Index of Sons of Freedom Interned at Mountain Prison, Agassiz, BC, 1962-1972

New!  The following index by Lisa Poznikoff contains the surname, name, number of years sentenced and (in some instances) date of release for 104 Sons of Freedom Doukhobor men and women incarcerated at the specially-built Mountain Prison near Agassiz, British Columbia between 1962 and 1972 for various depredations including nudity, bombings and arson.

Researching Your Russian Doukhobor Roots

This 44-slide presentation by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff was delivered at: the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society Annual Seminar (July 2002); Doukhobor Cultural Society of Saskatchewan Annual Meeting (February 2004); Saskatchewan Genealogical Society Annual Seminar (October 2005); and Canadian Council of Archives National Conference (May 2008).

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer has been updated with the addition of precise, detailed geographical coordinates (latitude, longitude) for 26 entries in the district of Grand Forks, BC; 12 entries in the district of Krestova, BC; and 9 entries in the district of Buchanan and Good Spirit Lake, SK. Explore Dukhoboriya - the land of the Doukhobors - with the Doukhobor Gazetteer!

Update: Google Map - Buchanan & Good Spirit Lake, SK Doukhobor Settlement, 1899-1938

This Google map of Doukhobor settlements in the Buchanan and Good Spirit Lake districts of Saskatchewan has been updated.  The information window for each village marker now includes the surnames of the original Doukhobor families who historically resided in each village. This information will be particularly useful for genealogical and family history research.

Tolstoy and the Doukhobors: Main Stages of Relations in the Late 19th & Early 20th Century

Most Doukhobors today are well aware of the historic relationship between Tolstoy and their forebears. However, surprising few modern Russians and Ukrainians know about these ties. Ukrainian scholars V.O. Pashchenko and T.V. Nagorna examine Tolstoy’s close cooperation with the Doukhobors as well as his moral and financial support of their emigration to Canada.

Google Map - Buchanan & Good Spirit Lake, SK Doukhobor Settlement, 1899-1938

The following is a Google map of Doukhobor settlements established in the Buchanan and Good Spirit Lake districts of Saskatchewan between 1899 and 1938. Compiled from original field and archival research by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff. Includes original 1899 reserve boundaries; standard interactive Google Maps features; links to The Doukhobor Gazetteer; and more.

Ombudsman: The Death of Peter V. Verigin & Freedom of Information

This 8.54-minute video documentary originally aired on the CBC series The Ombudsman in 1977.  It examines the efforts of Larry Ewashen and Koozma J. Tarasoff  to gain access to 1924 government files on the death of Peter V. Verigin. Frustrated by government secrecy, they appealed to Robert Cooper of The Ombudsman. This program was the result. 

Doukhobor Identity and Canadian Assimilation in Bill Stenson's "Svoboda"

In the following paper, Nadia Kuftinoff examines Doukhobor identity and assimilation in Canada, as portrayed in the historical novel "Svoboda" by Bill Stenson (Saskatoon: Thistledown Press, 2007), and compares it with the realities of her own Doukhobor family experience in the Kootenay region of British Columbia in the Fifties and Sixties. 

Index of Society of Named Doukhobors Members in Blaine Lake, SK, 1930

New!  The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff contains information on 578 Doukhobors in 123 households belonging to the Society of Named Doukhobors of Canada living in Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan in 1930. Information includes the name of the head of household, number of females and males in each household.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

New Doukhobor Gazetteer database entries: Kazakoff Road (Prince George, BC), Dubovaya Balka (UK), Yasenevaya Balka (UK), Terpen'evskiy Rodniki (UK), Rodnik Nikolaya Ugodnika (UK), Rodnik Bogoroditsy (UK), Madge Lake Alternative Service Camp (SK), Montreal Lake Alternative Service Camp (SK), Novopetrovskoye (RU), Lost Doukhobor Ledge (WA).

Blog: An Idea Whose Time Has Come

In her blog, Nadia Kuftinoff explores her Kootenay Doukhobor heritage.  The following is a copy of the speech delivered by USCC Honorary Chairman John J. Verigin at the disarmament conference, "A Farewell to (Nuclear) Arms" held at Fauteux Hall, University of Ottawa on November 14, 1981.  His speech is entitled "An Idea Whose Time Has Come".

Madge Lake WWII Doukhobor Conscientious Objectors Alternative Service Camp

This Flickr photo set by Lydia Legebokoff contains 18 images of her father George Legebokoff and 21 other Doukhobor conscientious objectors who were interned at a work camp at Madge Lake in Duck Mountain Provincial Park, SK in Winter 1943-1944.  There, they performed alternative service, clearing timber from road right-of-ways and cutting cordwood.

Press Release: New Book on 1873 Tax Register to be Released Spring 2012

A revised release date of March 31, 2012 has been set for Doukhobor writer and historian Jonathan J. Kalmakoff's latest book, 1873 Tax Register of Doukhobors in the Caucasus. The book is compiled from original nineteenth century Russian tax records housed at the Georgian State Archives in Tbilisi, Georgia and the National Archives of Azerbaijan in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Publications

Copies of genealogical reference books by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff are available for sale: 1853 Tax Register of Doukhobors in the Caucasus; 1918 Independent Doukhobor Census; and 1930 Names Doukhobors of Canada, Saskatchewan Membership List. Coming soon: 1873 Tax Register of Doukhobors in the Caucasus; and Doukhobor Ship Passenger Lists (2nd Edition).

Notes from the Molochnaya, 1855

In 1855, Alexander Petzholdt, a German scholar and traveler, visited the villages of Rodionovka and Terpeniye, formerly inhabited by the Doukhobors. He found their once clean and orderly villages in a dilapidated state, and their once beautiful garden park neglected and overgrown. Read this rare account of the physical legacy of the Doukhobors on the Molochnaya.

Google Map - Post-Soviet Doukhobor Migration to Russia, 1989-2008

The following is a Google map of Doukhobor migration to Russia during and following the breakup of the Soviet Union including: Tula in 1989-1991, Stavropol, Krasnodar, Rostov and the Crimea from 1991-1998, Bryansk in 1998-1999 and Tambov in 2007-2008. Includes standard interactive Google Maps features; links to The Doukhobor Gazetteer; Google Earth, and more!

Update: Doukhobor Alternative Service Work Camp, Montreal Lake, SK, 1941

This Flickr photo set has been updated to include detailed captions for most of the 13 images of Doukhobor conscientious objectors who performed alternative service (in lieu of military service) at a work camp near Montreal Lake, SK from June to October 1941 constructing Highway No. 2 (now Highway No. 969) between Prince Albert and La Ronge, SK.

Spirit Wrestling, Identity Conflict and the Canadian "Doukhobor Problem", 1899-1999

This 447-page thesis by University of Toronto Doctor of Philosophy student Ashleigh Androsoff focuses on the historical evolution of the so-called “Doukhobor problem” - the clash between the Doukhobors' struggle to preserve their ethno-religious identity on their own terms and Canadian expectations that they would soon integrate into the Canadian mainstream.

Reconstruction of Doukhobor Village Halted

Reconstruction of the Hardy Mountain Doukhobor Village in Grand Forks, British Columbia has been put on hiatus until there are sufficient funds to continue. Learn more about efforts to redevelop this Doukhobor museum and historical site in this Grand Forks Gazette article by Cassandra Chin.

New Section: Doukhobor Google Maps

This new section of the Doukhobor Genealogy Website features customized Google Maps relating to Doukhobor places, past and present, of historical, cultural and spiritual significance, compiled from original GPS field research, complete with site placemarks and links to The Doukhobor Gazetteer. This section will be expanded over the coming weeks and months.

Updated: Doukhobor Photos & Video

This section of the Doukhobor Genealogy Website has been updated to include links to an additional 20 new Russian and English language videos featuring Doukhobor historical, cultural and spiritual content.  Stay tuned as this section continues to be expanded over the coming weeks and months.  If you have additional content to suggest for this section, contact me!

Linguist Trying to Rescue Saskatchewan Doukhobor Language

Linguist Veronika Makarova had recently immigrated from Russia when she met a group of elderly Doukhobors singing and speaking an unusual form of the language. She realized she’d come upon a unique dialect that emerged among the sect before losing ground to the dominant English. She estimates there are fewer than 50 people who still speak the tongue in SK.

Donate to the Doukhobor Genealogy Website

The Doukhobor Genealogy Website is committed to providing free, accessible information on Doukhobor family history. As an independent, volunteer-based website, we are not financially supported by any organization, institution or agency. We need your support to continue to provide the high-quality content our thousands of visitors have come to expect. Please donate.

Portrait of a Doukhobor CO: An Interview with Mike S. Nadane

In 1941, Mike S. Nadane of Kamsack, Saskatchewan received his call-up papers to serve in the Canadian military. As a Doukhobor conscientious objector, he chose to perform alternative service instead. He was interned in a road construction work camp near Montreal Lake. In this interview by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff, Mike discusses his experiences of seventy years ago.

Google Map - Krestova, BC Doukhobor Settlement, 1911-Present

The following is a Google map of Doukhobor village settlement established from 1911 to the present in the Krestova district of British Columbia. Compiled from original GPS field research by Steve Lapshinoff and Leon Davidoff conducted in 2007 and 2011. Includes standard interactive Google Maps features; links to The Doukhobor Gazetteer; and more!

New Section: Doukhobor Photos & Video

This new section of the Doukhobor Genealogy Website features links to online photo galleries (Flickr, Panoramio, etc.) and videos (Youtube, etc.) with Doukhobor historical focus and content. Stay tuned as this section is significantly expanded over the coming weeks and months.  If you have additional content to suggest for this section, contact me!

Flickr Photo Set - Doukhobor Alternative Service Work Camp, Montreal Lake, SK, 1941

This Flickr photo set contains 13 images of Mike S. Nadane and other Doukhobor conscientious objectors who performed alternative service (in lieu of military service) at a work camp near Montreal Lake, Saskatchewan from June to October 1941 constructing Highway No. 2 (now Highway No. 969) between Prince Albert and La Ronge, Saskatchewan.

Doukhobor WWII COs in Northern Saskatchewan 1941

The text and captions for the following 20 images on Doukhobor WWII conscientious objectors (COs) building a road near Molanosa, Saskatchewan in 1941 are copied from Koozma J. Tarasoff's  extensive photo collection in the BC Archives: Tarasoff Photo Collection on Doukhobor History — An Annotated User Guide (1960+).

New Website - Larry's Desk

Visit the new website hosted by Larry Ewashen, retired director of the Doukhobor Discovery Centre. It contains various articles, notations and materials pertaining to a variety of Doukhobor interests and subjects Larry has encountered in his varied career.  Upcoming site entries will include his musical interests, samples and materials as well as historical documents.

Flickr Photo Set - Doukhobors - Духоборы - Gorelovka - Georgia

This Flickr photo set by Carrie Eirene Stevenson contains 23 images of her 2010 trip to the Doukhobor village of Gorelovka in the Ninotsminda district of Georgia. Documented are various aspects of original nineteenth century Doukhobor architecture as well as the historic graves of Doukhobor leaders. Note: Flickr is an online photo management and sharing application.

Flickr Photo Set - Doukhobors - Духоборы - Kars - Turkey

This Flickr photo set by Carrie Eirene Stevenson contains seven images of her 2010 trip to the Kars region of Turkey, where she visited several of the present-day villages established by Russian Molokans and Doukhobors in the nineteenth century, and documented the remaining historic architecture. Note: Flickr is an online photo management and sharing application.

Doukhobors Work in Lieu of Fighting, 1941

This 1941 Prince Albert Daily Herald article provides a first-hand, objective journalistic account of the 70 Doukhobor conscientious objectors interned at a work camp near Montreal Lake, SK, their decision to perform alternative service, general living conditions in the camp, the road construction work they performed, and its significance to the development of the province.

Flickr Photo Set - Progress on Doukhobor Highway Work Camp, 1941

This Flickr photo set by Alycia Bockus-Vanin contains images of an October 25, 1941 article published in the Prince Albert Daily Herald regarding the work being done on the La Ronge highway by her grandfather John G. Vanin and other Doukhobor conscientious objectors during the second World War. Note: Flickr is an online photo management and sharing application.

Flickr Photo Set - Doukhobor Highway Work Camp, 1941

This Flickr photo set by Alycia Bockus-Vanin contains 35 images of her grandfather John G. Vanin and other Doukhobor conscientious objectors who performed alternate service in work camps constructing the highway between Prince Albert and La Ronge, SK in 1941. Notations written on the back of the original photos have been included in the descriptions.

Manitoba WWII CO Memorial

The Wall of Remembrance, a peace memorial and teaching aid recognizing all 3,021 Manitoba conscientious objectors during World War II, was dedicated on September 11, 2011 in Winkler, Manitoba. Two Doukhobors from Benito, Manitoba, are among those who chose non-killing alternatives to war in Manitoba during WWII. See this Spirit Wrestlers blog for more.

Index of Doukhobor Conscientious Objectors in Saskatchewan in WWII

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff contains information on 165 Doukhobor COs (conscientious objectors) in Saskatchewan in World War II: 71 who performed alternative service and were interned (with 3 elders) in work camps; and 91 who refused alternative service and were convicted and sentenced to 4 months prison. Includes names, places of origin, etc.

Doukhobor Stand During World War II

In World War II, John I. Bondoreff of Blaine Lake was one of 85 Doukhobor men in Saskatchewan who perform alternative service rather than military service, which violated their pacifist beliefs. They were interned in a work camp in northern Saskatchewan where they built the La Ronge Highway. The following is a first-hand autobiographic account of his experience.

Google Map - WWII Doukhobor Alternative Service - Road Construction Project

In 1941, 85 Doukhobor men performed alternative service in lieu of military service. They were interned in a work camp in northern Saskatchewan where they built Highway 969 to La Ronge. The following is a map of their work camps and the road construction they performed. Includes standard interactive Google Maps features; links to The Doukhobor Gazetteer; and more.

Schedule of Doukhobor Villages and Statistics, 1899

This schedule contains detailed statistics for 55 Doukhobor villages in Saskatchewan, taken in 1899 by William B. Harvey. Data includes population, health, births/deaths, housing, water supply, acres plowed, grain and vegetables, flour and potatoes in stock, horses, oxen, wagons, plows, cows, poultry, hay, wool, spinning wheels, leather and Bibles in each village.

Update - Quaker Visit to the Dukhobortsy, 1819

The Afterword to this historic account of William Allen and Stephen Grellet's 1819 visit to the Dukhobortsy has been updated to include the names of 25 Doukhobor teachers and mentors, obtained from historical records, who met with the Quakers and debated religious philosophy and whose responses to the Quakers' questions "did honour to the most clever sophist".

New Link: Dukhobory - Electronic Library Online

Compiled by Vitaliy Adamenko of Samara, Russia, this Russian-language library contains searchable, original nineteenth and early twentieth century Russian historic works on the Doukhobors by Kharlamov, Novitsky, Bonch-Breuvich, Bulgakov, Sulerzhitsky, Tan-Bogoraz and others.  A valuable, content-rich site for detailed, Russian information on Doukhoborism.

Update - The Dukhobortsy, 1865

This historical article describes the visit by the famous Russian painter Vasily Vasilyevich Vereshchagin to the Doukhobors living in Slavyanka village, Elizavetpol village. It has been updated to include 10 rare, high-resolution copies of his sketches of Doukhobor subjects and secenes, a full Foreword and Afterword, and to clarify his visit occurred in 1865 (and not 1863).

დუხობორები დმანისმი Doukhobors in Dmanisi

This 18-minute Russian language video was recorded in 2009-2010 and posted by Baxolia. It documents a typical early-morning Doukhobor prayer service in the town of Dmanisi (formerly Bashkicheti) in the Georgian Republic. Once exclusively populated by Doukhobors, few remain there today. The video concludes with interviews about the future of the Dmanisi Doukhobors.

Abstract Artist William Perehudoff Celebrated in Retrospective

Saskatchewan-born Doukhobor artist William Perehudoff stands among Canada’s leading abstract painters. A chronological exhibition of Perehudoff's works, currently on show at the Glenbow Art Gallery in Calgary, Alberta, is representative of the major phases of the artist's 60 years spent in the pursuit of beauty. Article by Nancy Tousley of the Calgary Herald.

Doukhobor Blog

In her blog, Rachel Anastasia explores her Kootenay Doukhobor heritage, the group history, her own family roots, and her reconnection with her spiritual and cultural heritage through the Vancouver Island Doukhobor Choir, Doukhobor singing, the USCC Union of Youth Festival in Brilliant, British Columbia, and her own personal connections and sense of identity.

Prayer Home Added to Heritage Site

An original historic Doukhobor Prayer Home has been relocated to the Doukhobor Dugout House heritage site near Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan. The Prayer Home will serve as an interpretive centre to educate visitors about the Doukhobor faith and will include traditional Doukhobor prayer services. Article by Darlene Polachic of The Battlefords News-Optimist.

New Website - Doukhobor Cultural Society of Saskatchewan

Visit the new website hosted by the Doukhobor Cultural Society of Saskatchewan (DCSS), a provincial umbrella group representing eight provincially-registered Doukhobor societies in Saskatchewan. Includes information about the DCSS, member societies, special events, traditions and customs, food and recipes, music and audio, The Dove magazine and more!

Update - Doukhobor Marriages Registered in British Columbia, 1909-1935

This genealogical database has been updated to include the groom's name, bride's name, place, date, registration number and microfilm number of 34 Doukhobor marriages registered in British Columbia in 1935, for a total of 448 marriages between 1909 and 1935. Compiled by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff from records from the British Columbia Marriage Registration Index.

Doukhobor Article Published in Saskatchewan History

The article "The Kylemore Doukhobor Colony" by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff has been published in the latest edition of the prestigious journal Saskatchewan History (Spring/Summer 2011 Issue, Volume 63, Number 1). It traces the history of the little-known Doukhobor communal colony from 1918 to 1938 in rich, descriptive detail. Click here to read article in website format.

Summer Break

The Doukhobor Genealogy Website is taking a summer break!  The website will be returning with a host of new updates very soon.  In the meantime, enjoy a wealth of feature articles, research materials, news and information on Doukhobor genealogy and family history in our content-rich and easy-to-navigate website.

Google Map - Doukhobor Villages in Georgia, 1841-Present

This Google map has been updated to include 21 geographic features named by the Doukhobors of the Akhalkalaki district of Tiflis province, Russian Empire (present-day Ninotsminda district, Samtskhe-Javakheti region, Georgia from 1841 to present. Includes standard interactive Google Maps features; links to The Doukhobor Gazetteer; and more.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

New Doukhobor Gazetteer entries for Doukhobor geographic names in Georgia: Chernyi Rodnik, Dedova Nora, Dudki, Dumy, Kharitonova Balka, Kipeniye Rodnik, Kipuchiy Rodnik, Kruglyi Rodnik, Krutaya Balka, Lushechkin Kurganchik, Mogilochki, Olen'ya Balka, Petrova Balka, Peshcherochki, Svyatye Mogilochki, Terpenskaya Balka, Terpenaya Balka, Zhariki.

