I was fortunate this spring to spend a month in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. I met a couple of my long lost relatives. One of my 4th cousins that I met is the famous Actor (stage, movie, and TV), Jan Preucil. I even sat through a 2 1/2 hour stage play (in Czech) that he stared in at a theater in Prague. My month in the old country was not all fun and games; I even made some important contacts at the Archives. While at the Archives, Paul Nemecek (CSAGSI Librarian) and I purchased the complete set of the 1651 Czech Census index for our CSAGSI library. Hopefully in future Newsletters or Koreny someone will report on the information that is available from the Census books. While we were at the Archives Paul and the rest of the tour were astonished at all the old documents we were able to view and touch. Not only the original 1651 - 1654 census material but also books that dated back to the 12 century. We were even handed the original draft of the Czechoslovak Constitution of 1918 written in the hand of T.G. Masaryk. Amazing the things you can see when you know the right people. :)
I can tell you that the Czech Government is still not letting the Family History Centers (Mormon Church) microfilm their records. But, good news for Slovak researchers, the Family History Center is still microfilming records. Microfilm records (birth, death, and Marriage) from most areas of Slovakia should be available through the Family History Center by now.
Once again the membership year is winding down. Our new membership year begins September 1, 1999. In the current issue of the Newsletter you will find a membership renewal form. For all the members whose membership expires August 31, 1999 please send in your renewal form with the appropriate membership dues as soon as possible. If you do not know when your membership expires please look at the mailing label on the back of your Newsletter.
If you have any comments or suggestions please do not hesitate to contact me at: 708-485-6189, PO Box 33, Brookfield, IL 60513, or by email at jzel@aol.com.
Nazdar,
Joe Hartzel