PGSNYS offers the following databases of indexed historical records which can be searched online. We welcome new volunteers to assist with indexing, so please contact us if interested! A brief description of each of our 46 databases can be found by scrolling to the right using the bar at the bottom of the table. More detailed descriptions of select collections can be found at the links below.
If you would like to request a copy of a record found in one of our databases, please use this form.
| wdt_ID | Database Number | Database Name | Category | Database Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Dziennik dla Wszystkich Newspaper Index | Newspapers & Other | The Dziennik dla Wszystkich [Everybody's Daily] was a Polish language daily newspaper published in Buffalo. This paper contained many death notices of local Western New York residents and Polish immigrants, which makes this paper a valuable resource for genealogists researching their Polish ancestors. The newspaper was published from 1911 through 1957 with some months missing and some periods during the 1940s and 1950s not containing any death notices because the Dziennik national editions were microfilmed. Researchers can search for and download articles found in on NYS Historic Newspapers: http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn83045091/ The Polish Genealogical Society of New York State began a project in 1999 to index the Dziennik dla Wszystkich under the leadership of Ed Kornowski." |
| 2 | 2 | Black Rock Voters 1929 | Newspapers & Other | Index to Black Rock Voters 1929. |
| 3 | 3 | Haller's Army | Newspapers & Other | An estimated 20,000 Polish persons answered the call to fight for freedom and the opportunity to regain Poland's independence during World War I in the Polish Army in France (in Polish, Armia Polska we Francji). They were from among the Polish immigrants who came to America to fight with France. The Polish Army in France was also called "Haller's Army," after the general who commanded it, or the "Blue Army," for the blue uniforms the soldiers wore. The recruitment records are in the custody of the Polish Museum of America. |
| 4 | 4 | Holy Mother of the Rosary PNCC Baptisms, 1895–1923 | Baptisms | Baptism records transcribed from ledgers stored at Holy Mother of the Rosary Cathedral office (6298 Broadway, Lancaster, NY 14086). Information recorded includes dates of birth and baptism, parents' names, and godparents. Many baptismal records were rewritten and may contain errors; original books for 1895–1910 baptisms are lost. |
| 5 | 5 | Holy Mother of the Rosary PNCC Cemetery Burials | Cemetery | Burials that occurred in Holy Mother of the Rosary Polish National Catholic Cemetery in Cheektowaga, NY. Includes burials extracted from parish records (6298 Broadway, Lancaster, NY 14086) and gravestone inscriptions. Parish funeral records don't start until 1926 and information pre-1926 is very incomplete. |
| 6 | 6 | Holy Mother of the Rosary PNCC Marriages, 1896–1948 | Marriages | Index to church marriage records from 1916–1948, and marriages from Holy Mother of the Rosary Polish National Catholic Church extracted from Erie County marriage records that predate the surviving parish marriage registers. Indexing of HMR marriages in Erie County records is an ongoing project; 1896–1907 have been completed. Records may be viewed in the Grosvenor Room at the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Church marriage records are stored at Holy Mother of the Rosary Cathedral office (6298 Broadway, Lancaster, NY 14086). |
| 7 | 7 | International Institute—Niagara Falls (1919–1933) | Newspapers & Other | The International Institute of Niagara Falls (New York) was established in 1919 under the auspices of the YWCA. It separated from the YWCA in 1933 and became known as the International Center and Girls Club. Its work was discontinued in 1970. The International Institute was organized after World War I to assist women immigrants assimilate in their new environment. These women were helped in several ways, including the naturalization process and obtaining rental residences. Their intake forms have been indexed by surname. Each case file comprised of personal information such as DOB, marriage dates, maiden name, children’s birthdates, etc. Records have been digitized and are online at https://nyheritage.org/index.php/collections/niagara-falls-international-institute-records |
| 8 | 8 | Funerary Prayer Cards (Obrazki) | Prayer Cards & Cemetery Records | The funerary prayer card (obrazki) collection is ongoing project of the PGSNYS. These cards are indexed by surname and the database contains decedents’ genealogically relevant information. |
| 9 | 9 | Polak w Ameryce Death Notices (1886–1920) | Newspapers & Other | Index to death notices in the Polak w Ameryce newspaper. Copies of death notices may be obtained by contacting PGSNYS. |
| 10 | 10 | Polish Midwives | Newspapers & Other | A listing of Polish-American midwives in Buffalo. |
Dziennik dla Wszystkich Obituary Collection
St. Adalbert’s Cemetery Collection
Funerary Prayer Card (Obrazki) Collection
Early Polish Midwives in Buffalo, NY
1930 Census Immaculate Heart of Mary Orphan Asylum Inmates
Przewodnik Handlowy & St. Stan’s 50th Anniversary Album Collection