Online Resources: Prussian, Ukrainian, and Russian Mennonite Records

This guide provides direct links to essential online resources for researchers tracing Mennonite ancestors across West Prussia (modern-day Poland), Ukraine, and Russia.

1. West Prussian Property Records (Polish Archives)

The following records are courtesy of the Mennonite Library and Archives (MLA) at Bethel College in Kansas. Please adhere to their use rules and guidance when utilizing these resources.

Navigating Property Records: 4 Reasons You Might Not Find a Record

It is important to understand that not all ancestors will appear in property records. The MLA provides crucial context on common search challenges:

1. Non-Property Owners: Your ancestor may not have been a property owner. By 1783, a large percentage of Mennonite families in West Prussia were landless, which was a major catalyst for emigration to Russia.
   • Tip: Check the complementary lists of known landowners and land transactions:
     • Mennonite Landowners for 1789
     • Landowners for 1824 (Marienwerder region)
     • Those who acquired land between 1789 and 1798
     • Those who disposed of land (Marienwerder, 1803–1856)
2. Village Name Confusion: You may have confused two villages with the same name (e.g., Rosenort in Gross Werder vs. Rosenort in Klein Werder).
3. Similar Village Names: You may have confused villages with similar names (e.g., Montau vs. Klein Muntau, or Muensterberg vs. Alt Muensterberg). Consult this comprehensive Prussian Village List (PDF) for clarification.
4. Lost Records: The particular record mentioning your person may have been lost. Many early records, especially those from the end of World War 2, are no longer extant.

Direct Links to West Prussian Property Records

2. Additional West Prussian Information

These resources supplement property records with critical census and village data.

• 1772 West Prussian Census
• 1776 West Prussian Census (PDF)
• 1789 West Prussian Census
• Glenn Penner’s Prussian Village List (PDF)

3. Ukraine and Russian Mennonite Information

This section provides comprehensive resources for research in the Russian Empire colonies.

• Germans From Russia Heritage Collection (NDSU)
• Glückstal Colonies Research Association
• Mennonite Historical Society of British Columbia Genealogical Resources
• Molotschna Colony, South Russia, School Registers 1853-55
• Odessa Digital Library – A German-Russian Genealogical Library
• Odessa Archives Fond 6 (Reference to MLA collection VI.30 for microfilms)
• Russian Mennonite Genealogy (Comprehensive Guide)

Various Church Record Books (Russian-Ukrainian)

• Karolswalde, Volhynia, Church Book Notes (PDF)
• Heinrichsdorf, Volhynia, Mennonite Congregation
• Michelsdorf-Horodyszcze Church Book
• Russian Mennonite Records
• Goessel, Kansas, Mennonite Brethren Church

4. Holocaust Context

• Peace or Persecution: Mennonite Involvement in the Holocaust

Credits and Licensing

Compiled by: Mark Rabideau, Opa & Professional Genealogist.
All materials licensed: CC BY-ND 4.0 by eirenicon llc.