IIGS™ Newsletter - February 1999
English ~ Dansk ~ Deutsch ~ Español ~ Suomi ~ Français ~ Nederlands ~ Norsk ~ polski ~ Português ~ Svenska
IIGS™ Newsletter - February 1999
The news release on the Vesterheim museum in Decorah, Iowa, led me on a search of similar museums and libraries in the United States. Nations such as the United States, Canada, Central and South America, Australia and New Zealand (there are many others, of course) were born of colonization by Europeans. Therefore, the majority of the citizens of these countries can trace their roots to a European country.
Museums and libraries which reflect these ethnic and cultural heritages can be found in small towns and large cities scattered all over these countries.
Here are just a few that I found:
The Polish Museum of America is located in Chicago. As the oldest and largest ethnic museums in America, the museum boasts 60,000 volumes as well as periodicals and collections of Polish music and art.
According to information on the museum's web page, "the archives preserve documents pertaining to Polish and Polish American history. Many scholars from varied parts of the country come here to complete their research and many students receive their first introduction to knowledge of Polish history and culture through the Polish Museum archives."
Although I could not find a web page for this museum, also located in Chicago, it is well known as the leading archives for Lithuanian documents. A simple search of the Internet will reveal lots of information about The Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture.
The Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies, Inc., in Blackburn, Victoria has an extensive collection in its archives. Just a few of its holdings are:
- Index of English Probate Records 1858-1945.
- Index to P.C.C. Wills 1750-1857.
- A growing collection of Census records of England and Wales from 1841 to 1891 on fiche and film.
- Indexes and Transcripts of 1881 Census of England and Wales (on microfiche).
- Indexes to birth, death and marriage records of England and Wales 1837-1939, including G.R.O. Miscellaneous Index to 1994.
- 19th and 20th Century birth, marriage and death indices for all Australian States and New Zealand.
The Cornish Studies Library in Redruth, Cornwall, claims to be "Cornwall's largest library of Cornish printed and published items." Its holdings include more than 30,000 volumes, newspapers on microfilm, photographs and census returns.
You might find it helpful to search tourist information sites on the Internet to help you locate ethnic and cultural museums and libraries. Also, here are two links which contain dozens of links of such sites:
Cultural and Ethnic Research Aids
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~savega/intweb.htmWorld Wide Arts Resources Corp.
http://wwar.com/museums/types/historical_society_museums4.htmlAt this site, click on "Museums" and you will get a long list of links.