Silesian Resources
Books Related to Silesia
| TItle | Author/publisher | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Opatz Family History | Eileen Opatz Berger Robert Prokott | Also includes a lot of information about Silesia and where Silesians settled in the U.S. Read Online -need to sign in to FamilySearch (free). |
| Silesia Yesterday and Today | Albert A. Scholz Springer Publishers, 2013 | Preview of the book is here |
| Silesia to Minnesota – The Prokott Heritage | Robert Prokott | Available in the Polish section of the Hoffman Research Library in the MN Genealogical Center. Contains background on Silesia in addition to family information. |
| Silesian Profiles: Polish Immigration to Texas in the 1850s | Panna Maria Historical Society, 1999 | While this book is about Silesians who immigrated to Texas, there are a lot of names, some of which may be families of those who came to MN. Can be obtained from WorldCat through your public library. |
| Silesian Profiles II: Polish Immigration to Texas in the 1850s – 1870s | Marianne Moczygemba Watson, 2004 | Same as above |
| The Silent Apocalypse | Hannibal Smoke | Book about hundreds of palaces and estates in Lower Silesia that were damaged or destroyed during WW2 |
Websites Related to Silesia
Overview of Silesia
About Silesia
Familysearch Overview
What is Silesia?
Silesia Genealogy Websites
Silesian Genealogy 101
Parafie.genealodzy (for looking up parishes)
FamilySearch Summary of Land Records in Silesia
Searching for Silesian Land Records by Surname
FamilySearch Silesia Genealogy Resources
Genealogical Societies
Upper Silesian Genealogical Society
Genealoger – Silesia section
Opole Genealogists (in Polish)
Silesian Genealogical Society (in Polish)
Articles Related to Silesia
| Source | TItle/AUthor | comments |
|---|---|---|
| The Polish Review: Volume 51, No. 2 (2006), pp. 131-145 | Borders of Identity and Language in Silesia by Kevin Hannan | Note: You can read this article online here – you can set up a free account and read up to 6 articles/month. |
| mngenweb.net | Silesia to America: A Heritage by Robert Prokott | Article is here |
| Poland.pl | The Hidden Treasures of Lower Silesia by Nelly Kamińska | Article is here |
| GCSC History | The Dispute over Upper Silesia, 1921 | Easy to read summary of the famous dispute Article is here |
| Silesian Family Story | The Stodolka Family by Mike Stodolka | Overview of several generations of a family from Silesia to Central Minnesota – Article is here |
PGS-MN Newsletter Articles Related to Silesia
Below are links to articles in the past issues of PGS-MN newsletters related to the Silesia area of Poland. Once you click on the link, you will need to scroll down to the page indicated.
| Newsletter Issue | Page | Title and Author |
| Fall 1994 | 5-6 | Polish Catholic Churches in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis (includes members from Silesia at St. Mary of Czestochowa and St. Joseph of Delano) by Paul Kulas |
| Winter 1996 | 8-9 | Silesia to America – A Heritage: Minnesota – Polish Silesian Settlement in Central MN by Robert Prokott |
| Spring 1997 | 5-6 | Grandfather’s Biography Found and Who Is Robert Prokott? by two members responding to Bob Prokott’s article from the Winter 1996 issue |
| Summer 1997 | 4 | Members submitted Information about families from Silesia |
| Summer 1997 | 12-13 | Panna Maria, Texas: The Oldest Polish Settlement in America by Bernie Szymcak |
| Winter 1997 | 7 | Relatives in Browerville? by Gregory J. Gazda |
| Spring 1998 | 14-15 | Back to Square One: A Return to Silesia by Harry McOuat |
| Fall 1998 | 16 | More Short Takes at the PGS-MN Library (a review of a book, entitled, Genealogical Guide and Atlas of Silesia) by Greg Kishel |
| Fall 1998 | 14 | Family Trails Weekend: Morrison County Families Reunion by Genny Zak Kieley |
| Winter 1998 | 9 | The Legacy of Andreas Klescz by Robert Prokott |