Letters from the Caucasus, 1858

In 1858, Floriant A. Gille, the Swiss-born curator of the Hermitage museum in St. Petersburg, visited the Doukhobors living in the Akhalkalaki district of Tiflis province while travelling through the Caucasus. He recorded a rare and detailed eyewitness account of the Doukhobors he encountered, their climate and geography, economy, and their state and condition of life.

Index of Independent Doukhobor Society Members in Pelly, SK, 1924

New!  The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff contains information on 861 Doukhobors belonging to the Society of Independent Doukhobors living in Pelly, Saskatchewan in 1924. Information includes the surname, name, age and relationship of each member of the household. Translated and extracted from the original handwritten Russian records.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

See the new Doukhobor Gazetteer entries for Doukhobor geographic names in the Georgian Republic: Gora Bolshoy Abul, Gora Didi-Abuli, Gora El'dag, Gora Kruglaya, Gora Madatapa, Gora Ogyuzdag, Kachal Gora, Kartoshechnyi Kurgan, Kartoshkin Kurgan, Orlovsky Kurgan, Ostraya Gora, Podsvyatok, Sinii Kurgan, Spasovsky Kurgan, Svyataya Gora, Svyatoy Kurgan. 

The Brothers Chernoff From Azerbaijan To Canada: The Canadian Experience, 1899-1938

In 1899, the widow Anyuta Chernova and her six sons departed from their village of Slavyanka in Elizavetpol, Russia, seeking religious freedom and new opportunity in an unknown land. Fred J. Chernoff explores the faith, courage and strength of this Doukhobor family as they helped establish the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood on the Canadian Prairies.

Verigino Cemetery - Veregin District, Saskatchewan

The names 23 Doukhobors buried in unmarked graves in this small, abandoned communal cemetery, located north of Veregin, Saskatchewan, have been added to this webpage, thanks to the efforts of the late Bill Kabatoff, who identified and documented these interments based on oral tradition.

Donate to the Doukhobor Genealogy Website

The Doukhobor Genealogy Website is committed to providing free, accessible information on Doukhobor family history. As an independent, volunteer-based website, we are not financially supported by any organization, institution or agency. We need your support to continue to provide the high-quality content our thousands of visitors have come to expect. Please donate.

Village-Surname Index of Doukhobors in the Caucasus, 1873

The following name distribution study by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is of Doukhobor surnames that appear in the 1873 tax register of the Caucasus region of Imperial Russia. Search geographically by village to find the surnames that occurred in the village in 1873.  Then follow the instructions to consult the full extracted and translated data from the tax register.

Surname-Village Index of Doukhobors in the Caucasus, 1873

The following name distribution study by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is of Doukhobor surnames that appear in the 1873 tax register of the Caucasus region of Imperial Russia. Search alphabetically by surname to find the villages in which the surname occurred in 1873.  Then follow the instructions to consult the full extracted and translated data from the tax register.

Press Release: New Book on 1873 Tax Register to be Released Fall 2011

Doukhobor writer and historian Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is pleased to announce the upcoming release of his new book: 1873 Tax Register of Doukhobors in the Caucasus. The book is compiled from original nineteenth century Imperial Russian tax records housed at the Georgian State Archives in Tbilisi, Georgia and the National Archives of Azerbaijan in Baku, Azerbaijan.

New Link - Canada's Historic Places

The Canadian Register of Historic Places (CRHP) provides a single source of information about all historic places recognized for their heritage value at the local, provincial, territorial and national levels throughout Canada. Search under "Doukhobor" and "Doukhobors" to find a number of Doukhobor heritage designations in Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.

Index of Society of Named Doukhobors Members in Arran & Pelly, SK, 1930

New!  The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff contains information on 972 Doukhobors in 193 households belonging to the Society of Named Doukhobors of Canada living in Arran and Pelly, Saskatchewan in 1930. Information includes the name of the head of household, number of females and males and section of residence of each household.

History from the Heart

This 171-page thesis by University of Toronto Master of Arts student Sonya White shares the results of oral history interviews with members of the heterogeneous Doukhobor community in Canada and highlights the influence of intersecting demographic variables (gender, location, age) on the experience of Doukhobor life in Canada during times of sensationalized conflict.

The Dukhobortsy, 1854-1856 (Update)   

Thanks to Jack McIntosh, former UBC Slavic languages bibliographer, the anonymous author of this historic account has been identified as Heinrich Johann von Paucker (1839-1898), a Baltic German military cadet billeted in the Doukhobor village of Rodionovka during the Crimean War in 1854-1856. New autobiographic details are provided in the revised Afterword.

Doukhobors in the Hendersons Brandon, MB Directory, 1917  

The following index by Edward M. Kazakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1917 Hendersons directory for Brandon, Manitoba. It contains the surname, name, occupation and address of 12 Doukhobor household heads. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Doukhobors in the Hendersons Brandon, MB Directory, 1939  

The following index by Edward M. Kazakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1939 Hendersons directory for Brandon, Manitoba. It contains the surname, name, occupation and address of 13 Doukhobor household heads. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Prairie Flower: Biography of the Russian-Ukrainian Evangelical Christians in Benito, MB

This 348-page PhD thesis by Doctorate of Philosophy student Sergey V. Petrov of the University of Calgary chronicles the Russian and Ukrainian Evangelical Christians in Benito, Manitoba from 1928 to 1996. It also examines in detail their relationship with their Independent Doukhobor neighbours, with whom they shared a close cultural, spiritual and historic affinity.

Publications

Copies of genealogical reference books by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff are available for sale: 1853 Tax Register of Doukhobors in the Caucasus; 1918 Independent Doukhobor Census; and 1930 Names Doukhobors of Canada, Saskatchewan Membership List. Coming soon: Doukhobor Ship Passenger Lists (2nd Edition) by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff and Steve Lapshinoff.

A Case Study of Soviet-Canadian Doukhobor Correspondence

This case study by Romanian researcher Marguerite Marlin examines correspondence between Canadian and Soviet Doukhobors, and how this sustained international citizen diplomacy, whereby Doukhobors exchanged their pacifist visions of their respective societies, helped to change the face of social activism in the USSR prior to Glasnost and Perestroika.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

New Doukhobor Gazetteer database entries: Imatra Colony (FI); Akhalkalaki (RU); Kholodnoye (RU); Dukhobor'e (RU); Dukhoboriya (RU); Ninotsminda (GE); Mokrye Gory (RU); Kechut (GE); Javkheti (GE); Borchalo (RU); Dmanisi (GE); Kedabek (RU); Gadabay (AZ); Shuragel (RU); Akyaka (TU); Zarishat (RU); Arpacay (TU); Unnamed Doukhobor Village (Cowley, AB); Unnamed Doukhobor Villages #1-3 (Kylemore, SK); Kelvington Doukhobor Farm #1-2 (SK).

A Brief History of Peasant Tolstoyans

Tolstoyans were devout followers of Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy. They opposed the Orthodox Church because of its perceived corruption and its relations with the Tsarist regime, following the 'pure' spiritualism of their mentor. In Soviet times, Tolstoyans went from roughly 6,000 members in 1917 to less than 1,000 members in 1931. Learn more in this historic overview.

Doukhobors in the Arran, SK Telephone Directory, 1942  

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1942 telephone directory for Arran, Saskatchewan. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 25 Doukhobor households and businesses. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Doukhobors in the Pelly, SK Telephone Directory, 1942  

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1942 telephone directory for Pelly, Saskatchewan. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 19 Doukhobor households and businesses. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

New Materials from the Earliest History of the Doukhobor Sect

Between 1767 and 1769, peasant sectarians were discovered in Tambov and Voronezh, Russia who rejected the Orthodox Church, priests, icons and all church ritual. The official investigation which ensued revealed that Doukhoborism was already a fully formed religious sect then, with a distinct organizational structure, mature set of beliefs and fully developed order of worship.

Google Map - Kelvington, SK Doukhobor Farm Settlement, 1921-1938

The following is a Google map of the 8,000-acre Doukhobor farm settlement established between 1921 and 1938 in the Kelvington district of Saskatchewan by the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood (CCUB). Compiled from original research by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff. Includes standard interactive Google Maps features; links to The Doukhobor Gazetteer; more.

New Link - Canadiana Discovery Portal

Canadiana.org works together with Canada's libraries, museums, archives, and government agencies to strengthen our collective ability to present Canada's documentary heritage content online. These collections are continually expanding and comprise many different types of content including historical photos of Doukhobors in Canada as well as some documents.

Doukhobors in the Canora, SK Telephone Directory, 1942  

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1942 telephone directory for Canora, Saskatchewan. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 53 Doukhobor households and businesses. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Doukhobors in the Langham, SK Telephone Directory, 1942  

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1942 telephone directory for Veregin, Saskatchewan. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 50 Doukhobor households and businesses. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Doukhobors in the Caucasus, 1863-1864

In 1863, Alexander Petzholdt, a German scientist and traveler, met a group of Akhalkalaki Doukhobors carting freight near Tiflis. Later, in 1864, he visited the Doukhobors living in Borchalo district. He recorded a rare and detailed eyewitness account of the Doukhobors he encountered, their climate and geography, economy, and their state and condition of life.

Update - Origin and Meaning of Doukhobor Surnames

This glossary has been updated to include the origin and meaning of an additional twelve surnames that occurred historically among the Doukhobors including: Efimov, Efremov, Klyuev, Kozorev, Pankratov, Rykunov, Savel'ev, Sergiev, Stepanov, Sukhovkin, Sumkin and Tarasiev. Find surname roots along with original Cyrillic and transliterated English spellings.

Historical Map - Kylemore, Saskatchewan Doukhobor Villages, 1918-1938

The following is a new historical map of Doukhobor village settlements established between 1918 and 1938 in the Kylemore district of Saskatchewan by the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood (CCUB). Compiled from original GPS field research by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff, it includes geographically precise locations of CCUB villages and landholdings.

Imperial Legislation of the First Quarter of the 19th Century Re: Ukrainian Doukhobors

During the reign of Tsar Alexander I, a favourable legislative framework was established which allowed Doukhobors in Ukraine to benefit both socially and economically. Ukrainian graduate student Tamara Nagorna examines the major features of his policy towards the Doukhobors, based on an analysis of Imperial legislation during the first quarter of the nineteenth century.

Update - Doukhobors in the Boundary

This historical account of Doukhobor settlement at Grand Forks in the Boundary region of British Columbia has been updated to include a new multi-point Google Map of 47 Doukhobor villages, communal industries, schools and cemeteries in the region. It includes standard Google Maps features as well as links to The Doukhobor Gazetteer, Google Earth, and more!

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Google Map - Grand Forks, BC Doukhobor Villages, 1909-1939

The following is a Google map of Doukhobor village settlements established between 1909 and 1939 in the Grand Forks district of British Columbia by the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood (CCUB). Compiled from original field research by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff. Includes standard interactive Google Maps features; links to The Doukhobor Gazetteer; and more

Doukhobor History of the Lundbreck-Cowley Area of Alberta

In 1915, the CCUB established 13 villages on 13,500 acres of land in the Lundbreck and Cowley areas of Alberta. Following the CCUB's demise in 1938, several families remained in the area, where they continued to practice their faith and culture. Margaret Salekin examines the history of Doukhobor settlement in the area through the experiences of the Konkin family.

Index of CCUB/Named Doukhobor Members in Veregin, Saskatchewan, 1934

New!  The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff contains information on 42 Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood (CCUB) households in Veregin, Saskatchewan belonging to the Society of Named Doukhobors in Canada in 1934. Information includes the surname and name of the male head of household as well as membership fees.

The Wrong Has Still Not Been Righted

The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal will hear from Sons of Freedom Doukhobors taken from their families as children in the 1950s and sent to a residential school in New Denver. The hearing, expected to take place in Castlegar, BC in early 2011, follows a B.C. Supreme Court ruling that it should go ahead despite objections from the provincial government.

The Sojourning Spinner: Doukhobor Fiber Tools

In her crafts and textiles blog, writer and spinner Kristen M. Hughes looks at the fiber tools and materials used historically in Doukhobor folk culture to meet the people's needs for clothes, bedding, and so on.  The Doukhobors made their own tools and raised the fiber from scratch, through hard-work, self-sufficiency and communal principles.  

The Sojourning Spinner: Lessons from the Doukhobor

In the following blog, folk spinner Kristen M. Hughes examines the Doukhobors and their grassroots textile production. She finds that, historically, the Doukhobors had a highly degree of skilled textile proficiency, which was taught and transmitted through communal living and organization and supported by an extraordinary degree of self-sufficiency and cooperation.

Historical Map - Kelvington, Saskatchewan Doukhobor Farm Settlement, 1921-1938

The following is an historical map of the 8,000 acre Doukhobor farm settlement established in 1921 in the Kelvington district of Saskatchewan by the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood (CCUB) as an annex to its Kylemore colony. Compiled from original field research by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff, it includes locations of CCUB villages and landholdings.

English for Doukhobors: 110 Years of Russian-English Contact in Canada

Over the last 110 years, the use of the Doukhobor Russian dialect has been gradually displaced by English among Doukhobors living in Canada. The following article by Professor Gunter Schaarschmidt of the University of Victoria examines this trend in the context of “special” or “ritual” language used by the Doukhobors in their religious ceremony.

Brilliant Bridge Will Live up to its Name

The historic Doukhobor 'Brilliant Bridge' at Castlegar, BC will be getting into the holiday spirit this year. At a special ceremony on November 26, the bridge will be lit up with spotlights for the first time — and the illumination will end up being a permanent fixture, thanks to the bridge restoration committee and Columbia Power, the RDCK and other groups.

Doukhobors in the Veregin, SK Telephone Directory, 1942  

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1942 telephone directory for Veregin, Saskatchewan. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 62 Doukhobor households and businesses. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Doukhobors in the Kamsack, SK Telephone Directory, 1942  

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1942 telephone directory for Kamsack, Saskatchewan. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 37 Doukhobor households and businesses. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

The Kylemore Doukhobor Colony

The Kylemore Colony was a Doukhobor communal settlement established by the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood in the Kylemore district of Saskatchewan between 1918 and 1938. This article by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff examines the colony from its settlement and early development, communal life and organization, to its eventual demise and break-up.

Enmity of the Peoples

As more Doukhobors leave Javakheti for Russia, their homes get taken over by ethnic Armenians, but the Georgians do little to integrate the region into their own state. Justin Lyle of Russia Profile examines how Tbilisi’s failure to engage the majority-Armenian region of Javakheti in a substantive integration process has left the area caught between two states.

A Search for Values in an Age of Transition

In this MA Thesis in Peace and Conflict Studies, Doukhobor Linda Wilkinson discuss and analyze the development of the Mir Centre for Peace as a values-based initiative at a small community college in British Columbia, Canada, and how it has led to a renewed awareness of the traditional and enduring peaceful values of local Doukhobor and First Nations minorities.

Remembering Tolstoy

November 7th is the 100th anniversary of the death of Russian novelist Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy. While he never set foot on Canadian soil, he was an instrumental figure in bringing the Doukhobors to Canada in 1897 and supporting their pacifist lifestyle as they settled throughout Western Canada. By Colin Payne of the Slocan Valley Current.

Update - Origin and Meaning of Molokan Surnames

This glossary has been updated to include the origin and meaning of 17 more surnames that occurred historically among the Molokans in Russia: Dolgov, Erkin, Ermakov, Ignatov, Karnaukhov, Kolodin, Luponosov, Moiseev, Morozov, Nemanikhin, Sergeev, Sirotov, Surkov, Tershukov, Titov, Ustrashkin, and Zhmaev.

1910 Report of the General Meeting of the Doukhobor Community

The following is a rare extant report of the general meeting of the Doukhobor Community held at Verigin, Saskatchewan, on January 25, 1910, as published in the Manitoba Free Press, March 1, 1910. The minutes and general account provide extraordinary insight into the administrative and financial matters along with the current issues of the day.

The Essential Mill

The machinery, surroundings and economics have changed, but the values remain the same for the Grand Forks Doukhobor Milling Heritage Society. The Society operates a flour mill in Grand Forks' west end, which has been located on the same site since 1915. It is an essential element of life in a Doukhobor community. By Shella Gardezi (Route 3, October 2010).

Google Map - Kylemore, Saskatchewan Doukhobor Villages, 1918-1939

The following is a Google map of Doukhobor village settlements established between 1918 and 1939 in the Kylemore district of Saskatchewan by the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood (CCUB). Compiled from original field research by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff. Includes standard interactive Google Maps features; links to The Doukhobor Gazetteer; and more!

Doukhobors in the Blaine Lake, SK Telephone Directory, 1942  

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1942 telephone directory for Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 165 Doukhobor households and businesses. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Doukhobors in the Buchanan, SK Telephone Directory, 1942  

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1942 telephone directory for Buchanan, Saskatchewan. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 62 Doukhobor households and businesses. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Visit to the Dukhobortsy Exiled in Finland

In 1815, two agents of the British and Foreign Bible Society, Robert Pinkerton and John Paterson, visited a group of Don Cossack Doukhobors exiled in the Vyborg district of Finland. Both kept journals and recorded their impressions. They form one of the few surviving accounts of the Doukhobors in Finland, their history and beliefs, and the circumstances of their exile.

Historical Map - Cowley-Lundbreck, Alberta Doukhobor Villages, 1915-1939

The following is an historical map of Doukhobor village settlements established between 1915 and 1939 in the Cowley and Lundbreck districts of Alberta by the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood (CCUB). Compiled from original GPS field research by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff, it includes geographically precise locations of CCUB villages and landholdings.

Google Map - Cowley-Lundbreck, Alberta Doukhobor Villages, 1915-1939

The following is a Google map of Doukhobor village settlements established between 1915 and 1939 in the Cowley and Lundbreck districts of Alberta by the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood (CCUB). Compiled from original field research by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff. Includes standard interactive Google Maps features; links to The Doukhobor Gazetteer; and more!

Update - Origin and Meaning of Molokan Surnames

This glossary has been updated to include the origin and meaning of 15 more surnames that occurred historically among the Molokans in Russia: Derkachov, Khaustov, Kobylov, Koveshnikov, Malashikhin, Malyshev, Muravlev, Nechaev, Podomarev, Podosinnikov, Shaposhnikov, Shepelev, Talochkin, Vavilov and Yablokov.

The Dukhobortsy, 1854-1856  

During the Crimean War, Russian army regiments were billeted in Doukhobor settlements in Transcaucasia.  One soldier kept a journal and recorded his observations about his Doukhobor hosts. Available for the first time in English, his account outlines their geography and climate, history, religious beliefs and services and customs and practices in this little-known period.

UFV Celebrates Tolstoy

It’s been 100 years since prolific writer, and the author of classics such as War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy died. To celebrate his life and his writings, and to recognize the remarkable contributions he made to literature and society, the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford, British Columbia is hosting a series of Tolstoy-based events on September 22.

