchers are Professor Piotr Wróbel, Chair of Pol- for Research on the History and Culture of Polish ish Studies, University of Toronto, whose article, The Jews at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and An- Jews of Galicia under Austrian-Polish Rule, 1867- tony Polonsky, Albert Abrahamson Professor of 1918, was published in the May, August, and No- Holocaust Studies at Brandeis University. vember (2001) issues of The Galitzianer; Alexander As its name implies, the volume focuses on the Beider, Names Adopted in Galicia; Marko Cyryn- one and a half centuries during which Galicia was nyk, Relations between Poles, Jews, and Ukrainians part of the Austrian Empire. Topics covered include in Eastern Galicia; Stanley Diamond, Jewish Re- historical overviews of the Jewish community; per- cords Indexing-Poland; Leszek Hondo, Institute of ceptions of the Jews by others; consequences of Aus- Jewish Culture, Jagellonian University (Poland), trian reforms, and of Galician autonomy; Jewish land Sources of Jewish Genealogical Research in Western owning; and Jewish migration to Vienna. There is Galicia and Jewish Cemeteries in Western Galicia; also a Book Review section. Professor Antony Polonsky, Brandeis University, This is a book for serious students of Galician Poland and Polish Jewry; Yale J. Reisner, Director, history. It won’t tell you where to obtain vital records Lauder Foundation Genealogy Project, Jewish His- or what to expect if you decide to visit your great- torical Institute (Poland), Recovering Jewish Memory great-grandparents’ shtetl. But if your research ex- in Poland; Teresa Swiebocka, Curator, Auschwitz tends to the political, cultural and economic context Museum; Miriam Weiner, author and Eastern Euro- of our ancestors’ lives, you will probably find it use- pean expert, her works and new initiatives; GG mem- ful. bers Fay and Julian Bussgang, and Gayle Riley. The 396-page paperback book lists for $29.95. The Gesher Galicia annual meeting will take place at the Conference. GG Steering Committee members will report on SIG activities and Mark Halpern, Coordinator of JRI-Poland’s AGAD In- In Memoriam dexing Project will update The Great Galician In- Phyllis Goldberg dexing Race. Come to our Birds-of–a-Feather (BOF) Member #371 since 1995 networking session to meet and share information passed away on February 15, 2002 about our surnames and towns in Galicia and make following a long illness. connections. Bring a copy of your family tree! Check We extend our heartfelt condolences the Conference Bulletin Board daily for times and to her family and friends. places of BOF sessions. See you in Toronto! 2 Kolomyya Przemysl Alan Weiser ([email protected]) Roberta Jainchill, Przemysl Archives Coordinator Our Kolomea Administrative District (KAD) web site Ilan Blech, Przemysl Town Leader continues to attract new members. We now have 67 Researchers with an interest in the Jewish vital re- members, up 8 from our last report. cords of Przemysl have reason to be excited. JRI-PL AGAD Project The indexing of all available records in the Prze- As of this writing it appears that we have run a bit mysl branch of the Polish State Archives has now short of meeting our JRI-PL AGAD Project/ Kolo- been completed by the Archivist working for JRI-PL myya goal for indexing of birth records. We have and, of course, on behalf of all researchers with an collected $3,036 toward a goal of $3,210. The interest in this large Galician town. Kolomea Town Leader is trying to close the gap be- When the project was announced in January fore we lose our place in the priority list. Indexing of 2001, the Przemysl registers in the Przemysl branch Birth records was to begin in April, IF we had met of the PSA included only records up to 1893. Since 100% of goal. We have ZERO percent towards in- that time, additional volumes have been delivered to dexing of our marriage and death records goal. We the archives from the town civil records office. As a need donors to raise $1,400 to get marriage and death result, births have now been indexed up to 1900 and records on the priority list and another $1,400 to get marriages and deaths up to 1899. In addition, it was them indexed. discovered that the earliest birth register started in 1789 and not in 1790! The net result is 21% more Research Projects indices for Przemysl than included in the original in- A new section, “Research Projects,” has been added ventory. The new grand total is 44,161 index entries. to our KAD web site. There you will find a listing of Moreover, because the indices were created by our ongoing projects and projects needing researchers the Archivist from the original registers, it became to get them going. A notice was sent to the Galicia possible to arrange for extended index entries with far Message Board asking for researchers and translators more data than typically included in JRI-PL files (fa- to help on our research projects. No responses yet. ther's and mother's names, mother's maiden name, Everyone is invited to assist on our research — you ages, towns born and living, and remarks). While this do not have to be a KRG member. Do you have re- increased the cost of the project, the benefit to re- search results from past efforts looking for a place to searchers is clear and dramatic. be posted? If the research results pertain to the KAD With the combination of additional years of re- and/or Galicia in general, submit a summary of your cords and expanded indices, the cost of the completed material to the KRG Coordinator for possible posting Przemysl project is $7,285.65. Only $5,333.00 has on the KAD web site. To assist us on research. just go been raised to date. to our web site, select a project you would like to Przemysl researchers are urged to contribute to work on, and contact the KRG Coordinator. cover the cost of indexing. Only when the project is Surnames and Marriage fully funded will the indices be released into the JRI- Have you ever asked a question like, “Why does my PL online searchable database. But those contributing grandfather’s brother have a different surname than a minimum of $100 to this project will receive an Ex- my grandfather?” or “Why can’t I find my father’s cel file with all index entries.