Pioneer and Century Family Certificates are available from The Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International to descendants of immigrants from the region known as Czechoslovakia and who meet the requirements described below:

A Pioneer Family Certificate will be awarded to an applicant who is directly descended from an immigrant ancestor who entered the North American continent prior to 1871.


A Century Family Certificate will be awarded to an applicant who is directly descended from an immigrant ancestor who entered the North American continent more than 100 years prior to the date of application.


Official records must be used to document the presence of an immigrant ancestor on the North American continent. Census records, church records (baptism certificates or marriage certificates), land records, military records, and probate records are examples of official documents. The earliest date shown on the records is on the documents is used to determine eligibility for either the Pioneer or the Century certificate.
A committee appointed by the president evaluates applications and recommends the awarding of certificates. The certificates are signed by the president and secretary.

How to Apply

1) Complete the application form

Complete all four pages of the application form.

Form Page 1
Form Page 2
Form Page 3
Form Page 4

If you already have an ancestral chart in a different format a copy of that may be submitted.

After coping a form please compare it with the screen to determine if the entire page was printed.

If portions of the forms have not been printed the information can be written on separate sheets.

Photocopies of forms may be made for multiple applications.

2) Include Copies of Official Records

Ancestors may be individuals or couples married in Europe who then immigrated together. A couple who were married in Europe and who immigrated together may be named as ancestors on the same certificate, but to do so include copies of official records that document the presence of both husband and wife in North America at the same time. If you already have an ancestral chart in a different format, a copy of that may be submitted. It is customary to include maiden names of female ancestors in genealogical documents. The clearest method would probably be punctuated with parenthesis:
Given Name (Maiden Name) Married Name
Example: Maruska (Horák) Cormej.
Note: The example shows that diacritical marks, such as the ´ can be included.

The applicant may, but is not required to, include information about ancestors preceding those who immigrated to North America. It is suggested that a photocopy of the completed application be retained for your records. Photocopy the official records that you will submit as proof of residency of ancestors on the North American continent.

Photocopying Census Records

Be sure to photocopy page headings which show the year, date, town/township, county, state, etc. If a census page cannot be reproduced on one sheet of paper, two sheets may be used with enough overlap to insure that the sheets are from the same page. Photocopies must be clear and legible. Photographs that might enhance the announcement of the award of the certificate that will be printed in the newsletter may be included. Do not submit original documents or photographs.

3) Write a check

The fees for certificates are:

$15.00 for members of CGSI
$12.00 for certificates with the same ancestor and descent
$20.00 for non-members of the Society

Checks should be made payable to the Czechoslovakia Genealogical Society International. The abbreviation CGSI may be used. Checks will not be deposited until the application has been evaluated and the awarding of a certificate has been approved.

Send the completed application form , copies of official records, photographs and a check for the appropriate amount to:

CGSI
P.O. Box 16225
St. Paul, Minnesota 55116-0225


                                 Membership Info


Interested in Joining CGSI?

There are over 3,000 current CGSI members. Join us and build on the vast knowledge of our many members as well as the information in our newsletter publication and research collection. Our society collects and periodically publishes a list of member surnames and their village, town, or district of origin. We may also be able to help locate long lost relatives both locally or in their ancestral area. Act now and help yourself build upon our member's knowledge in finding their ancestors, and yours! Above all, be patient and persistent and someday you can walk the land where your ancestors lived!

We invite you to become a member, participant, and volunteer in CGSI, the largest international Czechoslovak genealogical organization in the world. Our purpose is to promote genealogical research and to create an interest in our ancestry and heritage. Our society is for anyone with ancestry in the Czechoslovak area, as it was in 1918, including: Bohemian, German, Hungarian, Jewish, Moravian, Rusyn, Silesian, or Slovak.

Membership Rates
Benefits of Membership
Welcome packet

New CGSI members receive a welcome packet of research information including:

Information on how to locate living relatives in the Czech and Slovak Republics

Procedures to obtain Birth, Marriage or Death Certificates before 1900 and after the year 1900

Listings in the United States and Canada of organizations that have historical records
Nase Rodina quarterly newsletter

Nase rodina promotes genealogy of the ethnic groups that comprise Czechoslovakia as it was formed in 1918.

Research collection

Located in Golden Valley, Minnesota, our library collection includes many research books, telephone books, maps, family histories, and church histories.

Genealogical research

Get research help from CGSI volunteers.

Research materials for sale at meetings and by mail

See the research materials available in our Store.

Meetings and National Conferences

Attend Quarterly Meetings, an Annual Meeting and National Conferences. See Events for more information.

For Snowbirds and Other Travelers

All U.S. mailings – including our quarterly publication "Nase Rodina" – are sent out Special 3rd class Bulk Rate to a single address. If you are a Snowbird or travel a lot, for an additional $10 you can request First Class mailing to ensure reciept of all CGSI mailings.

Membership rates

The following membership rates are effective 1/1/2005.
1 Year $25.00 $30.00 $45.00
2 Years $45.00 $55.00 $85.00
3 Years $65.00 $75.00 $110.00

The rates above are for members living in the United States and Canada. Members in other foreign countries must add $10 per year to the membership fee. For example, a two year individual membership for someone in Austria would be $45+$10+$10=$65.

A printable Membership Form is available. The form can be sent in via the normal mail system.