Doukhobors in the South Slocan, BC Telephone Directory, 1960  

The following index by Greg Nesteroff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1960 telephone directory for South Slocan, British Columbia. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 43 Doukhobor households and businesses. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Doukhobors in the Trail, BC Telephone Directory, 1960  

The following index by Greg Nesteroff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1960 telephone directory for Trail, British Columbia. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 31 Doukhobor households and businesses. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

New Curator to Head DDC

The Doukhobor Discovery Centre in Castlegar, BC is switching things up after almost two decades. Netta Zeberoff found out on Sept. 2 that she is taking over Larry Ewashen’s position as curator - a job he’s had for 17 years - and she said it’s a dream come true. A self described people person, Zeberoff said she loves talking about and teaching Doukhobor culture.

Historical Map - Doukhobor Exile to Yakutsk, Siberia, 1896-1900

Between 1896 and 1900, 125 Doukhobor army conscripts from the Caucasus were exiled to the Yakutsk region of Siberia for a term of 18 years for refusing to perform military service.  The exiles undertook the 12,800 kilometer journey in five parties over a five year period. The journey was taken by railroad, by foot and by river barge and took ten months to complete.

To the Spirit of God, I Pray and Bow...

Today, relatively few Doukhobors remain in Georgia following mass emigrations to Russia. One of the largest remaining – but least documented - populations is in the town of Dmanisi. Elena Kovshova examines the Doukhobors of Dmanisi – the history, philosophy and culture of a disappearing people, rooted in goodness and renowned for their kindess and hospitality.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer database has been updated to include the following entries: Kladbishche Ivanovke (RU); Kladbishche Novoe Zhizni (RU); Kladbishche Tambovke (RU); Odintsovskoye Kladbishche (RU); Petrovskoye Kladbishche (RU); Rodionovskoye Kladbishche (RU); Vasil’evskoye Kladbishche (RU); Efremovka (UK); Spasskoye (UK); Podzirailovka (UK); Mikhailivka (UK); Tselina (RU); Mordovskoye (BC); Sherbiko Hill (BC); Sherbiko Eddy (BC). 

Update - Doukhobor Marriages Registered in British Columbia, 1909-1934

This genealogical database has been updated to include the groom's name, bride's name, place, date, registration number and microfilm number of 23 Doukhobor marriages registered in British Columbia in 1934, for a total of 413 marriages between 1909 and 1934. Compiled by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff from records from the British Columbia Marriage Registration Index.

Story Behind Sherbiko Hill

Nicholas W. Sherbiko was an early Doukhobor settler who in the 20's and 30's ran a dairy farm in Castlegar, BC, selling milk, cream and butter throughout the area. Today, the prominent hill where his farm was is known as Sherbiko Hill. Below the hill flows a stretch of the Columbia River known as Sherbiko Eddy.  Learn the little-known story behind these well-known features.

Update - Guide to Doukhobor Names & Naming Practices

This now-classic study of Doukhobor naming practices has been substantially updated and revised. A must-read for researchers of Doukhobor history and genealogy, this guide assists in the understanding of Doukhobor names and naming practices in 18th, 19th and 20th century Russia and Canada, and in recognizing Doukhobor names that appear in records.

Update - Origin and Meaning of Doukhobor Surnames

This glossary has been updated to include the origin and meaning of an additional seven surnames that occurred historically among the Doukhobors including: Filip'ev, Golenishchev, Kuskov, Pentsov, Prokofiev, Roldugin and Surovtsov. Find the roots and meanings of Doukhobor surnames along with original Cyrillic and transliterated English spellings.

Doukhobor Tradition Carries on One Loaf at a Time

For over half a century, the Doukhobor bread booth has been a popular draw at the Saskatoon Exhibition. Run by over 60 volunteers, the 3 wood-fired ovens work overtime during Exhibition week, producing over 5,000 loaves. And there's no shortage of fans who make their annual pilgrimage to savour the thick sliced bread topped with generous amounts of butter and jam.

Update - The Hyas Doukhobor Settlement

This study of the Doukhobor settlement at Hyas, SK has been updated to include a rare period photograph of village buildings and inhabitants in c. 1905 - the only photograph of the village known to exist.  From 1902 to 1907, the village was home to over 45 Independent Doukhobors who, while rejecting communalism, strove to retain their traditional village way of life.

News Coverage Can Tar People by Association

In the 1950s and 60s, Sons of Freedom stripped naked in public and committed arson to show their disdain for worldly things. Through sensationalist media coverage, it became popular belief that all Doukhobors were anarchists. Fifty years later, Jim Hume of the Victoria Times Colonist reflects on the Doukhobor question and whether media covered the story or created it.

Prayer Home Recognized by Province

Lundbreck's historic Doukhobor Prayer Home, one of the few Doukhobor buildings remaining in Alberta, has been designated a provincial historic site. The designation was announced to members of the United Doukhobors of Alberta at their annual meeting in June. It is the hope of Doukhobors still in the area that the designation will preserve their history, faith and culture.

Summer Break

The Doukhobor Genealogy Website is taking a summer break!  The website will be returning with a host of new updates starting August 15.  In the meantime, enjoy a wealth of feature articles, research materials, news and information on Doukhobor genealogy and family history in our content-rich and easy-to-navigate website.

The Vereschagins' Exile to Siberia

The Doukhobor Burning of Arms and rejection of military service in 1895 was followed by harsh reprisals against the religious dissenters. Hundreds of men were imprisoned, tortured and exiled to Siberia. The following is an autobiographical account of Vasily Gavrilovich and son Alexei Vasil'evich Vereschagin and their struggles and tragedies during this tumultuous period.

Doukhobor Heritage Lives on in Southeast B.C.

Tucked into the green valleys of southeast BC, a handful of century-old brick houses are mute witness to an old way of life. For a casual visitor, the Doukhobor heritage isn't immediately obvious. The communal villages long ago dissolved; the Doukhobors now blend into Canadian society. Yet the cultural heritage endures, if you take the time to look beneath the surface.

Dukhobor (Full-Length Version)

A Doukhobor Genealogy Website exclusive. Russian filmmaker Vasily Glebov was born in the Javakheti Doukhobor community in Georgia. In 2005-2006 he made a film about the once-thriving community, dedicated to all true Doukhobors. This is the full-length 33.28 minute of this film (previously unreleased) in which he laments the dissolution of the Javakheti community.

Toil and Peaceful Life

Creating art is always a personal endeavour, and Nikki Coulombe is often drawn to study only for the deeper experience of it; for the kind of education and understanding that can’t come through reading or any other means. In the following blog, the Alberta-born, Texas-based artist examines and experiences her recently-discovered Doukhobor heritage through her artwork.

Yorkton and Area Doukhobor Historical Tour

On June 27, 2008, the National Heritage Doukhobor Village hosted a guided motor coach tour of Doukhobor historical sites in Canora, Hamton, Ebenezer, Yorkton, Insinger and Sheho areas, visiting a number of heritage buildings and structures built by the Doukhobor Community as part of its trading, industrial and commercial activities in the areas in the early 1900's.

Update - The Doukhobor Community in Trail

This exposition of the Doukhobor Community in Trail, BC has been updated to include another rare panoramic postcard photograph of the Trail Doukhobor communal house, bath and storage house, adjoining riverside tennis courts, and rooming houses built by the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood between 1910 and 1918 in Trail. Postcard courtesy of Greg Nesteroff.

Update - Doukhobor Development in the Ebenezer District

This survey of Doukhobor development in the district of Ebenezer, SK has been updated to include a rare historic photograph of the Goulden Barn. Built in 1911 by the Doukhobor Community for local farmer William Goulden, it was constructed of timber from the CCUB's Kootenays, BC sawmills and brick and cinderblock from the CCUB brickworks in Yorkton, SK.

Publications

Copies of genealogical reference books by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff are available for sale: 1853 Tax Register of Doukhobors in the Caucasus; 1918 Independent Doukhobor Census; and 1930 Names Doukhobors of Canada, Saskatchewan Membership List. Coming soon: Doukhobor Ship Passenger Lists (2nd Edition) by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff and Steve Lapshinoff.

Update - Origin and Meaning of Molokan Surnames

This glossary has been updated to include the origin and meaning of 22 more surnames that occurred historically among the Molokans: Aistov, Anufriev, Astakhov, Avdeev, Balikhin, Chernyaev, Fes’kin, Filimonov, Golubyatkin, Igumnov, Klenin, Lezin, Matroshin, Milyaev, Panin, Poteshnichenko, Primakov, Sachkov, Savinov, Skorokhodov, Spiridonov and Syrovatkin.

The Decembrist and the Doukhobor

The following story relates how exiled Decembrist leader Prince Evgeny Obolensky was aided by a banished Doukhobor peasant in 1827. The Doukhobor, at great risk to himself, delivered letters between Obolensky and his fellow Decembrist exiles in Siberia. The story illustrates the kinship shared by Russians of all classes who suffered for their beliefs under Tsar Nicholas.

Google Map - Doukhobor Exile & Settlement in Siberia, 1795-1865

In the late 1700’s and early to mid-1800’s, small groups of Doukhobors were exiled to the easternmost regions of Russia – Siberia and the Far East. This Google Map identifies Doukhobor areas of exile and settlement in Siberia during this period.  Includes standard interactive Google Maps features; links to The Doukhobor Gazetteer; Google Earth; and more!

Historical Map - Doukhobor Exile & Settlement in Siberia, 1795-1865

In the late 1700’s and early to mid-1800’s, small groups of Doukhobors were exiled to the easternmost regions of Russia – Siberia and the Far East. The objective was to isolate the religious dissenters on the frontier where they would be unable to influence the general Orthodox population. Several little-known Doukhobor exile settlements were established there.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

See the new Doukhobor Gazetteer entries for Doukhobor exile and settlement in Siberia: Ekaterinburg (Perm); Krasnoyarsk, Turukhansk, Mirnoye, Dukhobory, Iskup, Gilevo, Stanka Dukhobory, Shorokhino, Yakuty (Tobol'sk/Yenisei); Nizhne-Udinsk, Usol'ye, Irkutsk, Koty, Verkhne-Udinsk, Nerchinsk (Irkutsk); Yakutsk (Yakutsk; Okhotsk (Kamchatka).

Yasnaya Polyana - A Mecca for Lovers of Tolstoy

More than 100 years after their relatives made it to Canada, the Alfred and Elaine Podovinikoff family is returning to Russia, resettling in Yasnaya Polyana - the family home of the world-famous writer Leo Tolstoy. Inspired by the historic benefactor of the Doukhobors, the family is chipping away little by little to build a home that will also serve the Doukhobor community.

Exploring the Terrain of Doukhobor Community Inquiry

University of Toronto Masters student Sonya White explores the community-based research process of asking questions about cultural agency, minority history, and Doukhobor identity in Canada. The following is an abstract of her research presentation to the Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education (CASAE) in Montreal, Quebec on May 30-June 1, 2010.

Bridge Opening Draws Massive Crowds

Inclement weather was no deterrent for the more than 1,200 people who showed up for the grand opening of the restored Brilliant Suspension Bridge. Built in 1913 by the Doukhobor Community and restored over the past several years, the bridge spanning the Kootenay River near Brilliant, BC combines function, beauty and symbolism for all area residents to enjoy.

Digitizing Vinyl to Preserve History

Technology has finally caught up with the dreams of some Doukhobor musicians to preserve their heritage in the 78’s project headed by Grand Forks local Ron Mahonin. Over the years, many Doukhobor songs were recorded on vinyl records. Mahonin has taken on the task of preserving the history inherent in these recordings by digitizing them and telling their story.

On Doukhobor Psalms

Doukhobor Psalmody has been neglected by scholars till very recently. Nothing easily available to the researcher was documented before the turn of the last century. Mark Mealing examines their history, music and text and analyzes examples. The psalms are still recited and sung today because they speak to the condition of life and have answers worthy to be heard.

Dukhobor

A Doukhobor Genealogy Website exclusive. Russian filmmaker Vasily Glebov was born in the Javakheti Doukhobor community in Georgia. In 2005-2006 he made a film about the once-thriving community, dedicated to all true Doukhobors. The following is a 5:47 minute fragment of this film in which he laments the dissolution of the Javakheti Doukhobor community.

Saturday an Historic Day for Castlegar

A fundamental piece of Castlegar heritage will once again be accessible to the public after this May 2010 long weekend's grand re-opening of the Brilliant Suspension Bridge. The bridge stands as testament to the pioneering spirit of the region's early settlers – the Doukhobors - and as a symbol of the hopes, dreams and strategies that will guide the region's future.

Building of the Brilliant Bridge

Written in 1976 by Cyril Ozeroff, the following paper provides an excellent overview of the building of the historic Brilliant Bridge, which spans the Kootenay River near Brilliant, BC.  The project was completed in 1913, an undertaking of the members of the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood (CCUB) with the BC Provincial Government providing some financial aid.

With the Doukhobors on Cyprus

In 1898, at the behest of the English Quakers, Evangelical Christian leader Ivan S. Prokhanov went to Cyprus to assist a group of 1,150 Doukhobors settled there. For months, he worked among the fever-stricken settlers, assisting them with their general conditions, before returning to Russia in 1899. The following article recounts his work among the Cyprus Doukhobors.

Google Map - Cyprus Doukhobor Villages, 1898-1899

New! A Google Map of Doukhobor settlements briefly established from 1898 to 1899 in the Larnaca, Nicosia and Famagusta districts of the island of Cyprus (present-day Republic of Cyprus and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus).  Includes standard interactive Google Maps features; links to The Doukhobor Gazetteer; Google Earth; and more!

Update - Origin and Meaning of Molokan Surnames

This encyclopaedic glossary has been updated to include the origin and meaning of an additional 17 surnames that occurred historically among the Molokans including: Aref'ev, Chesnokov, Goloshchapov, Gunin, Kostryuchenko, Krechetov, Makashev, Markov, Pimenov, Puzanov, Sadovnikov, Sakharov, Semenikhin, Smirnov, Suzdaltsev, Vas'kov and Zhdanov.

Index of Fallen Doukhobor Soldiers in the Soviet Red Army, WWII

This database contains information on 831 fallen Doukhobor soldiers in the Soviet Red Army in World War II. These Doukhobor soldiers originated from: the Bogdanovka and Dmanisi rayons of the Georgian SSR; the Kedabek rayon of the Azerbaijan SSR; the Mikhailovka rayon of Zaporozhiya oblast, Ukrainian SSR; and the Tselina rayon of Rostov oblast, Russian SSR.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer has been updated to include the following entries: Chernoff Subdivision Road (Mirror Lake, BC); Cheveldave Road (Raspberry, BC); Popoff Road (Grand Forks, BC); Hadikin Road, Saliken Road, Soukoroff Road, (Pass Creek, BC); Veregin Road (R.M. of Wallace No. 243, SK). More Doukhobor street entries to follow soon!

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

See the new Doukhobor Gazetteer entries for the Tselina district of Rostov province, Russia: Kolkhoz Imeni Budennogo; Kolkhoz Novaya Zhizn'; Kolkhoz Imeni Kirova; Kolkhoz Put' Lenina; Kolkhoz Krasnii Partizan; Kolkhoz Imeni 17-go Parts'ezda; Kolkhoz Chapaeva; Kolkhoz Imeni Kalinina; Kolkhoz Bolshevik; Kolkhoz Imeni 16-go Parts'ezda; Kolkhoz Krasnii Mayak; Kolkhoz Obshchii Trud; Kolkhoz Imeni 22-go Parts'ezda; Kolkhoz Imeni Lenina.

Gorelovka

The Doukhobor village of Gorelovka is located in Southern Georgia. Its inhabitants managed to keep their identity and traditions throughout the Soviet period. However, under political and economical pressure, many Doukhobors have now left Georgia and the heritage will disappear with the last inhabitants. A 6:58 minute short film by Georgian filmmaker Alexander Krivia.

Trailer - Wrestling With the Spirit: A Doukhobor Story

Dorothy Dickie's "A Doukhobor Story" is a personal journey into the fascinating faith of her Russian great-grandfather, Vanya Perverseff, who came to Canada in 1899 with 2,300 other Doukhobors. This 2:15 minute trailer is taken from the 23-minute episode of "A Doukhobor Story" from the documentary series, A Scattering of Seeds, the Creation of Canada.

Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology & Ethnology (Kunstkamera)

This online collection of images from the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography is one of the most significant archive collections in Russia, containing digitized photo prints, glass plates, negative and positive films, postcards, sketches and other materials which constitute a valuable visual anthropology source since the mid 19th century to present.

Historical Map - Doukhobor Settlements in Rostov Province, Russia, 1921-Present

In 1921-1923, 4,000 Doukhobors from the Caucasus were permitted to resettle on 25,000 acres in the Tselina district of Rostov province, Russia. There on the fertile steppes, they planted grain fields, raised extensive livestock herds and established twenty-one villages. In the 1930's, they were collectivized.  In the 1950’s, the villages were consolidated into eleven villages.

Google Map - Rostov Doukhobor and Molokan Settlements, 1921-Present

New! A Google Map of Doukhobor and Molokan villages in the Tselina district of Rostov province, Russia, 1921-present. Red placemarks indicate Doukhobor villages and blue placemarks - Molokan villages. Includes standard interactive Google Maps features; links to The Doukhobor Gazetteer; Google Earth; and more!

Kars: A Journey of Discovery

In 2009, Flo (Chernoff) Lymburner traveled to Kars, Turkey. Armed with a historical map and assisted by a local guide and translator, she visited the historic Kars Doukhobor village sites - the first such visit by a person of Doukhobor ancestry in 90 to 110 years!  She relates her remarkable heritage trip and journey of discovery to the lands of her Doukhobor ancestors.

Google Map - Kars Doukhobor and Molokan Settlements, 1879-1921

New! A Google Map of Doukhobor and Molokan villages in Kars province, Russia (present-day Turkey), 1879-1921. Red placemarks indicate Doukhobor villages and blue placemarks - Molokan villages. Includes 19th century Russian and 20th century Turkish names; standard interactive Google Maps features; links to The Doukhobor Gazetteer; Google Earth; and more!

From Toil to Peaceful Life

The Podmaroff family are modest about their two-storey farmhouse in Grand Forks, BC but a lot of history and hard work went into what exists today. They have transformed their property from a Doukhobor industrial site - a former cafeteria and shoemaker's shop - to a comfortable and unique family home. By Shella Gardezi (Nelson Daily News, Route 3, Spring 2010).

Digging Deep

The Doukhobor Dugout House is a National Heritage Site located along the North Saskatchewan River near Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan. The following article by Maureen M. Murray (Westworld, Spring 2010) examines how this century-old dugout house provides a window onto a prairie past. Learn about its history and background, tours and special events.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer now includes updated entries for the Doukhobor villages of the Blagoveshchensk district of Amur province, Russia: Astrakhanovka, Berezovka, Bogoroditsa, Bondarevo, Blagoveshchensk, Ekaterinoslavka, Gil'chin, Manzhurka (Voronzha), Novo-Pokrovka (Sergeyevka), Novo-Troitskoye, and Tambovka.  

