HelPeR - BYU Idaho Special Collections and Family History

F ench Research
• Message boards and Internet sites. Among some
that are in English and that are free are:
1. www.ancestry.com Click on Community and
key-in “Alsace” or the village name.
2. www.genealogylinks.net/europe/france/french
regions.htm#alsace Other French regions are
also mentioned.
3. http://ddebus.fr/alsareche.ht m
4. www.rootsweb.ancestry.com
5. www.cyndislist.com/france.ht m
6. www.geneanet.org—one of the best. This is
both a free and “Privilege Club” ($) site. You do
have to register via the “free subscription” block
on the right of the screen. Once registered, you
can enter a surname or location. You may find
other researchers tracing your surname. Many
are native French speakers but many are multilingual.
This site addresses surnames outside
of France too.
Part II: Tools to Help with Language
This part of the article hopefully will provide those
readers who do not read or write French, German,
Latin or Alsatian (yes, approximately 25 percent of the
population still speak and write in their own dialect)
some tools to assist in your genealogical pursuits. Before
even considering contemplating a trip to Alsace
for family history purposes (although the food, wine,
and beer make such a trip worthwhile of their own
accord), one should acquire some basic resources:
• A good French/English dictionary. I recommend
Cassel’s French Dictionary by Denis Girard (compiler),
Macmillan Publishing, Co., Inc., New York.
Approximate cost $20.40.
• A good Atlas of France. Michelin’s Atlas Routier
France and Blay-Foldex France Belgique-Luxembourg
Atlas Routier are both good. The latter has brought
out a 2008 version for 17.95 Euros. For more information,
Google “Blay Foldex.” Detailed maps of
Alsace are also available from both companies.
• Family History Library aides. The Family History
Library in Salt Lake City remains one of the best
resources available when it comes to beginning
French genealogical research. If you go to the Family
History Library Catalog (www.familysearch.
org/Eng/Library/FHL/frameset fhlc.asp) and
click on “Research Helps” a drop-down window
allows you to choose either “Articles” or “Guidance.”
Choose “Articles” and on the left side of
the screen choose “Sorted by Place.” Select “F”
for France and you will see 14 very good reference
documents. Some are available as pdf images
that you can read and print from your home
computer; and others are available for purchase. If
your ancestors came from Alsace or another area
bordering present-day Germany, you can go under
the “G” list and see what is available for Germany
too. Under both, you will note a “Latin Genealogical
Word List.” I highly recommend this to help
with researching the multitude of church records
that you will likely encounter going back as early
as the 17th century. Another Family History resource
that can prove quite helpful is their “Portal:
France” (http://wiki.familysearch.org/en/France).
This is a great site, and one can easily spend hours
using the links and references listed on the Portal.
One example: under “Research Tools” in the center
of the page, click on “French Archives Online.”
Then, click on the “this website” link at the bottom
and you will see all of the departmental archives.
As might be expected, and not unlike the variances
experienced in going to different websites
for individual states in the U.S., the quality of the
various departmental archives varies. At the time
this article was drafted, the Bas-Rhin Archives in
Strasbourg was not available; however, some of my
French colleagues inform me that by the time you
read this, Bas-Rhin will be accessible online.
Now you are ready to jump into the “actes,” best
translated as “certificates” for births, baptisms, marriages,
and deaths. Ms. Clause in her July/August 2008
Everton’s Genealogical Helper gave some good starting
places. Earlier I mentioned the www.geopatronyme.
com website. Through links, there are transcriptions
of actes available for viewing—some for a fee. 6 Also,
don’t forget to use the Family Search Catalog. If you
place your ancestor’s village in the keyword search
box, it is quite likely you will find microfilms worth
renting for use at your local Family History Center.
Finally, good luck in your French and Alsatian research;
or as the French say, “bonne chance!”
Glenn Lazarus is both a retired U.S.
Army Lieutenant Colonel and a
Department of Defense Civilian who
was assigned to the Office of the U.S.
Secretary of Defense for International
Security Affairs. “Seduced” in 1966
by his first cousin once removed
into tracing his family history, he
has been enjoying genealogy and
Glenn Lazarus international travel. He and his wife,
at age 4 Monica, reside in North Carolina.
He may be contacted by email at lazgen33@gmail.com.
Endnotes
1. The Antique Automobile Association indicates that the vehicle
was electric, but without seeing the front of the vehicle exact
identification was impossible.
2. Talk about a brick wall! I can find no information about these
two “criminals” except that more information from Mary Leiper
Ja n ua ry/Fe b r u a r y 2009 Ev e r t o n’s Ge n e a l o g i c a l He l p e r © 39