Category Archives: Slovak

Announcing Special Webinar: Saturday, 25 September 2021: “Slovak Soul: The spiritual journey of the small nation with the big heart”

Posted on by

Registration is now open for a special webinar “Slovak Soul: The spiritual journey of the small nation with the big heart” which will be presented by Renata Calfa on Saturday, 25 September 2021, 11:00 a.m. EDT/ 10:00 a.m. CDT / 8:00 a.m. PDT.

Webinar Details

Presentation Title: “Slovak Soul: The spiritual journey of the small nation with the big heart” 

Hosted by Lisa Alzo and presented by Renata Calfa

Date: Saturday, 25 September 2021

Time: 11:00 a.m. EDT/ 10:00 a.m. CDT / 8:00 a.m. PDT.

Due to webinar length, the presentation is pre-recorded. Q&A will be live.

Price: $9.95 USD

Webinar description

One can speak fluent Slovak, sing folk songs, cook perfect Slovak dinner, yet how well do we know the nation that created such traditions? This webinar, presented by Renata Calfa, will explore: 

  • Faith: everyday motivation of our ancestors
  • ‘Soul language’ of our ancestors
  • Creativity and courage of Slovaks from a different angle
  • And much more…
  • Also, we are proud to introduce Project KORENE, a stage co-production of Iconito and FS Zemplin.

All paid registrants will receive access to a replay for 30 days following the live event. 

You will have up until 1 hour before the webinar to register for the event.

No registrations will be processed after that time. 



Space is limited!  Click here to save your spot now! 




Copyright 2021, Lisa Alzo, All Rights Reserved

http://theaccidentalgenealogist.blogspot.com/atom.xml

It’s Almost Time: CGSI Genealogical and Cultural Conference Pittsburgh, PA October 17-21

Posted on by

It’s almost time for the 16th CGSI Genealogical and Cultural Conference October 17-21 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  


CGSI Registration booklet. Click here to learn more and register.


Will I See You in Pittsburgh Next Week? 

I have been waiting for this conference for over a year.  I have  the honor of presenting the keynote address on Friday, 20 October 2017 – “They Built This City: Celebrating Pittsburgh’s Industries and Immigrants.”  The opening session starts at 8:00 a.m. with the singing of the Czech, Moravian, Slovak and Carpatho-Rusyn National Anthems, and the Star Spangled Banner, followed by the keynote talk.

I will also be presenting three other sessions during the conference:

  • Overcoming Brick Walls in Eastern Europe Research (Thursday, 10/19)
  • Beginning Slovak Genealogy (Friday 10/20)
  • Identifying Pittsburgh’s Slovak Cluster Communities and Their Role in Preserving Slovak Heritage (Saturday, 10/21)


About CGSI

The Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International Conference is the premier event to learn about techniques for genealogical research in the areas now known as the Czech and Slovak Republics.

Presentations throughout the conference will explore the history and culture of the people who lived in the present-day Czech and Slovak Republics.

Ethnic-focused bus tours of the Pittsburgh area, live performances of regional music, and special-interest movies are all a part of the CGSI Conference.

The Czechoslovak Genealogical Society was founded in 1988 in St. Paul, MN. It was incorporated as the Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International in 1991. 

CGSI currently has about 2,400 members from across the US, Canada and the Czech and Slovak Republics.

More information including registration form can be found at http://www.cgsievents.com



Copyright 2017, Lisa A. Alzo.  All Rights Reserved

http://theaccidentalgenealogist.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Fearless Females 16 March 2016: Let’s Do Lunch

Posted on by

The prompt for 16 March 2016 is to write about a lunch date you would like to have with a female family member or ancestor. 

March 16 — If you could have lunch (or another meal) with any female family member (living or dead) or any famous female who would it be and why? Where would you go? What would you eat?

[Note: This post originally ran during the Fearless Females series in March 2010]

I would like to spend the day with my mother Anna, my grandmothers, Elizabeth and Verona, and my great-grandmothers–Ilona, Borbala (Barbara), Maria, and Anna—all together in one place. I imagine we are in Slovakia – in one of my ancestral homes. Of course we would have Slovak food! I picture us sharing a traditional Easter meal: paska, hrutka/syrek (Easter cheese), hrin (beets & horseradish), klobassy, ham, hard-boiled egg–each food symbolic.   

I would understand and speak the Slovak language so I could listen to their stories and their wisdom and help them prepare all the delicious foods. My family dream team!

Recipes and information on Slovak Easter traditions are included in my book, Baba’s Kitchen: Slovak & Rusyn Family Recipes and Traditions.

Copyright 2016, Lisa A. Alzo
All Rights Reserved

http://theaccidentalgenealogist.blogspot.com/atom.xml

It Still Takes a Village: Trace Eastern European Ancestors with New Genealogy Guide

Posted on by

When my Slovak grandparents arrived in America, they settled in Duquesne, Pennsylvania, a “cluster community,” where they were surrounded by relatives, friends, and neighbors–all the people who formed the extension of their villages in the New World. They could count on these people for friendship, support and help with life’s ups and downs.

Group gathering, Osturňa, Slovakia; photo courtesy of Lisa A. Alzo

Many decades later, I found myself channeling this sense of community while working on The Family Tree Polish, Czech, and Slovak GenealogyGuide. I have been been a freelance writer for FamilyTree Magazine since 2005, and since that time I have written a number of articles on various Eastern European Genealogy topics, so it seemed a natural fit to expand that work for the Ethnic Research Guides series.

