>>Greetings, I am researching my family tree and have discovered that some people were born in the town of Saratov in Russia. I was wondering what I need to do, to get in contact with the archive department of Saratov to get copies of birth, marriage and death certificates. Regards Jon.<< Jon . I'm wondering if your people may have actually been born in one of the Volga villages in the Saratov *province* rather than in the city of Saratov itself? I have found that U.S. census records often state "Saratov" as a birthplace, when in fact, a village within Saratov province was the actual birth location and the residence of the child's parents and extended family. (Probably "Saratov" was deemed to be a more recognizable locale term for census purposes versus a village name.) Did you discover the "Saratov" birth information via US census? Some other document? Can you tell us the family surname, please? Sometimes one is able to tie a surname to a particular village, or at least narrow the field among the Volga villages. There exist compiled lists of surnames found within particular villages. For instance, my husband's DAVID ancestors all lived in the village of Dietel in the province of Sarotov, and the DAVID surname appears among a list of many other surnames of the families who lived in Dietel. I wonder if you are aware of AHSGR (American Historical Society of the Germans from Russia) and its record archives in Lincoln, Nebraska? Hoping this village idea may be of some help to you. Best regards, Jennifer David Cincinnati