Google Map - Amur Doukhobor and Molokan Settlements, 1859-1932

A Google Map of Doukhobor and Molokan villages in the Blagoveshchensk district of Amur province, Russia, 1859-1932. Red placemarks indicate Doukhobor villages; blue placemarks - Molokan villages; and purple placemarks - shared Molokan and Doukhobor villages. Includes standard Google Maps features, links to The Doukhobor Gazetteer, Google Earth, and more!

Historical Map - Doukhobor Settlements in Amur Province, Russia, 1859-1932

Between 1859-1894, Doukhobors from across the Russian Empire, seeking religious liberty and the promise of free land, resettled in the Blagoveshchensk district of Amur province, Russia. There, they established ten villages and acquired extensive landholdings. They flourished until 1926-1932, when they were liquidated by Soviet authorities as "class enemies".

Historic Coat at Doukhobor Discovery Centre

The Doukhobor Discovery Centre in Castlegar, British Columbia has received a rare historic artifact. It is a rare sheepskin coat originally brought to Canada from Russia in 1899 by Vasily Verigin, the great grandfather of curator Larry Ewashen. It was stored in Mission by the curator’s aunt, Mrs. Polly Wishlow, Vasillii’s grand daughter who donated it to the Centre.

Invisible Minority

The following blog by UBC student Kalyeena Makortoff contemplates the double-edge sword of Doukhobor assimilation in Canadian society. As a member of a non-visible minority, perceived and treated as a white Canadian woman, she does not face the blatant discrimination her family once did. However, does this 'invisibility' support the full flourishing of an ethnic identity?

Russian Writers and the Doukhobors

The following article by George Woodcock (Canadian Literature 120 Spring 1989) recounts the friendship between Canadian political economist James Mavor and Russian anarchist and geographer Peter Kropotkin. It was a friendship that would involve a number of important Russian writers and intellectuals and that led to the coming of the Doukhobors to Canada.

1936 Kamsack, SK Doukhobor Society - Membership List

This index contains the surname, name, relationship and age of 226 members of the Kamsack Doukhobor Society living in Kamsack, Saskatchewan in 1936.  Translated from the original Russian by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff.  Compiled from the private collection of Peter E. Varabioff.  A valuable new source of genealogical and historical information!

Nominee: Larry Ewashen

The Doukhobor Discovery Centre, located in Castlegar, British Columbia, has become a major regional tourist draw over the last few decades. The responsibility for the growth and success of the museum is largely due to the efforts of Larry Ewashen, who assumed the role of curator in 1993. The following Castlegar News article examines Ewashen's history and background.

New Link - National Doukhobor Heritage Village

Visit this great new website about the National Doukhobor Heritage Village (NDHV) in scenic Veregin, Saskatchewan.  Learn about the historic buildings, artifacts, museum facilities and heritage resources that comprise this National Historic Site, NDHV hours and admission, as well as a Calendar of Events including traditional Doukhobor prayer services.  A must see!

Peter Faminow Fonds Added to UBC Rare Books and Special Collections

The archives of Peter Faminow were recently added to the University of British Columbia Rare Books and Special Collections. These contains documents related to both Faminow’s career as a lawyer and politician, and also related to his involvement in the Doukhobor community, including rare documents circulated in the Doukhobor community in the 1920’s-1950’s.

The Empire in Practice

The following article by scholar Nicholas Breyfogle examines the relationship between Russian sectarian settlers, the peoples of South Caucasia and the structures of Tsarist governance in the 19th century.  He contends that the permanent settlement of Russians in the region did much to disrupt long-standing patterns of nomadic migration, giving rise to local conflict.

Update - The Doukhobors: A Community Race in Canada

This exposition of Doukhobor life by writer Victoria Hayward and photographer Edith Watson has been updated to include another rare historic Watson photo from the private collection of Nellie Voykin. Taken in Brilliant, British Columbia  in 1919, it is of toddler cousins Masha (nee Kanigan) Jmaeff and Nellie (nee Kanigan) lending a hand at watering the garden with a hose.

Update - Origin and Meaning of Doukhobor Surnames

This glossary has been updated to include the origin and meaning of an additional 21 surnames that occurred historically among the Doukhobors including: Azarov, Bykov, Evseev, Kiselev, Krechetov, Krivobokov, Lukin, Mizginov, Osipov, Ovchinnikov, Pasynkov, Pechersky, Poletaev, Poluektov, Sharov, Shmagin, Shusherin, Startsev, Suslin, Teplyakov, Timofeev.

Bread and Salt and The Word

Surrey writer Harry (Novokshonoff) Tournemille grew up both a Doukhobor and a Mennonite. He was born half the former and inherited the latter via church upbringing. Here he examines the manufactured quality of how one typically views their family heritage and concludes that the importance of that heritage - a subjective, malleable concept - is whatever one wants it to be.

Doukhobors in the Nelson, BC Telephone Directory, 1960  

The following index by Greg Nesteroff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1960 telephone directory for Nelson, British Columbia. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 153 Doukhobor households and businesses. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Doukhobors in the Salmo, BC Telephone Directory, 1960  

The following index by Greg Nesteroff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1960 telephone directory for Salmo, British Columbia. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 37 Doukhobor households and businesses. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

A Courteous and Well-Conducted Community: The Doukhobors in Cyprus, 1898-9

In August 1898, 1,126 Doukhobors, fleeing religious persecution in Tsarist Russia, disembarked on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus and established a colony.  However, eight months later, the settlement was unsuccessful and the Doukhobors left the island to travel to Canada. This article by Carla King examines the reasons for the Cyprus colony's failure.  

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer has been updated to include the following entries: Antifaev Road, Horkoff Road, Konkin Road, Negraeff Road, Outlook Road, Rezansoff Road (Grand Forks, BC); Planiden Road (Slocan Park, BC); Relkoff Road (Raspberry, BC); Woykin Road (Passmore, BC); Popou Road (Perrys, BC).  More Doukhobor street entries to follow soon!

Doukhobor Psalms: Adornment to the Soul

When Mark F. Mealing first heard a Doukhobor choir sing a Doukhobor Psalm as a high school student, he questioned what they were singing and why.  As he now writes, after forty years of study as a professional folklorist, it has become evident that Doukhobors have had a long experience at raising questions in other people's minds as well as their own.

The Dukhobortsy, 1822-1828  

Daniel Schlatter was a Swiss missionary who lived among the Nogay Tatars on the Molochnaya River between 1822-1828.  During that time, he had opportunity to study and observe their neighbors, the Dukhobortsy.  Available for the first time in English, the following account outlines his impressions of Doukhobor society and faith in this little-known period.

Dukhobor Village of Gorelovka

This Flickr photo set by Georgian documentary photographer Sandro Shanidze contains 24 images of daily life in the Doukhobor village of Gorelovka in Georgia taken in 2008.  Gorelovka is widely considered the spiritual center of Doukhobors throughout the world. Note: Flickr is an online photo management and sharing application.

The Doukhobors of Georgia

This Flickr photo set by French documentary photographer Agnes Montanari contains 22 images of the daily life of Doukhobors in Georgia taken in 2007.  Flickr is an online photo management and sharing application. Share photos and videos with the world, securely and privately show content to your friends and family, or blog photos and videos.

Memories of Veregin, Saskatchewan, 1920-1923

Herbert and Margaret Fletcher were English teachers who taught in a rural one-room school at Veregin, Saskatchewan for three years from 1920 to 1923.  While in Veregin, they took numerous photographs of the village, its architecture, Doukhobor inhabitants and the surrounding landscape.  This exhibition contains rare historic photographs taken by them.

Schools of the Boundary: The Doukhobor Schools

The settlement of Doukhobors in the Grand Forks area in 1909 brought about unique, often complex challenges to public education in British Columbia's Boundary District.  The following article by Alice Glanville reveals the history and the people behind the one-room Doukhobor schools of the region, including Outlook, Spencer, Fruitova, Carson and Kettle River North.

Tolstoy and Christian Pacifism

Leo Tolstoy, one of the greatest of Russia's literary giants, is respected as a founder of the modern peace movement. He also deserves recognition as one of humanity's great moral and spiritual leaders. The following article by Ross Wilcock for Peace Magazine recalls the pacifist foundations of his faith.

Update - Origin and Meaning of Doukhobor Surnames

This encyclopaedic glossary has been updated to include the origin and meaning of an additional 10 surnames that occurred historically among the Doukhobors including: Bokov, Butsky, Mamonov, Menyakin, Orekhov, Kunavin, Levadny, Rikitin, Suvorin and Utkin. Learn about their roots, meanings and historic and geographic origins.

Update - Origin and Meaning of Molokan Surnames

This encyclopaedic glossary has been updated to include the origin and meaning of an additional 17 surnames that occurred historically among the Molokans including: Chugunov, Inyukin, Isaev, Kadatsky, Kirilov, Kopylov, Lavov, Potryasov, Razumov, Sofonov, Sofronov, Skorodumov, Vakulin, Voronkov, Zakurdaev, Zotov and Zubarov.

Exile of the Dukhobortsy, 1843  

In 1843, Moritz Wagner, a German explorer and geographer, met a group of exiled Dukhobortsy en route from the Molochnaya to the Caucasus. Earlier that year, he visited the Dukhobortsy already settled in Caucasia. He wrote a vivid and detailed eyewitness account of the Doukhobor exile, the reasons for their expulsion and the conditions they were settled in.

Doukhobors in the Grand Forks, BC Telephone Directory, 1960  

The following index by Greg Nesteroff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1960 telephone directory for Grand Forks, British Columbia. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 318 Doukhobor households and businesses. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Doukhobors in the Castlegar, BC Telephone Directory, 1960  

The following index by Greg Nesteroff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1960 telephone directory for Castlegar, British Columbia. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 219 Doukhobor households and businesses. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Historical Map - Post-Soviet Doukhobor Migration to Russia, 1989-2009

Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, groups of Doukhobors resettled to Russia. Driven by regional instability, ethnic tensions, economic hardship and a longing for the Motherland, Doukhobors from Georgia and Azerbaijan resettled to Tula in 1989-1991, Stavropol, Krasnodar, Rostov and the Crimea from 1991-1998, Bryansk in 1998-1999 and Tambov in 2007-2009. 

Skovoroda in Early Doukhobor History - Fact or Myth?  

Hryhory Skovoroda was an 18th century poet, philosopher and composer. He spent much of his life wandering Russia, teaching a simple philosophy of self-knowledge through direct relationship with God. His ideas closely resembled Doukhobor beliefs, which emerged in the same time and places as Skovoroda taught. Did he have a role in early Doukhobor history? 

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer has been updated to include the following entries: Berekoff Road (Appledale, BC); Bojey Road, Harasomow Road, Jmaeff Road, Perrys Cemetery Road (Perry Siding, BC); Claybrick Road, Filipoff Road, Hoodikoff Road, Katasonoff Road, Kazakoff Road (Winlaw, BC). More Doukhobor street entries to follow soon!

The Hospitality of the Dukhobortsy, 1816  

Henry Downing Whittington was a young English adventurer who toured South Russia in 1816.  During his travels, he visited the Doukhobor village of Terpeniye along the Molochnaya River in Tavria, Russia. His narrative of this encounter, while brief, provides the earliest published Western account of the deep-rooted Doukhobor ethic of hospitality, kindness and generosity.

Doukhobors in the Castlegar, BC Telephone Directory, 1950  

The following index by Greg Nesteroff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1950 telephone directory for Castlegar, British Columbia. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 15 Doukhobor households and businesses. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Doukhobors in the Trail, BC Telephone Directory, 1950  

The following index by Greg Nesteroff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1950 telephone directory for Trail, British Columbia. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 10 Doukhobor households and businesses. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Doukhobors in the Rossland, BC Telephone Directory, 1950  

The following index by Greg Nesteroff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1950 telephone directory for Rossland, British Columbia. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 8 Doukhobor households and businesses. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Travels Among the Molochnaya Dukhobortsy, 1839-1841  

Xavier Hommaire de Hell, a French explorer and geologist, together with his wife Adele, visited the Dukhobortsy living on the Molochnaya River in 1839. Two years later, in 1841, they met a group of exiled Dukhobortsy en route from the Molochnaya to the Caucasus. Their account of these meetings provides rare, unique historic insights into this chapter of Doukhobor history.

Update - Russian Male Names Among the Doukhobors  

By popular demand, this glossary has been updated to include a guide to the phonetic pronunciations of 292 Russian male names historically used by Doukhobor men in 19th century Russia and 20th century Canada. Learn the proper Russian stress and pronunciation of your Doukhobor male ancestral names!

Update - Russian Female Names Among the Doukhobors  

By popular demand, this glossary has been updated to include a guide to the phonetic pronunciations of 86 Russian female names historically used by Doukhobor women in 19th century Russia and 20th century Canada. Learn the proper Russian stress and pronunciation of your Doukhobor female ancestral names!

Travels to the Dukhobortsy Living on the Molochnaya River, 1818  

Ebenezer Henderson was a missionary of the British and Foreign Bible Society working in Russia during the reign of Tsar Alexander I. In 1818, he visited the Dukhobortsy living on the Molochnaya River. He kept a journal and recorded his impressions, which is one of the earliest Western accounts of the Molochnaya Doukhobors and provides rare historic insights. 

Russian Male Names Among the Doukhobors  

This glossary contains 292 Russian male names historically used by Doukhobor men in 19th century Russia and 20th century Canada. Each entry includes the transliterated English spelling, original Cyrillic spelling, name meaning, male and female patronymic, along with common diminutive forms of each name. Learn about your Russian male ancestral names! 

Doukhobors in the Nelson, BC Telephone Directory, 1950  

The following index by Greg Nesteroff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1950 telephone directory for Nelson, British Columbia. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 28 Doukhobor households and businesses. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Doukhobors in the Grand Forks, BC Telephone Directory, 1950  

The following index by Greg Nesteroff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1950 telephone directory for Grand Forks, British Columbia. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 11 Doukhobor households and businesses. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Russian Female Names Among the Doukhobors  

This glossary contains 86 Russian female names historically used by Doukhobor women in 19th century Russia and 20th century Canada. Each entry includes the transliterated English spelling, original Cyrillic spelling, name meaning, along with many common diminutive forms of each name. Learn about all aspects of the names of your Russian female ancestors! 

Update - Doukhobor Ancestral Village Finder  

The Doukhobor Ancestral Village Finder has been updated to include references to Cyprus and/or Georgian exile (Dusheti, Tioneti, Gori and Signakhi districts) for Tiflis Doukhobor villages. Use this geographic finding aid to cross-reference the Canadian village your Doukhobor ancestors settled in in 1899, with the Russian village from which they originated prior to 1899.

Update - The Doukhobors: A Community Race in Canada

This exposition of Doukhobor life by writer Victoria Hayward and photographer Edith Watson has been updated to include two rare historic Watson photos from the private collection of Nellie Voykin. Taken in Brilliant, British Columbia  in 1919, one is of Nellie and her mother Polly Kanigan; the other is of Nellie's grandmother Masha Kanigan at her spinning wheel.

The Story of Saskatchewan and its People: The Doukhobors  

The following excerpt from legislative librarian John Hawkes' impressive 1924 three-volume history, “Saskatchewan and its People” relates his personal observations and reminiscences of the Doukhobors of Saskatchewan.  He was one of the first historians to portray the Doukhobor story as part of the broader history and tradition of the province and its people.

Doukhobors in the Blaine Lake, SK Telephone Directory, 1932  

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1932 telephone directory for Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 141 Doukhobor household heads. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Doukhobors in the Langham, SK Telephone Directory, 1932  

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1932 telephone directory for Langham, Saskatchewan. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 53 Doukhobor household heads. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

The Doukhobor Monuments of Efremovka and Rodionovka

In 1845, the Doukhobors of Efremovka and Rodionovka villages in Tavria province, Russia were exiled for their faith to the Caucasus region. Upon their departure, they erected stone monuments in their villages to commemorate this momentous event. Learn more about these ancient memorials and their significance to the archaeology of the Molochnaya Doukhobors.

The Doukhobors: A Community Race in Canada

Between 1918-1921, writer Victoria Hayward and photographer Edith Watson spent three summers in the Doukhobor communes in Saskatchewan and British Columbia, sharing the Doukhobor way of life and recording their experience through written word and photograph. This 1922 article recounts their observations about Doukhobor communal living and organization.

Passing on the Tradition

Nick J. Denisoff is master Doukhobor craftsman of wood and wood-working, particularly the carving of ornate wooden spoons, ladles, forks and salt servers. Having learned from his grandparents at age twelve, Denisoff wants to keep these cultures and traditions alive and is hosting a Doukhobor woodworking workshop on October 24, 2009 in Glade, British Columbia.

Doukhobor Farms Supply All Needs

In 1918, photographer Edith Watson and writer Victoria Hayward, after lengthy correspondence with Peter 'Lordly' Verigin, received permission to visit the Doukhobors in their communes in Saskatchewan and British Columbia. The women spent the next three summers with them, sharing the Doukhobor way of life and recording that life through written word and photograph.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer has been updated to include the following entries: Barabanoff Road (Taghum, BC); Co-op Lane (Brilliant, BC); Koorbatoff Road (Shoreacres, BC); Gritchen Road, Jmayoff Road, Latkin Road, Siminoff Road (Grand Forks, BC); Perepolkin Road (Hills, BC); Doukhobor Waterline Trail, Museum Road (Ootischenia, BC). More entries to follow soon!

Press Release: Doukhobor Historical Series  

Jonathan J. Kalmakoff and Anne Sanderson have been awarded the Best Saskatchewan Cultural Story of the Year for his documentary series Their Story, published in the Wadena News, which chronicles the history of the Kylemore Doukhobor Colony, at the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Competition Premier Awards for 2009.

Publications

Copies of genealogical reference books by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff are available for sale: 1853 Tax Register of Doukhobors in the Caucasus; 1918 Independent Doukhobor Census; and 1930 Names Doukhobors of Canada, Saskatchewan Membership List. Coming soon: Doukhobor Ship Passenger Lists (2nd Edition) by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff and Steve Lapshinoff.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer database has been updated to include the following entries: John Evdokimoff Park, (White Lake, BC); Doukhobor Beach (Grand Forks, BC); Nelson, BC; Tent Town, MB; Malen'kii Gorod, MB; McVey's Camp, MB; Yorkton, SK; Doukhobors Dam (Judith Basin County, MT); Konkinville (Crescent Valley, BC); Horkoffville, (Wadena, SK). Learn more!

Doukhobors in the Kamsack, SK Telephone Directory, 1932  

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1932 telephone directory for Kamsack, Saskatchewan. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 40 Doukhobor household heads. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Doukhobors in the Veregin, SK Telephone Directory, 1932  

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1932 telephone directory for Veregin, Saskatchewan. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 24 Doukhobor household heads. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

CBC Interview with Jonathan J. Kalmakoff

An 8.50 minute podcast interview of Jonathan J. Kalmakoff, Doukhobor researcher, writer and webmaster by Lindy Thorson of CBC Radio regarding his discovery of a wealth of records in the archives of the former Soviet republics shedding new light on early Doukhobor history and genealogy. Originally aired on the CBC Radio - Noon Edition, December 1, 2004.

