Bursztyn, Galicia, Austria/Poland?

Question

I am trying to gather detailed information about the town of Burshtyn also spelled Bursztyn in what now the Ukraine. I am most interested in information during the 1800's through about 1915. I found some information in a Rohatyn Yizkor book and also located a couple of photos on the Internet but that is all I have been able to locate.

There is also a Butsztyn Yizkor book but I am unable to translate it.

Are there any books or other sources of information that someone can suggest?

Answer 1

Try putting this question over in the travel and the language section.

You may get better answers over there.

Have you tried the local library?

And would this be of any help?

http://www.jewishgen.org/jri-pl/psa/burs...

Answer 2

If you're open to new resources on the region, my suggestion is that you contact the Polish Museum and Library in Chicago. It's part of the Polish Roman Catholic Union, but that doesn't mean they're only experts on Catholic Poland. There is a man named Jan Lorys who runs both the museum and library. He's a walking treasure trove of Polish/Ukrainian history. Halina Misterka is their archivist and a native of Poland and also phenomenally well-versed in the region.

In addition, Dr. Bill Galush, professor emeritus of History at Loyola University in Chicago is a fantastic source of help in Polish/Ukrainian history. Here's his web page. He can explain in a page what the rest of us would need weeks to explore. http://www.luc.edu/history/faculty/galus...

Finally, check out the Kollal Center in suburban Chicago. It's a great Jewish organization and full of first generation Americans whose parents lived through the Holocaust and know the stories of the region firsthand.

http://www.skokiekollel.org/history.html

Answer 3

I was reading on a website the other day (and I can't remember which one) that in some countries, Prior to WW1, they either wrote things in German or Latin. (My surnames are Austria/Hungarian and Austria/Poland on my paternal side)

You might see if you can find a free translation website and see if you can copy/paste the information and see if it is possible to translate it from whatever language it was written in into English or one that you can understand.  I know it sounds like a real pain in the butt, but it might prove to be a little bit helpful.