World Archives Project: USHMM - Czech Republic, Social Welfare and Repatriation Records of Holocaust Survivors, 1939-1948

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This content is provided as part of the World Memory Project in partnership with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

The World Memory Project will create extensive indexes for each collection. The completed indexes will be made available for free on all ancestry.com websites. Once the indexes are completed individuals may contact the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum directly to request a free printed copy of a specific document at [email protected] .

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About this project This collection contains records on persecution and emigration during the German occupation; name lists; registration cards; correspondence; information about Czechoslovakian organizations in the United States; United Nations reports on Nazi crimes; descriptions of camps; information on repatriations from France; information on emigration to Chile, Cuba, Paraguay, Venezuela, Trinidad, and the USSR; documents of the Czechoslovakian branch of the Red Cross; and reports on displaced persons camps.

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Project Instructions This collection contains records on persecution and emigration during the German occupation; name lists; registration cards; correspondence; information about Czechoslovakian organizations in the United States; United Nations reports on Nazi crimes; descriptions of camps; information on repatriations from France; information on emigration to Chile, Cuba, Paraguay, Venezuela, Trinidad, and the USSR; documents of the Czechoslovakian branch of the Red Cross; and reports on displaced persons camps. Records are in Czech and English.

Because the records in this collection are so varied in type and information provided, there is only one data (information to key) form type, which is called "Selected Records." This form type will be used for the majority of the images in this project.

Keying the Documents:

Most images consist of two documents or pages. Occasionally there will be even more. Sometimes the right page may be a continuation of the one on the left. Sometimes they are two separate documents. Often both documents are about the same individual. If the same individual appears on multiple documents within an image, key the name only once while keying the remaining information from wherever it may appear on the image. Key any other names, such as family members, as unique records. For example, if a document has information regarding a husband, wife, and children key all of their names as separate records, as well as any other corresponding information available.

If an entry contains the word "ditto", the abbreviation "do", or ditto marks, copy the information down from the previous entry.

Some of the documents are questionnaires or forms, with numbered questions or fields of information. Key as much of the requested information from these types of documents as possible.

For records such as correspondence, biographies, narratives, or other documents that do not consist of pre-printed forms or clearly fielded information and would otherwise require translating and reading through a block of text, only key the name of the primary individual, which should appear at the top of the page or somewhere near the beginning of the text. Do not worry about keying any other names mentioned in the document. At the very least, try to key a document date (which may be available near the top or bottom of the page) and birth information if it can be found within the first few sentences of a paragraph or somewhere near the name. Key information for the remaining fields if the information is located within the first few sentences of a paragraph and easily identified. These types of documents will typically not include information such as marital status, nationality, and residence.

Do not key the names of government or other officials as the goal is capture information about the people whom the document is about, not the people who administered or signed the documents.

Many names and locations will contain diacritics. Key those as seen using the "Insert international characters" button located directly above the keying grid and directly below the image. For Czech language helps, click here.

Project-specific sample images and form field help:

Choose a sample image from below to see the corresponding form field examples.
Selected Records

Selected Records

http://c.mfcreative.com/i/akt/projecthelp/40138/Sample%20-%2040138%20-%20Registration%20Form001_1.jpg

Any record or document that contains names to be keyed should be classified as "Selected Records."

Document Day

The document date is the date the document was signed or written. This is not available on every record, but if it is, it can usually be found near the top or bottom of the page. It usually follows the word "dne", which means "on the day" and usually follows a place name as well. The date will always appear in the day-month-year format.

Key the document day as seen. If there are multiple documents on an image for the same individual, but they have different document dates, key the most recent date available. If there are multiple documents on an image for different individuals and they have different document dates, or one has a document date and the other doesn't, create a new section for each document so that new headers are created and individuals are associated with the correct date.

Example format of document date:

V {place} dne {day}.{month}.{year}

V Praze dne 9.dubna 1941

Document Month

The document date is the date the document was signed or written. This is not available on every record, but if it is, it can usually be found near the top or bottom of the page. It usually follows the word "dne", which means "on the day" and usually follows a place name as well. The date will always appear in the day-month-year format.

Key the document month using the provided drop-down list and in the language of the document. Key the name of the month in full, even if abbreviated, written numerically, or in Roman numerals on the document. In Czech, the ending of the month will change depending on how it's written or used. Only key the standard month name, shown in bold below.

• I - January - ledna -leden
• II - Feburary - února - únor
• III - March - března - březen
• IV - April - dubna - duben
• V - May - května -květen
• VI - June - června -červen
• VII - July - července - červenec
• VIII - August - srpna - srpen
• IX - September - září
• X - October - Å™Ã­jna - říjen
• XI - November - listopadu - listopad
• XII - December - prosince -prosinec

For example, 25 April 1942 could be written as:

25.duben.1942

25.dubna.1942

25.4.194225.IV.1942

However, the month for each of these should be keyed as "duben."

