Good question. I spent three years looking over about 100 different films, sometimes again and again. 1. Do an initial scan of the entire film(s) to see what you've got. That will give you an idea of how to manage the work. Generally speaking, it will either be in paragraph form (each entry is just added to the end of the next, as if it was a very long sentence), or in a column form. Columns are far superior for scanning, when looking for names, your eye can just look straight down the column. My churchbooks contain both. I wanted to "cherry pick" first, so I went for the columns. 2. Search the entire films. Information is not necessarily in chronological order. Occassionally some pages will be out of order. 3. Bring $20 and plan to make copies of important or interesting pages. A couple of hours is never nearly enough time to study them. Especially copy pages that are hard to read, to figure out later. 4. Determine your strategy: are you looking for an overview? Build a family tree? Find everyone with your surname? Each objective begets a different strategy. 5. Time is always your enemy at the FHC. Too many people, not enough viewers, too little time. Figure out how to make best use of your time quickly. 6. Select the correct film reader. Some have more powerful lenses than others, showing the image larger, but also causing you to move around the page more often. Lesser magnification allows you to see the entire page at once, which is helpful when skimming for names. 7. Determine the language of the records. It probably will change over time. I have records written in Cyrillic script and Magyar (Hungarian). Hungarian is easy. A surname is a surname. My Tarkulic' is Tarkulics in Magyar. As a general rule, take any z's the Magyars put in, throw them out, and you've probably got the name. Nicholas could be Mikloz or Miklos. 8. Cyrillic is most difficult. I saved that till last. This was the font used primarily for church Slavonic (see below). I had about 100 year of records. What I did was to write out my surname in Cyrillic on a 3x5 index card and keep it next to the reader. It took a number of hours, but after a while I began to recognize my surname in cyrillic. Church Slavonic alphabet: http://www.orthodoxepubsoc.org/alphabetprint.htm 9. Keep a logbook of your activities. This will help you from wasting time re-reading pages. Use it to log the date, pages read and any other info useful. I also used it to note issues that occurred during the viewing that needed further investigation. I noted a "TARKO" surname and wanted to come back to it later to see if it was related (it was not.) Any questions that occur to you along the way. Etc. etc. You will find that you will be very quickly overwhelmed with data, so managing it resourcefully will make you more productive. 10. Manage your copy time. Invariably, you'll have to move the film to a film printing machine. Rather than doing it one at a time, mark each image with a little plastic, removable post-it pointer tab (go to Staples). 11. . If you have a film you want to keep for an extended length, after you've renewed it once, you can pay a fee of approx $7 which will hold it at your FHL indefinitely. Nothing worse than going back on day 31 and finding out your film has been returned to Salt Lake. 12. Don't be intimidated by other languages. Names are names, numbers(dates, ages) are obvious. Just make sure you know that translations for the 12 months of the year. 13. Marriage records usually show bride, groom, date, ages, parents, sponsors, place of birth. 14. Birth records usually show date of birth, date of baptism, name, parents, sponsors, sometimes a note indicating date of death and place. 15. Death records usually include date of death, date of burial(sometimes), name, surviving relative, oft times cause of death. 16. Don't expect the staff to be of much help. It's a library that covers the world. Unless the staff member has personally researched your area, you'll be mostly on your own. Good luck, Bill Tarkulich -----Original Message----- From: wasmore@att.net [mailto:wasmore@att.net] Sent: Monday, November 11, 2002 12:10 PM To: SLOVAKIA-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Research Tips - LDS I have just ordered my first film from LDS. This one is for church records from Jablonov nad Turnou. I am searching for information on my grandfather. This may not be the right film but I am using a process of elimination in determing the correct village (old "Almas" vs 2 or 3 possibilities today). I have kept the translation guides provided by helpful listers and am sure they will come in handy as I don't read Hungarian or Latin. Any other useful tips to consider for going through an LDS film would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance! Bill Smorey/Cmorej/Czmorej ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237

