1. Linking your family tree to Polish, Czech, and Slovak localities. Your Polish, Czech, or Slovak heritage ; Jump-starting your Polish, Czech, and Slovak research ; Identifying your immigrant ancestor -- The history of Poland ; The history of the Czech and Slovak republics -- 2. Getting to know the old country. Understanding Eastern European geography ; Languages, surnames, and given names -- 3. Tracing your family in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Vital records ; Census records ; Military records ; Other record resources -- Heritage travel and on-site research -- 4. Advanced sources and strategies. Putting it all together ; What to do when you get stuck

Trace your Eastern European ancestors from American shores back to the old country. This in-depth guide will walk you step-by-step through the exciting-- and challenging-- journey of finding your Polish, Czech, or Slovak roots. You'll learn how to identify immigrant ancestors, find your family's town of origin, locate key genealogical resources, decipher foreign-language records, and untangle the region's complicated history. The book also includes timelines, sample records, resource lists, and sample record request letters to aid your research