History of the Anton S. and John A. Popoff Family

This detailed and candid autobiography documents the Anton S. and son John A. Popoff family of Doukhobors from their early pioneer experience in the Sturgis and Buchanan, SK districts after 1899 to their relocation to Yorkton, SK in 1905, Peoria, OR in 1913, Cowley, AB in 1918 and return to Yorkton, along with their role in the general history of the Doukhobor movement.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer has been updated to include the following entries: Saliken Drive (Penticton, BC); Laktin Road (Hills, BC); Basil Road, Beach Road, Dowedoff Road, Koftinoff Road, Legebokoff Road, Pepin Road, Swetlishoff Road, Vatkin Road (Grand Forks, BC). More Doukhobor street entries to follow soon!

Index of CCUB Members in Kylemore, Saskatchewan, 1930

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff contains information on 298 Doukhobors in 41 households belonging to Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood (CCUB) and to the Society of Named Doukhobors in Kylemore, SK in 1930. Information includes the name of the head of household, number of females and males and section of residence of each household.

The Doukhobor Jam Factory in Nelson, British Columbia

The Kootenay-Columbia Preserving Works is one of the best known communal enterprises of the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood. However, few are aware that the Doukhobor jam enterprise got its start in Nelson, and fewer realize that the original factory building built in 1909 is still standing today. Local historian Greg Nesteroff examines its origins and history.

Doukhobors in the Buchanan, SK Telephone Directory, 1932  

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1932 telephone directory for Buchanan, Saskatchewan. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 68 Doukhobor household heads. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Doukhobors in the Canora, SK Telephone Directory, 1932  

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1932 telephone directory for Canora, Saskatchewan. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 48 Doukhobor household heads. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Parks Canada Plaque Honours National Significance of Veregin, SK Doukhobors

On July 18, 2009, the Historic Sites and Monument Board of Canada unveiled a commemorative plaque at the National Doukhobor Heritage Village in Veregin, Saskatchewan, acknowledging the national significance of the Doukhobors at Veregin and proclaiming its affiliation with the family of national historic sites. Read this Press Release to learn more!

Visit to the Saskatchewan District Doukhobors, 1901

The following is an detailed account by John Ashworth, an English Quaker who in April of 1901 visited eleven Doukhobor villages along the North Saskatchewan River in Saskatchewan. He recorded their active progress; acreage under crop; flour mills under construction; willingness to register vital statistics and apply for homesteads; anxiousness to learn English; and more.

Index of CCUB Members in Veregin, Saskatchewan, 1929

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff contains information on 531 members of the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood (CCUB) in Veregin, Saskatchewan belonging to the Society of Named Doukhobors in Canada in 1929. Information includes the name of the head of household, number of females and males and section of residence of each household.

Index of USCC Members in British Columbia, 1946

The following index by Steve Lapshinoff contains information on 934 families belonging to the Union of Spiritual Communities of Christ (USCC) in British Columbia in 1946. Information includes the surname and name of the head of household, postal address and USCC community (local). Another excellent new genealogical source!

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer has been updated to include the following entries: Doukhobor Road (Tarrys, BC); Denisoff Road, Kooznetsoff Road, Makonin Road (Glade, BC); Evin Road, Gleboff Road, Horcoff Road, Wanjoff Street, Zaitsoff Road (Robson, BC); Minart Road (Winlaw, BC). More to follow!

Updated - Guide to Doukhobor Census Records  

The following guide describes Doukhobor census records in Canada and the United States - their historical background, dates, content, usefulness and reliability, and availability of original records and published indexes. Updated to include Canada & Northwest Provinces censuses, Independent Doukhobor censuses, Doukhobor village censuses, U.S. federal censuses, more.

Doukhobors in the Hendersons Brandon, MB Directory, 1929  

The following index by Edward M. Kazakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1929 Hendersons directory for Brandon, Manitoba. It contains the surname, name, occupation and address of 25 Doukhobor household heads. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Doukhobors in the Hendersons Brandon, MB Directory, 1931  

The following index by Edward M. Kazakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1931 Hendersons directory for Brandon, Manitoba. It contains the surname, name, occupation and address of 23 Doukhobor household heads. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Doukhobors in the Hendersons Yorkton, SK Directory, 1913  

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1913 Hendersons directory for Yorkton, Saskatchewan. It contains the surname, name, occupation and address of 11 Doukhobor household heads. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Doukhobors in the Hendersons Yorkton, SK Directory, 1921  

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1921 Hendersons directory for Yorkton, Saskatchewan. It contains the surname, name, occupation and address of 12 Doukhobor household heads. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

A History of the Perverseff Family

The following family biography by Roger Phillips traces the Perverseff family from their earliest origins through to their settlement on the Molochnaya, exile to the Caucasus and emigration to Canada, the family’s early pioneer years, and his own boyhood during the Depression. Reproduced by permission from his book "A History of the Phillips & Perverseff Families".

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer has been updated to include the following entries: Alexis Road (Shoreacres, BC); Androsoff Street (Blaine Lake, SK); Heritage Way, Doukhobor Migration Way (Ootischenia, BC); Khadikin Road (Taghum, BC); Laren Road, Osachoff Road, Popoff Road, Popoff Frontage Road (South Slocan, BC); Evin Road, Poohachoff Road (Slocan Park).

Sask Sisters Celebrate Along with Canada

When Lida Kabaroff and Alice Maloff (nee Podovelnikoff) arrived in the world 90 years ago, Canada was a very different place. The identical twins were born on their parents' farm near Blaine Lake on July 1, 1919. Back then, July 1 was called Dominion Day. For their birthday this year, the sisters celebrated with a Canadian flag cake.

Update - Index of Doukhobor Settlements in the 1916 Census of the Northwest Provinces

This geographic finding aid has been updated to include Saskatchewan Doukhobors enumerated in the 1916 Census of the Northwest Provinces! Search by province, district, sub-district and page number to find a listing of all Doukhobor settlements (villages, homesteads and households). A useful new resource for locating your Doukhobor family history!

Doukhobors in the Blaine Lake, SK Telephone Directory, 1922  

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1922 telephone directory for Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 152 Doukhobor household heads. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Doukhobors in the Langham, SK Telephone Directory, 1922  

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1922 telephone directory for Langham, Saskatchewan. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 52 Doukhobor household heads. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer has been updated to include the following entries: Cazakoff Road, Kays Road, Verigin Road (Blewett, BC), Fofonow Road (Taghum, BC), Brilliant Access Road, Gorkoff Road, Kalesnikoff Road, Makayev Road, Popoff Road, Voykin Road (Brilliant, BC), Zeeben Road (Ymir, BC).  More to follow!

Index of Doukhobor Settlements in the 1916 Census of the Northwest Provinces

Use this geographic finding aid to locate Doukhobors living in Manitoba and Alberta in the 1916 Census of the Northwest Provinces! Search by province, district, sub-district and page number to find a listing of all Doukhobor settlements (villages, homesteads and households). This index will be updated in due course to include Saskatchewan Doukhobor census entries.

Spanning the Years - The Vereschagin Family

This autobiography documents the Vereschagin family of Doukhobors. After their release from exile in Siberia, they came to Canada in 1905. In 1907, they moved to the US seeking warmer climate and opportunity. For 60 years they worked together as a cooperative family unit, becoming outstanding builders and innovators in the fruit growing and retail-wholesale industry.

Update - Doukhobor Births Registered in Saskatchewan, 1899-1908

This listing has been updated to include the full name, date of birth, location of birth, father's name, mother's name and registration number of 214 Doukhobor births registered in Saskatchewan in 1908 for a total of 1,475 Doukhobor births registered from 1899 to 1908. Compiled from records from the Saskatchewan Birth Index.

Update - The Mysterious Death of Peter Verigin

The following article by Larry Hannant has been updated to include a rare historic photo of the wreckage of the train coach which carried Doukhobor leader Peter "Lordly" Verigin after it mysteriously exploded near Farron, BC in 1924.  Reproduced by permission from the University of British Columbia library, it is believed to be the only photo of Coach 1586 in existence.

Update - Baron Haxthausen - A Visit to the Dukhobortsy, 1843

This historic account of the German traveller Baron Haxthausen's 1843 visit to the Dukhobortsy has been updated to include a new multi-point Google Map of 11 Doukhobor place names in historic Tavria province, Russia (present-day Zaporiz'ka province, Ukraine). It includes standard Google Maps features as well as links to The Doukhobor Gazetteer, Google Earth, and more!

Update - Quaker Visit to the Dukhobortsy, 1819

This historic account of William Allen and Stephen Grellet's 1819 visit to the Dukhobortsy has been updated to include a new multi-point Google Map of 11 Doukhobor place names in historic Tavria province, Russia (present-day Zaporiz'ka province, Ukraine). It includes standard Google Maps features as well as links to The Doukhobor Gazetteer, Google Earth, and more!

Update - A Visit to the Dukhobortsy on the Sea of Azov, 1816

This historic biography of Scottish missionary Robert Pinkerton's 1816 visit to the Dukhobortsy has been updated to include a new multi-point Google Map of 11 Doukhobor place names in historic Tavria province, Russia (present-day Zaporiz'ka province, Ukraine). It includes standard Google Maps features as well as links to The Doukhobor Gazetteer, Google Earth, and more!

Doukhobors in the Arran, SK Telephone Directory, 1922  

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1922 telephone directory for Arran, Saskatchewan. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 131 Doukhobor household heads. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Doukhobors in the Pelly, SK Telephone Directory, 1922  

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1922 telephone directory for Pelly, Saskatchewan. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 32 Doukhobor household heads. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Historical Map - Doukhobor Settlements in Cyprus, 1898-1899

New!  Following extensive research, a map of Doukhobor places of settlement on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff has been added to the Doukhobor historic maps section. A Doukhobor Genealogy Website exclusive, this detailed settlement information has not been previously published with respect to the Doukhobors.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer has been updated to include past and present-day names for the places of Doukhobor settlement on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus (present-day Republic of Cyprus and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. These include: Athalassa; Beyarmudu; Efremovka; Koprulu; Kouklia; Larnaca; Pergamos.

The Doukhobors on Cyprus

In August 1898, 1,126 Doukhobor refugees landed on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus as a temporary refuge from persecution in Russia. Their resettlement was assisted by the Tolstoyan Pavel I. Biryukov who later wrote about their island experience. A century later, his memoirs are available for the first time in English in this Doukhobor Genealogy Website exclusive!

Publications

Copies of genealogical reference books by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff are available for sale: 1853 Tax Register of Doukhobors in the Caucasus; 1918 Independent Doukhobor Census; and 1930 Names Doukhobors of Canada, Saskatchewan Membership List. Coming soon: Doukhobor Ship Passenger Lists (2nd Edition) by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff and Steve Lapshinoff.

Doukhobors Set for Yearly Gathering

The USCC Doukhobors will host the 62 annual Union of Youth Festival at the Brilliant Cultural Centre in Brilliant, British Columbia from May 16 to May 18. This year’s theme is, “A Living Legacy: Roots of Our Heritage Wings of Our Future." A display will be shown in the basement of the Brilliant Cultural Centre commemorating John J. Verigin Sr.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer has been updated to include the following entries: Dergousoff Road (Grand Forks, BC), Kalmakoff Road, Potapoff Road and Sheloff Road (Salmo, BC), Kavkaz View (Cowley, AB), Krestova Cemetery Road (Krestova, BC), Russian Road (Ootischenia, BC), Vishloff Street (Mission, BC).  More to follow!

Index of Doukhobor Settlements in the 1901 Canada Census

Use this geographic finding aid to locate Doukhobors in the 1901 Canada Census! Search by province, district, sub-district and page number to find a listing of all Doukhobor settlements (villages, homesteads and households). Then consult the Library and Archives Canada microfilm copies or links to online images of the census to find specific entries.

A Doukhobor Romance  

One of the most remarkable romances in history, this is the story of Arthur Fortesque, a well-born, Oxford-bred Englishman, nephew of the Chief Steward of the Duke of Portland, who in 1901, fell in love with Olga Varinhoff, a Doukhobor maiden in Canada. Renouncing his upper-crust English birthright, he married her and adopted her religion, customs and way of life. 

Doukhobors in the Kamsack, SK Telephone Directory, 1922  

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1922 telephone directory for Kamsack, Saskatchewan. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 185 Doukhobor household heads. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Doukhobors in the Veregin, SK Telephone Directory, 1922  

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1922 telephone directory for Veregin, Saskatchewan. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 119 Doukhobor household heads. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer has been updated to include the following entries: Bonderoff Road (Salmo, BC), Chernoff Drive (Gabriola Island, BC), Dukhobar Road (Eugene, OR), Elasoff Road (Krestova, BC), Hall Frontage Road and Sion Frontage Road (Grand Forks, BC), Kimoff Road (Appledale, BC), Konkin Road (Crescent Valley, BC), Lazareff Road (Glade, BC), Pakrowka Creek Road (RM of Corman Park, SK). More to follow!

Index of Doukhobor Settlements in the 1906 Census of the Northwest Provinces

Use this geographic finding aid to locate Doukhobors in the 1906 Census of the Northwest Provinces! Search by province, district, sub-district and page number to find a listing of all Doukhobor settlements (villages, homesteads and households). Then consult the Library and Archives Canada microfilm copies or online images of the census to find specific entries.

Facebook Page - Doukhobor Genealogy Website

A Facebook page has been created for the Doukhobor Genealogy Website. Visit it to find out more information about the website. Become a fan and receive periodic website updates or participate in discussions. Additional content will be published periodically. Another new way to access your Doukhobor roots! Note: Facebook membership required.

Update - Brands of the Doukhobor Stockmen of Alberta, 1911-1987

This heritage database has been updated to include 19 new cattle and horse brands registered by Doukhobor stockmen in Alberta from 1911-1987. These include brands under the Holoboff, Samaroden, Sherstabetoff and Zaytsoff surnames and the famous Doukhobor "D" brand of the Doukhobor Fraternal Co (CCUB). Includes town, brand book dates and description.

Update - Local Histories Index

The Local Histories Index has been updated to include the following five books: Unfolding the Pages: Recollections of Education in the Pincher Creek Area (Pincher Creek, AB); Where the Rivers Meet: A History of the Upper Oldman River Basin to 1939 (Pincher Creek, AB); Grand Forks: Where the Kettle River Flows (Grand Forks, BC); Schools of the Boundary: 1891 to 1991 (Grand Forks, BC); The Slocan: Portrait of a Valley (Slocan Valley, BC).

Update - Index of Doukhobors in the WWII Canadian Forces

This listing has been updated to include the surname, name, address, force and enlistment details for an additional 5 Doukhobor WWII servicemen for a total of 221.  Names include: Harelkin (Arelee, SK); Kazakoff (New Osgood, SK); and Patapoff (Coaldale, AB). This is a work in progress - stay posted for periodic updates.

Doukhobors in the Buchanan, SK Telephone Directory, 1922  

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1922 telephone directory for Buchanan, Saskatchewan. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 119 Doukhobor household heads. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Doukhobors in the Canora, SK Telephone Directory, 1922  

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is of Doukhobors that appear in the 1922 telephone directory for Buchanan, Saskatchewan. It contains the surname, name, address and telephone number of 97 Doukhobor household heads. A valuable, yet often overlooked resource for locating people, directories work well as a census substitute. 

Press Release: NDHV Reflects on a Busy 2008 Season, Upcoming 2009 Events  

The following is a summary of highlights from 2008 and upcoming 2009 events hosted by the National Doukhobor Heritage Village (NDHV) in Veregin, Saskatchewan. Includes: special prayer services (moleniye), community events as well as historic and cultural commemorations. Everyone is welcome to attend!

With the Doukhobors to Canada

Vera Mikhailovich Velichkina was a Russian doctor who escorted the fourth boatload of Doukhobors aboard the SS Lake Huron to Canada in 1899. The details of their trans-Atlantic crossing, their quarantine on Grosse Isle near Quebec City and their rail journey across Canada to Manitoba are described in detail in this English translation of her Russian memoirs.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer has been updated to include present-day Turkish names for the original Doukhobor settlements in Kars province, Russia (present-day Turkey). These include: Sahnalar (TU); Karahan (TU); Porsuklu (TU); Kuyucuk (TU); Mescitli (TU). Other Kars-area entries added include: Verbochki (TU); Krasnaya Gora (TU); and Gora Karakhan (TU).

Update - Alexey Ivanovich Popov: Childhood Memories

This historic biography of 19th century Kars Doukhobor Alexey Ivanovich Popov has been updated to include a new multi-point Google Map of 9 Doukhobor place names in Kars province, Russia (present-day Turkey). It includes standard Google Maps features as well as links to The Doukhobor Gazetteer, Google Earth, and more!

Update - Ivan G. Samarin: The Great Molokan Communicator

This historic biography of 19th century Kars Molokan Ivan Gureyevich Samarin has been updated to include a new multi-point Google Map of the 12 Molokan place names and 9 Doukhobor place names in Kars province, Russia (present-day Turkey). It includes standard Google Maps features as well as links to The Doukhobor Gazetteer, Google Earth, and more!

Historical Map - Doukhobor and Molokan Settlements in Kars, Russia, 1879-1899

New!  Following extensive research, a map of Doukhobor and Molokan settlements in Kars province, Russia (present-day Turkey) by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff has been added to the Doukhobor historic maps section. A Doukhobor Genealogy Website exclusive, this detailed settlement information has not previously been available in any English language maps.

The Doukhobor Monument to Alexander I in Terpeniye

In 1818, Tsar Alexander I visited the Doukhobor village of Terpeniye. To commemorate the historic event, the Doukhobors erected a monument in his honour. For a century the monument stood in the village until the Bolsheviks determined it was "ideologically harmful". Alexander A. Chukhraenko describes the monument, its fate and its overall historic and cultural significance.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer has been updated to include the following entries: Community Centre Road, Kootchin Road and Pereversoff Road (Grand Forks, BC), Drazdoff Road (Thrums, BC), Fillipoff Road (Shoreacres, BC), Kanigan Road (Appledale, BC), Koftinow Drive (Timber Cove, CA), Krestova Road, Krestova Crescent and Lower Krestova Road (Krestova, BC), Nicholas Street (Kamsack, SK), Raspberry Road (Raspberry, BC). More to follow!

The Threads of Our Heritage: Doukhobor Natural Fibre Textiles

In celebration of the International Year of Natural Fibre, the Boundary Spinners and Weaver Guild, and Joybilee Farm are partnering with the Courthouse Museum in Grand Forks to put on a show of natural fiber textiles and Doukhobor Heritage. The textiles displayed in this show are amazing, never before displayed, works of fibre art.

Update - Origin and Meaning of Molokan Surnames

This encyclopaedic glossary has been updated to include the origin and meaning of an additional 13 surnames that occurred historically among the Molokans including: Cheshev, Granchikov, Gudnin, Kambarov, Kholodinin, Lysov, Makarin, Malash, Molodchenkov, Rozanov, Rusakov, Shchegolev and Svikhnushin.

