Between 1772 and 1795, Poland was partitioned between Russia, Austria and Prussia, and ceased to be an independent nation for over 100 years, until it was re-established after the First World War in 1918.

Between the wars, newly independent Poland included parts of former Russian gubernias of Vilna, Grodno and Volhynia, the former Austrian province of Galicia and Prussian Poznan and West Prussia.

After the Second World War nearly a half of inter-war Poland (eastern provinces: Wilno, Nowogródek, Polesie, Wolyn, Tarnopol, Stanislawó and parts of Lwó amnd Bialystok) became part of the Soviet Union - these areas are now part of Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania. Poland gained former German areas: most of Pommern (Pommerania), Brandenburg, Schlesien (Silesia), West Prussia and half of East Prussia.

Depends upon the occupying power: Russian, Austria or Prussia.

Russian Poland (Kingdom of Poland):

1808: Civil registration established by Napoleon. Jews and others are included in Catholic registers.
1826: Separate registers are kept for each religious community: Roman Catholic, Jewish, Russian Orthodox, Protestant, etc.
1868: Record keeping switches from the Polish to Russian language.

For more information on vital records, see the JewishGen InfoFile 'Vital Records in Poland'.

Austrian Poland (Galicia):
Civil registration began in 1787, but wasnot enforced until the mid-19th century.

Prussian Poland:
Civil registration began in 1874.

Naczelna Dyrekcja Archiwów Panstwowych (Polish State Archives)
ul. Dluga 6
Skr. Pocztowa Nr 1005
00-950 Warszawa
Poland
(Requires $30 deposit, hourly fee $15, copies $10 each)

Records over 100 years old are located in several dozen regional archives, located throughout the country. But you need to write to the main archive in Warsaw, listed above.

Vital records less than 100 years old are still stored at the local Civil Registrar's office in each town. Write to:

Urzad Stanu Cywilnego
[YourTown]
Poland

They may or may not be responsive.

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