Local and Family History Research in

Romania

Boarder changes

AlbaAradArgesBacauBihorBistrita-NasaudBotosaniBrailaBrasovBuzauCalarasiCaras-SeverinCluj ConstantaCovasnaDâmbovitaDoljGalatiGiurgiuGorjHarghita

HunedoaraIalomitaIasiIlfovMaramuresMehedintiMuresNeamtPrahovaSalajSatu MareSibiuSlatina SuceavaTeleormanTimisTulceaVâlceaVasluiVrancea

Bucarest

Collection sizes

Bucharest

Ilfov

Suceava

15,500 volumes of vital records

129 volumes of vital records

6,800 volumes of vital records

Record keeping traditions

Hungarian: Metrical copies from 1784Civil registration from 1895

Austrian: Metrical copies from 1784Civil registration from 1919

Romanian: Metrical transcripts from 1832Civil registration from 1865

Registru Stărei Civile Pentru Născuti

Din anul una mie optu suti şapte deci şi nouă lunaDechembre in Nouă Zili--ora deci din zi--Actu de Nateri a Dna Aniþa de secsul femenin dereligiea ortodoxi, nascuta alaltaeri pi la ovele nouăDiminiaţi, in casa parintilor sci din cotuna moheiţaComună Pilipauţi, fiică Dlui Gheorghi Stefan Cojo-Carui in etate de trei deci si cinci ani, şi a soþie saleFransina in etate de trei deci ani, ambei de profesiaagricoli domicilicaţi in sus deşa cotuna şi comună--După Decleraţiunia facuta de tatal care ne auin faţoşat copila, marturi au fostu Niculai Luhaneim etate de cinci zeci ani şi Nicu Popi in etatede patru deci ani, ambei de profesiea agricolidomicilicaþi in aceasta Comună-–Care ausubscris acestaet in pricină cu noi şi cu DecleRantele deepe celelaiu cetet constatat dupe legede noi Haralacube Chiracae primarul comuniPilipauţi şi oficier stare civili—Eu Gheorghi Stefan Cojocariu / DeclarantEu Niculai Luhane / MarturiEu Nicu Popi / Primar

Kingdom of Romania register

Civil Status RegisterBirth Entry

In year one thousand eight hundred seventy nine monthof December, ninth day--two in the day--Born Miss Anita feminine gender of religion orthodox, born day before yesterday at ninein the morning, in the house of their parentstown of Pilipauþi, daughter of Gheorghi Stefan Cojocaru,35 years old, and his spouseFransina, 30 years old, both of the professionof agriculture living in this community--After declaration is made by the father whobrought forth the little girl, witnessed by Niculai Luhane30 years of age and Nicu Popi, in age40 years, both of the profession farmerresident in this town—Who theundersigned this purpose with us and with declarationfrom those citizens ascertained as legalby us Haralacube Chirac, mayor of town of Pilipauti andofficer of civil registrationI Gheorghi Stefan Cojcariu / TestifierI Niculai Luhane / WitnessesI Nicu Popi / Mayor

Kingdom of Hungary register

Scripts in Records

Entries• pre-1862 Romanian Cyrillic• 1874-1885 Latin script

Headings• pre-1862 German Gothic and Romanian• 1874-1883 Romanian• 1883-1888 German, Latin• 1890-1892 Romanian and Russian

Romanian alphabet

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Research procedure

1. Research permission for the regional archive branches can be obtained on the spot.

2. Use of laptop computers is now permitted (since the beginning of 2007).

3. You can take UNLIMITED photos for a daily fee of about $2.

4. Documents more recent than 100 years can not be viewed. 5. The daily book limit is five. This can be a serious problem

if you are researching more than one family or a family that moved around.

6. Once you have seen your books, you need to return them before you can get more. And once they are put back, you can’t see them again for six months.

Researching in Romanian archives

7. Call or write ahead to make sure the archive will be open during your visit! Archives can be closed unexpectedly for vacations, holidays, conferences, renovation work, etc.

8. When you arrive, you will have to fill out an application and get your permission issued. On the form, you must state the “theme” of your research.

9. Next, you will be taken to the research room, where you can view a book which contains an inventory of the documents in a collection and what time period they cover. All town names will be in Romanian only.

10. There are separate records for each religion (i.e. Jewish, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Orthodox, etc). You will have to fill out a card listing the number of each volume you want to see, then a separate slip for each book.

Researching in Romanian archives (cont.)

Researching in Romanian archives (cont.)

11. The staff will bring you the books and you can start researching.

12. On the whole, staff speaks only Romanian but many know French, German, Italian, or a little English.

13. Records in Western Romania and Transylvania are normally in Hungarian or sometimes in German. Elsewhere, they may be in Romanian (sometimes in Cyrillic script).

14. Archives close fairly early (usually about 3:30P.M.), so get there at opening time and take a snack so you don’t have to hunt for a place to eat lunch (food and drink only outside the research room).

Historical research

The background of Romania is such that meaningful historical research should be conducted at a more locally defined level

BanatBessarabiaBukowinaDobrujaMoldaviaSiebenburgen

Historical research: Bukowina

• Bukovina was part of the Austrian Empire 1775-1918

• It was a district in Galicia until 1849 when it became a separate Austrian Crownland

• It was absorbed by Romania between the world wars, 1919-1942

• The Northern portion was incorporated into Ukraine afterwards, 1945-present

Historical research: Bukowina (cont.)

• Historically the population consisted of Moldovans (Romanians) and Ukrainians (Ruthenians and Hutzuls)

• During the 19th century, Austria encouraged the influx of many immigrants such as Germans, Poles, Jews, Hungarians and additional Ruthenians

• Romanians continued to be the largest ethnic group until 1880, when Ukrainians (Ruthenians) outnumbered the Romanians 5:4

• In 1907, the population, there were 730,195 inhabitants; 110,483 Catholic / 500,262 Orthodox / 96,150 Jews / 23,300 Other

• There were 142,933 houses

• Tens of thousands of Romanian families from northern Bukovina were deported to Siberia

• Hundreds of Romanian peasants were killed as they attempted escape to Romania away from the Soviet authorities

• The German population was repatriated to Germany

• The Jewish community was destroyed in death camps.