Archives in Belarus house a vast collection of documents that can be utilized for genealogical research and are valuable for reconstructing family histories. These include metric books, revision tales, and records from various government agencies, social classes, and nationalities. The National Archives of the Republic of Belarus is the country's premier archival institution, responsible for preserving and managing the nation's historical records. It houses a vast collection of documents spanning centuries.
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The National Archives of BelarusThe National Archives of Belarus
A large portion of the documents is stored in the National Historical Archive of Belarus in Minsk (covering the territories of the former Minsk, Mogilev, Vitebsk, and partially Grodno provinces of the Russian Empire) and in the National Historical Archive of Belarus in Grodno (mainly covering the territories of the former Grodno and partially Vilna provinces).
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The National Archives of Belarus was established in 1927 as the Central Archives of the October Revolution of the BSSR. It was initially located in Minsk but was moved to Mogilev in 1930. During World War II, the Archives were inactive due to the German invasion of Belarus. After the war, they resumed operations in Gomel and later moved back to Minsk. In 1993, the Archives were renamed the Belarusian State Archives. In 1995, they acquired records from the former Central Party Archives of the Communist Party of Belarus and were reorganized as the National Archives of the Republic of Belarus.
Materials for genealogical research are also located in the archives of civil registry offices (ZAGS).
Information on how to submit a genealogical request can be found on the website of the National Historical Archive of Belarus in Minsk on the "Services" page and on the website of the National Historical Archive of Belarus in Grodno. [1]
State regional archivesState regional archives
Belarus has several state regional archives located in different parts of the country:
Minsk Regional Archive - this archive houses documents related to the Minsk region, the capital of Belarus. It is particularly rich in records from the Soviet era. The Minsk Regional Archives was founded in 1938. During World War II, the Archives were inactive due to the German occupation of Belarus. After the war, in 1963, the pre-revolutionary records were transferred to the Central State Historical Archives of the BSSR. In 1996, the Archives acquired over 600,000 files from the former Minsk Region Committee of the Communist Party of Belarus. In 2001, the Archives adopted its current name.
Brest Regional Archives - located in the western part of Belarus, this archive holds documents related to the Brest region, including the city of Brest, which was the site of the Brest Fortress, a significant historical landmark.
The State Archives of Brest Region was established in 1940 and initially collected records from Polish government institutions. During World War II, many of its records were lost or damaged. After the war, the Archives acquired records from German and Soviet organizations that operated in the region. In 1992, it also added records from the former Communist Party Archives of the Brest Region. The Archives now holds documents written in multiple languages, including Russian, Belarusian, German, Ukrainian, and Polish.
Gomel Regional Archives. This archive is located in the southeastern part of Belarus and holds documents related to the Gomel region, including the city of Gomel, which was heavily damaged during World War II. The Gomel Regional Archives was established in November 1922 as the Mogilev-Gomel Archival Bureau. It underwent several reorganizations in the following years, becoming the Gomel Province Archival Repository, the Gomel Province Archival Bureau, the Gomel Okrug Archives, and the Gomel Division of the Central Archival Administration of the BSSR. During World War II, the Archives were inactive due to the German occupation. After the war, the Archives resumed operations and continued to serve as the Gomel Regional Archives. In 2001, it received its current name.
These regional archives hold documents specific to their respective regions, providing valuable information about local history, culture, and economy.
See alsoSee also
Explore more about Archives in BelarusExplore more about Archives in Belarus
- MyHeritage: Your Personal Genealogy Archive webinar on the MyHeritage Knowledge Base
- Genealogy Research for Beginners: How to Get Started on MyHeritage
- Archives in Belarus
References
- ↑ "Генеалогия | Архивы Беларуси" (in русский). Retrieved 2024-08-28.