Czech Republic, School Registers - FamilySearch Historical Records

Czech Republic

What is in the Collection?
This collection consists of school records from the Opava State Regional Archive for the years 1800-1953.

The records primarily come from the Moravia region (between Bohemia and Slovakia). There are six districts in that region: Bruntál, Frýdek-Místek, Nový Jičín, Olomouc, Opava, and Přerov.

The Czech Republic has only existed in its modern form since 1993, and it has undergone several major administrative changes over the last two centuries. Thus, in the period of this collection, the area encompassing the modern Czech Republic fell under the following jurisdictions:
 * Before 1806: Holy Roman Empire
 * 1806-1867: Austrian Empire
 * 1867-1918: Austro-Hungarian Empire
 * 1918-1948: Republic of Czechoslovakia
 * 1938-1946: Nazi occupation
 * 1948 onward: Soviet satellite state

What Can This Collection Tell Me?
The following list indicates potential information provided in these records. It must be remembered that every record may not provide all the listed information, as record-keeping practices varied greatly over time.

School Records may contain the following information:
 * Name of Child
 * Birth Date
 * Place of Birth
 * Country of Residence
 * Religion
 * Father's name
 * Father’s Place of Residence
 * Grades earned in various subjects taught

How Do I Search the Collection?
Before beginning a search in these records, it is best to know the full name of the individual in question, as well as an approximate time range for the desired record. When entered into the search engine on the Collection Page, this information provides the quickest, most reliable path to finding the correct person. Of course, other information can be substituted as necessary.

Search by Name by Visiting the Collection Page
Fill in the requested information in the initial search page to return a list of possible matches. Compare the individuals on the list with what is already known to find the correct family or person. This step may require examining multiple individuals before a match is located.

View Images in This Collection by Visiting the Browse Page
⇒ Select Browse through images on the initial collection page ⇒ Select the Okres (district) ⇒ Select the Obec (community) ⇒ Select the Místo (place) ⇒ Select the Volume number/letter, begin year, end year to go to the images.

Compare the information found on the images with what is already known determine if a particular record relates to the correct person. This process may require examining multiple records before the correct person is located.

For Help Reading These Records
These records are in Czech. For help with reading the records, see the following wiki articles:
 * Czech Republic Genealogical Word List
 * Czech Republic Language and Languages

I Found the Person I Was Looking for, What Now?

 * Make sure to fully transcribe and cite the index entry for future reference; see below for assistance in citing this collection.
 * Look at an image of the original record, if possible. The online index entry generally lists only the most basic identifying information for an individual; the original record may contain further information which was not included in the index. Save or print a copy of the image if possible.
 * Use the information which has been discovered to find more. For instance, use the age listed in the record to estimate a year of birth, if that is yet undetermined.
 * Use the information which has been discovered to find the individual in other records.
 * Continue to search the index to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives.

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking for, What Now?
For additional help searching online collections see FamilySearch Search Tips and Tricks.
 * The index entry might be inaccurate. If possible, look at an image of the actual record to verify the information listed in the index.
 * When looking for a person with a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which individual is correct. Use other information, such as place of birth, age, occupation, or names of parents, to determine which candidate is the correct person.
 * Check for variants of given names and surnames. An individual might appear under a different name in a record for a variety of reasons:
 * An individual might have been listed under a middle name, nickname, or abbreviation of their given name.
 * Spelling was not standardized for much of the period of this collection, so names were often spelled as they were pronounced. Pay attention to how the name should have been pronounced and try spelling variations that could have that pronunciation.
 * Vary the search terms. For example, search by either the given name or surname to return broader list of possible candidates which can then be examined for matches. Alternatively, try expanding the date range; this is especially useful in searching baptismal records, as it was not unusual for a child to be baptized weeks or even months after birth.
 * Search the records of nearby locations. While it was uncommon for an individual in this period to move more than about 20 miles from their place of birth, smaller relocations were not uncommon.

Citing this Collection
Citing sources correctly makes it easier to refer to information which has already been discovered; proper citations are therefore key to keeping track of genealogical research. Following established citation formats also allows others to verify completed research by helping them find and examine records for themselves.

To be of use, citations must include information such as the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records, if available. The following examples demonstrate how to present this information for both this particular collection as well as individual images within the collection:

Collection Citation:

Image Citation: