Review – Genealogy at a Glance: Ukrainian Genealogy Research

By Vera Ivanova Miller
Genealogical Publishing Company: 2021
Laminated; 4 pp. folded
$9.95 USD

Genealogy at a Glance: Ukrainian Genealogy Research

Let me start by saying that I have zero experience with Ukrainian genealogy research. My husband’s maternal line came to the United States from Czechoslovakia, but that’s about as close as I’ve come to eastern European research.

However, I can recognize a good research tool when I see one, and the Genealogy at a Glance guides are always terrific! I have quite a few of these guides in my own library, and I’ve found them to be super handy to keep within arm’s reach of my desk.

What is a Genealogy at a Glance Guide?

The popular Genealogy at a Glance publications from the Genealogical Publishing Company are a series of fact sheets designed to help family historians quickly get up and running with the information they need.

Each guide is focused on one specific area of genealogical research. Topics include the research of various ethnic groups including African American, English, French Canadian, and Eastern European Jewish ancestors, as well as research in various U.S. states, genetic genealogy, military research, census records, cemeteries, and more. There are currently 45 different Genealogy at a Glance guides available.

Each guide is made from 11″ x 17″ laminated card stock folded in half to create 4 pages. The guides are easy to read, with a clear typeface, colorful headings, and information divided into digestible nuggets. They are sturdy in design and should withstand many years of use.

Description

The official description of Genealogy at a Glance: Ukrainian Genealogy Research from the publisher’s website:

Because the borders of Ukraine shifted many times over the years, researching your Ukrainian ancestors can be challenging. The names of towns and cities often changed, and some towns and villages have completely vanished from today’s maps. In addition, Ukrainian archives were not accessible to the public until fairly recently, nor were the records from the Soviet period. Vera Ivanova Miller’s Genealogy at a Glance: Ukrainian Genealogy Research will help you overcome these challenges and successfully begin your Ukrainian family history research by providing you with the most current information on what resources are available and how to access them.

In four, laminated pages, this guide describes the waves of Ukrainian immigration to the Americas and various European countries; Ukrainian surnames and religions; vital records and censuses; Communist-era databases and Soviet-era persecution files; online resources; and much more. Sprinkled throughout are tips to help you locate your ancestor’s hometown and expand your search.

To assist Ukrainian genealogy researchers even further, Miller has included a
“Quick Guide to the Ukrainian Alphabet” and pointers on understanding the culture of Ukraine.

What’s Inside

Genealogy at a Glance: Ukrainian Genealogy Research is packed with useful information in 4 short pages. The following topics are included:

• A table of contents to help you find what you need
• A section of Quick Facts & Important Dates in Ukraine’s history from 1772 to 1991
• A discussion of Ukrainian emigration to countries such as the United States, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Romania, Poland, France, and other countries
• Tips for reading and pronouncing Ukrainian surnames
• A discussion of the religion of Ukraine
• The Gregorian Calendar, and how it affects dates for Ukrainian ancestors
• A discussion of the culture of Ukraine (hint: don’t say “the Ukraine”)
• Tips for finding Ukrainian ancestral homelands
• Where to look for important records such as Communist-Era databases, Soviet-Era Persecution Files, registry records, Ukrainian archives, vital records, census records, the USCIS Genealogy Program, and other online resources
• PLUS: a quick guide to the Ukrainian alphabet

About the Author

Vera Ivanova Miller is the author of the Genealogy at a Glance guides for Russian and Ukrainian genealogy research. With her mother being born in Ukraine and her father in Russia, it came naturally to her to study the genealogy of her family.

She has been writing about her journey in researching her family and ancestors in Russia and Ukraine since 2011 on Find Lost Russian & Ukrainian Family. Her blog focuses on resources and tips for Russian and Ukrainian genealogy.

Thanks to her experience as a newspaper reporter, Vera developed the skills and understanding needed for genealogy research in Russia and Ukraine. Vera is a Penn State University graduate and has several regional, state, and national awards in journalism.

Vera also volunteers her time to help find the birth families of Russian and Ukrainian adoptees. More than 40 families in Russia and Ukraine have been reconnected with their birth children now living in the USA, Canada, and Ireland, thanks to her work. She also makes time to photograph gravestones, mostly for Eastern European populations, for Find A Grave.

Conclusion

While I have no experience whatsoever with Ukrainian genealogy research, I do have experience evaluating the usefulness of research guides.

The guide’s author, Vera Ivanova Miller, is an experienced researcher of Russian and Ukrainian family history. This guide does an excellent job of helping even the novice genealogist learn how and where to begin researching, which records may or may not be available, and it even provides a quick guide for reading the Ukrainian alphabet.

If you have Ukrainian ancestors, you can’t go wrong with Genealogy at a Glance: Ukrainian Genealogy Research, especially at less than $10 USD.

Ancestors from Mexico? Check out my review of Genealogy at a Glance: Mexico Genealogy Research!

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NOTE: I received a complimentary copy of Genealogy at a Glance: Ukrainian Genealogy Research from the publisher for review. As always, all comments and opinions are my own.

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