I was not lucky enough to find any internet wifi connections in Poland in the areas where I was. I kind of had a feeling that this might be the case. My friend at work told me what she did for that problem last year in Germany and I was happy to be able to do the same type of thing in Poland.
I worried a little about communicating with home while away, either by email, phone or other option. This is what I did to get the internet. We went to a store where Polish cell phones are sold and they told me to bring in my laptop (actually it was a netbook, nice and small and very light weight) to determine whether it had a modem or not. We took it in and the woman there said, yes I had a modem and would only need the sd card to put in the slot where the battery was housed. There indeed was a slot and it fit in there fine. She configured it and sent me on my way. We got back to Danuta's apartment and nothing happened. No internet, nothing. So we called her back and she said she was sure there was a modem, but would give me my money back. It was about 20 zl if I recall. We got the money back went to a nearby shop called "Play" another cell dealer in Poland and they had the modem and the worker installed it, and it worked and then we had to buy the sd card which was to last one month. The whole thing cost about 80 dollars, US. But next time, I won't need to buy a modem, only the card and they weren't too expensive. However, the internet connection was not quite fast enough to support talking on Skype, although you could talk, just with an echo and other disturbances. But in a pinch, it was OK.
Another way that I was able to communicate would be my blackberry email. Before I left home, I checked with T-mobile and they had an email service that could be turned on during the time I was roaming so that I could receive email without the extra roaming fees. I get lots of email and so needed that badly. The fee was about $19.00 and so I went with that. I could send and receive email without limits to my phone. Wish they also had a cheaper phone rate for overseas...
Another thing I did was to buy a $30. phone card from Costco. I used it last time and this time. You can use people's home phone or the phone at the hotel for which I was billed 1 zloty. Apparently there is probably a 1 zloty fee at home phones in Poland also as they do not have free local calls like we do in America.
Showing posts with label Genealogy Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Genealogy Tips. Show all posts
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Researching in Polish Archives!
I have just recently returned from Poland from an archive Research trip for my employment thinking I was completely prepared, I must admit, you can NEVER be too prepared. Appointments were made with each of the archives and “Fond” numbers were emailed to them with records I had hoped to use. Fond numbers were found on their respective on-line websites.
When I arrived I had a copy of the information that I had sent to the first archive that I went to. This was an archive in Gliwice, Poland. Several archives were expecting me and had prepared materials I would need. I received packets for each of the Fond numbers I requested. I assumed that these were the actual records, however, they were the indexes for each of the individual fonds that I had requested. Within each fond (record group) there were numerous entries in the indexes called “Sygnatures”. The next step was to choose the sygnature within the Fond record group that I would like to see. THERE WERE MANY! Each fond index could be quite lengthy. For one particular fond that I requested the index stood about 9-10 inches high. This was the Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen collection housed in Katowice State Archives. Just looking at the index to choose the items I wanted was a really big project in and of itself. I did not find these sygnature indexes on the on-line catalogs or perhaps was not aware of them before going there and also didn't know how to search for them if they were there. Because I never saw any of these indexes.
In many state archives there are specific times when book orders need to be submitted during the day. These requests are gathered from the patrons and completed at the same time. In some archives, materials were off-site and brought in at various set times throughout the day. Therefore, the more precise the information that you have, the less down-time you will have waiting for materials you need.
FORMS!
It was most helpful to have my friend, Danuta who serves as my interpreter, with me to fill out the many forms. When you arrive, you must first fill out a personal information form which was in the Polish language. The two-sided form required my passport number, name, address, purpose of research, sometimes place of work with a letter of introduction stating the purpose of your research from your employer. This form was valid for one year at that archive only. Each state archive had the same form and had to be filled out at each one. Wish I could have xeroxed the first one and saved a little time!
The next form was a smaller sheet of paper which would later be cut in two. The top portion remained with the archive and the bottom was used to retrieve the book. Top and bottom both required the same information which was fond number, sygnature, name, date of order and return, comments, and page number, if known. Each item ordered needed to have this request form completed. After receiving the books you requested, there was another form in front of each book that required name, date, and the purpose of your request.
If you were using books that hadn’t been used previously, often the archive worker would have to number the pages prior to your receiving the book and also place the check-out form in the front of the book, where they would add the title and number. For each copy requested, another form was filled. Copies in most archives I went to were not allowed until after manager approval according to the physical condition of the materials requested. This usually takes several weeks. Copies can be digitized to CD. This, of course, will save shipping expenses. I ordered so many copies. I sure hope I will be getting them! There were some great samples that I requested and they will be a great help with my work at the Library.
