In these terrible days for the Ukraine the thoughts of many may be turning to family. Invaluable work has been done by Vera Ivanova Miller to compile available records for those looking for either Ukrainian or Russian ancestors.
Explaining the scope of the records, Vera Miller commented:
“Anyone who understands the history of the former USSR or has family from the former USSR knows the mountain of records that were maintained on its citizens. Those researching in the former USSR would be surprised by the type of records going online. It goes well beyond church and census records (known as revision tales).”
To give you an idea of what’s available, here is a sample:
- Registration cards of evicted kulaks and members of their families from Dnipropetrovsk Region in the 1930s
- Vologda Region WWII evacuation records
- Kyiv Branch of the Russian-Canadian-American Passenger Agency 1926-1930
- Patriotic Initiative of the Tambov Collective Farmers
The full list of available records can be found here.
Almost 70 links for scanned records are available.
You can discover more about her work here.
Incidently, Vera Millar is also the author of two books on this topic.
Genealogy at a Glance: Ukrainian Genealogy Research
Because the borders of Ukraine shifted many times over the years, researching your Ukrainian ancestors can be challenging. The names of towns and cities often changed, and some towns and villages have completely vanished from today’s maps. In addition, Ukrainian archives were not accessible to the public until fairly recently, nor were the records from the Soviet period. Vera Ivanova Miller’s Genealogy at a Glance: Ukrainian Genealogy Research will help you overcome these challenges and successfully begin your Ukrainian family history research by providing you with the most current information on what resources are available and how to access them.
In four, laminated pages, this guide describes the waves of Ukrainian immigration to the Americas and various European countries; Ukrainian surnames and religions; vital records and censuses; Communist-era databases and Soviet-era persecution files; online resources; and much more. Sprinkled throughout are tips to help you locate your ancestor’s hometown and expand your search.
To assist Ukrainian genealogy researchers even further, Miller has included a “Quick Guide to the Ukrainian Alphabet” and pointers on understanding the culture of Ukraine.
Genealogy at a Glance: Russian Genealogy Research
Russians emigrated in several waves, coming from many countries of the former USSR, including Ukraine, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, and Belarus, in addition to current-day Poland. An estimated 23 million people emigrated from Russia after the 1917 Revolution alone, with another large wave of emigration after World War II. However, with the dispersion of so many Russians, the massive destruction in the country after World War II, the breakup of the Soviet Union, and language barriers, those with Russian ancestry have a challenging job of tracing their family history.
That’s where Genealogy at a Glance: Russian Genealogy Research, by Vera Ivanova Miller, comes in. Miller gives you all the information you’ll need to get started on the search for your Russian ancestors. Topics covered include Russian names and religions; how to locate Russian ancestral places; researching in Russian archives, censuses, parish registers, and consular records; and where to go online to access databases and other helpful information.
To assist Russian genealogy researchers even further, Miller has included a “Quick Guide to the Russian Alphabet” and a sprinkling of helpful tips throughout the piece.
Donations in support of Ukraine can be made at the official site created by the Ukrainian embassy in the UK here
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Donations in support of Ukraine can be made at the official site created by the Ukrainian embassy in the UK here