This guide will walk you step-by-step through the exciting–and challenging–journey of finding your Polish, Czech, or Slovak roots. You’ll learn how to identify immigrant ancestors, find your family’s town of origin, locate key genealogical resources, decipher foreign-language records, and untangle the region’s complicated history. The guide also includes timelines, sample records, resource lists, and sample record request letters to aid your research. 

In particular, those just beginning the research process will find this guide to be useful starting point for how to discover their Eastern European ancestors and trace their stories from American shores back to the old country. An extensive Appendix lists other books and resources to follow up with for advanced research in each group (including one of my personal favorites, Going Home: A Guide to Polish-American Research by Jonathan Shea).

In the past twenty-five years, I have had the good fortune of working with many skilled research colleagues who were instrumental in helping me navigate the complexities of Eastern European genealogy. My journey back to find my ancestors would not have been possible without the guidance of many others. One of the biggest lessons I learned early on as a genealogist is the importance of collaboration and networking with those researching similar surnames or geographical areas. While researching our individual families, we might have a tendency to hold on tightly to knowledge gleaned from our efforts, but there is a lot to be said for sharing what we learn. Thanks to collaborative efforts with other East European genealogists, I have been able to break down many of my own research brick walls.

In the same collaborative spirit, this guide is designed to teach and inspire others who have an interest in exploring their Polish, Czech, or Slovak heritage.

Writing is often viewed as a solo endeavor, but the truth is it really takes a village to produce a guide of this scope, and I am particularly grateful to my research colleagues (especially Professor Jonathan Shea, Michal Razus, and Jan Ebert), as well as others who contributed photographs or other stories or anecdotes, and of course, the editors and copy editors at Family Tree Magazine.
The book is currently available for pre-order at ShopFamilyTree and Amazon.



[Disclosure: Articles on this website may use affiliate links.  Please see my Disclosure Policy in the About section for more information]
http://theaccidentalgenealogist.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Join me for the Family Tree University Czech and Slovak Genealogy Crash Course 19 August 2014

Posted on by

If you have Czech or Slovak roots and don’t know where or how to begin your research, come join me for the Czech and Slovak Genealogy Crash Course on Tuesday, August, 19, 2014, hosted by Family Tree University. In this crash course I will share with you my tops and tricks for researching Czech and Slovak ancestors I’ve developed during my 25 years as a genealogist.

Below is the description for the course from the Family Tree University website. Hope you can take advantage of this opportunity to learn about Czech and Slovak Genealogy without leaving home!

Image courtesy of: Family Tree University

Czech and Slovak Genealogy Crash Course

Format: Live Webinar Click here to register.
You’ll Love This If:
  • You want to research Czech and Slovak ancestors but don’t know where to start
  • You want to learn about what websites and other resources are available for Czech and Slovak research
  • You want to trace your ancestors from the US back to Slovakia or the Czech Republic
Date: Tuesday, August 19
Starting Time: 7pm ET/ 6pm CT/ 5pm MT/ 4pm PT
Presenter: Lisa A. Alzo
Duration: 60 minutes
Family historians with Czech and Slovak roots share a similar assortment of brick walls, from surname issues to border changes and language troubles. Nearly 2.5 million Americans claim Czech or Slovak ancestry. If you count yourself among them, then this hour-long webinar is for you. Lisa A. Alzo, a specialist in Eastern European genealogy, will show you where to begin, which resources to consult and how to overcome the most common pitfalls and obstacles associated with tracing ancestors back to Central and Eastern Europe.  
What You’ll Learn:
  • How to start searching for your Czech and Slovak ancestors
  • How to understand complex language and naming patterns
  • How to get the most out of Czech and Slovak-related online resources
  • Where to find vital records, military records, land records and more
  • What local resources exist for conducting Czech and Slovak family research
About Your Presenter:
Eastern European genealogy specialist Lisa A. Alzo received the Association for Women in Slavic Studies 2002 Mary Zirin Prize for excellence in scholarship, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International. Her books include Three Slovak Women (Gateway Press), Slovak Pittsburgh (Arcadia) and Cleveland Slovaks (with John T. Sabol, Arcadia). She’s written numerous articles for genealogy publications, including regular contributions to Family Tree Magazine, and blogs regularly at The Accidental Genealogist.

Copyright 2014, Lisa A. Alzo and Family Tree University
All Rights Reserved
[Disclaimer: I work as a freelance instructor for Family Tree University and will be paid an instructor’s fee for this webinar]
http://theaccidentalgenealogist.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Veselé Vianoce! Merry Christmas!

Posted on by
Today is Christmas Eve and I will be observing my Slovak and Rusyn heritage with a special Christmas Eve Supper. You can read some of my reflections on this today over at The Catholic Gene.

Sharing this image from a beautiful Slovak postcard I received this year from a friend and colleague:


Veselé Vianoce a Šťastný Nový Rok!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!


Copyright, 2011, Lisa A. Alzo

http://theaccidentalgenealogist.blogspot.com/atom.xml

New Family Tree University Courses Start Monday 12/5

Posted on by

Family Tree University has 11 courses starting on Monday, December 5th, including two courses I’m teaching: Discovering Your Czech and Slovak Roots, and Immigration Master Class (their spotlight course for this session).


Click here to learn more and register.

This is a great chance to get a jumpstart on your research goals for 2012.



Copyright, 2011, Lisa A. Alzo

Disclosure: I work as a paid instructor for FTU (F&W Media)
http://theaccidentalgenealogist.blogspot.com/atom.xml