PolishOrigins(TM) Forum

Re: Good reasearchers in Grodno Belarus

Anonymous — Thu May 12, 2016 4:00 am

Author: Anonymous

Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 4:00 am

I am glad that I am not the only one frustrated with the Grodno archives ridiculous way it is run. This is the second time I have tried dealing with them. I was not impressed that everything is in Russian including the information they had found the first time. Regarding communicating with them and trying to pay invoices is at times near impossible. All I need is a certain time frame then I can ask the Lithuanian archives for more information, they are much more organised and have sent me information in English. Since Belarus, Ukraine and Lithuania were once part of Poland and then was the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth I thought they may have records, of the area I am interested in. And they do.

I have also read another post from 2010 of someone trying to contact the Belarus archives for months, then he finally got an invoice in the mail and felt uncomfortable paying anything as it was in Russian and he was not sure if it was the real thing or a con. Then when the documents were translated for him he states that the archive hires researchers to do the work, which I found quite odd in itself as it is government owned (you would think?) I am not sure of his outcome. Someone had also posted that the Belarus archives only deal in the Russian language.

What areas do the Wloclawek and Plock archives cover?

Re: Good reasearchers in Grodno Belarus

bwalsh1956 — Wed May 11, 2016 7:50 pm

Author: bwalsh1956

Posted: Wed May 11, 2016 7:50 pm

I have had good luck with the archives in Wloclawek and Plock - but be forewarned, the process is SLOW!! It takes 4-5 weeks to get a reply. I think the prices are very reasonable, but you need patience. I use XOOM.com to send money- they charge $5 or so for a wire transfer, which is much cheaper than a bank transfer.

Good researchers in Grodno Belarus

bernio — Wed May 11, 2016 3:56 pm

Author: bernio

Posted: Wed May 11, 2016 3:56 pm

I am also interested in learning of a good researcher in the Grodno Diocese Archives. I had emailed the Archives with a request, received 1 answer requesting my email address so they could send an invoice and indicating they had some information. I had some questions as to how to pay, guarantee of getting the information, etc. Never got a reply so 3 wks later sent another email asking for a reply and gave my email address and now almost 2 wks later - no reply. So frustrating, so I'm curious also on cost of researching, etc.

Good reasearchers in Grodno Belarus

Anonymous — Wed May 11, 2016 1:31 am

Author: Anonymous

Posted: Wed May 11, 2016 1:31 am

Does anyone know of a reasonably priced, good researcher to search the Grodno archives in Belarus for me?