Some of the information below talks specifically about the Alien Registration Form. However, the request for file applies to all information in the immigrant's file. Many immigrants who arrived in America has an INS (U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service) file, regardless of immigration status: naturalized, resident alien, illegal alien and so on. Your initial status was that of an alien, and if you followed all the steps to citizenship (not all folk did), you ended up as a naturalized citizen. Same process is followed with immigrants who arrive in the U.S. today. Contained in these files you may find any of the of the following information: a. Declaration of Intent (First Papers) b. Second Papers c. Naturalization Papers (Third or Final Papers) d. 1940 Alien Registration Report e. Annual Alien reports f. Other documents, specific to an immigrant's case. The most valuable documents for a genealogical researcher are the Declaration of Intent or the Alien Registration Report. The following was a question and answer thread that I authored at www.delphi.com/iarelative forum. The answers are my responses. Q: I am curious about your grandmother who would have made the Alien Registration Report yearly. My grandmother also never became a US citizen...and I remember my mother saying something about her at one time having to report yearly. Do you know if there is a record of that report on file somewhere? And if there is, can a relative have access to it? Any thoughts would be appreciated A: Yes, they were supposed to file yearly, but it does not look like the INS hung onto every record. What I did find was the 1940 registration that every alien was required to fill out when the US was getting jittery about the onset of World War II (see historical context at INS, http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/aboutins/history/immrecs/AREG.htm ). I also found one card from 1950. That was the entire file. WHERE TO SEND YOUR REQUEST I started with the U.S. National Archives. They said they could not find anything in their records in Maryland. They then forwarded my request to the INS Buffalo NY branch. It was suggested that this is where my GP's records would might (immigrated circa 1903). About 4 weeks later I received the entire file. I have surmised that if there were no naturalization records on file with the INS, they remained Resident Aliens their entire lives. You make these requests thru the freedom of information act. Some info on the process can be found at http://www.nara.gov/genealogy/genindex.html#cats1. You can also look in the reference section of most genealogy sites for details on where to write and what info to include. I got a response in about 8 months. Address To request INS files, complete form G-639 (or a letter) and address it as follows: For arrivals from September 26, 1906 to Present, write to: Immigration & Naturalization Service FOIA/PA Officer, Chester Arthur Building 425 I Street N.W., ULLICO Building 2nd Floor Washington D.C. 20536 Phone:202-514-3278 Fax: 202-514-3902 800-870-3676 For records prior to 1906, write to the Regional National Archive for the area where the event occurred. You may have to write to the county clerk's office where the event occurred. Form G-639 is actually optional. You may write a letter instead, referencing the "Freedom of Information Act", and providing Name, Date of birth, and place of birth, date of Naturalization if you know it. . FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT More than you ever care to know about the FOIA is here http://www.usdoj.gov/04foia/referenceguidemay99.htm#how http://www.usdoj.gov/04foia/04_3.html Form G-639 is here: http://www.usdoj.gov/04foia/att_d.htm Q: I am curious what type of information were you able to access on the Alien Registration Form. Did it give genealogical information such as birthplace? Parents? Marriage information...dates, spouses, etc.? Children? A: Go to the link http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/aboutins/history/immrecs/AREG.htm and view the Alien Registration Card sample. It had all this info - date of birth, citizenship, when they arrived, port, ship name, number of children, employer, etc. Mine was almost completely filled in, and it was typed - a big plus in geneaological research. Of all the documents, the INS file was the most significant find in my case, though I got it last. The INS page tells you what info you need to provide in your request. Q: did you use the INS form G-639 to make your request, or did you just write a letter identifying your grandmother by name...maiden and married, date of birth and place of birth (if known) with a request of the A-Files? Also, did you pay in advance for the service or did you just instruct the INS to bill you later? A: Yes, I did use INS form G-639 (available here http://www.usdoj.gov/04foia/att_d.htm ). I made sure that it was clear what her married name and maiden names were. I didn't know the immigration date for certain, so I gave a range. I did know the date of birth, but was uncertain of the year - again, a range. The date of birth can be critical, if the INS clerk locates multiple immigrants with the same name. If uncertain of ethnicity and nationality, take an informed guess, but note that it's a guess. I included the names of a couple of ships we believed the immigrants MAY have arrived on, but put question marks after them. Every place on the form I didn't know, I put a question mark. If there was a brother, child or parent's name that might be relevant, I noted it. I requested a Declaration of Intent (DOI) document, knowing this is the richest in info. In the end, there was no naturalization process (thus no DOI), but the office used good judgment and without me asking, sent the entire file, which included the Alien Registration Report, which was equally informative. Might be good to just ask for everything on file. The key is to include any info that might be HELPFUL, rather than filling out the form verbatim. I asked for copies. I made it clear it was for genealogy purposes and that this was my grandmother, so it really mattered to me (not to be used as part of some legal proceedings, etc.). I left a phone number and I said THANK YOU. My thought was if you recognize these clerks are doing this manually, and you make their job easier or more pleasant, they are more apt to persist in finding the record. I read enough to know that immigration records of that period could have been kept by local, state or federal offices, courts, INS or otherwise. At the same time I wrote to the town clerk where they lived to see if they could find any records - nothing. I called the federal court looking to see if they retained immigration records. Some do. This one did, but had nothing. Turn over more stones. You don't have to pay anything from the INS unless it's over some very reasonable threshold. My 4 pages came thru at no charge. If there's a charge, they'll notify you and expect payment (before or after delivery of the file, unknown). You might have a difficult situation if an immigrant died before 1940, which was the first time info was mandated for all immigrants. However, you seem to suggest that first papers were filed, so you might have that DOI on file. It would be most helpful. You can see one at http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/aboutins/history/Max/Declar.html Remember, the G-639 is a general form, applicable to all government agencies. It is generic enough to let the user request pretty much any information the government may hold. Therefore, you need to be specific enough in your request and determine for yourself which agency is likely to hold the information you seek. Q: Did you have to prove who you are with documentation, your birth certificate, and your parents to grandparents before obtaining the Alien Registration Information from the INS? A: I think technically you are supposed to by supplying birth certificates for each person back to the one you are researching OR proof the subject is deceased. That said, I only sent in the immigrant's death certificate (copy) and I got everything. I think if you explain your relationship you'd be all set. Probably depends on who works your request and how diplomatically you present yourself. I also understand that records that are beyond the privacy threshold (100 years or thereabouts) are open to all requestors and thus require none of the above justification. ______________ Bill Tarkulich

