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Contacting The Archives
(Lietuvos Archyvu Departmentas)
In Vilnius, Lithuania
by
Tegan Gillette

© copyright Tegan Gillette and FEEFHS, all rights reserved.

First Posted: 17 February 1997

In October of 1996 I began researching my family tree. Initially I thought discovering any members from the Lithuanian side of my family would prove very difficult indeed, but au contraire! It seems the Lithuanian Archives, or Lietuvos Archyvu Departmentas, has a vast collection of vital records (1.6 million, give or take.) including church records, birth, death and marriage records, as well as divorce papers. The Jewish community has organized it's own records, and the Archives holds these as well. Tapping in to this vast chasm of vitals seemed illusive to me at first. Where in the Lithuanian world was I going to start?

I wrote a letter to the Archives with only my grandfather's name. I knew nothing else at the time, but I was hoping that perhaps they could direct me as to where to search, what to search for, and what to be on the lookout for. I received a prompt and courteous reply stating that they could not help me with such limited information, but to check all of my family's photo albums, letters, and pertinent documents for any information I could find. Although this information is quite prevelant on the internet now, I did not know these
things at the time. I never thought to check the BACKS of photographs or the addresses of photographs for towns and villages where the studio was located. All little clues leading up to something.

I put the project aside until October when I began a serious attempt at researching my genealogija. At that time, I was searching through photo albums when I came across a document that had been in my possesion since I was about ten. I thought, "Well, it's foreign. It's interesting. Looks official. I'll keep it." I put it out of my mind. Of course, it was in Lithuanian, and I couldn't read it. I bought a dictionary.

It turned out that Lithuanina is fairly easy to translate. And so it began. "Metrikos nuorasas" turned into Birth Certificate and within two hours I had translated most of the document (less some misspellings which I was unable to recognize) and had discovered my grandmother, my grandfather, the church, the town, the house, the date of birth and Christening, the parish, the Godparents, AND . . . bonus round . . . that my grandfather was indeed son of Bajoru. I though, "Wow! I AM somebody!"

It was my first lesson in genealogy research. Check EVERYTHING. And then check it again. And then check it again. I had been sitting on a goldmine for over a decade and didn't even know it. I immediately located the letter the Archives had written me and proceeded to write them again. They have been a tremendous help.

As I mentioned previously, the Archives is able to locate - and translate - any or all documents related to your family's history. There is a staff of approximately 35 working for the Archives and they really are the first (and most likely last) place one should begin their research. Their services are payable, of course, and the initial fee is US$70.00 This must be made by money order, but they will request the US$70.00 when they confirm that they CAN research if the information you provide is sufficient. Never send cash, nor should you send a check. They are also able to accept an international wire order (which they seem to prefer), but I've found this to be OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive - US$30 overseas.

Banking Tip: Make sure when you "purchase" your money order, if you have an all-in-one banking account the bank doesn't CHARGE you the approximately $2 for the money order. Genealogy can get very expensive and hey. It's two bucks.)

Although I had a great deal of information in which to officially begin my research through the Archives, the basics that they need are the first name and the surname of the individual's father, the maiden name of the individual's mother, the individual's year of birth (give or take five years), the individual's religion, and a birth place. These can be obtained through marraige records, ships records, and as I started out, all death records and SS-5 forms through Social Security. Social Security can obtain these even without a social security number although it's twice the price.

(Family Tree Maker's software is offering a FREE search into their Social Security Death Index for 1935-1990 throughout the month of February 1996. The CD-Rom can also be purchased. Check them out!)

Write a letter to the Archives with as much information as possible including a SASE, although they don't request one, and your money order for US$70.00 Though the staff is fluent in Lithuanian, English, German, Russian, and Hebrew, I've found it best to keep the requests as concice as possible, itemized to be sure.

As of January 1997, the Archives are backlogged for four months, but if anyone is doing research through the Social Security office or any other government office, four months can seem brief. Once the Archives locates information concerning your original request, they will inform you of all of their findings. Each document (such as a marraige record) is found, translated, and sent postage paid for US$18 per copy. The price has actually
come down US$2.00! If you wish to do a nobility search, that fee is US$120 WITHOUT translation. The Archives will inform you if this search is necessary. Records kept in Lithuania are in Russian, Latin, and Polish.

Don't forget to include your name and address, and if you can incorporate any immediate family into your letter, that helps as well. The staff at the Archives is very polite, very helpful, and are very happy to hear from those wanting to research in Lithuania as it can all prove very exciting indeed!

Write to them at:

Lietuvos Archyvu Departmentas
Gerosios Vilties 10
2015 Vilnius
Lithuania

Also, I stronly recommend contacting the Balzekas Museum / The Lithuanian American Genealogy Society in Chicago, Illinois. They have been an enormous help in researching surnames, towns (with maps) and the like as well as offering the largest collection of resources and materials concerning Lithuania outside of that country.

Write to them at:

The Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture
6500 South Pulaski Road
Chicago, Illinois 60629-5136

Or phone them at (312) 582-6500

Happy Hunting!

Tegan Gillette
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