If there are multiple documents on an image for the same individual, but they have different document dates, key the most recent date available. If there are multiple documents on an image for different individuals and they have different document dates, or one has a document date and the other doesn't, create a new section for each document so that new headers are created and individuals are associated with the correct date. Example format of document date:

V {place} dne {day}.{month}.{year}

V Praze dne 9.dubna 1941

Document Year

The document date is the date the document was signed or written. This is not available on every record, but if it is, it can usually be found near the top or bottom of the page. It usually follows the word "dne", which means "on the day" and usually follows a place name as well. The date will always appear in the day-month-year format.

The document year must be either two or four digits, but otherwise key as seen. If there are multiple documents on an image for the same individual, but they have different document dates, key the most recent date available. If there are multiple documents on an image for different individuals and they have different document dates, or one has a document date and the other doesn't, create a new section for each document so that new headers are created and individuals are associated with the correct date.

Example format of document date:

V {place} dne {day}.{month}.{year}

V Praze dne 9.dubna 1941

Prefix

Key any titles before the given name, such as "Dr", "Rev", "Mr", "Mrs", "pan", "paní", "slečna" as a prefix. Key as seen, excluding periods.

Given

Key the given name including any initial and middle names using the provided drop-down list. If a name does not appear on the list, key as seen. Use the list of words below to help you identify where a name may be found on a record.

In some cases the given name may be clearly indicated by the word "Jméno." In other cases, it may follow the abbreviation, "vec:", meaning "subject", essentially saying "{this person} is the subject of this document." Sometimes a relationship word may indicate a family member's name.

Key words and abbreviations to look for:

• Jméno / Jména = Given Name(s)
• Vec = subject
• O = about / concerning
• Bratr / Bratři = Brother(s)
• Sestra - Sister
• Motrove = Sponsors
• Manžel / chot' / muž = Husband
• Manželka / manželky / chot' / žena = Wife
• Otec / otcové / otce / táta / tat'ka / tatík / tatínek = Father
• Matka / matky / máma / mamka = Mother

Surname

Key the surname using the provided drop-down list for assistance. If a name is not on the list, key the name as seen. Key names with proper casing and spacing, regardless of how the name is written on the image.

A surname is sometimes written with large spaces in between each letter of the name or in all caps. In some cases the surname may be clearly indicated by the word "příjmení." In other cases, it may follow the abbreviation, "vec:", meaning "subject", essentially saying "{this person} is the subject of this document." Sometimes a relationship word may indicate a family member's name. Use the list of words below to help you identify where a name may be found on a record.

Key words and abbreviations to look for:

• Příjmení = Surname
• Vec = subject
• O = about / concerning
• Bratr / Bratři = Brother(s)
• Sestra - Sister
• Motrove = Sponsors
• Manžel / choÅ¥ / muž = Husband
• Manželka / manželky / choÅ¥ / žena = Wife
• Otec / otcové / otce / táta / taÅ¥ka / tatík / tatínek = Father
• Matka / matky / máma / mamka = Mother

Alias Given

Occasionally an alternate name may be recorded for a given individual. This name may be denoted by parentheses, quotation marks, or other indicating words such as "pseudonym." A variant spelling of a name written within a document is not considered an alias. Key the first name or initial and any middle names of the alias using the provided drop-down list. If a name does not appear on the list, key as seen.

Alias Surname

Occasionally an alternate name may be recorded for a given individual. This name may be denoted by parentheses, quotation marks, or other indicating words such as "pseudonym." A variant spelling of a name written within a document is not considered an alias. Key the surname of the alias using the provided drop-down list for assistance. If a name does not appear on the list, key as seen.

Maiden Name

A maiden name may be identified by the following words and abbreviations:

• nee
• rozená
• rozené
• roz.

Key any name which appears after these words as a maiden name. Key the name as seen, using the provided drop-down list for assistance.

Residence

Key the person's residence location. This may be an address, city, region, or other jurisdiction. A residence may be indicated by words such as "Present address of residence in the United Kingdom," "Place of residence of husband (wife) in Great Britain," "Address," "Adresa," or "District of domicile." If a street address and city or district of residence are listed in separate fields, only key the city and/or district as the residence and do not key the street address.

Only present or current residences should be keyed in this field. Previous residences should be keyed into the "Previous Residence" field. If there is only one residence location on the record and it is not clear whether the location is a previous or current residence, key it into this field and leave the "Previous Residence" field empty.

When keying Prague (Prag or Praha), be sure to also key the accompanying Roman numeral, if present, which indicates the section of Prague from which the person is from.

