In most South Slavic languages, "matičar" is the name for the clerk who records the vital events of residents in the books of births, marriages and deaths. Hence, "Matičar prošlosti" means 'bookkeeper' or 'recordkeeper of the past'.
"Matičar prošlosti" was launched this month as a cross-boundary guide for family history, social history and biographical research in the post-Yugoslav region (Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia). This online guide aims at professionals and laymen alike, journalists, writers, historians, as well as anyone wanting to trace his or her family history in the region, regardless of their ethnic or religious affiliation.
Apart from the unavoidable language barriers, genealogical research is relatively easy in Slovenia and Croatia, which have good research capacities thanks to the efforts of various archives, institutions and networks of genealogists. However the situation is totally different for large parts of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, and Macedonia. Genealogical sources here are often in very poor material conditions, even if they have found their ways to the appropriate regional archives (which is mostly not the case). Thus attention will be especially given to investigating the status, the whereabouts and accessibility of genealogical sources in these countries.
For these voluntary efforts additional funding is needed. Hence, next to the portal itself an online fundraising campaign has been set up to collect donations through the well-known crowdfunding platform IndieGogo (both credit cards or PayPal accepted). Funding is especially needed to set up a network and conduct a "fact-finding mission" in the region.
If you find this a meaningful undertaking, please visit the crowdfunding page and support the development of "Matičar prošlosti".
Bookkeeper of the Past: Tracing Family in Former Yugoslavia http://www.indiegogo.com/maticarproslosti
Portal Matičar prošlosti (Bookkeeper of the Past) http://maticarproslosti.net