Index of Doukhobor Settlements in the 1911 Canada Census

Use this geographic finding aid to locate Doukhobors in the 1911 Canada Census! Search by province, district, sub-district and page number to find a listing of all Doukhobor settlements (villages, work camps, homesteads and households). Then consult the Library and Archives Canada microfilm copies or online images of the census to find specific Doukhobor entries.

How Doukhobors Build Railways, 1906

In September 1905, the CCUB was awarded its first corporate contract to prepare 17 miles of grade on the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway line in the Assiniboine and Qu'Appelle River valleys near St. Lazare, Manitoba. The following Manitoba Morning Free Press article describes the Doukhobor railroad construction camps that supported this tremendous undertaking.

USCC Doukhobors 2009 Calendar of Events

The following is a calendar of special 2009 events hosted by the Union of Spiritual Communities of Christ (USCC) Doukhobors in the Kootenay and Boundary regions of British Columbia. Includes: special prayer services (moleniye), community events as well as historic and cultural commemorations. Everyone is welcome to attend!

Update - A Visit to the Dukhobortsy on the Sea of Azov, 1816

This historic account of Robert Pinkerton's visit to the Doukhobors living on the Molochnaya River in 1816 has been updated to include an in-depth Afterword by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff analyzing the Scottish missionary's observations about the Doukhobors' way of life and beliefs, as well as a rare description of his late 1816 visit to the Doukhobors exiled in Finland.

Index of Union of Youth Members - Brilliant, BC Division, 1934

The following index by Steve Lapshinoff contains information on 150 Doukhobor members of the Brilliant, BC division of the Union of Youth Commune of the Society of Named Doukhobors of Canada in 1934. Information includes the surname, name, age, village and family grouping of each member.  Another excellent new genealogical source!

Doukhobor Dugout House - Special Events in 2009

The following is a listing of upcoming events at the Doukhobor Dugout House historic site near Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan in 2008, which include: Doukhobor Peace Movement Day with a re-enactment of the 1895 Burning of Arms and Family Heritage Day where visitors are invited to share their Doukhobor family heritage memories, stories and photos. Everyone is welcome!

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer has been updated to include the following entries: Brilliant Road (Brilliant, BC), Cemetery Frontage Road, Esouloff Road, Rilkoff Frontage Road and Sleepy Hollow Road (Grand Forks, BC), Kabatoff Road (Thrums, BC), Postnikoff Bay & Crescent (Saskatoon, SK), Shukin Road (Pass Creek, BC), Skiboff Road (South Slocan, BC), Verigan Road & East Verigan Road (Manteca, CA). More to follow!

Doukhobors Featured in '150 Minutes of British Columbia History' Commemoration

The Doukhobors have been selected as one of 150 "Moments in British Columbia History" to be commemorated by engraved stones on the grounds of the British Columbia Legislature. The inclusion of the Doukhobors in this heritage commemoration is thanks to the efforts of Larry A. Ewashen, Curator of the Doukhobor Discovery Centre.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer has been updated to include population statistics from the 1901 and 1905 censuses for Saskatchewan Doukhobor village entries. Also included are new entries for: Molochnye Vody (UK); Slavyansky Khutor (AZ); Zaglubokaya Balka (AZ); Mikhailovka Spring (SK); Limansky Uchastok (SK); Severnyy Uchastok (SK); Yuzhnyy Uchastok (SK).

Doukhobor Discovery Centre - 2009 Exhibit Planning Begins

With winter nipping and summer looming, work continues at the Doukhobor Discovery Centre. The feature exhibit of 2009 will focus on the role of women and their continuing contribution to the Doukhobor movement. Larry Ewashen, Curator, has met with Lola Sherstobitoff and Nell Plotnikoff of the USCC Cultural Interpretive Society who will be assisting in the exhibit.

Update - Doukhobor Marriages Registered in British Columbia, 1909-1933

This listing has been updated to include the groom's name, bride's name, place, date, registration number and microfilm number of 24 Doukhobor marriages registered in British Columbia in 1933. Compiled by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff from records from the British Columbia Marriage Registration Index.

Update - Spirit Wrestlers of Southern Russia

This informative article about the Doukhobors of Tselina district, Rostov province, Russia has been updated to include a new multi-point Google Map of the 11 Doukhobor villages in the district. It includes standard Google Maps features as well as links to The Doukhobor Gazetteer, Google Earth, and more!

Index of Sons of Freedom Inmates at Moosomin Gaol, Moosomin, SK, 1916

New! The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff contains information on 11 Sons of Freedom inmates at Moosomin Gaol in Moosomin, Saskatchewan in 1916. Information includes each inmate's surname, name, age, weight, height, eye and hair colour, complexion, date of incarceration and date of discharge, as well as term and charges laid against.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer has been updated to include the following entries: Cultural Road and Trubetskoff Road (Brilliant, BC), Katelnikoff Road (Appledale, BC), Koftinoff Court (Manteca, CA), London Road, Plotnikoff Road and Reservoir Road (Grand Forks, BC), Perehudoff Court (Saskatoon, SK), Sorokin Road (Krestova, BC), Tolstoi Road (Veregin, SK). More to follow!

Index of Doukhobor Military Reservists Imprisoned and Exiled in Caucasia, 1895-1899

The result of groundbreaking research by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff, this index contains the full name, patronymic, surname, birth year, village and province of origin, category of exile and comments for each of 258 Doukhobor military reservists and elders imprisoned and exiled in the Caucasus, Russia in 1895-1899 for refusing military service.

Update - The Pavlovtsy

This historical timeline features the Pavlovtsy - a group of 19th century peasant sectarians from Kharkov province, Russia and their numerous, overlapping connections with the Tolstoyan, Stundist and Doukhobor religious movements. New entries have been updated and a new multi-point Google Map of the family villages of origin in Kharkov has been added.

Quaker Visit to the Dukhobortsy, 1819  

In 1819, two Quaker missionaries visiting Russia, William Allen and Stephen Grellet, at the suggestion of Tsar Alexander I, travelled to the Dukhobortsy living on the Molochnaya River. Both kept journals and recorded their impressions. These detailed accounts are the earliest surviving descriptions by western observers of Doukhobor religious practices. 

Not to be Bought, Sold or Bartered With: Canadian Doukhobors and the Land Question  

The following article by John McLaren examines the question of land ownership among Canadian Doukhobors.  He finds that much of the conflict between the Canadian system of private ownership and traditional Doukhobor communal beliefs could have been avoided had governments adopted a spirit of accommodation and greater cultural sensitivity.

Doukhobors in the 1927 Cummins Rural Directory of Alberta  

The following index is of Doukhobor landowners that appear in the 1927 Cummins Directory Map for Alberta.  It contains the landowner name, legal land description, post office district and map number for 76 quarter-sections, comprising 12,160 acres of land, owned and farmed by Doukhobors, in this case, the CCUB exclusively. By Jonathan J. Kalmakoff.

The Doukhobor Problem: Media Representations of Sons of Freedom Women  

The following article by Julie Rak analyses the process of the media in British Columbia and in Canada in the stigmatizing of members of the radical Doukhobor Russian religious community known as the “svobodniki” or the Sons of Freedom. This process lasted from the late 1920s through to the end of the 1960s.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer has been updated to include the following entries: Canning Road (Grand Forks, BC), Danshin Village Road (Grand Forks, BC), Horkoff Avenue (Wadena, SK), Kalmakoff Avenue (Canora, SK), Konkinville Road (Crescent Valley, BC), Makaroff Road (Saskatoon, SK), Markova Road (Brilliant, BC), Mill Road (Grand Forks, BC), Ootischenia Road (Ootischenia, BC), Pereverzoff Place (Prince Albert, SK). More street entries to follow!

Doukhobors in the 1930 Cummins Rural Directory of Saskatchewan  

New!  The following is a 54-page index of Doukhobor landowners that appear in the 1930 Cummins Directory Map for Saskatchewan.  It contains the landowner name, legal land description, post office district and map number for 2,339 quarter-sections, comprising 374,240 acres of land, owned and farmed by Doukhobors. By Jonathan J. Kalmakoff.

Doukhobors in the 1918 Cummins Rural Directory of Alberta  

The following index is of Doukhobor landowners that appear in the 1918 Cummins Directory Map for Alberta.  It contains the landowner name, legal land description, post office district and map number for 88 quarter-sections, comprising 14,080 acres of land, owned and farmed by Doukhobors, in this case, the CCUB exclusively. By Jonathan J. Kalmakoff.

The Good in All of Us

Many books attempt to define what being Doukhobor and being Canadian means. None comes close to capturing the simple message that freelance writer Mischa Popoff's Doukhobor grandfather gave him. His following article examines Canadianism and Canadian anti-Americanism from the Doukhobor viewpoint that "the spirit of God is in each of us".

Index of BC Sons of Freedom Members, 1928

The following index by Steve Lapshinoff contains information on 458 Sons of Freedom living in British Columbia in 1928. Information includes the surname and name of each head of household, number of males and females per household and the place of residence. Another excellent new source of genealogical information on Sons of Freedom Doukhobors!

Update - Brands of the Doukhobor Stockmen of Alberta, 1911-1987

This heritage database has been updated to include 20 new cattle and horse brands registered by Doukhobor stockmen in Alberta from 1911-1987. These include brands under the Hlookoff, Planidin and Podmaroff surnames as well as the famous Doukhobor "D" brand of the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood. Includes town, brand book dates and description.

Hilliers Communal Farm was Short-Lived

In 1947, Sons of Freedom leader Michael "the Archangel" Verigin and 200 of his followers established a 348 acre communal farm at Hilliers, British Columbia. For 6 years, the colonists cleared and tilled the land, set up apiaries, planted orchards and vegetable gardens. Andrei Bondoreff examines one of Vancouver Island's most extraordinary communal experiments.

Brands of the Doukhobor Stockmen of Alberta, 1911-1987

This database contains over 100 cattle and horse brands registered by Doukhobor stockmen in Alberta from 1911-1987. Compiled by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff from the Stockmen's Memorial Foundation files, each entry includes the stockman’s name and town, brand registration date, brand description and more. Learn about the history of Alberta Doukhobor stockmen!

Journey to a Colony of Doukhobors, 1903

In 1903, renowned journalist and author E.W. Thompson accompanied an immigration officer and guide from Swan River, Manitoba to the Doukhobor village of Voznesenie in the Arran district of Saskatchewan. The following is a detailed, poignant account of his personal experiences and observations of the Doukhobors' unique customs and gracious hospitality.

Doukhobor Dugout House Designated National Historic Site

The Doukhobor Dugout House at Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan has been designated as a site of National Historic Significance. The Government of Canada made this designation on the recommendation of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. Read this press release to learn about the latest Doukhobor national heritage site.

Mikhailovka Doukhobors Commemorated by Spring Naming

A spring near Thunder Hill, Saskatchewan has been officially named to commemorate the Doukhobors of Mikhailovka village, their settlement and story. Read this Press Release to learn more about how Mikhailovka Spring, the name proposed by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff, was officially approved by the Saskatchewan Geographic Names Board. View Google Map!

John J. Verigin, 87: Community Leader

He survived fire, dynamite and depredation to achieve peace among the Doukhobors. Thrust into the leadership at 17, he overcame alcohol and persecution to forge a reconciliation. As a result, he was awarded the Order of Canada and - much later - the Order of British Columbia. This special to the Globe & Mail by Larry Hannant examines the life of John J. Verigin.

Index of Incoming Doukhobor Passengers to the UK, 1922-1927

New! The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff contains information on 150 Doukhobor ship passengers who arrived in UK ports between 1922 and 1927 in transit to the Soviet Union. Information includes the surname, name, age, family unit, occupation, port of departure, arrival date, port of arrival and ship name for each Doukhobor passenger.

Update - Doukhobor Immigrant Ship Descriptions

The index of Doukhobor Immigrant Ship Descriptions has been updated to include an entry and picture of the following new ship: SS Montrose; SS Montnairn; SS Regina; and SS Kildonan Castle. Learn about the physical dimensions and capacity, builders, launches, shipping lines, shipping routes and schedules, name changes, wreck and salvage data of over 63 ships.

Press Release - Doukhobor Discovery Centre: End of Season

The Doukhobor Discovery Centre has had another successful season. Although tourist numbers were down in most venues we emerged with an increase for the 7th consecutive year. Read hear about the season highlights including national designations, Doukhobor Suspension Bridge restoration, outreach exhibits, the Doukhobor hymnology project and much more.

Brilliant Jam Factory was Thriving Industry

Among the many communal enterprises of the Doukhobor Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood, the most remembered is their Kootenay-Columbia Preserving Works Jam Factory in Brilliant, British Columbia. The following article by William M. Rozinkin recalls the thriving industry of the Brilliant jam factory from 1915-1938.

Update - Index of Doukhobor Ship Passenger Surnames

The index of Doukhobor Ship Passenger Surnames has been updated to include five new ship lists: Antyufeev (SS Ultonia); D'yakov (SS Ultonia); Goncharov (SS Bavarian); Gritchin (SS Stuttgart); Rybin (SS Teutonic); Shchukin (SS Canada); Slastukhin (SS Ultonia); Vanzhov (SS Stuttgart); Vereshchagin (SS Stuttgart); Vyatkin (SS Ultonia); Yuritsin (SS Ultonia).

Update - Doukhobor Immigrant Ship Descriptions

The index of Doukhobor Immigrant Ship Descriptions has been updated to include an entry and picture of the following new ship: SS Stuttgart. Learn about the physical dimensions and capacity, builders, launches, shipping lines, shipping routes and schedules, name changes, wreck and salvage data of this and over 63 other Doukhobor immigrant ships.

Update - Index of Doukhobor Ship Passenger Lists

This index has been reformatted and updated to include the ship name, port and date of departure, port and date of arrival and number of passengers for over 90 ship lists containing Doukhobor passengers. Includes Library and Archives microfilm numbers as well as links to online images of each ship passenger list. A powerful new research tool!

Confession of a Doukhobor Elder

As a young man, Vasily V. Zybin witnessed and participated in the turbulent events of the 1890’s surrounding the arrest and exile of Doukhobor leader Peter “Lordly” Verigin; the Burning of Arms and Doukhobor refusal to perform military service; their departure to Canada; and their early life there. Years later, he recounted these experiences in this rare eyewitness memoir.

Hundreds Mark Verigin's Passing

More than 800 people attended the final ceremony and burial of loved Doukhobor leader John J. Verigin Sr. Hundreds of people walked alongside the family as they followed the casket up the hill to its final resting place at Verigins Memorial Gardens. Read more about the historic funeral in this Castlegar News article by Francisco Canjura.

Index of Sons of Freedom Inmates at Oakalla Prison Farm, Burnaby, BC, 1929

The following index by Steve Lapshinoff contains information on 112 Sons of Freedom inmates at Oakalla Prison Farm in Burnaby, British Columbia in 1929. Information includes each inmate's surname, name, sex, prisoner number, along with the date and type of offence. An excellent new source of genealogical information on Sons of Freedom Doukhobors.

State Funeral - Era Ends with Loss of Leader John J. Verigin, Sr.

An era has ended with the death of John J. Verigin, leader of the Doukhobor community for almost 70 years. Verigin spent a lifetime devoted to the Doukhobor ideals of pacifism, brotherhood and community. He also furthered his community’s ideology provincially, nationally and abroad. Read more in this retrospective by Castlegar Current reporter Kyra Hoggan.

Heritage Architecture Excellence Award Bestowed to Prayer Home, Veregin, SK

The Doukhobor Prayer Home at Veregin, Saskatchewan has been bestowed with the prestigious Heritage Architecture Award of Excellence. The Honourable Dr. Gordon Barnhart, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, presented the award to the National Doukhobor Heritage Village, at a special public ceremony at Government House in Regina today. Read more here.

Doukhobors Arrange Funeral Services for Leader John J. Verigin

Traditional Doukhobor funeral services for deceased Doukhobor leader John J. Verigin Sr. will begin Friday, October 31, 2008 at 7 p.m. and continue on Saturday, November 1, 2008 at 10 a.m. at the USCC Community Centre in Grand Forks. A service at the Brilliant Cultural Centre will start at 7 p.m. on Saturday and continue at 10 a.m Sunday November 2, 2008.

Death Announcement: John J. Verigin (Sr), Honorary USCC Chairman

John J. Verigin Sr. died Sunday, October 26, 2008 at his home in Grand Forks. He was 86. Mr. Verigin has served as the Honourary Chairman of the Union of Spiritual Communities of Christ (USCC) since 1962, and has been widely recognized as a leader among thousands of Canadian and Russian Doukhobors since 1939.

Day-trip to Piers Island: Reminiscing About the Penitentiary, 1932-1935

On June 17, 2008, Dr. Gunter Schaarschmidt visited Piers Island in the Strait of Georgia in British Columbia where, 73 years earlier, over 600 Sons of Freedom were interred in a special penitentiary from 1932 to 1935. The following is an account of his observations and photos from his excursion to some of the physical features left from the penitentiary camp site.

Surname-Village-Surname Index of Doukhobors in the Caucasus, 1853

The following index by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is of Doukhobor surnames that appear in the 1853 tax register of the Caucasus region of Imperial Russia. Search geographically by village, or alphabetically by surname, to find the surnames that occurred in each village in 1853. Then follow the instructions to consult the full extracted and translated data from the tax register.

Publications

Copies of genealogical reference books by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff are available for sale: 1853 Tax Register of Doukhobors in the Caucasus; 1918 Independent Doukhobor Census; and 1930 Names Doukhobors of Canada, Saskatchewan Membership List. Coming soon: Doukhobor Ship Passenger Lists (2nd Edition); Doukhobors in the 1911 Canada Census.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer database has been updated to include the following entries: Agdash, AZ; Baku, AZ; Elizavetpol (Ganja), AZ; Kars, TU; Kazakh (Qazax), AZ; Nekhichevan, AZ; Nukha, (Shaki), AZ; Tiflis (Tbilisi), GE; Yerevan, AR. Entries contain toponymic, historical and geographic data.

The Doukhobor Community in Trail, British Columbia

Historically, Trail, British Columbia was an important centre of Doukhobor activity. Beginning in 1910, the Doukhobors of the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood (CCUB) carried out an impressive building program and established a number of commercial ventures there. Local historian Jenny Cowell explores the history of the Doukhobor community in Trail.

Doukhobor Cemetery Transcription Project

The Doukhobor Cemetery Transcription Project is a heritage project conceived in 2001 to identify, transcribe and make available on-line all Doukhobor cemeteries in Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. In this update, learn about the transcribed cemeteries already online, as well as ongoing research efforts and how you can assist this worthy project.

Update - The Dukhobortsy, 1863

This historical article describes the visit by the famous Russian painter Vasily Vasilyevich Vereshchagin to the Doukhobors living in Slavyanka village, Elizavetpol village in 1863. It has been updated to include rare, high-resolution copies of his sketches of the Doukhobors he encountered as well as a multi-point Google Map of the area of Doukhobor settlement.

