WEB ARTICLE

 

CENTRAL STATE HISTORICAL ARCHIVES
OF UKRAINE IN LVIV
by Miriam Weiner and Valery Bazarov

In the Central State Historical Archive, from left: Vitaly Chumak, Miriam Weiner and archivist, Ivan I. Svarnyck, with one of the many Torahs in the archival collection, 1994 (Photo credit: Mark Shraberman)

FONDS (RECORD GROUPS) RELATING PRIMARILY TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY

Fond 141. Documenta Judaica. Collection of the financial and proprietary documents of the Jewish population in the territory of Poland and Galicia
26 Files, 1667–1854 (Old Polish, Latin, German, Yiddish)

• Decisions for the introduction of a new general tax scale.
• Designation of the periods of conducting lustrations; granting the rights and privileges for settlers.
• Agreement for distribution of the general tax in Holm, Belz and Sinyava.
• Decree for granting synagogues the legal authority to examine questionable financial matters.
• Debt obligations, decrees, reports and other documents relating to payment of  debt obligations.
• List of debts and daily payments of the Jewish community in Belz.

Fond 146. The Galician Governate
198,689 Files, 1448–1934, Finding Aid 1 (Polish, German, Latin, Ukrainian, Russian, French, English)

• Establishment of Jewish communities; designation and resignations from offices.
   Inventory 31, Files 138–159, 1902
• Jewish metrical records.
   Inventory 31, Files 135–159.
• Settlement and resettlement of the Jews in Galicia.
   Inventory 85, files 2371–2374, 1816-1819
• Restrictions for the Jews in choosing place of residence.
   Inventory 85, files 2375–2387a, 1819 –1847
• Restrictions for the Jews to reside in Galician towns.
   Inventory 85, files 2387b–2388g, 1841–1859.
• Change of names and family names.
   Inventory 60, files 145–355, 1873–1908.
• Taxation matters; metrical records; adoption of community statutes.
   Inventory 51, files 1–1162, 1860–1909.
• Correspondence with Austrian authorities about the designation of officials in communities; fiscal matters, etc., files 1–627, 1860–1909

Fond 214. Government General Representative for Galicia, Krakow and Lviv
644 files, 1919–1920 (Polish, German)

• Materials related to anti-Semitic onslaughts by the Polish population;
• Memorandum of the Jewish Community in the city of Jaslo regarding stopping of pogroms and providing security for the Jewish population.

Fond 332. Regional Palestine Bureau, Lviv branch.
128 files, 1924–1939 (Polish, Yiddish)

• Correspondence with the Central Zionist Palestine Department in Warsaw and Zionist Societies related to the conditions of emigration, processing of exit documents, providing transportation.
• By-laws of the Branch political – economic association in Palestine.
• Statistics of emigration of the Jewish population.
• Lists of the emigrants.
• Card index of the members of Zionist societies emigrating to Palestine.

Fond 334. Central Jewish Emigration Association JEAS, Lviv
161 files, 1920–1939 (Polish, Yiddish)

Central Jewish Emigration Association (JEAS) was created as a result of merging of all Jewish Immigration Associations functioning at that time in Poland. JEAS was supported and partially financed by the Polish Government. One of the JEAS branches was in Lviv, created in July of 1924 after liquidation of the HIAS Bureau.

The Lviv branch reported its activity to the Central Office in Warsaw and to the Office of the Emigration Directorate Representative in Lviv. Thus, Fond 422 (Emigration Directorate Representative) contains a large number of documents relating to the activities of the Association.

The Fond is divided into three theme groups:

1. Documents regulating Association activity (Files 1–7)
2. Activity and financial reports (Files 8–22)
3. Emigrants personal information

• Files 23–98: Questionnaires, registration index-cards, other emigration documents arranged alphabetically by names, 1921–1939
• Files 99–161: Same, arranged chronologically (1921–1939).

   Sample Document (pdf)

Fond 335. Association of Palestine rebuilding “Keren Hayesod,” Lviv
243 files, 1922–1939 (Polish, English, Hebrew, Yiddish)

• By-laws of the Associations “Keren Hayesod” and “Keren Kayemet”.
• Booklets, statements, minutes of the meetings and the adopted decisions, reports, articles and correspondence relating to dues collections, setting up settlements and financial matters;
• Lists of the members of the Association;
• Applications from the Jewish population of Western Galicia for joining the Association; and
• Documents related to cooperation with other Jewish organizations in Europe and Palestine.

   Sample Document (pdf)

Fond 336. Regional Sheckel Commission in Eastern (Little Poland) Galicia, Lviv
243 files, 1922–1939 (Polish, Hebrew, German, English, Yiddish)

Created on May 22, 1930 following the decision of the English Government to temporarily stop emigration to Palestine. The goal of the organization was collection among the Jewish population, of the so-called sheckel, a special Zionist tax.

