Send your comments & questions (but please read the notes below before you actually send out)

Since the inception of "Genealogy and Poland", an online guide which was established in 1996, I have received hundreds of emails to which I have tried to reply to the best of my ability and knowledge of the subject. The experience acquired during that time made me realize that hints need to be addressed before sending queries. It is not my intention to discourage readers of the guide to ask questions. However it has been proven that there are categories which either have no answer or it is repetitive. So I kindly ask that you please read the following before sending emails.

The author does not have a comprehensive database of the populace that inhabited Poland. In fact nobody on the planet or cyberspace has access to it. Nevertheless, sometimes I was receiving queries such as "my ggg-grandfather, John Kowalsky was born in Poland (Galicia, Prussia, Russia, etc.) about 1860." "Do you know anything about him?" These types of queries will NOT be answered at all.

Please remember that answering specific queries requires digging in gazetteers, dictionaries and other means. This method is very time consuming given the fact that it is multiplied by numerous emails requesting information. Thus if you ask me to identify a village, locate records or provide historical background on a town/ village or surname please provide preliminary background information or be prepared for a small contribution.

To many questions, there is an answer in the guide which has a tree like structure (sub pages available from the main page and so on). So please use the guide and exhaust all options before requesting help.

As a rule, I do not provide searches for people lost in World War II, nor do I go into issues related to old property left or once confiscated in Poland. I don't have access to military archives, so I am also unable to provide information about issues such as: military career, POW camps or taking part in particular war campaigns.

For regular genealogical searches, tour guide, translation or photography requests and locating relatives in Poland please refer to the Discovering Roots site. Also please be prepared with preliminary information for us to assess the information if it is feasible for an effective search. The surname alone, even if accompanied by birthdates is rarely helpful. The name of the town of origin is actually the most important and other pertinent information is a plus.

Also as a rule I do not go into nobility or family crests. Much of the information that is oral history among descendants is pure legend unless it can be substantiated.

And again I recommend the ShtetlSeeker search as a method of locating towns in Poland, even if your spelling is phonetic only. In the majority of cases it narrows down the town or village. For towns in Western Poland, which were once part of Prussia, there is also a comprehensive database of all localities , providing their old German and present Polish names, as well as much additional info.

I ask your kind cooperation on the above and as always all comments and questions are welcome.
Please note that my response can be delayed, due to my professional activity as tour guide and genealogy researcher - especially during the tour season. I am sorry for any inconvenience.

Send your comments & questions

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