| Spring 1999 | 22 | New Films of Opole Diocese by Ed Brandt |
| Summer 1999 | 5 | Relatives in Poland? Letter from member regarding family in Lower Silesia |
| Summer 1999 | 12-13 | Origin of the Zilka and Piekarski Surnames by Paul Kulas |
| Fall 1999 | 8-10 | Full Circle: Polish Catholics in Browerville, MN by Harry McOuat |
| Fall 1999 | 10-11 | Origin of the Warzecha name by Paul Kulas |
| Winter 1999 | 15 | Strzelce Opolskie – Translations by Kornel Kondy |
| Winter 1999 | 20-22 | A Dream Come True by Jeanette Bias |
| Spring 2000 | 6 | Tracing Silesian Roots by Robert Prokott |
| Summer 2000 | 16, 17 | Review of two books on Silesians in Panna Maria, Texas by Greg Kishel |
| Fall 2000 | 1, 8-13 | How Many Cousins Were in Your 8th Grade Class? by Jeanette Bias |
| Fall 2000 | 14-18 | The Homeland of the Polish Pioneers from Wells by Greg Kishel |
| Winter 2000 | 14-15 | The Opatz Surname in America by Robert Prokott |
| Winter 2000 | 18-19 | A Return to the Homeland of My Ancestors by Lou Kruchowski |
| Winter 2000 | 5 | Research in Korfantów by Mary Jelinski |
| Fall 2001 | 16, 17 | Rajcza, translated from Slownik Geograficzny by Greg Kishel |
| Winter 2001 | 5 | Review of book, Genealogical Guide to East and West Prussia. The book is in the MGS Library |
| Spring 2002 | 1, 10-14 | A Silesian Experience by Robert Prokott |
| Spring 2002 | 22 | Map of East/West Prussia, Poznan, Silesia |
| Fall 2002 | 18-23 | Emigration to America from the District of Opole 70 Years Ago by Friedrich Kaminsky |
| Spring 2003 | 4 | My Ancestors: German? Polish? by Kathy Middendorf |
| Spring 2003 | 6, 7 | Stenzel, Silesia, etc. by Ed Brandt |
| Fall 2003 | 12-16 | Drobne Echa – Dateline:Delano by Greg Kishel |
| Winter 2003 | 6-7 | Silesia to America by Bernadine Zak Kargul |
| Winter 2003 | 10-14 | Drobne Echa – Dateline: Silver Lake by Greg Kishel |
| Summer 2004 | 6 | Mention of a book entitled, Genealogical Guide to East and West Prussia, which is available in the MGS Library. |
| Summer 2004 | 10-13 | Origin of the BIAS, KaROPKA, STALOCH and PIETROK surnames by J.M. Bias |
| Fall 2004 | 15-17 | Origin of the WANZEK, KOZITZA/KOZICA, DULAS, and GLOWIK surnames by J.M. Bias |
| Winter 2004 | 4 | A Letter from Auschwitz by Mike Stodolka |
| Winter 2004 | 7 | No “ski” in Silesian Surnames by J.M. Bias |
| Winter 2004 | 22 | Where is Prussia? by Paul Kulas |
| Spring 2005 | 1, 14-15 | Researching Trębaczów by J.M. Bias |
| Spring-Summer 2006 | 1, 11-13 | Drobne Echa – Dateline: Swan RIver by Greg Kishel |
| Spring 2007 | 3 | Village of Bowles Centennial by Bob Prokott |
| Spring 2007 | 4 | My Ancestor’s Church Records on Microfilm by Jan Bias |
| Fall 2007 | 12-13 | Articles about Silesia, Silesian Immigration and Silesian Settlement in Minnesota and in the U.S. |
| Winter 2007 | 10 | Tracing our Silesian Roots by Bob Prokott |
| Winter 2007 | 1, 19-22 | Drobne Echa – Dateline: Bowlus by Greg Kishel |
| Winter 2007 | 23 | A Letter from Auschwitz by Mike Stodolka |
| Spring 2009 | 1, 12-18 | Drobne Echa – Dateline: Flensburg by Greg Kishel |
| Summer 2009 | 8 | A Visit to My Ancestral Homes in Poland by Louis D. Welna |
| Summer 2010 | 6-17 | The Prokott Heritage by Robert Prokott |
| Spring 2011 | 6, 22-23 | Bowlus Czechs live on 102-year-old farm by Tina Snell |
| Winter 2011 | 4-5 | Recently at PGS-MN Meetings by Bob Prokott |
| Fall 2012 | 1, 15, 16 | Germans, Poles and Jews – The Nationality Conflict in the Prussian East, 1772-1914 by William W. Hagen, University of Chicago Press, 1980. |
| Spring 2017 | 5-6 | Panna Maria, Texas—the Oldest Polish Settlement in USA by Nancy Gagner |
| Winter 2018 | 12-13 | Our Ancestors in the Prussian Army by Aleksandra Kacprzak and Mariusz Żebrowski |
| Winter 2018 | 17-20 | Finding Family in Poland by James Roman Warzonek |
| Winter 2021 | 12 | In Memory of Bridget Zwack Excepts from Bridget’s family book (immigrated from Silesia) |