• The register books of sheckel sales among the Jewish population in Lviv (1922–1923)
• Local committees (1930–1938);
• List of creditors (1931);
• Lists of the delegates to the Zionist Congresses and the people in charge of the sheckel sales;
• Report of the Commission activities in Lviv (1930s);
• Correspondence with the local Sheckel Commissions relating to the election of delegates to the Zionist World Congresses.
• Documents of the Zionist organizations in Warsaw, Krakow, Lviv, Peremyshl, Drogobych, Busk, Brody, Ternopol.

Fond 337. Jewish Scout Association “Ha-No’ar ha-Tsioni”, Lviv
123 files, 1929–1939 (Polish, Hebrew, Yiddish, English)

• By-laws. The circulars of the Warsaw Head Directorate and Lviv Regional Department.
• Statement of mission.
• Cooperation with the other Zionist associations and organizations.
• Correspondence with the local branches regarding emigration to Palestine, setting the new branches, opening Jewish elementary schools, activities development, preparation for the Zionist Congresses and Conferences, providing agriculture practice, distribution of financial aid.
• Membership lists.
• Materials of the other directorates.

Fond 338. Regional Zionist Organization, Lviv
1635 files, 1895; 1902–1940 (Polish, German, Yiddish, English)
1920–1926 Regional Zionist Organization of Western Galicia, Lviv
1927–1939 Regional Zionist Organization, Lviv

Difference between the documents chronology and that of the fond holder is explained by inclusion of the documents from the personal archives of the leader of the organization (Minutes of the Third Regional Zionist Conference in 1895 and correspondence of the German political immigrant, Max Kohen-Roice for 1902–1940.

• Programs, by-laws, appeals, minutes of the meetings and activity reports;
• Materials related to the socio-economical conditions of the Jewish population, persecution of the Jews, emigration, providing practice before emigration to Palestine, providing assistance to the needy;

Sample Document (pdf)

• Personal files, the lists of the executives and members;
• Financial reports; and
• Voter lists.
   

Fond 339. Keren Kayemet L’Israel Association (National Jewish Fund), Lviv
32 files, 1928–1939 (Polish, Yiddish, Hebrew, English)

• By-laws of the Lviv and Krakow Associations (1934);
• Protocols and activity reports;
• Correspondence relating to cooperation with other Zionist organizations in Galicia and abroad in collecting funds among the Jewish population;
• Invitations for participation and membership lists (1936–1939).

Fond 341. Newspaper "Di Cionistisze Woch," Lviv
17 files, 1931–1937 (Polish, Yiddish, Hebrew, German, English)

Weekly newspaper, started in 1931, Editor-in-Chief, A Stup. Published by the Executive Regional Zionist Committee of Western Galicia.

• Correspondence with Zionist organizations and private persons regarding
   subscription matters;
• Lists of individuals responsible for subscription in the towns and villages of Western Galicia;
• Lists and index cards of subscribers.

Fond 342. Zionist youth organization “Achva,” Lviv
129 files, 1926–1939 (Polish, Yiddish, German, English)

• By-laws, information bulletins, activity reports
• Correspondence with Zionist organizations in different countries;
• Lists, master index and questionnaires of members of the organization and the delegates of the conferences.
• Materials related to the branches in Buchach, Borislav, Drogobych, Peremyshl, Rava-Russka, Busk, Zlochev and Warsaw.

Fond 346. An Association of Jews (Fighters for Polish Independence), Lviv branch
286 files, 1929, 1932–1939 (Polish, German, Hebrew, Yiddish)

Organization was created in 1932 in Lviv. Functioned in Lviv, Stanislav and Tarnopil regions. The goal of the organization was to unite all Jews, fighters for the Polish independence with Polish population, financial aid to the members of the organization, care for the graves of the killed in battles, strengthening of Jewish traditions.

• By-laws, information bulletins, activity reports and membership lists;
• Correspondence with the local branches in Poland and Denmark.
• Autobiographies of the members of the Association, among them: S. Chirikover, Association Chairman in Lviv; D. Tsirler, L. Bregman, A. Sherman / Association activists; N. Erlakh, A. Friedman / speakers at the conferences and meetings.

Fond 432. Jewish Cooperation Bank, Lviv branch
49 files, 1924–1939 (Polish, Yiddish, Hebrew, German)

• Financing of the Jewish cooperatives, artisans and small businesses in Galicia;
• Documents related to activities of board members – A. Block, G. Natanson, G. Gleicher.

Fond 441. Jewish Scout Association “Hanoar Haiwri,” Lviv
17 files, 1928–1932 (Polish, Yiddish, Hebrew)

• By-laws, Mission Statement;
• Materials related to cooperation with other Zionist organizations;
• Correspondence with the local branches regarding immigration to Palestine, providing agriculture practice and financial aid;
• Membership lists and membership cards of the branches in Drogobych, Peremyshl, Busk, Borislav, Ternopol, Stanislav.

