Research Guide to Polish Genealogical Resources at the Connecticut State Library

 General Resources | Connecticut Resources |  Archival Resources | Other Institutions with Relevant Collections | Links

This guide is an introduction to genealogical and historical items that may be useful to those researching Polish ancestry. For additional materials, try a keyword search for 'Polish Genealogy' or 'Connecticut history -Polish,' in the State Library's main catalog.

General Resources

Ames, Mary Ann Boczon. How to Research Your Personal Polish Family. New Carolltton, MD: Ames, 1976 [CSL call number CS 49 .A43]. Gives suggestions and strategies for research.

Bukowczyk, John J. And My Children Did Not Know Me : A History of the Polish Americans. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 1987 [CSL call number E 184 .P7 B84 1987]. Gives a brief history of Poland and discusses Polish emigration to the United States.

Chorzempa, Rosemary A. Polish Roots = Korzenie Polskie Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1993 [CSL call number History Reference CS 872 .C56 1993]. A guide to resources in the United States and Poland.

Glazier, Ira A., ed. Migration from the Russian Empire: Lists of Passengers arriving at the Port of New York. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1995 - [CSL call number E 184 .R9 m54 1995]. Includes Polish passengers. CSL holds vol. 1 (January 1875) through vol. 6 (June 1891).

Hoskins, Janina W. Polish Genealogy and Heraldry: An Introduction to Research. New York: Hippodrene Books, 1990 [CSL call number History Reference CS 872 .H67 1990]. Contains a bibliography of sources useful for Polish research.

Konrad, J. Polish Family Research. Rev. ed. Munroe Falls, OH: Summitt Publications, 1982 [CSL call number CS 49 .K67]. Contains several maps.

Obal, Thaddeus J. A Bibliography for Genealogical Research Involving Polish Ancestry. Hillsdale, NJ: Obal, 1978 [CSL call number E 184 .P7 O23 1978]. Arranged by topics, such as Genealogical Bibliographies, Polish Genealogies, Locations in Poland, etc.

Renkiewicz, Frank. The Poles in America, 1608-1972: A Chronology and Fact Book. Dobbs Ferry, NY: Oceana Publications, 1973 [CSL call number E 184 .P7 R46].

Shea, Jonathan D. Going Home: A Guide to Polish-American Family History Research. New Britain, CT: Language & Lineage Press, 2008 [CSL call number History Reference E 184 .P7 S44 2008]. Overview of the types of records available in the United States and Poland.

______     . In Their Words: A Genealogist's Guide to Polish, German, Latin, and Russian Documents. New Britain, CT: Language & Lineage Press, 2007 [CSL call number History Reference CS 873 .S49 2007]. A guide for interpreting Polish documents and proper names. 

Connecticut Resources

Blejwas, Stanislaus A. St. Stanislaus B. & M. Parish, Meriden, Connecticut: A Century of Connecticut Polonia, 1891-1991. New Britain, CT: Central Connecticut State University, 1991 [CSL call number F 104 .M5 B54 1991]. A detailed history of the St. Stanislaus parish.

Buczek, Daniel S. Immigrant Pastor: The Life of the Right Reverend Monsignor Lucyan B'ojnowski of New Britain, Connecticut. Waterbury, CT: Heminway Corp, 1974 [CSL call number BX 4705 .B5724 B8].

Holy Name of Jesus Parish Centennial Celebration, 1903 – 2003. Stamford, CT: Holy Name of Jesus Parish, 2004 [CSL call number F 104 .S8 H65 2004]. Lists names of those who were baptized, married, or died at the Holy Name of Jesus Parish from 1903 - 2003.

Kierklo, Mieczyslaw. Polonia in Connecticut. Hartford: Komitet Obchoców Tysiąclecia Polski Ohrześcijańskiej na Stan Connecticut, 1966 [CSL call number F 105 .P7 K54 1966]. Contains brief historical sketches of Polish parishes and organizations in Connecticut.

Polski Express. New Britain, CT: Polski Express Mass Media, 2000 – [CSL call number Newspaper room AN 104 .N5 P65]. Newspaper title.

Przeglad: Polonijny z Connecticut. New Britain, CT: [s.n.], 1998 – [CSL call number Newspaper room AN 104 .N5 P74]. Newspaper title.

Shea, Jonathan D. The Polish Community of New Britain. Charleston, SC: Acadia Press, 2005 [CSL call number F 104 .N5 S54 2005]. Chiefly images.

Slominski, Lynda. The Poles: In Their Homeland, In America, In Connecticut. Storrs, CT: University of Connecticut, 1979 [CSL call number History Reference ConnDoc Ag 83 wep no. 6].

Tedeschi, Thomas. Connecticut Families found in the Protestant Parish Register transcripts for Nowa Wies (Gostynin) Warszawa, Poland. New Britain, CT: T.S. Tedeschi, 2005 [CSL call number CS 878 .W37 T43 2005].

The Polish-Americans of Bridgeport: A Social Survey. Bridgeport, CT: University of Bridgeport Sociology Colloquium, 1960 [CSL call number F 104 .B78 B745 1960].