1916 Census of Western Canadian Provinces Available on Microfilm

An exciting new source of genealogical information has arrived! The 1916 Census of the Western Provinces (Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta) is now available on microfilm at Library and Archives Canada. Read here to find out more about the information contained in the census, online census finding aids, as well as ongoing digitization and indexing efforts.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer database has been updated to include the following entries: Akhtaz, GE; Batkhana, GE; Buchanan Mill Pond, SK; Bugdashi, GE; Dusheti, GE; Ebenezer, SK; Gori, GE; Khanchali, GE; Ordzha, GE; Signakhi, GE; Tioneti, GE; Troitsky Khutor, GE. Entries contain toponymic, historical and geographic data.

Update - Origin and Meaning of Molokan Surnames

This encyclopaedic glossary has been updated to include the origin and meaning of an additional 18 surnames that occurred historically among the Molokans including: Bogunov, Eseev, Knyshin, Krasnoslovshchikov, Letunov, Login, Mashanov, Matveev, Patov, Podgorelov, Solomentsev, Solonitsyn, Stupenkin, Tabakarev, Tolopeev, Uryupin, Zabroskov and Zotikov.

Update - Doukhobor Developments in the Ebenezer District

This article has been updated to include new research information about the little-known Doukhobor contribution to the history and development of the Ebenezer district, Saskatchewan. In addition, a multi-point Google Map has been added, which includes standard Google Maps features as well as links to The Doukhobor Gazetteer, Google Earth, and more!

Index of Sons of Freedom Camped at Porto Rico, BC, 1929

This index by Steve Lapshinoff contains information on 537 Sons of Freedom expelled to the logging camp at Porto Rico from Brilliant, Thrums and Glade, British Columbia in November of 1929. Information includes the surname and name of the head of household, number of adult males, number of adult females, number of male children and number of female children.

Update - US Doukhobor Draft Registrations in World War One, 1917-1918

This index has been updated to include the full name, birth date, birth place and place of registration of an additional six Doukhobor men in the US between 1917 and 1918. As well, the occupation, registration county and registration number has been added to each entry. Compiled from records from the US National Archives and Records Administration.

The Cossack Cross of Spasskoye

In 2007, an ancient cross was discovered in the Spasskoye village cemetery in Zaporiz'ka, Ukraine. Its location, inscribed date and style all confirmed that it marked one of the oldest graves in the cemetery. Even more remarkable, there was compelling evidence to suggest that the grave belonged to a Doukhobor – one of the original residents of the village! Learn more!

28 Google Maps Added to Doukhobor Genealogy Website

The Doukhobor Genealogy Website has added custom Google Maps to twenty-eight pages to enhance its users’ online experience with interactive mapping imagery. Each includes standard Google Maps features as well as links to The Doukhobor Gazetteer, Google Earth, and more! This is the first of many Google Maps projects that are planned.

Update - Origin and Meaning of Molokan Surnames

This encyclopaedic glossary has been updated to include the origin and meaning of an additional 27 surnames that occurred historically among the Molokans including: Antonov, Basov, Burtsev, Cheremisov, Dvortsov, Ekimov, Ermolov, Evstigneev, Grankin, Ivleev, Kapranov, Khrapov, Kislenkov, Konstantinov, Kunitsyn, Lipatov, Lukin, Maksimov, Mordovin, Poletov, Popkov, Shcheglov, Strel'nikov, Talanov, Vasil'ev, Vyatkin, Yakushev.

Family Digs Cucumbers Through the Generations

In the garden in their backyard, Lloyd and Sharon Lahti grow prized cucumbers. Like their family, the cucumbers trace their roots to the Doukhobors in Russia. Brought from the Caucasus and first grown in Blaine Lake at the turn of the 20th century, the cucumber is still in the family, dutifully planted by one member of the family or another for more than 100 years.

Pond Name Celebrates Buchanan's History & Development, Doukhobor Heritage

A pond near Buchanan, Saskatchewan has been officially named to commemorate the history and development of the village and its Doukhobor heritage. Read this Press Release to learn more about how Buchanan Mill Pond, the name proposed by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff, was officially approved by the Saskatchewan Geographic Names Board. View Google Map!

1945 USCC Membership List Index - Community 17 - Blagodatnoye, BC

This index contains the surname, name, age and village of 135 Doukhobor members of the Union of Spiritual Communities of Christ living in USCC Community No. 17 - the Blagodatnoye (Champion Creek) settlement area of British Columbia in 1945. Compiled from the private collection of William W. Kavaloff.

Kamennoye Wood Stave Pipe Factory Began Operation in 1915

In 1915, the CCUB established a wood stave pipe factory in the Kamennoye settlement area across from Brilliant, British Columbia. It was an important industrial asset of the CCUB, supplying pipe for the construction of irrigation systems for the vast communal orchards. The following article by W.M. Rozinkin describes its operations until its demise in 1931.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

Aragilneri Gyugh, GE; Arekhoff Village, BC; Blagodatnoye, SK; Cote, SK; Dorogotsennoye, BC; Insinger Doukhobor Farm, SK; Krasivaya Dolina, AB; Krasivaya Dolina Cemetery, AB; Makarovka, BC; Novyi Uchastok, BC; Salmo, BC; Skalistoye, BC; Trail, BC; Verigin Subdivision, BC; Voykin Subdivision, BC.

Be a Part of History in the Making

The Trail Rossland News, Castlegar News and the Nelson Star are honouring the Doukhobor Centennial in British Columbia with a special commemorative booklet, "Celebrating Doukhobors in the Kootenay-Boundary, 100 Years of History in Pictures, 1908 - 2008". Find out how you can submit your pictures and stories for this centennial anniversary publication.

The Doukhobors at Waterloo, British Columbia, 1911

The following 1911 account outlines the agricultural, commercial and industrial development of the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood at Waterloo (Dolina Utesheniya), British Columbia.  Published in the Manitoba Free Press, it highlights the material prosperity and substantial progress of the Doukhobor Community after three short years of settlement there.

Update - Doukhobor Cemetery Transcription Project

The following Doukhobor cemetery has been transcribed and is now online. Learn about its location, history, physical layout, driving directions and details with respect to burials: Krasivaya Dolina Cemetery Site, Queenstown district, AB.  Learn more about the Doukhobor Cemetery Transcription Project, and how you can contribute to this worthwhile heritage activity.

1912 Report of the General Meeting of the Doukhobor Community

The following is a rare extant report of the general meeting of the Doukhobor Community held at Otradnoe village, Saskatchewan, on October 13, 1912, as published in the Manitoba Free Press, December 5, 1912 by Peter "Lordly" Verigin. The minutes provide extraordinary insight into the administrative and financial matters along with the current issues of the day.

The First Gorelovka Village, Blaine Lake District, SK

In 1899, Doukhobors from Kars, Russia established a sod dugout village in the banks of a small creek six miles west of Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan. They named it Gorelovka. The village existed for three years, after which it was abandoned and the Doukhobors formed two new villages nearby. Here, Roger Phillips chronicles his efforts to locate the original village site.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

Appledale, BC; Borisenkoff Lake, SK; Dewoskoff School, SK; Dolina Sidorova, BC;
Dolina Opustosheniya, BC; Eagle Point School, SK; Epp School, SK; Finlayson
School, SK; Gorelovka, SK; Henrietta School, SK; Old Haralowka Cemetery, SK;
North Kylemore School, SK; Svyataya Mogila, BC.

Index of Freedomite Children Placed with Independent/Community Doukhobors, 1933-1935

This index by Steve Lapshinoff contains the surname, name, sex, foster family name and address for each of 357 Sons of Freedom children, whose parents were interned at Piers Island Penitentiary, British Columbia, and who were placed by the government with Independent and Community Doukhobor families between 1933 and 1935 for foster care.

New Link - Spiritual Singing of Russian Doukhobors

The following eight-part Russian video lecture by Dr. Serafima Evgen'evna Nikitina, Institute of Linguistics, Russian Academy of Science examines the spiritual versus sung by three religious groups in Russia today, the Old Believers, Molokans and Doukhobors, with a special focus on the latter. Recorded at Kaminnom Hall, Club “Art'eria”, Moscow, Russia on April 9, 2008.

Index of Sons of Freedom Interned at Piers Island Penitentiary, BC, 1932-1935

This index by Steve Lapshinoff contains the surname, name, sex, age, place of arrest, remand prison, place of conviction and comments for each of 556 Sons of Freedom Doukhobors incarcerated at Piers Island Penitentiary, British Columbia for three-year terms between 1932 and 1935 for public disturbances.

Update - Doukhobor Cemetery Transcription Project

The following Doukhobor cemetery has been transcribed and is now online. Learn about its location, history, physical layout, driving directions and details with respect to burials: Old Haralowka Cemetery, Blaine Lake district, SK.  Learn more about the Doukhobor Cemetery Transcription Project, and how you can contribute to this worthwhile heritage activity.

Folk Furniture of Canada's Doukhobors

When the Doukhobors arrived in Canada, the folk furniture they created reflected the traditional forms, construction methods and decorative motifs of Russia. The following article by John Fleming and Michael Rowan examines how geography and Canadian society affected how the Doukhobors adopted and adapted these elements in their new environment.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer database has been updated to include the following entries: Plodorodnoye, TU; Odintsovo, TU; Petropavlovka, TU; Golitsyno, TU; Sofatova Dolina, BC; Pump Hill, BC; Bozhiya Dolina (Krestova), BC; Krivoy Most, BC; Peshchera, BC; Gritchina Balka, BC; The Pump, BC; Kelvington Colony, SK.

Grand Forks Brick Plant Launched in 1909

In 1909, the CCUB established a brick plant west of Grand Forks, British Columbia. At its peak, it produced up to three million bricks annually. It was an important industrial asset of the CCUB, supplying bricks for the construction of Community buildings and for sale to the outside world. The following article by W.M. Rozinkin describes its operations until its demise in 1932.

Piers Island: The Doukhobor Period, 1932-1935 - Postscript Added

According to the official government account outlined in this article, the Piers Island Penitentiary warden instructed his staff not to use physical force on the Doukhobors prisoners. However, surviving Doukhobor accounts allege gross abuses of the Piers Island prisoners. A postscript has been added to this article outlining the Doukhobor perspective.

Publications - New Prices in Effect

Effective immediately, the new retail prices for Doukhobor genealogical reference books by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff are as follows: 1853 Tax Register of Doukhobors in the Caucasus ($30.00); 1918 Independent Doukhobor Census ($25.00); 1930 Names Doukhobors of Canada, Saskatchewan Membership List ($15.00). All prices exclusive of postage costs. 

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer database has been updated to include the following entries: Kislyy Kvas Rodnik, TU; Kipeniye Rodnik, GE; Lushechkin Khutor, GE; Kalmykov Khutor, UK; Shaba Kishlak, AZ; Amerikanskaya Gora, WA; Koty, RU; Novoye, RU; Cowley School, AB; Lundbreck School, AB; Shafter Colony, OR.

Library and Archives Canada & Doukhobor Genealogy Website Announce Partnership

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) and Jonathan J. Kalmakoff, creator of the Doukhobor Genealogy Website, the largest Doukhobor family history website, announced today a strategic partnership to make more resources accessible to Canadians interested in online Doukhobor family research, including a thematic guide to Doukhobor historical records.

Piers Island: The Doukhobor Period, 1932-1935

The following detailed historical account by A. Harold Skolrood outlines the internment of the Sons of Freedom on Piers Island, British Columbia from 1932 to 1935, including their arrest and conviction, selection of the prison site, its acquisition by expropriation, the compounds, the Doukhobors as prisoners, their release from prison, staff and the eventual removal of buildings.

Kylemore Historic Doukhobor Tour

On June 30, 2008, the National Heritage Doukhobor Village hosted a guided motor coach tour of Doukhobor historical sites and points of interest in the Kylemore district of Saskatchewan, visiting original CCUB village sites, exploring surviving buildings and structures, and learning about the Doukhobors who inhabited them, their way of life, and events that took place there.

Celebrating Peters Day

An event marked by Doukhobors everywhere has been the annual tradition of Peter's Day. Originally an Orthodox ecclesiastic holiday, it was also the name day of Doukhobor leader Peter "Lordly" Verigin and was also the day of the Doukhobor 'Burning of Arms' in the Caucasus in 1895. Read here about Peters Day 2008 celebrations in British Columbia.

Update - Kylemore, SK Doukhobor Settlement Historic Map

The Doukhobor historic maps section has been updated to include a new and improved map of the Kylemore Doukhobor settlement from 1918 to 1938.  The historical map includes section, township and range lines, highways and grid roads as well as accurately positioned and calibrated Doukhobor village locations. A useful new reference for family history research.

Doukhobors Featured in '100 Saskatchewan Stories' Documentary Series

The Doukhobors are featured in an episode of 100 Saskatchewan Stories, a 13-part television documentary that tells the story of the people, places and events in Saskatchewan history. The half-hour episode entitled “Left, Right & Centre – Part 1” originally premiered on Saskatchewan Communication Network (SCN) in 2006 and has been regularly aired since.

Canned Doukhobor Borsch?

Canned borsch? "Why not!" thought two Doukhobor entrepreneurs in 1955. Using an age-old family recipe, they marketed their ready-to-eat Doukhobor vegetable soup under the Kootenay Valley "Genuine Borsch" brand.  The world was not ready for canned borsch, however, it left behind some colourful labels, now prized collectibles. By Greg Nesteroff.

Doukhobor Collection of James Mavor Available Online

The Doukhobor Collection of James Mavor, a vast compilation of over 785 documents from the early twentieth century relating to the arrival and settlement of the Doukhobors in Canada, has been digitized and added online to the Multicultural Canada website. To learn more about this tremendous new Doukhobor research source, read this Press Release.

The Doukhobors at Veregin, Saskatchewan, 1911

The following 1911 account outlines the agricultural, commercial and industrial enterprises of the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood in Veregin, Saskatchewan.  Published in the Manitoba Free Press, it highlights the material prosperity and substantial progress of what was already then a multi-million-dollar enterprise.

Boundary Museum Moves to Fructova School, Grand Forks, BC

Some exciting news for the Boundary Museum Society in Grand Forks. After receiving a grant from the Regional District of Kootenay-Boundary, the Society has announced that they will be moving and opening and new museum at the Fructova School which is owned by the U.S.C.C. Doukhobor organization in Grand Forks. Read more in this news release.

Doukhobor Place Names Database Renamed 'The Doukhobor Gazetteer'

The database formerly known as the 'Doukhobor Place Names Database' has been renamed 'The Doukhobor Gazetteer' to reflect its expanded scope and content. With over 1,000 entries, it is the most comprehensive and authoritative source of Doukhobor geographic information ever compiled, with entries for Doukhobor place names, features and locations worldwide.

Leo Tolstoy's Teachings and the Sons of Freedom in Canada

The following scholarly article by Svetlana A. Inikova examines how the roots of the Freedomite movement can be found in the intellectual ideas and philosophical writings of Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy. His teachings, spread by Tolstoyans living among the Doukhobors in Canada and abroad, exerted a definite influence on the formation of the radical wing of the Doukhobors.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer database has been updated to include the following entries: Troitskii Shpir', RU; Golitsyno, RU; Odintsovka, RU; Astrakhanka, RU; McVey's Camp, MB: Burtsevo, SK; Doukhobor Quarter, SK; Lyubovnoye, SK; Kylemore Colony, SK; Cowley-Lundbreck Colony, AB; Koch Siding, BC; Caesar Village, BC; Koloniya Svobody, OR.

Doukhobors Featured at Canadian Council of Archives National Conference

The Doukhobors were among the topics featured at the Canadian Council of Archives National Conference held in Regina, Saskatchewan May 24 to 25, 2008. The conference programme included a workshop on "Researching Your Russian Doukhobor Roots" by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff.  Find out about this national event dedicated to Canada's documentary heritage.

Petrofka

In his later years, Alex J. Bayoff (1906-1989) wrote down his memories of growing up in the Doukhobor village of Petrofka along the North Saskatchewan River near Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan. In clear, simple and sincere style, he depicts the life and times of the village in the context of his family experience. A Doukhobor Genealogy Website exclusive.

Celebrating 100 Years of Doukhobor Heritage

In the years 1908 to 1913, some 5,000 Doukhobor settlers came from the Prairies to B.C., which is deemed to be the largest internal migration in Canadian history. This year, the Doukhobor community is celebrating its first century in beautiful British Columbia. These 100 years of Doukhobor life in B.C. have been graced by accomplishment and distinction.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer database has been updated to include the following entries: Piers Island, BC; Grosse Ile, QB; Lawlor Island, NS; Biryuchiy Ostrov, Ukraine; Petrofka Spring, SK; Dobrovolya (Blaine Lake, SK); Golovinka (Blaine Lake, SK); Sarilia Country Estates (Langham, SK), Sionskaya Gora (Grand Forks, BC); Sionskaya Gora (Brilliant, BC).

Taking the Cure: How a Group of British Columbia Anarchists Inspired Democracy in Russia

The following article by Christopher Shulgan examines the little-known story of how in 1980, the Doukhobors of British Columbia inspired the the highest-ranking member of the Soviet Union in Canada, Ambassador Aleksandr N. Yakovlev, to become the architect of the Glasnost and Perestroika democratic reforms in Russia.  Published in The Walrus Magazine (June 2008).

Update - Origin and Meaning of Molokan Surnames

This encyclopaedic glossary has been updated to include the origin and meaning of an additional five surnames that occurred historically among the Molokans including: Artishchev, Fedotov, Moskalev, Rudakov, Seryaev. Among the Molokans, these surnames occurred only in Russia.

Columbia Basin Trust Gives $200K for Brilliant Bridge Restoration

On May 7, the Columbia basin Trust announced a $200,000 commitment to the restoration of the Brilliant Suspension Bridge, noting its historic link to the local Doukhobor heritage and culture.  The contribution is a huge boost towards helping the Brilliant Suspension Bridge Restoration Committee reach its fundraising target of $750,000.

Doukhobor Discovery Centre Celebrates 37th Seasonal Opening

With the theme of the 100th commemoration of the Doukhobor move to BC, the Doukhobor Discovery Centre celebrated it's 37th season on April 27.  Highlights included the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada official unveiling of the Doukhobor Suspension Bridge, and the participation of the Psalmist's Ensemble. Read this Press Release for more information.

Spring Name Commemorates Doukhobors of Petrofka

A spring near Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan has been officially named to commemorate the Doukhobor settlers of Petrofka village. Read this Press Release to learn more about how Petrofka Spring, the name proposed by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff, was officially approved by the Saskatchewan Geographic Names Board.

National Historic Significance of Doukhobor Suspension Bridge Commemorated

Parks Canada unveiled a Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada plaque honouring the Doukhobor Suspension Bridge as a site of national historic significance. A ceremony was held on the grounds of the Doukhobor Discovery Centre in Castlegar, British Columbia. This recognition will help Canadians better appreciate this important chapter in Canada's history.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer database has been updated to include the following entries: South Kylemore School (Kylemore, SK); Dunree School (Shouldice, AB); LaSalle School (Mossleigh, AB); Outlook School (Grand Forks, BC); Spencer School (Grand Forks, BC); Carson School (Carson, BC).  Entries contain toponymic, historical and geographic data.

