One of the best online resources for all things Czech genealogy is the Czech Genealogy Facebook group. This is a site managed by professional genealogists Blanka Lednická, Michaela Horňáková, Monika Jáchimová, and Gabriela Vcislo. Check out their blogs where you can contact them for their professional services directly, or try asking the question to more than 8,000 active members. I have had much good success interacting with people there. 

An interesting question was asked there today, and Michaela pointed out a really great resource which I think deserves to be highlighted again.

"Is there something like newspapers.com but for Czech/Slovak research?" 

The answer is: yes! 

http://www.digitalniknihovna.cz/

Digitální knihovna, or The Digital Library, is an online portal with access to multiple archives and libraries on the national and regional level. Click the top right corner to switch to English (but don't get discouraged if not much changes; if you struggle to navigate it, reach out for help! Many people are willing to help you, and trust me, Czech is just really hard; people will understand). 

When I searched for the village of "Rožnov" I found this lovely ca 1900-1901 photo with the mountain Radhošť in the background, which you can access here.

The site also has lots of books, newspaper articles, and photos. You might need to brush off your German; chances are that when viewing records from the 19th century for this part of the world, you'll run into it. 

What a great resource! We should take advantage of it!

The CGSI Digital Library is a place where CGSI members can access thousands of books, published genealogies, webinars, finding aids, videos, maps, magazines/articles, and all the previously published issues of the CGSI journal, Naše rodina. 

Recently the following item was added to the Digital Library: 

Fillipi/Phillipe Family History 1752-2009

This 151-page genealogical work was completed in 2009 and describes the Filipi family, Bohemia (Austrian Empire), ca. 1700’s up to the present, ca. 2009. This book contains geographic history, maps and documents with genealogical information in standard genealogy presentation format including a collection of Family Group Sheets which can be a very important find to those researching this and associated families. There are many newspaper clippings of family weddings, obituaries and general articles. It also contains a section on the family emigration to the United States ca. 1800’s.

Year Published: 

2009

Author(s): 

Jim Phillipe

Join CGSI today to get access to this and other rich digital material about ancestors from the Czech lands! 

The CGSI Digital Library is a place where CGSI members can access thousands of books, published genealogies, webinars, finding aids, videos, maps, magazines/articles, and all the previously published issues of the CGSI journal, Naše rodina. 

In addition to this rich members-only content, we also like to find and highlight as many free online sources relevant for our members. You do not need to be a member to access these sources, but we include catalog entries to them in our massive Digital Library.

Recently the following free source was highlighted in our Digital Library: 

A Grammar of the Bohemian or Czech Language

This book provides a traditional approach to learning the Czech language. Published in 1899, it can demonstrate some of the nuances of modern Czech vs. the way the language was used in writings of the prior century. Courtesy of HathiTrust.

Year Published: 

1899

Author(s): 

William Richard Morfill, MA

A Grammar of the Bohemian or Czech Language

Join CGSI today to support the cause of gathering together all the relevant digital material about ancestors from the Czech lands!

The CGSI Digital Library is a place where CGSI members can access thousands of books, published genealogies, webinars, finding aids, videos, maps, magazines/articles, and all the previously published issues of the CGSI journal, Naše rodina. 

In addition to this rich members-only content, we also like to find and highlight as many free online sources relevant for our members. You do not need to be a member to access these sources, but we include catalog entries to them in our massive Digital Library.

Recently the following free source was highlighted in our Digital Library: 

A History of Czechs (Bohemians) in Nebraska

Rosicky presents detailed information about the Czech settlements in Nebraska. Information is presented in a variety of formats, but of special interest is a county by county description of the original Czech pioneers entry into the United States.

Published in 1929. 492 pages. Courtesy of HathiTrust.

Year Published: 

1929

Author(s): 

compiled by Rose Rosicky

A History of Czechs (Bohemians) in Nebraska

Join CGSI today to support the cause of gathering together all the relevant digital material about ancestors from the Czech lands!