So, he has an INS file. You should petition the INS for his entire record. It probably has better and more information on it, including parent's names, village, dates, etc. (First and Second papers.) Much more useful in research than a certificate. Drop a note if you need the mechanics on how to do this. Bill Tarkulich -----Original Message----- From: Nadineack@aol.com [mailto:Nadineack@aol.com] Sent: Monday, November 11, 2002 11:03 AM To: SLOVAKIA-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: Tabeosto, Hungary Hi John, Thank you for taking the time to look for the town.  My grandfather, John Suvada, was Lutheran.  My grandmother, who was born in Chicago, said he was from Tabeosto, Hungary.  I don't have any of his documentation that shows the town name.  His naturalization certificate of 1923 said he was from Czechoslovakia.  He came to the US as a minor so as I believe he would not have filed an Intention of Naturalization document. Nadine ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237

Hi John, Thank you for taking the time to look for the town.  My grandfather, John Suvada, was Lutheran.  My grandmother, who was born in Chicago, said he was from Tabeosto, Hungary.  I don't have any of his documentation that shows the town name.  His naturalization certificate of 1923 said he was from Czechoslovakia.  He came to the US as a minor so as I believe he would not have filed an Intention of Naturalization document. Nadine

Thanks, To all who helped in defining my "Ethel/Etela - Amalie" problem. As background, the name Amalie appears on the Ellis Island ship manifest for my Aunt/teta Ethel, age 10 months, when she returned to the US with grandmother and my father, then age 2, in 1912 from a visit to grandfather's TKAC family in Iglo/Spisska Nova Ves. Apparently the name change occurred afterwards and I must now question Aunt Ethel's children for a solution. Este raz, d'akujem vas, ~Juraj

I just received the baptismal records for my g grandmother's 3 children. The priests wrote her name, "Julia Lenard" on 2 of the documents, then for some reason, scratched out her last name and then wrote "Malak"! When her last child was baptized, the priest just wrote, Julia Malak! Her Catholic Church death record also listed her father's name as George Malak, but I thought when I got it years ago that the priest had just made a mistake! Is Malak a common Slovak name? Her mother's name has always been listed as Helen Koscelnik. I wonder why she never told anyone except the priests that her real last name was Malak? As you might have guessed, this new information has really thrown me for a loop! Thanks for any ideas or thoughts on the subject! Kathleen from Vancouver, WA.

