|
© copyright 1987-1998 Slovenian Genealogical Society, all rights
reserved Society website I would like to extend my best wishes to all of you who have in... Volume 1 Issue 1dicated a desire to see our organization grow into a useful tool for those studying Slovenian Genealogy. This first issue will be short, but we have faith that it will grow as member input increases. We would like your contribution on any subject of interest to a genealogist. Just keep it as short as possible. Include a self addressed stamped envelope with any request. Our 1986 ad campaign was very well received at a minimal cost. We were able to receive some type of promotion in THE AMERICAN HOME NEWSPAPER, ZARJA THE DAWN MAGAZINE, and THE AVA MARIA MAGAZINE. My hometown newspaper, THE FOREST CITY NEWS, ran a lengthy piece on our society. We received an excellent response from many different states. If you see mention of our society in any publication, please clip and mail it to us making special note of the name of publication and date. If you can have our group mentioned in a local publication, please do so. Send us a copy. John Kaneen, owner of the FOREST CITY NEWS, has given us permission to begin an obituary index for his paper. We need volunteers in the Forest City, Pennsylvania area to work on this project. If you can think of a similar project for your area, let us know. We'll put out the call for help. The UNITED SLOVENIAN SOCIETY is trying to document all Slovenian organizations in this country. A roster of organizations has been prepared and now lists over 1000 Slovenian affiliated clubs, lodges, and churches. More than 200 orchestras play Slovenian Music. There are more than 40 button accordion clubs. Cecilia Dolgan has spent more than 2 years compiling and computerizing this information. Their directory can be purchased by writing to the UNITED SLOVENIAN SOCIETY. P.O. Box 17348, Cleveland, Ohio 17348. This book is a valuable resource for Slovenian genealogists. We would like a listing of individuals with fluency in the Slovenian tongue. If you read, write, or speak Slovenian, please let us know. Make sure you indicate your willingness to 1) do some volunteer work for our Society, 2) do some volunteer work for other members, 3) do special work for individuals for a fee. Our society would also like to keep track of place name changes in Slovenia. If you are aware of the old Germanic or Austrian name of cities and the current Slovenian name, please write to us. We will then be able to pass the work when asked. When I first became interested in genealogy, I looked to the public library for help. On the shelves, were numerous books on how to organize and begin a detailed search of ancestral records. Many were helpful, but over the course of time I settled on one book that appeared to be the most complete and readable. In my opinion, THE SOURCE, A GUIDEBOOK OF AMERICAN GENEALOGY, edited by Arlene Eakle and Johni Cerny is the one book each genealogist would do well to have on the bookshelf. The book is quite massive and the print is small, but don't let the size alone intimidate you. There are 23 information packed chapters that will stimulate some action - some new thought or approach - every time you read it. This book is not meant to be read and put away. It's real value is that there is just so much information, you can't help but return time and again. Part I covers the topics generally discussed in beginner volumes, but with more depth. It's hard to overstress the value of family contacts or the worth of government and religious records. Part II covers other, not so well known, information sources such as city directories and newspapers. The chapter on indexes and their use was especially helpful to me. If Part I is the heart of this volume, for the ethnic genealogist, Part III is the soul. There is an entire chapter on tracing immigrant origins. Chapter 15 alone makes this book valuable to the Slovenian genealogist. There is also a series of appendices covering governmental archives, historical and genealogical societies, LDS branch libraries, addresses by state for Vital Records, genealogy publishers, and an excellent glossary. If you come across a useful genealogy volume, please write us a review for us. TRACING AUSTRIAN (now Slovenian, Yugoslavia) ANCESTORS Harriet Ayres The usual first step in tracing an ancestor back to Slovenia is to first obtain the immigrants United States naturalization papers from the County Clerk where the person was naturalized. This will usually provide a village name, but more may be needed because of the vast number of other villages in Slovenia with the same or similar names. Mine was Stari trg ob Kolpi (Old market or place) by the Kupa River. There are many Stari trgs in Slovenia, but only one by the Kupa River. Ancestral papers frequently list Krain, Osterreich (Austria), or Laibach. They are all now Slovenia, Yugoslavia. This is where a gazetteer would prove helpful. Also, one parish in Slovenia will frequently serve many surrounding villages. My ancestors village was Gorenj Rodenci, and it was served by the parish of Star Trg ob Kolpi (town). Once the village and town name is determined, you can write to the Bishop's House where records of all parishes are kept. Write to: Nadskofijjsi Ordinariat, Archiv, Ciril-Madtodov trg 4, 61001 Ljubljana, pp 121/111, Slovenia, Yugoslavia. Letters can be in English, but Slovenian is preferred. All replys will be in Slovenian. If writing in English, don't use any abbreviations or use contractions. They use an English/Slovenian dictionary just like us. Do provide all data that you can, including: date of birth, names of parents, and name of spouse if married in the old country. Do not send any money until they reply. The amount requested is usually very reasonable. If no fee is charged, make a donation. It will be appreciated and will give added incentive to search for you in the future. All payments should be made by International Bank Check or Money Order. They can be purchased at most banks. Never send cash or personal checks. Every request should include at least 3 international postal reply coupons. These can be obtained at the Post Office, and will cover postage when they reply to you. I always use an air mail stamp and ask for the reply to be sent airmail. I've received a response as early as 12 days where usual times can exceed 6 weeks. Do not send a self-addressed stamped envelope rather than the international reply coupons. Remember, the search is not over when you get your reply, that is, if you don't read and understand Slovenian. Translation, is one of the most difficult aspects of the entire process, and access to a translator really becomes a must. A dictionary helps, but is not truly a substitute for the knowledge and understanding of a person. Good luck with your search. QUERIES: Queries are free to members. Be brief. We will edit as space dictates. 1: POJE Katarina MAJETIC POJE (born 1904) married Anton POJE in 1926 in Borovica. He died in Slovenia in 1945. Daughter Marija POJE KERN was born in 1936 in Morova. She and her mother left for the U.S. in 1959. Contact Dianne Ulyon, 1003 North Elmwood, Oak Park, IL 60302 2: PETERLIN / JERIN Joseph PETERLIN (H) was born 19 Jan 1887, in Krise, Austria. Arrived in New York 30 Jan 1907. His father was Bartholomew, his mother, Agnes. Theresia JERIN (W) was born 20 Dec 1885 in Sobrace, Austria. Arrived New York 21 Jan 1908. Father was Joseph. Brother Joseph. Contact Albert Peterlin, 6625 Jeffrey Lane, Lafayette, IN 47905 Finally, I'd like to close this first newsletter with a thank you for early support and a plea for more support in the future. I would like to add special thanks to: Harriet Ayres for an interesting article about her genealogical search; to Barbara Puchnick for heading up our obituary indexing work group in Forest City, Pennsylvania; to Jeff Strutzel in California for volunteering to computerize our 3x5 card ancestral index; and to Michael Vidmar, in Illinois, who has offered some useful suggestions and guidelines about our organizational structure. Write to 6625 Jeffrey Lane, Lafayette, Indiana 47905 with suggestions, information, or requests. Remember the SASE. Thanks again. Albert Peterlin |