A concern amongst researchers in Polish archives is a book limit restriction of 5 books per day. This can be a problem for those with little time and traveling from far away, like myself. To you I advise that you should contact your archive of interest, send them your requests and ask about this. If you take a friend, spouse, or or other family member, you probably will get 5 books each. In the case of Danuta and I, we didn't have too much difficulty receiving the books I requested. Maybe I was just lucky! Although all the archives that I visited were state archives, they seemed to each run things a bit differently than the other. So it is a good idea to contact them. However, the forms were the same in each one.
Another tip to Poland travelers and those going to hotels and archives, don't leave your passport at your "base location". I had thought about doing that and leaving mine in my friend's home in Warsaw. But I am so glad I thought better of it, because I needed it everywhere I went.
When I arrived I had a copy of the information that I had sent to the first archive that I went to. This was an archive in Gliwice, Poland. Several archives were expecting me and had prepared materials I would need. I received packets for each of the Fond numbers I requested. I assumed that these were the actual records, however, they were the indexes for each of the individual fonds that I had requested. Within each fond (record group) there were numerous entries in the indexes called “Sygnatures”. The next step was to choose the sygnature within the Fond record group that I would like to see. THERE WERE MANY! Each fond index could be quite lengthy. For one particular fond that I requested the index stood about 9-10 inches high. This was the Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen collection housed in Katowice State Archives. Just looking at the index to choose the items I wanted was a really big project in and of itself. I did not find these sygnature indexes on the on-line catalogs or perhaps was not aware of them before going there and also didn't know how to search for them if they were there. Because I never saw any of these indexes.
In many state archives there are specific times when book orders need to be submitted during the day. These requests are gathered from the patrons and completed at the same time. In some archives, materials were off-site and brought in at various set times throughout the day. Therefore, the more precise the information that you have, the less down-time you will have waiting for materials you need.
FORMS!
It was most helpful to have my friend, Danuta who serves as my interpreter, with me to fill out the many forms. When you arrive, you must first fill out a personal information form which was in the Polish language. The two-sided form required my passport number, name, address, purpose of research, sometimes place of work with a letter of introduction stating the purpose of your research from your employer. This form was valid for one year at that archive only. Each state archive had the same form and had to be filled out at each one. Wish I could have xeroxed the first one and saved a little time!
The next form was a smaller sheet of paper which would later be cut in two. The top portion remained with the archive and the bottom was used to retrieve the book. Top and bottom both required the same information which was fond number, sygnature, name, date of order and return, comments, and page number, if known. Each item ordered needed to have this request form completed. After receiving the books you requested, there was another form in front of each book that required name, date, and the purpose of your request.
If you were using books that hadn’t been used previously, often the archive worker would have to number the pages prior to your receiving the book and also place the check-out form in the front of the book, where they would add the title and number. For each copy requested, another form was filled. Copies in most archives I went to were not allowed until after manager approval according to the physical condition of the materials requested. This usually takes several weeks. Copies can be digitized to CD. This, of course, will save shipping expenses. I ordered so many copies. I sure hope I will be getting them! There were some great samples that I requested and they will be a great help with my work at the Library.
A concern amongst researchers in Polish archives is a book limit restriction of 5 books per day. This can be a problem for those with little time and traveling from far away, like myself. To you I advise that you should contact your archive of interest, send them your requests and ask about this. If you take a friend, spouse, or or other family member, you probably will get 5 books each. In the case of Danuta and I, we didn't have too much difficulty receiving the books I requested. Maybe I was just lucky! Although all the archives that I visited were state archives, they seemed to each run things a bit differently than the other. So it is a good idea to contact them. However, the forms were the same in each one.
Another tip to Poland travelers and those going to hotels and archives, don't leave your passport at your "base location". I had thought about doing that and leaving mine in my friend's home in Warsaw. But I am so glad I thought better of it, because I needed it everywhere I went.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
How Many Relatives Do You Have?
1 YOU
2 parents
4 grandparents
8 g grandparents
16 gg grandparents
32 ggg grandparents
64 gggg grandparents
128 ggggg grandparents
256 gggggg grandparents
512 ggggggg grandparents
1,024 gggggggg grandparents
2,048 ggggggggg grandparents
4,096 gggggggggg grandparents
8,192 ggggggggggg grandparents
16,184 gggggggggggg grandparents
32,768 ggggggggggggg grandparents
65,536 gggggggggggggg grandparents
131,072 ggggggggggggggg grandparents
262,144 gggggggggggggggg grandparents
524,288 ggggggggggggggggg grandparents
1,048,576 gggggggggggggggggg grandparents
2,097,152 ggggggggggggggggggg grandparents
Is it any wonder we spend so much time on genealogy?