Use the provided drop-down list for assistance, but key the locations as seen, including any abbreviations. Separate jurisdictions such as town, region, and country by a comma.

Previous Residence

Key the person's previous residence location. This may be an address, city, region, or other jurisdiction. A previous residence may be indicated by words such as "Last Address", or "Domovská obec a okres." If a street address and city or district of residence are listed in separate fields, only key the city and/or district as the residence and do not key the street address.

Only previous residences should be keyed in this field. Present or current residences should be keyed into the "Residence" field. If there is only one residence location on the record and it is not clear whether the location is a previous or current residence, key it into the "Residence" field and leave the "Previous Residence" field empty.

When keying Prague (Prag or Praha), be sure to also key the accompanying Roman numeral, if present, which indicates the section of Prague from which the person is from.

Use the provided drop-down list for assistance, but key the locations as seen, including any abbreviations. Separate jurisdictions such as town, region, and country by a comma.

Birth Day

Key the birth day, using the words listed below to help you identify if a birth date is given. When provided, the date will usually appear in the day-month-year format.

The day may be identified by words such as "den", "dne", or "on."

Each of the following words or abbreviations means "was born", "born", or "birth":

• Nar.
• Narodil
• Narození
• Narozený
• Rodný

Birth Month

Key the birth month using the provided drop-down list. Use the words listed below to help you identify if a birth date is given. When provided, the date will usually appear in the day-month-year format.

Key the name of the month in the language of the document. If the document contains both Czech and English words, key the month in English. Key the name of the month in full, even if abbreviated, written numerically, or in Roman numerals on the document.

In Czech the ending of the month will change depending on how it's written or used. For Czech months, only key the standard month name, shown in bold below.

• I - January - ledna - leden
• II - Feburary - února - únor
• III - March - března -březen
• IV - April - dubna -duben
• V - May - května - květen
• VI - June - června -červen
• VII - July - července - červenec
• VIII - August - srpna -srpen
• IX - September - září
• X - October - Å™Ã­jna - říjen
• XI - November - listopadu - listopad
• XII - December - prosince - prosinec

For example, 25 April 1942 could be written as:

25.duben.1942

25.dubna.1942

25.4.1942

25.IV.1942

However, the month for each of these should be keyed as "duben."

In Czech records, the month may be identified by words such as "měsíc."

Each of the following words or abbreviations means "was born", "born", or "birth":

• Nar.
• Narodil
• Narození
• Narozený
• Rodný

Birth Year

Key the birth year, using the words listed below to help you identify if a birth date is given. When provided, the date will usually appear in the day-month-year format. The year must be either two or four digits, but otherwise key as seen.

In Czech records, the year may be identified by the words "rok", "roky", or "roků," or the abbreviation "r."

Each of the following words or abbreviations means "was born", "born", or "birth":

• Nar.
• Narodil
• Narození
• Narozený
• Rodný

Birthplace

Key the birth location including city, county, region, etc. Use the provided drop-down list for assistance, but key the locations as seen, including any abbreviations. Separate jurisdictions such as town, region, and country by a comma. Use the words listed below to help you identify if a birthplace is given. 

Each of the following words or abbreviations means "was born", "born", or "birth":

• Nar.
• Narodil
• Narození
• Narozený
• Rodný

Other key words or abbreviations to look for:

• Kde = where
• RodiÅ¡tě = birthplace
• Místo = place / locality
• Obec / obce = community /communities 
• Okres = district
• V = in / of
• Z / Ze = from / of

Nationality

Key the nationality found in the field or column with a label such as: "Nationality," "Citizenship,' "Státní přísluÅ¡nost," or "Národnost." Key the nationality as seen, excluding periods at the end of an abbreviation. For example, if an entry says "Czech by marriage, British by birth," key all of those words as opposed to just "Czech" and/or "British." Since we do not want periods keyed, use a semi-colon where a period is written to separate phrases. If a period is used for an abbreviation, just leave the period off.

Marital Status

Key the marital status from the field or column labeled "Rodinný stav," "Family state," or "Marital status." In some cases, the marital status is written or typed into the field. In other cases, statuses are pre-printed and the non-applicable statuses are crossed out or the applicable one is circled. Key the marital status as seen, using the provided drop-down list for assistance.

Some Czech marital status words: (English equivalents have been provided for information only, key as seen)

• oddaný
• ovdovělá = widowed (female)
• ovdovělý = widowed (male)
• oženěný = married
• oženil se = married
• rozloučený =separated
• rozluka = separated
• rozvedený = divorced
• rozvod =divorced
• Separated
• Single
• svob =single
• svobodná =single (female)
• Svobodný =single (male)
• vdala se = married
• vdaná =married (female)
• vdova =widow
• žen =married (male)
• ženatý =married (male)