Question:
Hi there. I'm trying to trace a line of ancestors that came from Galicia, Poland, and am not Jewish. I joined Jewish Gen and have looked at their databases but wasn't actually expecting anything to come up for me. Latter Day Saints doesn't have anything useful. Should I hire someone in Poland to do the research for me? Any advice would be appreciated. Anna
Answer:
Anna,
As I understand it there are reliable people in that part of Poland who can walk into archives and do research for you. Before you hire someone though, at least research what archives you can expect the information to be in. Be prepared to hand over - by mail - the research you've done that would lead the researcher to these people, some documentation that you deserve to have the information, such as an explanation in a letter - preferably translated into Polish - on how you are related to them. Present any researcher with a list of the goals you want to achieve and have focused upon. Have a clear idea about how much you can afford and how much time you want to allow for the research to be done. As you know, sometimes information is found very easily and sometimes you have to dig. There is no such thing as a "rush order" genealogy.
What you are hoping for is someone who knows their way around and has developed a personal relationship with some of the people who work in the state run and church run archives that hold documents. You can always reassess as the project goes on. Have the person mail you copies of what documents they find, even if this can all be done by e-mail, uploading photos and so on. Be sure that they are checking in with you and giving a progress report at least every other week.
As for how to hire someone who does this professionally and what their background might be, for this I think I would make some phone calls and other inquires based on the region and town where you expect they lived before immigration. JewishGen might be a useful tool for you, since they have groups based on towns and regions and people reporting in when they do heritage tours. However, consider contacting the priest at the local church for a referral. Call heritage tour operators, even if you have no plan to go soon yourself, and ask them who they might know there. Also the Polish Genealogical Society in Chicago might have some leads. See if you can talk to the people who have hired someone on the phone to get a feel for how it went.
Yes there are some areas of Poland, some areas all over the world where the Latter Day Saint Missionaries have not been allowed to copy or film. We are spoiled by the ease of renting films from them instead of traveling ourselves or hiring others.
Wishing you the best on this, Anne!