                                  Gift Certificate

Looking for the ultimate family gift for giving? Look no further than your favorite genealogy society. The Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International is now offering gift certificates that can be used by the bearer to purchase a CGSI membership.

Are you in need of a gift for a relative in the Czech or Slovak Republic? Is your mother or father, aunt or uncle interested in rekindling an interest in their heritage? Do you have children or grandchildren who you wish would become more interested in their family history? Does your card playing buddy have ancestry from the Czech and Slovak lands? Is the answer is yes, to any of these questions, then please consider one of our gift certificates for a birthday, anniversary, holiday, special occasion, confirmation, graduation, or retirement.

Specially designed gift certificates are available in the amount of $25, $30, $35, $40, $45, $55, $65, $75, $85 or $105. These amounts will cover any combination of one or two year memberships, whether foreign or with the 1st Class mailing option. Please refer to the Membership Form to determine the term and amount of your certificate.


        

Specify name, address and phone number of the receiver of the gift then,
Mail payment for Gift Certificates to:
Gift Certifiate
Czechoslovak Genealogical Society Int'l
P.O. Box 16225
St. Paul, Mn 55116-0225

Board of Directors

Eugene Aksamit ** Minnesota
Lisa Alzo New York
Leo Baca Texas
Rosie Bodien Washington
Helene Cincebeaux New York
Bob Petrick Florida
Mike Prohaska * Iowa
Chris Miksanek Minnesota
Margie Sobotka Nebraska

* Chairperson
** Vice-Chair

CGSI Officers

President Ginger Simek
1st Vice President Dottie Speidel
2nd Vice President Al Kranz
Recording Secretary Barb Vermeer
Corresponding Secretary Kathy Roushar Jorgenson
Treasurer Beth Baumeister
Assistant Treasurer Sandy Pavelka

CGSI Committee Chairs

Education Ruth Chovancek
Hospitality Janelle Pavlovec
Membership Joyce Fagerness
Library and Archives Suzette Steppe
Publications Paul Makousky
Sales Jerry Parupsky
Publicity Chuck Romportl
Volunteers Dolores Jorgenson
Internet Bob Bina


Regional Representatives

Evelyn Fergle – Clarkston, MI

Representing Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois

Gordon & Helen Pejsar – Lincoln, Nebraska
Representing Nebraska and the Great Plains Region

John Kracha - Chula Vista, California
Representing California

Rosie Bodien - Kirkland, Washington
Representing Washington and Oregon

Miroslav Koudelka – Olomouc, Czech Republic
Representing Czech Republic

Questions?  E-Mail us or call (651) 455-9057 to ask a recorded question or to leave a message.

 

History of Slovaks in America    $49.50 This 411 page hardbound book was originally published in the Slovak language in two volumes in 1942. Most of the original photos from the book have been reproduced in this English edition, along with rare additional photos of the author and the 1935-36 Matica Slovenska delegation, which he accompanied to America to conduct research for this book. In History of Slovaks in America, writer and historian Konstantin Culen (1904-1964) paints a vivid portrait of early Slovak life in the U.S. He records in detail the experiences of Slovak-Americans, their struggles and triumphs, their strengths and failings, their passions and prejudices, and their fight to achieve unity and justice for the Slovak nation, both in America and in their oppressed homeland. Through his rich and extensive use of early newspaper accounts, letters, eyewitness narratives and other original source materials, Culen enables us to hear the "voice" of the Slovak immigrant generation. The result is an absorbing and often dramatic chronicle of the Slovak-American experience. Appearing for the first time in English translation, this book provides an indispensable resource for understanding the foundations of Slovak life in America. All surnames and place names in the book are fully-indexed, as an aid to genealogical research. "Konstantin Culen was the first Slovak writer to undertake systematic research in the history of the American Slovaks, and the first to write a part of that history. He prepared many rich chapters on the history of parishes, movements, organizations, societies. . . . Culen was the first to bring about a rapprochement between Slovak America and the land of its origins. And had he accomplished nothing more as a writer and newspaperman, this accomplishment alone would rate him with the best - to be remembered as one of the foremost Slovak intellectuals of our century." - Jednota

History of Czechs in America $49.50   This valuable resource book was written by Dr. Jan Habenicht of Chicago and published by the Hlas Publishing company of St. Louis in 1910. The research of Dr. Habenicht included extensive travel across the entire United States and writing thousands of letters. It was translated into English by Miroslav Koudelka, a member of CGSI, and edited and arranged by Paul M. Makousky, Publication Chair of CGSI. The book has 595 pages (8 1/2" x 11"), is bound by a hardcover and features a beautifully finished metallic blue and white jacket containing a photograph of the Dvorak family in the raspberry field in Minnetonka Township, Minnesota on the front and the Vasko family on their farm near Sun Prairie, Wisconsin on the back. Additions to the book include an index to the illustrations (276 of them), a foreword to the English edition by Paul M. Makousky, a list of the Czech fraternal organizations (appendix II), maps of the 14 states with the largest Czech populations (appendix I), a complete surname index (over 2,400 names), a geographical name index, and a biography of the author. Even if you don't find your family name(s) in this book, it is very valuable in describing the living conditions and experiences of our Czech forbearers from the mid 1800's to 1910. This book provides the most extensive description of Czech life; in religion, among fraternal organizations, in the press, in theater, and in the struggle for maintaining the Czech heritage versus becoming part of the American melting pot. An index listing all surnames in History of Czechs in America was added as a feature to the English edition.