How about TAPESOVO = Magyar Tyapesso, old county ARVA. It is presently in Slovakia. South of Namestovo, W. of Zilina approx 50 km. Nothing else comes phonetically close. For an online map, try http://mapy.atlas.sk Bill Tarkulich > -----Original Message----- > From: Nadineack@aol.com [mailto:Nadineack@aol.com] > Sent: Sunday, November 10, 2002 3:50 PM > To: SLOVAKIA-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Tabeosto, Hungary > > > Hi, > > I am looking for the current name of Tabeosto (sp?), Hungary > and the county. > My grandfather was born there about 1893. His Naturalization > papers of 1923 > say he was from Czechoslovakia . > > Thank you for your help. > > Nadine > in VA > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online > genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=> 1237 >

Hi, I am looking for the current name of Tabeosto (sp?), Hungary and the county. My grandfather was born there about 1893. His Naturalization papers of 1923 say he was from Czechoslovakia . Thank you for your help. Nadine in VA

At 06:49 PM 11/10/2002 -0500, Nadineack@aol.com wrote: >Hi, > >I am looking for the current name of Tabeosto (sp?), Hungary and the county. >My grandfather was born there about 1893. His Naturalization papers of 1923 >say he was from Czechoslovakia . > >Thank you for your help. > >Nadine >in VA There is no town in Slovakia that begins with "Tab". A quick scan of all the names of villages and towns from 1773-1997 did not lead me to any that would be a likely candidate. What was his religion? What was your source for the name Tabeosto? What was his name? Do you have a document you can scan so others can view it? John M.

Hello Juarj, You are correct, Ethel is not Slovak. I believe it's English. No one was obliged to take a commonly transliterated name. In fact, many people chose entirely new given names. Here http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/sc/oconee/misc/foreign-names.txt are the more traditionally used names. Bill Tarkulich > -----Original Message----- > From: jurajtkac@juno.com [mailto:jurajtkac@juno.com] > Sent: Sunday, November 10, 2002 12:18 PM > To: SLOVAKIA-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Given name equivalents > > > Hello List, > > I finally found grandmother on the Ellis Island site, wherein > she is travelling with her new born 10 month old daughter. > The daughter's given name is recorded as AMALIE but she (my > aunt) has always been known as ETHEL. I may be wrong but I do > not think ETHEL is a Slavic given name. Could it be an > English equivalent? If not I will have to look elsewhere for > an explanation. > > Have a great life, > Juraj > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online > genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=> 1237 >

Ahoj, Juraj. AMALIE translates to AMELIA. She may simply have adopted the name Ethel for personal reasons. Josef jurajtkac@juno.com wrote: > Hello List, > > I finally found grandmother on the Ellis Island site, wherein she is > travelling with her new born 10 month old daughter. The daughter's given > name is recorded as AMALIE but she (my aunt) has always been known as > ETHEL. I may be wrong but I do not think ETHEL is a Slavic given name. > Could it be an English equivalent? If not I will have to look elsewhere > for an explanation. > > Have a great life, > Juraj > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237

Hello List, I finally found grandmother on the Ellis Island site, wherein she is travelling with her new born 10 month old daughter. The daughter's given name is recorded as AMALIE but she (my aunt) has always been known as ETHEL. I may be wrong but I do not think ETHEL is a Slavic given name. Could it be an English equivalent? If not I will have to look elsewhere for an explanation. Have a great life, Juraj