The History and Genealogy Unit of the Connecticut State Library holds a number of genealogical indexes to births, marriages, deaths, and burials; microfilmed federal census records for Connecticut; and microfilmed early land records for all of Connecticut's 169 towns. Research guides to naturalization records, census records, and ships' passenger lists are also available.

The Connecticut State Library does not hold original or microfilmed Catholic church records.  Researchers seeking Catholic records should contact the Diocesan archivist at the Chancery Office, 134 Farmington Ave., Hartford, CT  06105; telephone: (860) 541-6491; website: http://www.archdioceseofhartford.org/archives.htm

Archival Resources

The items listed below are subject to the Rules and Procedures for Researchers Using Archival Records and Secured Collections Materials. Not all materials are stored onsite; some may not be retrieved the same day. Materials housed at the offsite storage facility are retrieved Monday through Friday at 10:30 a.m. For additional information, please see Use of Offsite and Secured Collections. See in particular the following Record Groups:

RG 010, Records of the Education Department. See in particular Series 19, Age Documentation for Minor’s Work Permits, 1870-1930. Original documents used as proof of a minor’s age when applying for a work permit from the Department of Education. Most documents are from foreign born individuals, but some native born citizens had documents issued in a language other than English. Arranged alphabetically by surname and divided by language within each letter. Includes some attendance reports and some passports and birth certificates of work permit applicants. A finding aid to these records is available at the History and Genealogy Unit reference desk.

RG 033, Connecticut Work Projects Administration, 1935-1944. See in particular Series 8. Ethnic Groups Survey.

RG 033:8:25, Edited copy of papers on Ethnic Groups, 1936-1938. Short reports or monographs by field workers or editors on individual ethnic groups in different town or on various aspects of the life and culture of ethnic groups. For Polish materials, see Box 72.

RG 033:8:29, Files on study of organizations, 1936-1940. Includes edited copies of papers on ethnic organizations, together with lists, working papers, and related materials. For Polish organizations, see Box 85.

RG 033:8:30, Reports of interviews ("Biographies"), 1937-1940. Reports of detailed interviews with members of ethnic groups concerning their history, status, and opinions about their life and place in the community. For Polish materials, see Box 92.

RG 033:8:36, Newspaper excerpts on ethnic matters, 1915-1940. Summaries and transcriptions of material from leading Connecticut newspapers pertaining to ethnic groups or individuals and related maters. For Polish materials, see Box 106.

RG 033:8:37, Bridgeport Office File, 1936-40. Includes reports of interviews with members of ethnic groups. For Polish materials, see Boxes 109, 110, 111, 115, and 116.

RG 033:8:38, Hartford Office File, 1936-40. Includes newspaper clippings concerning Hartford ethnic groups, mounted in scrapbooks. For Polish materials, see Boxes 121, 122, 123, and 124.

RG 033:8:39, New Britain Office File, 1936-40. Includes edited copy, drafts, interview reports and working papers arranged by ethnic group. For Polish materials, see Boxes 129 and 130.

Other Institutions with Relevant Collections

Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies Library
18 S. Seventh Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106-2314
215-925-8090

Connecticut Polish American Archives
Elihu Burritt Library
1615 Stanley Street
New Britain, CT 06050
860-832-2086
The Elihu Burritt Library is also home to the Polish Heritage Collection.  Try a subject search for 'Poland - History' or 'Poland - Genealogy' in the library catalog.

Polish-American Historical Association
Central Connecticut State University
1615 Stanley Street
New Britain, CT 06050

Polish Genealogical Society of America
984 N. Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622

Polish Genealogical Society of Connecticut and the Northeast
c/o Jonathan D. Shea
8 Lyle Road
New Britain, CT 06053-2104

Links

Ancestry Library Edition. Contains over 1.5 billion names in over 4,000 databases, with a focus on North America. This is a subscription database that is available for use at the State Library.

Ellis Island / Port of New York Records. Free searchable database of passengers who arrived through Ellis Island from 1892 until 1924. Includes images of the original ship manifests.

FamilySearch. The website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A search on the website includes the Ancestral File and the International Genealogical Index (IGI).  The Ancestral File is a collection of thousands of names and pedigrees submitted to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. The International Genealogical Index is an index of names extracted from church and civil records. It includes over 200 million names from records around the world, with concentrations in North America, Mexico, Great Britain, and Europe. Names are placed in the IGI by researchers or through name extraction programs. If your ancestor is in the IGI, you may be able to find the date and place of his or her birth, marriage, and/or death.

HeritageQuest Online. Contains U.S. federal census records, published genealogies, PERSI (Periodical Source Index), and other genealogical resources. This is a subscription database that is available for use at the State Library or remotely to Connecticut residents through iCONN.

Immigration of Russians to the United States, created, ca. 1977 - 2002, documenting the period 1834 - 1897 - part of the National Archives and Records Administration's  Access to Archival Databases (AAD).

Prepared by the History and Genealogy Unit, Connecticut State Library, 05-01. Updated 05-09.