Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from author Michelle Tucker Chubenko for the purposes of review. However, my opinions are my own and not influenced by outside sources.

Table of Contents:

Michelle Tucker Chubenko, AG, AGL specializes in Eastern European research, which can be a daunting task for many, especially given the likely language difficulties.

The paternal side of my family tree is Carpatho-Rusyn, but my ancestors all lived in eastern Slovakia in the foothills of the Tatras Mountains. If I have any Galician ancestors, which I suppose is possible given the geographical proximity to Slovakia, they would connect in my tree before the 1820s, as that is when the church records begin for my family.

However, because I’m familiar with the types of records created in Eastern Europe, I was very interested in reviewing Workbook for Research in Galicia Austria-Hungary, which was just published this year. The author kindly provided me with a complimentary copy.

I will admit upfront that I’m not fond of PDF or Kindle formats for my genealogy reference books – I prefer the old-fashioned feel of the pages turning and, even to review this workbook, I printed out a hard copy.

The Table of Contents (above) provides a detailed look at exactly how the workbook is put together and what it covers in terms of research.

My first impression of this workbook is extremely positive. Taking on Polish and Ukrainian resources and repositories in addition to preparing the reader to begin researching in Europe is a huge task and it is very well done.

Chapter 1 begins with an introduction to the modern area that used to be Galicia plus an overview of what to expect as the reader moves through the workbook.

Chapters 2-5 identify the steps that need to be taken before jumping the pond. In other words, what preparation needs to happen to maximize the chances of success?

Chapters 6-12 discuss resources and repositories that help provide the answers to research questions. Not all of these chapters will be pertinent for everyone. For example, if your Galician ancestors only lived in Poland, then Chapters 11-12, which cover Ukraine, won’t be needed.

Chapter 13 reviews a list of “next steps” to be followed with an updated research plan.

Chapter 14 closes out the workbook with an excellent 12-page bibliography pertaining to Galician resources – everything from histories of the area to organizations that have ethnic or religious ties to Galicia.

Michelle Chubenko has created a much-needed guide for those with Eastern European ancestors, in this case for those from Galicia.

Additionally, although the workbook has its focus on Galicia, the tight research format would work for other countries in Eastern Europe. A motivated and more advanced researcher could follow the outlined steps and substitute appropriate repositories located in, say, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, or northern Poland, etc.

Knowing both the ancestral town and the religion of your ancestors in Galicia is called a “non-negotiable” by the author and I was pleased to see it described that way because most records were created in communities by religious affiliation – Roman Catholic, Greek Catholic (today called Byzantine Catholic), Protestant (possibly more than one denomination) and Jewish.

Imagine going to Massachusetts (which kept its vital records at the town level) looking for an ancestor in 1860, knowing a name, but not where they lived or what religion they were AND no censuses existed. Chances of finding them would be slim. Now, add to that scenario looking for records in a foreign (to you) language and you have Galicia. The workbook covers this topic and also provides tips to navigate the correct path and the inevitable need for translation.

Workbook for Research in Galicia Austria-Hungary is sequentially organized to help a beginning researcher be successful, but it is just as handy for more advanced researchers who are more in need of knowing where to find information rather than how to find it.

I love this workbook and highly recommend it for anyone researching family history in Galicia as it is essentially a research plan presented as a step-by-step process that will maximize the researcher’s chances of success.

Workbook for Research in Galicia Austria-Hungary is available on Michelle Chubenko’s website for $40.00 as a downloadable PDF. [I printed out my copy double-sided, first with odd numbered pages and then even-numbered and it printed perfectly. ]

Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of her bookstore page for a free bonus file – Stuck in Galicia? What To Do When Metrical Records Don’t Exist?