How Genealogical Research is Conducted in Georgia

During the era of the Russian Empire, Tiflis was the administrative center of the entire Caucasus. Over the years, archives of documents have accumulated here, in which we find personal stories, data about settlers and colonists from neighboring states, influential merchant classes, and noble families with complex, multifaceted identities. Many of these documents have survived to this day, and with their help, one can trace family histories back several generations. In the lecture, we will discuss: how to search for information about people who lived in the Caucasus in the 19th–20th centuries; where to begin genealogical research in Georgia and what documents may help; how to work with the National Archive, libraries, and the Justice House. The lecture will be conducted by Vitaliy Shtybin, a historian of the Caucasus and a practicing specialist in family history research.