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Research Resources

Listed below are the known and available resources that will assist you in researching your Norka families. The list is presented in chronological order along with a brief description of the type of record and a link to where the information can be obtained.
1766 and earlier. Read about the Founders of Norka.  Many of the first settlers in Russia have been found in German parish records. Research on their documented place of origin in Germany or other parts of Western Europe is presented if this information is known.
1766  Lists of colonists were made by the head of Russian recruitment, Johann Facius, and his staff. Digital copies of these documents have been acquired, but they do not list all colonists. Contact Roger Burbank for look-ups.
1766  Many couples were married prior to departure from Germany to Russia. The lists have been translated and published in the books "German Migration to the Russian Volga (1764-1767): Origins and Destinations" by Brent Mai and Dona Reeves-Marquardt and "Büdingen Als Sammelplatz Der Auswanderung an Die Wolga 1766" by Klaus-Peter Decker.

The original Büdingen marriages records can be viewed on Family History Library Microfilm #1197023.

The original Lübeck marriage records can be viewed on Family History Library Microfilms #326271, #326156, #326254, #326121, #326169.
1766  The so called "Kulberg Lists" document the arrival of colonists in Russia by ship. Igor Pleve's translation of these lists are included in his book titled "List of Colonists to Russia 1766". This book is available for purchase from AHSGR.

Digital images of the original Kulberg Lists have been acquired. Contact Roger Burbank for look-ups.
1766-1767  Transport Lists have been obtained and translated by Georg Rauschenbach and Andreas Idt in their book "Deutsche Kolonisten auf dem Weg von St. Petersburg nach Saratov - Transportlisten von 1766-1767". 
1767 Census of Norka. The first census of Norka and all the Volga German colonies was taken in late 1767 and early 1768.  A translation of these census lists can be found in Igor Pleve's four volume set titled "Einwanderung in das Wolgagebiet 1764-1767" (Immigration to the Volga Region 1764-1767). Norka is included in Band 3 (Volume 3). Unfortunately, this volume is no longer in print or available from AHSGR.
1798 Census of Norka. Brent Mai's English translation of the 1798 Norka Census is included in Volume 1 of the book "1798 Census of the German Colonies along the Volga". Contact AHSGR regarding availability. Rick Rye's English translation of this census is available for purchase from AHSGR. 
1811 Census of Norka. English translation available for purchase from AHSGR. ​

Translation and corrections to the AHSGR translation by Alexander Baumung (Excel file).

Additions to the 1811 Norka Census translated by Rick Rye for AHSGR. This list prepared by Alexander Baumung (Word file).
1834 Census of Norka. Dated 20 December 1834. German translation by Alexander Baumung.
1834-1845 Norka Church Register. Index of family heads. ​Contact Roger Burbank for look-ups.
1834-1858; 1859-1872; 1873-1883; 1894-1902  Norka Birth Records. Not translated. ​Contact Roger Burbank for look-ups.
1834-1868; 1869-1872  Norka Death Records. ​Not translated. ​Contact Roger Burbank for look-ups.
1849-1868  Norka Marriages Records. Not translated. ​Contact Roger Burbank for look-ups.
1857 Census of Norka. Dated 21 January 1858. German translation by Alexander Baumung.
1857 Census of Neu-Norka. Dated 23 February 1858. German translation by Alexander Baumung. 
1858  List of colonists from Norka that resettled in Daughter Colonies by 1858. This list is based upon original Russian documents which are available at FamilySearch.org. English translation by Alexander Baumung.
 
The Langenfeld 1857 census has been acquired. Contact Roger Burbank for look-ups.

Brunnental database and Facebook page managed by Sherie Gettman-Stahl.
1846-1860  Norka Church Register. Digital images have been acquired but have not been translated. Contact Roger Burbank for look-ups.
1864-1865  Norka Birth Records. ​Digital images have been acquired but have not been translated. Contact Roger Burbank for look-ups.
1876-1890  Norka Church Register. Digital images have been acquired but have not been translated. Contact Roger Burbank for look-ups.
1878-1883 Norka and Huck Marriage Records. ​Digital images have been acquired but have not been translated. Contact Roger Burbank for look-ups.
1891-1905  Norka Church Register. Partial English translation available from Brent Mai. Households numbered 211 through 278 and 648 through 1033 are missing from this translation. Subsequent to the publication of this translation, the missing households were found at the archive and digital images have been acquired. The missing households have been indexed but not fully translated. Contact Roger Burbank for look-ups of families missing from the Mai translation.
1899  List of Volga German colonists who received passports for travel to America in 1899. Prepared by Igor Pleve and posted on the Wolgadeutsche.net website (Russian language. Use Google or Safari browser to translate). 
1903-1910  Norka Birth Records. ​Digital images have been acquired but have not been translated. Contact Roger Burbank for look-ups.
1941  Norka deportation lists. These lists contain the names of families that were deported to Siberia and Central Asia in 1941 by order of the Soviet government. All ethnic Germans were subject to this order.  The Saratov Regional Department of Interior Affairs Information holds these records. Immediate family members may request deportation records directly from the archive.
1941  German EWZ records
1941-1989  Soviet records of Norka colonists in Special Settlements and Gulags.
1766-1900s  Descendants charts have been prepared by Igor Pleve for many Norka families. These charts begin with the heads of household who arrived in Russia in 1766 and follow their descendants to the late 1800s or early 1900s. AHSGR holds a large collection of charts and sells copies if authorized by the donor. The Family History Library holds a large collection of these charts that can be viewed in Salt Lake City.
1766-2000s  Many of the sources listed above have been extracted and incorporated into the Norka Database. For assistance, contact the Norka database manager, Louis Schleuger.
Contact us if you have information about other records for Norka.
Last updated October 15, 2021.