100 year is a general privacy rule, depending on the country of jurisdiction. I think in the US it might only be 70 years. Generally, you can obtain information more recent by demonstrating that you are related. What most people do when writing (or showing up at the village office/archives/etc.) for info is provide photocopies of their birth record, and who ever else is in the lineage back to the ancestor in question. 1895 is not only approx 100 years ago, but the time the govt took over b/m/d recordkeeping (civil registration), though churches continued to do so for their own purposes. Death records are notoriously erroneous. Data was never verified - usually taken from the mourning next of kin or a close relative. US Death certs usually show place of birth, but not the parents names. Where did the individual die? America? Europe? 100 years ago, birthdays were no big deal. Often in fact the individual and his parents didn't even recall the precise date or year. Name days were the big deal. So, to be off by a few years is par for the course. I've got a GF with two different dates, six different years. I'm resigned that' I'll never know for sure, because he never knew for sure. Oftentimes, precision in genealogy is impossible. I admire your quest for the holy grail, but don't be surprised if it comes up empty. Bill Tarkulich > -----Original Message----- > From: Donna Przecha [mailto:DonnaPrz@att.net] > Sent: Saturday, November 09, 2002 1:16 PM > To: SLOVAKIA-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Civil Records > > > We have pretty much exhausted the parish records for > Nyarsardo up to > 1895. In one case the parents of a person who died after 1895 > aren't clear. > There were two of the same name born around the same time. On > the birth > record of one is written the date of death in 1903 (but I > think it was > written on the wrong person's name). Would a death > certificate give the > parents' names? Does the 100 year rule mean they won't give > out information > on any event less than 100 years old? > > Donna > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online > genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=> 1237 >

We have pretty much exhausted the parish records for Nyarsardo up to 1895. In one case the parents of a person who died after 1895 aren't clear. There were two of the same name born around the same time. On the birth record of one is written the date of death in 1903 (but I think it was written on the wrong person's name). Would a death certificate give the parents' names? Does the 100 year rule mean they won't give out information on any event less than 100 years old? Donna

For those interested in the Wooden Churches of the Carpathian region, I have compiled a reference of books, web pages and related material here http://www.iabsi.com/gen/public/wooden_church_references.htm ______________ Bill Tarkulich

I posted JOHN ADAMS survey of villages included in the 1828 Magyar Census to make it easier for those seeking specific villages (since the FHL did not index these villages.) THANK YOU JOHN! I added another file to the 1869 Magyar census for Slovakia, containing all village names with the accent marks 'removed' (replaced with English characters without accent marks.) You will find them both here: http://www.iabsi.com/gen/public/CensusMain.htm ______________ Bill Tarkulich Andover Business Solutions 12 Hathaway Road Lexington, MA 02420-1806 (781) 862-7575 bill@iabsi.com

Just more data for you to consider: 1. I've found many CHOMA in Zboj and Ulic' (Slovakia) living there presently and as far back as 1800. This is right on the Ukraine border. That said, the HIRJACK is also a good alternative. 2. My cousin in Kosice married a HIRAK. Could be from Hummenne, many people from east went to Kosice for work in the last 50 years. I honestly don't know where he was from. 3. "At least the first two were of Greek Orthodox Catholic church." I presume you mean Greek Catholic? > -----Original Message----- > From: Lynda Campbell [mailto:lrcampbell@ns.sympatico.ca] > Sent: Monday, November 04, 2002 1:27 PM > To: SLOVAKIA-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: birth records > > > Can someone advise whether it will be possible to source > birth records for following: > > John Choma, born 7 October 1883, Lukov > Theresa Monasky [?Mochnaska/Mochnacka?], born 27 Feb 1886, Lukov > > Michael Herrick [?Hirjak/Hirjk?], born 20 August 1884, > Hummene Anna Jusco [?Juryska/Jurzko?], ??c1884 Hummene? > > Given the dates and places of birth, assuming these are > correct, are records available for this period of time in > these places? At least the first two were of Greek Orthodox > Catholic church. > > Also, if anyone on list is familiar enough with the names, > could they make a likely guess as to correct spelling of > names prior to their being anglicized? > > > Many thanks for any help.. > > Lynda Campbell > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online > genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=> 1237 >

