Dear Denise,
Every year, each foreigner residing in the Russian Empire had to apply for a special passport giving him or her the permission to stay there. We located and reviewed registries of foreigners who received such passports as residents of the Russian Empire.
1) State archive of Kiev oblast: f.2, оp.145, file №913 (Registry of foreigners who received passports as residents of the Russian Empire in 1888). On 7 November 1888, such passport was issued to Iogan Tsvolanek, his wife and children: Iosiph, Eduard and Frantsishka (folioes 357v-358). As you remember, according to the 1897 All Russia Census record Ivan Matveevich (the son of Matvey) Zvolyanek's daughter was listed as Anna. We suppose that her original Czech name was Frantsishka. She was born before 7 November 1888.
2) State archive of Kiev oblast: f.2, оp.145, file №921 (Registry of foreigners who received passports as residents of the Russian Empire in 1890). On 22 November 1890, such passport was issued to Iogan Tsvolanek, his wife and children: Iosiph, Eduard and Frantsishka (folio 585v).
3) State archive of Kiev oblast: f.2, оp.145, file №945 (Registry of foreigners who received passports as residents of the Russian Empire in 1896). On 16 March 1896, such passport was issued to Iogan Tsvolanek, his wife and children: Iosiph, Eduard and Frantsishka (folio 135v). Ivan (or Jan) and Vaclav are not listed yet.
Kind regards,
Serhiy
Our Grandfather Jan does not yet appear in the 1896 passport registry listed above, however all American documents indicate that he was born in 1891.
An older sister named Frantsiska has appeared - she was evidently born before the 1888 registry was made. (Is this the same person as Anna, mentioned in the 1897 Russian Census report?)
A little more research in this area will continue to refine the Census and Passport information that I have received this week.
What happened to these family members after Grandfather lost touch with them in 1917? Will census or passport records shed light on that mystery?
