Research guides

Practical guides for tracing ancestors from the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union — written for people who don't read Russian.

• How to trace ancestors from the Russian EmpireRecords, archives, names, calendars and borders — where to start.
• How to read Russian church records (metric books)Entry structure, a vocabulary list, old letters and Julian dates.
• Russian names, patronymics and surnames for genealogistsPatronymics, gendered surnames, transliteration and late peasant surnames.
• Finding a Soviet WWII soldier: Pamyat Naroda and OBD MemorialSearch Pamyat Naroda and OBD Memorial without speaking Russian.
• Jewish ancestors from the Russian EmpirePale of Settlement records, JewishGen, Yad Vashem and name variants.