The name Choma is still in Livov, Livov is about 5 km south of Lukov. Lukov (25 km west of Bardejov) has a well known Greek Catholic wooden church (Sts. Kozma and Damian). My grandmother's (born 1893) godparents were Antal Choma and Helén Choma but they were from Livov. Dr. "Q" "John M," wrote: > At 05:26 PM 11/4/2002 -0400, Lynda Campbell wrote: > >Can someone advise whether it will be possible to source birth records > >for following: > > > >John Choma, born 7 October 1883, Lukov > >Theresa Monasky [?Mochnaska/Mochnacka?], born 27 Feb 1886, Lukov > > Lukov is in the area of my mother's village and my wife's grandparents > village. I was in Lukov/Valencia in 1999. I couldn't find any phone > listings for Choma or Mohnacky (I believe Mohnaska would be a feminine > version of Mohnasky)in Lukov. We have Choma and Mohnasky in our tree. > > Yes. From: http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.asp > Lukov- > http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=733222&disp=Cirkevná_matrika&columns=*,180,0 > and > Humenne- > http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=topicdetails&subject=771586&subject_disp=Slovakia,_Humenné_-_Church_records&columns=*,180,0 > > There are 19 Hirjak listed in the SK online phone directory and a variety > of names beginning with Jus and Jur. > http://www.zoznamst.sk/eng/index.html > > John > > > > >Michael Herrick [?Hirjak/Hirjk?], born 20 August 1884, Hummene > >Anna Jusco [?Juryska/Jurzko?], ??c1884 Hummene? > > > >Given the dates and places of birth, assuming these are correct, are > >records available for this period of time in these places? At least the > >first two were of Greek Orthodox Catholic church. > > > >Also, if anyone on list is familiar enough with the names, could they > >make a likely guess as to correct spelling of names prior to their being > >anglicized? > > > > > >Many thanks for any help.. > > > >Lynda Campbell > > > > > >============================== > >To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, > >go to: > >http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237

Kevin, Every town (or small collection of towns) has a mayor or village administrator. It is entirely appropriate to address it to the Mayor, village name, postal code, Slovak Republic. Unless you're writing to a very large town or city, it will find its way. Everyone knows everyone. There are of course, people who will translate for hire. When I have to do that, I find someone from the country to do it via email. They will do it quite inexpensively (Americans might charge you $50-80. A Slovak might do it for $10 or $20. The other option is a couple of other discussion groups that have people who will do it for free, when the spirit moves them. You are at their mercy, but the price is right. 1. Delphi Forums: http://forums.delphiforums.com/iarelative/messages 2. Slovak World: SLOVAK-WORLD List Information Working with Internet we found out people who descend from Slovakia or some of their relatives descend from Slovakia. We mind it would be interesting to establish net forum to contact with. That was the main reason why we created this list. SLOVAK-WORLD is a an open unmoderated distribution list which you can use for contacts to Slovaks around all the world. It is not limited neither to territory nor to language, it is opened for all who have something to deal with Slovaks and Slovakia. List is maintained by Miroslav Gecovic (E-mail: gecovic@fris.sk ) and Ivan Pobis (E-mail: pobis@fris.sk ). To subscribe, send the following command to the body of mail to listproc@fris.sk: SUBSCRIBE SLOVAK-WORLD < your firstname > < your lastname > Good Luck, Bill Tarkulich -----Original Message----- From: Zawrazky Kevin [mailto:kevin.zawrazky@siemens.com] Sent: Tuesday, November 05, 2002 2:40 PM To: SLOVAKIA-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Writing a letter to the City of Gajary Hi All, I need some help....I want to write a letter to the "Mayor" of the town Gajary to ask about how the city was founded and the general history of the city. Also, want to ask the "mayor" if they know about my relatives that were from the town. The problem is first, I don't know who to write to (is there a "mayor" in the town of Gajary, like we have in the US); second - can I write to the "mayor" in english, if not where can I search to translate my letter to Slovak. Thanks for eveyones help, Kevin Zawrazky ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237

Hi All, I need some help....I want to write a letter to the "Mayor" of the town Gajary to ask about how the city was founded and the general history of the city. Also, want to ask the "mayor" if they know about my relatives that were from the town. The problem is first, I don't know who to write to (is there a "mayor" in the town of Gajary, like we have in the US); second - can I write to the "mayor" in english, if not where can I search to translate my letter to Slovak. Thanks for eveyones help, Kevin Zawrazky