Fond 454. Central Committee of the Jewish Artisan Union “Cionim, Baolej, Mikkcoa,” Lviv
41 files, 1933–1939 (Polish, Hebrew, Yiddish, German)

The Union was functioning in the territory of all Eastern (Little Poland) Galicia.

• By-laws
• Correspondence with other Zionist organizations; and
• Membership lists.

Fond 455. Zionist youth association “Hechaluc Haklai Zioni,” Lviv
82 files, 1930–1939 (Polish, Yiddish, Hebrew, German, English)

Association was functioning over all Polish territory.

• Reports and correspondence related to educational matters, immigration to Palestine;
• Questionnaires;
• Membership lists.
• Biographical materials of the leaders of the Zionist organizations: Ezra, Gekhaluts, Mizrachi, Achava.

Fond 456. Main Directorate of a Free Loan Society “Gemilas Chesed,” Eastern Galicia, Lviv
15 files, 1930–1933 (Polish, Yiddish)

Correspondence with Lviv Magistrate and American representative of Joint in Warsaw regarding contributions, reports and publishing in newspaper “Chvilya,” (Wave), Financial reports.

Fond 457. Jewish Youth Educational Association Hechaluc, Lviv
10 files, 1925–1939 (Polish, Yiddish, Hebrew, English).

Association was affiliated with the World Zionist Organization Hechaluc (Pioneer).

• By-laws;
• Activity reports;
• Membership lists;
• Master index of the individuals, who attended agriculture practice before leaving for Palestine.

Fond 478. Union of Jewish Cooperatives in Galicia, Lviv Branch.
47 files, 1926–1939 (Polish, Hebrew, Yiddish).

• Documents of the Union of the Jewish Merchants, Lviv branch;
• Documents of Lviv Artizan Chamber;
• Documents of the branches in Warsaw, Krakow and Lviv;
• Personal documents of Union Board members – A. Zilbershtein and Emil Zommershtein, the activists – Z. Myblum and Waks, Union Secretary – I. Ras.

Fond 496. Trade-union for the Jews working in private ventures, Lviv
5 files, 1926, 1937–1939 (Polish, German, Yiddish)

• Circulars, correspondence, personal cases, By-laws, reports;
• Membership lists, questionnaires;
• Payrolls of the Jews working in the private sector.

Fond 497. Beograd Jewish Community
243 files, 1873–1928 (Serbian, Croatian, Yiddish)

Community was created by Jews expelled during the inquisition from Spain and Portugal at the end of the 15th century.

• Protocols of the meetings;
• Activity reports, certificates and excerpts from the metric books of the communities in Beograd, Leskovatsi, Nishu and others.

Fond 498. Loan and Mutual Aid Association “Ahawat Chesed,” Lviv
5 files, 1935–1936 (Polish, Hebrew, Yiddish).

• Lists of applicants;
• Documents related to the financial aid granted to intellectuals;
• Documents of the Chairman of the Association, A. Kruman, and members, G. Leschi and A. Gorenshtein.

Fond 499. Jewish Students Aid Association in Poland, Lviv branch
5 files, 1929–1938.

Applications for loans and financial aid.


Fond 500. Palestine Plantations Owners Association “Hanotejah,” Lviv
5 files, 1930–1933 (English, Polish, Yiddish)

• Correspondence related to the activity of the Association;
• Membership lists.

Fond 501. Makkabi – Union of the Jewish Sports Associations in Poland.
5 files, 1930–1939 (Polish, Hebrew, Yiddish).
Functioned in the territories of Lviv, Stanislav and Tarnopol regions.

• Correspondence related to physical and military training of Jewish youth, summer camps.

Fond 502. Jewish Women’s Union, Lviv
9 files, 1925–1939 (Polish, German, English, Hebrew, Yiddish)

Founded in 1925 with the mission of upgrading education of Jewish women and improving their economic conditions. The Union was involved in organizing job searches, shelters for traveling women, preschool facilities and orphanages, fighting prostitution, and educational activities.

• By-laws;
• Protocols of the meetings;
• Activity reports.

Fond 503. Association of Health Protection of the Jewish Population in Poland
222 files, 1921–1939 (Polish, Hebrew, English, Yiddish).

• By-laws;
• Reports and bulletins;
• Documents of the Chairman of the Lviv Branch, Martin Zeltser, and Board members,  A. Lilin and S. Chericover;
• Documents of the Warsaw branch;
• Joint committees in Warsaw and Lviv;
• Statistics;
• Membership lists; and
• Medical cards.