2 parents
4 grandparents
8 g grandparents
16 gg grandparents
32 ggg grandparents
64 gggg grandparents
128 ggggg grandparents
256 gggggg grandparents
512 ggggggg grandparents
1,024 gggggggg grandparents
2,048 ggggggggg grandparents
4,096 gggggggggg grandparents
8,192 ggggggggggg grandparents
16,184 gggggggggggg grandparents
32,768 ggggggggggggg grandparents
65,536 gggggggggggggg grandparents
131,072 ggggggggggggggg grandparents
262,144 gggggggggggggggg grandparents
524,288 ggggggggggggggggg grandparents
1,048,576 gggggggggggggggggg grandparents
2,097,152 ggggggggggggggggggg grandparents
Is it any wonder we spend so much time on genealogy?
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Useful Things for Summertime Kid's Fun and Learning
Don't know where I found this, but the author is shown below. I just wanted to pass on the info for moms of bored kids that are now home from school.
101+ Fun Family History Activities for Kids
Activities suitable or easily adapted for younger children.
1. Obtain a family group record and fill it out to best of your knowledge. Ask your parents to help you fill in the rest.
2. Obtain a pedigree chart and fill it out to the best of your knowledge. Ask your parents and grandparents to help you fill it out further.
3. In the 1941 Caldecott Award winning picture book, "They Were Strong and Good", author/illustrator Robert Lawson honors his ancestors through words and drawings. Obtain a copy of the book and read it. Tell what you know about your parents and grandparent’s lives in words and drawings.
4. Have one of your grandparents teach you how to prepare a favorite food from their childhood.
5. Learn about a popular game or sport that your parents or grandparents played when they were young. If possible, get some friends together and play the game.
6. Begin a diary or journal. Write in it at least once a week. Young children can draw pictures.
7. Look at photograph albums with an older relative. Have them identify the people in the photos. If the identities are not marked on the photos, carefully write the name on the back with a soft lead pencil or archival quality pen.
8. Keep a scrapbook of report cards, awards, letters, and honors you have received.
9. Write about your favorite holiday memories in your journal.
10. Make a list of your favorite holiday foods. Gather the recipes for them and write the recipes in your journal or include them in your scrapbook.
101+ Fun Family History Activities for Kids
Activities suitable or easily adapted for younger children.
1. Obtain a family group record and fill it out to best of your knowledge. Ask your parents to help you fill in the rest.
2. Obtain a pedigree chart and fill it out to the best of your knowledge. Ask your parents and grandparents to help you fill it out further.
3. In the 1941 Caldecott Award winning picture book, "They Were Strong and Good", author/illustrator Robert Lawson honors his ancestors through words and drawings. Obtain a copy of the book and read it. Tell what you know about your parents and grandparent’s lives in words and drawings.
4. Have one of your grandparents teach you how to prepare a favorite food from their childhood.
5. Learn about a popular game or sport that your parents or grandparents played when they were young. If possible, get some friends together and play the game.
6. Begin a diary or journal. Write in it at least once a week. Young children can draw pictures.
7. Look at photograph albums with an older relative. Have them identify the people in the photos. If the identities are not marked on the photos, carefully write the name on the back with a soft lead pencil or archival quality pen.
8. Keep a scrapbook of report cards, awards, letters, and honors you have received.
9. Write about your favorite holiday memories in your journal.
10. Make a list of your favorite holiday foods. Gather the recipes for them and write the recipes in your journal or include them in your scrapbook.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Find a Grave
So another assignment is to log in to Find a Grave and find some famous people. I found Bob Hope's entry. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7716821 There was no picture of his stone that I could see, but a story about him and a picture while he was still young. I chose him because I had an interesting experience with Bob Hope when I was about 18-19 years old. At that time I was a BYU student and had flown home to California, stand-by style and got bumped in Las Vegas. I was a little distraught because it didn't look like there was another seat available till the following day. So the man at the counter said to me that he had an idea if I would wait a minute while he checked the matter out. So I did. While I waited, I saw him go up to a man and he asked if I could fly on his private flight to Palm Springs. The man looked at me and it was Bob Hope. I about fainted... Bob Hope said I could go. So I got on this very small plane and away we went. When I got to the airport in Palm Springs, which was still small back in those days, my dad was late picking me up due to a flat tire. I waited in the front and was all alone when Bob Hope came up to me, swinging a golf club. He began speaking to me and I have to admit that I can't remember a word of that conversation, except that I was just amazed. Finally a limo came for him and after that sometime later, finally my dad showed up. Too late to meet Bob Hope though. Anyway, that was what came to mind as I was working on this assignment.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)