Revision lists (revizskie skazki) are among the most important genealogical resources from the Russian Empire, and are often the only available confirmation that an ancestor actually lived in a particular shtetl. With the growing number of revision list translations on JewishGen and elsewhere, it is easier than ever to expand one's research beyond U.S.-based sources and discover previously unknown genealogical connections.
This talk helped both the novice and the experienced genealogist learn to navigate the world of revision lists. We covered:
We explored examples of original revision lists in Russian and showed how they can be used to trace Jewish families. The prospect of reading 19th-century handwritten records may seem daunting at first. But as more and more images of the original Russian-language documents become available to genealogists on the internet, the value of being able to read those records for oneself is undeniable. This talk shows how even with no initial knowledge of Russian you can, with a bit of practice, become a “maven” at recognizing key words, names and phrases.
David R. Brill is a longtime member of the Jewish Genealogical and Archival Society of Greater Philadelphia, and the coordinator of its Russian Interest Group.
For over 25 years, David has researched his family history in the countries of the former Russian Empire (especially Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russian Poland). Over the years, his interest in this area led him to become a self-taught translator of prerevolutionary Russian-language genealogical records. Currently, he manages the Rovno District Jewish Records Project for JewishGen’s Ukraine Research Division, and is the JewishGen town leader for his ancestral shtetl of Tuchin (Ukraine).
David is a civil engineer with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. He lives in Cherry Hill, NJ.
This talk helped both the novice and the experienced genealogist learn to navigate the world of revision lists. We covered:
- What are revision lists? When and why were they created?
- What are the differences between censuses and revision lists?
- What can revision lists tell me about my family, and about shtetl life in general?
- Where can I find revision lists for my town? Are they online?
We explored examples of original revision lists in Russian and showed how they can be used to trace Jewish families. The prospect of reading 19th-century handwritten records may seem daunting at first. But as more and more images of the original Russian-language documents become available to genealogists on the internet, the value of being able to read those records for oneself is undeniable. This talk shows how even with no initial knowledge of Russian you can, with a bit of practice, become a “maven” at recognizing key words, names and phrases.
David R. Brill is a longtime member of the Jewish Genealogical and Archival Society of Greater Philadelphia, and the coordinator of its Russian Interest Group.
For over 25 years, David has researched his family history in the countries of the former Russian Empire (especially Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russian Poland). Over the years, his interest in this area led him to become a self-taught translator of prerevolutionary Russian-language genealogical records. Currently, he manages the Rovno District Jewish Records Project for JewishGen’s Ukraine Research Division, and is the JewishGen town leader for his ancestral shtetl of Tuchin (Ukraine).
David is a civil engineer with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. He lives in Cherry Hill, NJ.
The handout
| Getting the most from Revision Lists |
The recorded presentation
| Part 1 Part 3 | Part 2 Part 4 |
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