Fond 504. Polish Transatlantic Agency, Lviv Branch
253 files, 1923–1939 (Polish).

• Immigration regulations;
• Immigrant lists;
• Correspondence related to immigration, document processing, money transfer.

Fond 505. Jewish Population Aid Committee, Lviv
296 files, 1898–1931 (Polish, Hebrew, English, Yiddish)

Committee was founded after November pogroms of 1918 in Lviv and Eastern Galicia.

• By-laws;
• Reports;
• Correspondence relating to the search for missing relatives, immigration matters, and the resettlement of refugees from Galicia;
• Recipients’ lists;
• Joint documents;
• Documents of the War Invalids Association in Warsaw;
• Documents of the members of charitable organizations in Lviv, A. Levin,
   S. Chericover, M. Bass.

Fond 546. Paint and Lacquer Production: K. Getzel and J. Mund, Lviv
14 files, 1938–1939 (Polish, Yiddish.)

• Correspondence with companies and private individuals regarding purchase of the product.

Fond 608. Ukrainian Police Unit in Przemysl
11 files, 1940–1943 (Ukrainian, Polish, German)

• Orders and instructions;
• Schedules of duties;
• Reports; and
• Protocols of interrogations and searches of detained individuals in the villages of Pikulichi and Vilshany.

Fond 639. Ministry of Religious Confessions and Education, Vienna
401 files, 1835–1920 (Polish, German)

• Documents related to Jewish schools.

Fond 701. Jewish Religious Community, Lviv
5,672 files, 1785–1942 (Polish, German, Yiddish)

Opis 1.

This record group contains metrical books of Jewish communities in the territory of Galicia, including birth, marriage and death records, alphabetical indexes to metrical books, records regarding change of religion, lists of the deceased community members. One book lists the members of Tarnopol Jewish community with indication of place and date of birth and occupation (second half of the 19th century);

• Lviv (Lvov) and its suburbs – 56 metrical books;
• Tarnopil (Ternopol) – 29;
• Narayev – 28
• Pidgaytsi (Podgaytsy) – 21
• Mikulintsy – 21.

Only four books are preserved from the end of the 18th century:

• Kamenka Bugskaya (Kaminka Strumilova) 1789–1861;
• Ivano Frankivsk(Stanislav, Stanislavov) ,1789–1871;
• Ochi Velyki, 1791–1853;
• Tychin, 1792–1876.

The best representation is for the nineteenth century. The collection contains lists of the members of the Jewish communities from the beginning of the 19th century and through 1942.

• Brody
• Budzanov
• Grimalov
• Zbarazh (1942)
• Kozlov
• Lyubich
• Vinniky (Lviv suburb)
• Mikulintsi
• Navariya
• Narayev
• Ozernya (1942)
• Pidvolochisk(1942)
• Tarnopol (1942)
• Turtsi
• Khristinopol
• Chortkiv
• Lists of individuals who changed their religion during the period of 1914–1936.
• Listing of 10,000 names for the period January 1, 1941–December, 1942.
   Includes: name, age, date and location of death, date of burial. Provides an incomplete picture of the annihilation of the Jews by the Germans (File 376).

Opis 2

This record group covers the period 1785–1907 with 2,085 covering the following subjects:

• Reports on activities of communities, schools, hospitals, synagogues, etc.
• Correspondence on taxation, permits for marriages and financial aid for the poor.
• Lists of community members.
• Questionnaires of immigrants from Russia

Opis 3

This record group covers the period 1817–1939, with 2,584 files covering the following subjects:

• By-laws
• Elections to Council Board of Community
• Preparation and piloting congresses and conferences
• Real estate
• Charity institutions, etc.
• Education institutions, orphanages, hospitals, synagogues, etc.
• Financial documentation
• Lists of communities and their members
• Personal dossiers of rabbis, synagogue employees, teachers, physicians, etc.

Opis 4

This record group covers the period 1793–1939, with 287 files covering the following subjects:

• By-laws
• Elections to Council Board of Community
• Preparation and piloting congresses and conferences
• Real estate
• Charity institutions, etc.
• Education institutions, orphanages, hospitals, synagogues, etc.
• Financial documentation
• Lists of communities and their members
• Personal dossiers of rabbis, synagogue employees, teachers, physicians, etc.

Opis 5.

The fifth inventory of this fond contains over 20,000 index cards of the Lviv ghetto inhabitants, created by order of the Judenrat in July, 1941. These cards include the name, address, age and occupation of each person. Files are arranged by localities in alphabetical order and chronologically within each locality.

Sample Document (pdf)


Fond 726. Collection of building plans on the territory of Galicia
1,816 files, 1781–1943 (Polish, German)

• Plans of private buildings.

Fond 860. Trust estate of David Lindenbaum heirs, Borislav,
23 files, 1916–1939 (Polish, German)

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