This database brings together information about individual survivors and victims from records in the Museum’s Collections catalog, our Survivors’ Registry, and information from other organizations. It allows in-depth discovery of the published sources and archival collections that feature the names of individuals who were persecuted during the Holocaust.
There are two ways to search these records: by searching for names included in the records, or by searching for the source records themselves.
Search names to find information about specific individuals who were persecuted. The names search is most used by family members and researchers looking for an individual person.
Search lists and sources to find lists and other source records that contain multiple names. The lists and sources search is most used by researchers looking for historical documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Getting Started
About the Database
Search Tips and Filters
Errors in the Database
Getting Started
I’m looking for information about a particular person. How do I get started?
Start a search using just one or two fields, such as the first and last name with Fuzzy selected in the dropdown. Because many records contain limited information, being too specific or adding information to too many fields may return no or few results. After your initial search, use the filters or advanced search to refine your results.
Can the Museum help me research a family member?
Staff is available to provide guidance and answer your questions Sunday through Thursday in the Museum’s Resource Center on the second floor.
The Museum also provides free research services to those seeking information about the fates of specific people. Given the large volume of requests we receive each month, priority is given to requests from Holocaust survivors and their families. Learn about our research services and submit a request.
About the Database
Are all of the sources in the database available online?
Some of the Museum’s resources are not available online, but can be accessed in the Holocaust Survivors and Victims Resource Center on the second floor of the Museum. At the Museum, you can access the full Database of Holocaust Survivors and Victims Names, the ITS Digital Archive, the Benjamin and Vladka Meed Registry of Holocaust Survivors, and other Museum resources.
How can I view images of the source documents?
Most source documents are not viewable online outside of the Museum. All available images of source documents can be accessed in the Holocaust Survivors and Victims Resource Center on the second floor of the Museum.
Outside the Museum, you can request an image of the source by clicking the “Request a Digital Copy” link in the images tab of the record. Once you submit the form, the images will be emailed to you.
How frequently are new records added to the database?
New records are added every few months.
To find the most recently added records, you can filter your search by Date Added to the Database to limit your results to records added within the last six months or one year. Additionally when searching sources, sort by the ID column; higher ID numbers indicate more recent additions to the database.
What is included in the database?
This database brings together information about individual survivors and victims from records in the Museum’s collections, our Survivors’ Registry, and information from other organizations. This information was collected from a broad range of historical documents including census records, registration forms, ghetto inhabitant lists, death lists, concentration camp or displaced persons camp lists, and more. This database contains only those records that mention individual names. Access the Museum’s full collection of objects, documents, videos, and more in Collections Search.
The database contains records on people persecuted during World War II under the Nazi regime including Jews, Roma and Sinti, Poles and other Slavic peoples, Soviet prisoners of war, persons with disabilities, political prisoners, trade union leaders, "subversive" artists, those Catholic and Lutheran clergy who were seen as opponents of the regime, resisters, Jehovah's Witnesses, male homosexuals, and criminal offenders, among others.
Search Tips and Filters
What is the difference between Exact, Fuzzy, and D-M Soundex?
Exact: Select “Exact” to include only the exact spelling or use wild card matching.
Fuzzy: Select “Fuzzy” to include phonetic matches and correction of common typing mistakes.
D-M Soundex: Select “D-M Soundex” to include variants of Eastern European and Yiddish.
What are geographic name variants? Should I include them?
Check “Include geographic name variants” to include spelling and name variants among languages and transliterations of geographic locations. Example: Lviv will find results containing Lviv, L’viv, L’vov, Lvov, Lwow, and Lemberg. It is useful to include geographic name variants because many source documents reference geographic locations using different spellings. However, if you want an exact match, uncheck this box.
Can I use wild card matching?
Yes, use an asterisk (*) for wild card matching. The asterisk (*) does not work at the beginning of the search string.
Examples: Ma*a* in the first name field will find the names Maria, Maryanna, Marianna, etc. For prisoner numbers starting with 32 followed by 4 followed by 9, enter 32*4*9. For a nationality of Armenian, enter Arm*.
Why do some records have unknown or incomplete values? Are records with unknown or incomplete values included in the search results?
Data is entered into the database as it appears in each historical record. Because of this, records do not have data in every field and some have unknown or incomplete values. For example:
Some records contain invalid or unformatted birth dates. Therefore, the dates in some records may appear incorrect or extend beyond the range of the date sliders.
Some records do not contain a birth or death date. Checking “Include unknown values” will include those records in your results. Unchecking “Include unknown values” will exclude those records.
For the Sex filter, “Unknown (recorded)” indicates that the sex of the individual is not known. Often, this is included on a record when the list or source record only provides a surname.
How accurate are the nationalities in the database?
Nationalities in the database reflect what is noted in each historical document or list and may not accurately portray an individual's nationality.
Errors in the Database
I found an error in a database record or source document. How can I inform the Museum of the error?
We make every effort to ensure the records in this database contain the information exactly as stated in the original source. Therefore, some errors (such as incorrect spelling or dates) may be accurately transcribed from the original source, but still appear factually incorrect. If you have found a transcription error, please contact the Museum to provide feedback.
This Section
Listen to or read Holocaust survivors’ experiences, told in their own words through oral histories, written testimony, and public programs.