Anna Wiernicka graduated University of Warsaw in 1993. In 2009, she defended her dissertation: Everyday Life of the Warsaw Affluent Jewish Families 1808 – 1875. She consults and researches for various institutions and foundations, and conducts a genealogical office.

Research interest: history and culture of Jews in XIX and XX century, history of Jewish families.

“Jewish Last Wills. To the Minister Turkul a Thermometer in the Form of a Clock” (Thurs-138), 7:30-8:45 A.M.

The lecture will present samples of rarely-used notary records. The existence of notary public offices on Polish land dates back to 1808.

Until the mid-1870s documents had been prepared in Polish. Starting 1876 public life in the Kingdom of Poland was entirely Russified and Russian became the official language.

The Jewish population represented a significant number of notaries’ clients.

The analysis will involve only selected types of notary documents. The presentation will focus on the most private and unique resources: last wills. Those documents include extensive information on family: relationships and the structure of a family, itself. Last wills not only supplement typical genealogical information, but also provide us private and even intimate details about a family.

Topics: Jewish history and culture