Czech and Slovakia Genealogy

Do you have ancestors who immigrated to the United States from the current Czech Republic and current Slovakia (Formerly known as Czechoslovakia)? Are you interested in researching this part of your family history? After years of not researching this branch of my family history, I am on an amazing journey of studying ancestors who immigrated to the United States from what is currently Slovakia and the Czech Republic. If you are a beginner genealogist or new to Czech and Slovakia family research, here are some tips to help you on your journey.

• Familiarize yourself with the history of the current Czech Republic and Slovakia. On-line encyclopedias have great overviews of the history of these countries.

• Interview family members if possible. For example, my mother is able to share some traditions and memories of her grandmother who came to the United States from the former Czechoslovakia.
• Join a genealogical society. I recently joined the Czech and Slovak American Genealogical Society of Illinois. This society provides on-line access to records to its members.
• Finally, start or add to your Ancesrry.com or Family Search account (Family Search is free). This can provide you with research tips. Caution: If using information from someone else’s family tree in your research make sure to fact check it with records.