INFORMATION  FOR  BEGINNERS	Back

Please note that our archival collection of Parish Registers are only from  Protestant  parishes. If  your ancestors were  members of other churches, please check with  the archives of  those
The following information must be known as a starting point before one begins to search in our Archive for material on a particular individual:
1.	Name
2.	Date of birth
3.	Place of birth
Here is an example of how one should proceed with genealogy research in our Archive.

Example:
	You  know  that  your  great-grandfather  was  born  in  June 1856  in  Meldienen, district Ragnit, East Prussia, and you want to trace his antecedents.
1.	You  clarify with the responsible Archival specialist as to which Protestant  Parish was  in charge  of  the  Meldienen  records in 1856 (it  was  the  Parish of  Kraupischken), and whether  the  baptismal  records of that year are to be found in our Archive.
2.	You look  for  your great-grandfather's entry in  the  Baptismal Register, and you will find there the names of his parents.
3.	You look in  the same  Baptismal Register for older siblings of your great-grandfather, in order to limit the range of the marriage date of his parents.
4.	His  oldest  brother  was  born  in  1845.
5.	You  look  in  the  Marriage  Registers of  Kraupischken  from 1845,  backwards, for  the marriage  date of  the  parents.
6.	You  find  the marriage entry in the year 1843. This entry also  records  the birthdate (or the age) and  the  place of origin of the couple.
7.	You establish the Protestant Parish that was responsible for these areas mentioned and whether their Parish Registers are found in our Archive.
General  information on  genealogical  research can be found, for example, at the websites of the various genealogical societies and in various publications.