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Introduction to Polish Genealogy: Geographical Resources

Strategies and resources to research your Polish family history.

Geographical Resources

Civil and church records, as well as archival collections, are organized by geographic location. An important first step to locating these records is to determine your ancestors' town of origin. This can be further complicated by language and border changes, which means its important to consult resources like maps, gazetteers, atlases, guidebooks, and town directories. 

Maps

Polonia

IndexLionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division, The New York Public Library. "Polonia." The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1603. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e4-6671-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

Map of Poland, 1681

IndexLionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division, The New York Public Library. "Poland." The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1681. 

Poland and its dismemberments and Prussia, 1798

IndexLionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division, The New York Public Library. "Poland with its dismemberments and Prussia" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1798 - 1804. 

Map of Poland, 1814

IndexLionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division, The New York Public Library. "Poland" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1814.

Online Resources

Map Division

Interior of Map Division

The Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division,
The New York Public Library.
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building,
476 Fifth Avenue (42nd St and Fifth Ave)
First Floor, Room 117.

Contact: maps@nypl.org

Gazetteers

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