Aida, Yes, you cannot request research be done by the archives. They do not do that anymore. They did before 2002 but have changed since then. You only have two choices, hire a researcher or go their yourself. I have had some research done through a Czech Researcher and I have also made 2 visits on my own. And yes, I have had translators go with me but I have also gone on my own. Archives need to be called a day or two ahead as to what documents you want to research. Don -----Original Message----- From: Aida Kraus [mailto:akibb1@verizon.net] Sent: Saturday, June 24, 2006 4:47 PM To: GERMAN-BOHEMIAN-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [GERMAN-BOHEMIAN] Re: GERMAN-BOHEMIAN FTM vs PAF And this is what it says on this Website link.... http://www.genealogienetz.de/reg/SUD/sudet_crarch_en.html#ar "The reply time is normally between four and six weeks. According to our information this is not valid anymore, as some of the district archives don't accept any research inquiries from private persons any more; please ask at the archives before you send any research request (e.g. Archive Pilsen/Plzen doesn't accept research requests, as of March 2003) " Don, can you please tell us if you had a Czech genealogist with you or just a translator? We need to know because there is a group here interested in visiting the Pilsen Archives this Fall. Aida ---------------------------------------------------- ----- Original Message ----- From: "Don Ondracek" <dondra30@bellsouth.net> To: <GERMAN-BOHEMIAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, June 24, 2006 1:12 PM Subject: RE: [GERMAN-BOHEMIAN] Re: GERMAN-BOHEMIAN FTM vs PAF >I want to add my comments. You can go to the Czech Republic archives and > research records. Some records are on film therefore you can research the > film. Other records you can research the actual documents. How do I > know, > well I was over there in 2003 and again in 2006 and did spend some time in > the archives. I know first hand. Yes, I did have, on some days, someone > with me who could translate. But other times after I had made requests > for > certain documents I was able to find information whether in German or > Czech. > Not knowing the languages I can use my eyes, I can recognize names, places > and dates. I write down the page numbers of each document and ask for > copies to be made of those pages. I have found documents dating back to > 1656 for my relatives. > > It is not true that a US citizen cannot do research in the archives. > Czech > researchers can also do research in those same archives. > > I have been there, I have seen, I have 100's of copies of pages of > original > documents. > > By the way I have used Czech researchers also. Note, this last visit > May-June 2006 I was fortunate to have been approached by Miroslav > Koudelka, > had conversation with him and he did help me with some of my searching, > reading some german documents for me. > > Believe if one is to make comments, please do some research, relate facts, > not mis-information. > > Thanks, > > Don > > -----Original Message----- > From: KarenHob@aol.com [mailto:KarenHob@aol.com] > Sent: Saturday, June 24, 2006 2:33 PM > To: GERMAN-BOHEMIAN-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [GERMAN-BOHEMIAN] Re: GERMAN-BOHEMIAN FTM vs PAF > > In a message dated 6/24/2006 10:16:32 AM Mountain Standard Time, > cburk@kiva.net writes: > Now, as capitalism flourishes, it > seems some bureaucrat has found a way to keep some folks gainfully > employed > (i.e. off of their welfare system) by requiring folks like me to hire a > researcher (1 time) or visit their country as a tourist (4 times). > A lot of the professional researchers are otherwise employed. Karel > Kysilka > is and engineer and on the upper level diplomatic staff at the Czech > Embassy > > in Berlin. Miroslav Koudelka is a professor at Charles University in > Prague > last I heard. Jakob Smid is a lawyer in Brunn. There is another one who > lives in or near Olomouc whose name I cannot recall right now. I don't > know > if > research is his only work. > > Vladimir Bohnic is a professional researcher who makes his living doing > research. > > Actually, I'm surprised (but pleased) that more struggling economies don't > have a similar policy. > They just don't seem to understand the financial value of their records > and > the kind of income Archives could generate from them if they would "go for > it." > > All I hear on the academic lists if that the Czech archives are > understaffed > > and what staff there is is overworked. That is why it is taking so long > for > them to get their act together for genealogists. > > Karen > > > ==== GERMAN-BOHEMIAN Mailing List ==== > Visit the German-Bohemian Heritage Society Web Page! > http://www.rootsweb.com/~gbhs/ > > > > ==== GERMAN-BOHEMIAN Mailing List ==== > Would you like to see messages that were posted before you joined the > list? To search the archives, go to: > http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?list=GERMAN-BOHEMIAN > ==== GERMAN-BOHEMIAN Mailing List ==== Forgotten how to UNSUBSCRIBE? Visit http://www.rootsweb.com/~gbhs/mailinglist/mailinglist.html