Update - Origin and Meaning of Doukhobor Surnames

This encyclopaedic glossary has been updated to include the origin and meaning of an additional 13 surnames that occurred historically among the Doukhobors including: Alekseev, Barbin, Bychkov, Fedorov, Kobzenko, Kolbov, Kolesnik, Kuchaev, Malen'kov, Nikiforov, Rybkin, Sanin, Varakin.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer database has been updated to include the following entries: Grand Forks, BC; Castlegar, BC; Waterloo, BC; Thrums, BC; Tarrys, BC; Glade, BC; Shoreacres, BC; Crescent Valley, BC; Lebahdo, BC; Winlaw, BC; Perry Siding, BC: Creston, BC. Entries contain toponymic, historical and geographic data.

Doukhobor Session - Canadian Council of Archives - Archives & You Conference 2008

Jonathan J. Kalmakoff will be leading a plenary session on "Researching Your Russian Doukhobor Roots" at the 2008 Archives & You conference held by the Canadian Council of Archives at the Regina Inn in Regina, Saskatchewan on May 24-25, 2008.  Find out about the Doukhobor session, the conference program, registration, accommodations and more.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer database has been updated to include the following entries: Benito, MB; Arran, SK; Pelly, SK; Kamsack, SK; Canora, SK; Buchanan, SK; Kylemore, SK; Watson, SK; Blaine Lake, SK; Langham, SK; Arrowwood, AB; Cowley, AB; Lundbreck, AB; Mossleigh, AB. Entries contain toponymic, historical and geographic data.

Hardy Mountain Doukhobor Village Historic Site - 2008 Report

The following update by W.J. Fofonoff details the 2008 restoration activities at Hardy Mountain Doukhobor Village, a 16.9 acre property containing what remains of the historic Makortoff Doukhobor Village. Built on a knoll overlooking the junction of the Kettle and Granby River valleys, the village is located one kilometre west of Grand Forks, British Columbia.

Kylemore, SK - Historical Doukhobor Tour - June 30, 2008

A historical tour of the Doukhobor settlements in Kylemore and district, Saskatchewan is planned for June 30, 2008.  This is the fourth in a series of annual tours sponsored by the National Doukhobor Heritage Village.  Learn more about participating and contributing to this historic settlement tour through the sharing of pictures, family stories, information, etc.

'Edifice & Us' Documentary Series - Flash Streaming Video Added Online

An 8.59 minute Flash streaming video excerpt of Edifice & Us is now available online. The full half-hour episode entitled "Home of the Spirit Wrestlers" featuring the Doukhobor Prayer Home in Veregin, Saskatchewan premiers on the Saskatchewan Communication Network (SCN) on Tuesday, April 1, 2008 at 8:30 p.m. and again on Thursday, April 3 at midnight.

Update - Origin and Meaning of Doukhobor Surnames

This encyclopaedic glossary has been updated to include the origin and meaning of an additional 16 surnames that occurred historically among the Doukhobors including: Bogatyrev, Burlin, Erin, Fetisov, Kakhov, Khramtsov, Lyubimov, Mordovin, Novosil'tsov, Rozhnov, Shul'gin, Smagin, Suslov, Tarabukin, Vypov, Zapasnoy.

Kootenay Region - Doukhobor Centennial Celebrations - April 26th & 27th, 2008

The following is a calendar of special events in the Kootenay region being held on April 26-27, 2008 to commemorate the centennial of the Doukhobor migration from Saskatchewan to British Columbia, 1908-2008.  Events include an evening supper and cultural celebration, community fundraiser, traditional prayer service and the official opening of the Doukhobor Discovery Centre.

Russian Studies in History - Special Russian Sectarian Issue

The journal Russian Studies in History has published a special issue devoted to Russian sectarian history. In its Winter 2007 issue (Volume 46, Issue 3) entitled “Russian Religious Sectarianism”, it features articles by world-acclaimed scholars (Nicholas Breyfogle, Svetlana Inikova, Iuliia Argudiaeva and Irina Dolzhenko dedicated to Doukhobors and Molokans.

Doukhobor Content Added to Wikipedia

A substantial amount of Doukhobor-related content has recently been added to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, making it a potentially helpful source of general information on the Russian religious movement. The following is a review of the six full-length articles presently available, details about Wikipedia, and the pros and cons of using Wikipedia as a research resource.

Doukhobor Article Published in Onomastica Canadiana

The article "Frequency of Doukhobor Names in Saskatchewan in 1905" by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff has been published in the scholarly journal Onomastica Canadiana (89-2, December 2007). It examines the frequency of men's names, women's names and surnames found among 9,188 Doukhobors living in Saskatchewan in 1905.  Click here to read article in website format.

Spencer Area of 'Ubezhishche", British Columbia

In 1909, Community Doukhobors from Saskatchewan purchased 550 acres of land along July Creek in the Spencer district of British Columbia. They named the area Ubezhishche, from the Russian for “refuge” or “hideaway”. The following article written by Mike Zibin of Grand Forks, British Columbia describes his early memories of Ubezhishche in the Thirties and Forties.

Doukhobor Prayer Home Featured in 'Edifice & Us' Documentary Series

The Doukhobor Prayer Home in Veregin, Saskatchewan is featured in an upcoming episode of Edifice & Us, a television documentary that explores Saskatchewan through the architectural heritage of the province. The half-hour episode, entitled “Home of the Spirit Wrestlers”, premiers on the Saskatchewan Communication Network (SCN) on Tuesday, April 1, 2008 at 8:30 p.m.

Update - Doukhobor Gazetteer

The Doukhobor Gazetteer database has been updated to include the following entries: Brilliant Terrace Park; Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park; Lois Hole Memorial Gardens; Lois Hole Park; Petrofka Recreation Site; Verigin's Memorial Gardens; Zuckerberg Island; Zuckerberg Island Heritage Park. Entries contain toponymic, historical and geographic data.

Update - Links

New links to interesting and useful websites: Mir Slovari - Slovar' Russkikh Familii; Celebrating Saskatchewan's Heritage; Atlas of Alberta Railways; Trails in Time - A Castlegar Trail Guide; CPR Station Museum - Castlegar, BC; Alexander Palace - Russian History Websites; Lost Lost Drazdoffs (blog); and more.

Update - Doukhobor Place Names Database

The Doukhobor Place Names Database has been updated to include over ninety-nine Doukhobor cemetery entries in Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.  Each entry contains toponymic and historical information as well as geographic coordinates and links to cemetery transcriptions. Search by name, type, alphabetically and geographically.

New Book: Leo Tolstoy and Russian Peasant Sectarian Writers

Edited by Andrew Donskov, this new 298-page book by the Slavic Research Group presents selected letters between Tolstoy and four peasant writers: the Molokan philosopher Fedor Zheltov, the Doukhobor leader Peter Vasil'evich Verigin, the Sabbatarian [Subbotnik] Timofej Bondarev and Mikhail Novikov. Released March 2008. Find out more here.

Update - Doukhobor Cemetery Transcription Project

The following Doukhobor cemetery has been transcribed and is now online. Learn about its location, history, physical layout, driving directions and details with respect to burials: Krestova Cemetery.  Learn more about the Doukhobor Cemetery Transcription Project, and how you can contribute to this worthwhile heritage activity.

The Doukhobor Homestead Crisis, 1898-1907

This research article by Kathlyn (Katya) Szalasznyj examines the complicated events leading to the Doukhobor homestead crisis in Saskatchewan in 1898-1907, which resulted in divisions among Doukhobors over land ownership, the break-up of the Doukhobor Community, and the cancellation of hundreds of thousands of acres of Doukhobor homesteads. 

Update - Origin and Meaning of Molokan Surnames

This encyclopaedic glossary has been updated to include the origin and meaning of an additional six surnames that occurred historically among the Molokans including: Cherny, Gridnev, Konchakov, Pichugin, Puzikov, Shishlyannikov. Among the Molokans, these surnames occurred only in Russia.

New Link - Doukhobor-Russian Reflections

By Florence Chernoff-Lymburner. The following gallery contains 45 images of original Doukhobor-Russian art, depicting their culture, heritage, and spirit. The artist, Florence Chernoff-Lymburner, a Doukhobor born and raised in Grand Forks, British Columbia, has been featured in exhibits across Canada and the United States.

Publications

Copies of genealogical reference books by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff are available for sale: 1853 Tax Register of Doukhobors in the Caucasus; 1918 Independent Doukhobor Census; and 1930 Names Doukhobors of Canada, Saskatchewan Membership List. Coming soon: Doukhobor Ship Passenger Lists (2nd Edition); Doukhobors in the 1911 Canada Census.

Doukhobor Culture at a Crossroads

Aging order faces choices, but what to do: market a culture to preserve it, or live it? Reproduced from the pages of the Vancouver Sun (July 27, 2002) this article reveals the forces of cultural change among the Doukhobors of the British Columbia interior. Will they adapt to the world on their own terms or pass from the landscape like a barn falling to its knees?

Update - Index of Doukhobors in the WWII Canadian Forces

This listing has been updated to include the surname, name, address, force and enlistment details for an additional 17 Doukhobor WWII servicemen for a total of 218.  Names include: Fofonoff, Koochin, Podmoroff, Sherstabetoff (Mossleigh, AB); Chernoff, Esawoloff, Morosoff, Popoff, Zbetnoff, Zeeben (Yorkton, SK); Bonderoff, Holobow, Kazakoff, Popoff (Wadena, SK). 

The Colony: Anastasia's Village, Shouldice, Alberta

The following article by William Anatooskin recounts life in Anastasia F. Holoboff's communal settlement near Shouldice, Alberta, known as the Lordly Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood, or simply "The Colony".  It contains a detailed listing of the families who lived there, along with the relative location of each household.

New Israel Religious Movement - Russian Museum at San Javier, Uruguay

In the early twentieth century, thousands of members of the New Israel religious movement fled Russia for South America to escape persecution and establish a community based on their beliefs. Today, almost a century later, their descendants struggle to maintain their Russian heritage. The following is an appeal for assistance for their museum at San Javier, Uruguay.

New Israel: Transformation of a Branch of Russian Religious Dissent

The following article by Sergey Petrov examines the origins and history of New Israel, a small religious movement of Spiritual Christians that emerged in Russia in the late nineteenth century. It investigates the many similarities between New Israel and another Spiritual Christian group, the Doukhobors, who were a significant influence on the movement.

Doukhobor Discovery Centre Heritage Project

On February 24th the Doukhobor Discovery Centre unveiled its Heritage Week Project at the USCC Cultural Centre in Grand Forks, BC. The psalmist project involved the recording of three different psalmist groups, with joint rehearsals of the groups followed by a public performance to an enthusiastic audience. Future plans include a CD collection. Read more here.

Memories of Orchards and Raspberries at Raspberry Village, British Columbia

In 1932, Community Doukhobors established a village settlement across the Columbia River from Castlegar, British Columbia. Situated near a large communal raspberry plantation, they named it Malinvoye, meaning “raspberry” in Russian. The following article by William M. Rozinkin examines the history of the community known today as Raspberry, British Columbia.

New Book Explores Lawlor's Island Quarantine Station

A new book has been published about the Lawlor's Island Quarantine Station. Quarantine: What is Old is New: Halifax and the Lawlor's Island Quarantine Station, 1866-1938 by Dr. Ian A. Cameron examines its history, connection to the Doukhobors, and importance to Canada's medical, immigration and maritime history. Read this release to find out more.

Two New Doukhobor Historical Designations

The Historic Sites and Monuments Board has designated Doukhobor leader Peter Vasilyevich Verigin as a person of National Historic Significance, and the Migration of the Doukhobors to British Columbia as an event of National Historic Significance.  This announcement culminates several years of lobbying efforts by Doukhobor Discovery Centre curator Larry Ewashen.

Doukhobor Prayers Keep Tradition Alive

In 1915, a small colony of about 300 Doukhobors was established around Lundbreck in southwestern Alberta. It acted as a midpoint between the grain fields of the Saskatchewan colonies and the large B.C. population. In this Calgary Sun article, Graeme Morton meets their few remaining descendants in the area, who struggle to keep their tradition alive.

The B.C. Pen's Graveyard Secrets

Not much is left of the federal penitentiary at New Westminster, less still of the thousands of men who served time there for murder, rape, theft and drug-dealing. About four dozen, including five Doukhobor inmates, however, are still there, in a forgotten graveyard called Boot Hill. In this Vancouver Sun article, Randy Shore recounts how their names were nearly lost forever.

Blowin' in the Wind

Photography is more than just a profession for Calgary Sun columnist Mike Drew. It's also his passion, equalled only by his love of the outdoors. But when he drove out of Calgary one afternoon looking for birds and wildlife to photograph, the last thing he expected to find was an abandoned Doukhobor settlement on the road between Arrowwood and Shouldice, Alberta.

Update - Origin and Meaning of Molokan Surnames

This encyclopaedic glossary has been updated to include the origin and meaning of an additional six surnames that occurred historically among the Molokans including: Druzhinin, Kurteev, Lepekhin, Leshtaev, Nesterenko and Sychev.

The Doukhobors in Malyi Snezhetok

Today in the Pervomaysky district of Tambov, Russia, one hundred and four Doukhobor immigrants from Georgia have obtained permanent residence. Half of them – under the Russian Federation's state program for the resettlement of Russian compatriots. Russian journalist Evgeny Pisarev examines their arrival from the perspective of the local Tambov population.  

Update - Doukhobor Marriages Registered in British Columbia, 1909-1932

This listing has been updated to include the groom's name, bride's name, place, date, registration number and microfilm number of 27 Doukhobor marriages registered in British Columbia in 1932. Compiled by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff from records from the British Columbia Marriage Registration Index.

Doukhobor Session - Canadian Council of Archives - Archives & You Conference 2008

Jonathan J. Kalmakoff will be leading a plenary session on "Researching Your Russian Doukhobor Roots" at the 2008 Archives & You conference held by the Canadian Council of Archives at the Regina Inn in Regina, Saskatchewan on May 24-25, 2008.  Find out about the Doukhobor session, the conference program, registration, accomodations and more.

(Re)Reading BC's Doukhobor Cultural Landscape

In British Columbia, the Community Doukhobors under Peter ‘Lordly’ Verigin created a cultural landscape that reflected their communal agrarian values. Carl J. Tracie examines the role of spatial and spiritual factors that weakened and finally undermined the economic survival of the Community and eventually resulted in the disintegration of their unique cultural landscape.

Update - Doukhobor Cemetery Transcription Project

The following Doukhobor cemeteries have been transcribed and are now online. Learn about their location, history, physical layout, driving directions and details with respect to burials: Arkhangel'skoye Cemetery, Perekhodnoye Cemetery, Pelly district, SK; Khutor Cemetery, Veregin district, SK; Trudolyubovoye Cemetery, Runnymede district, SK; Riverhill (Spasovka) Cemetery, Old Spasovka Cemetery, Blaine Lake district, SK (updated).

Doukhobors in Hilliers, British Columbia

In 1947, Sons of Freedom leader Michael "the Archangel" Verigin and 70 of his followers established a 320 acre communal colony at Hilliers, British Columbia. The following article by present property owner Richard de Condole briefly examines the history of the controversial Hilliers Doukhobor colony to the present.

More Georgian Doukhobors Move to Tambov

54 more Doukhobors have recently relocated from the village of Gorelovka in the Republic of Georgia to the Pervomayskiy district of Tambov province, Russia as part of a state-sponsored program to voluntarily repatriate Russians residing in former Soviet republics.  Another 500 Georgian Doukhobors await official clearance to join them. Read more in this special release.

New Link - This Moment Events

Visit the new website hosted by Doukhobor Sara Kinakin. This Moment Events is committed to the production of global events that inspire while building & strengthening communities through the sharing of wisdom stories that celebrate the linking of generations and cultures across time and space. Doukhobor content with a global focus.

National Heritage Doukhobor Village, Veregin, SK - 2008 Annual Meeting

The National Heritage Doukhobor Village at Veregin, Saskatchewan will be holding its Annual 2008 General Meeting on January 27, 2008. The agenda items will include scheduling and selection of 2008 events as well as the election of a new Board. Everyone is welcome to attend!

A Tale of Two Giants Bound by Pacifism

Sixty years ago this month, history's most famous pacifist, Mahatma Gandhi, was felled by an act of senseless violence.  Yet while his life and message of non-violence are well known, his philosophy's genesis in the writings of Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy is largely forgotten. In this Toronto Star Sun article, Daniel A. Cohen examines a tale of two giants bound by pacifism.

Update - Links

New links to interesting and useful websites: Arrow Lakes Historical Society; The International Selikirk Loop; The Kootenay Rockies; Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History; Vanishing British Columbia; Google Maps; Maplandia; and more.

Doukhobor Novel Does More than Tell a Good Story

In this Vancouver Sun article, Robert J. Wiersama reviews the new Doukhobor historical novel, "Svoboda" by Bill Stenson.  He observes that Stenson's novel does more than tell a good story; it is an important work, a moving piece of fiction that not only casts light on a largely forgotten aspect of our history but also brings into focus our actions and attitudes today.

New Stories Link - Peace Dividend

After the Cold War, Leo Tolstoy’s country estate fell into disrepair, until salvation came from a distant relative and a Christian pacifist sect. This CNN Traveller article by Alfred Kueppers examines the history and present state of Yasnaya Polyana in Tula, Russia. Photos by Swiatoslaw Wojtkowiak.

New Link - USCC Doukhobor Website

Visit the great new website hosted by the Union of Spiritual Communities of Christ (USCC) Doukhobors of the beautiful Kootenay Boundary region of south-central British Columbia! Contains an exciting array of multimedia sections about the Doukhobors, USCC information, special events, places of interest, links and contact information.

Union of Spiritual Communities of Christ - Special Events in 2008

The following is following is a calendar of special 2008 events hosted by the Union of Spiritual Communities of Christ (USCC) Doukhobors in the cities of Castlegar and Grand Forks, British Columbia and surrounding localities. Everyone is welcome!

Doukhobor Cultural Society of Saskatchewan - 2008 Annual Conference

Everyone is welcome to attend the Annual Conference of the Doukhobor Cultural Society of Saskatchewan (DCSS) February 22-24, 2007 at the Manitou Springs Resort & Mineral Spa located at Manitou Beach, near the Town of Watrous, Saskatchewan. The theme of this year's Conference is "Faith and its Sustainability" and will include a number of presenters.

- 2007 -

New Russian Book Chronicles the Doukhobors

A new book has been published in Russian about the Doukhobors. Strana Dukhoboriya by Alla Bezhentseva was published in Tbilisi, Georgia by Russkii Klub in late 2007. The English translation of the title is “Land of the Doukhobors”. To find out more about this publication, and how to download a PDF copy, read the following release. 

Arrival of the First Group of Doukhobors in Ootischenia, British Columbia, 1908

In 1908, the Doukhobors purchased vast tracts of land in the Kootenay region of British Columbia. They first settled at Waterloo, an abandoned mining camp on the Columbia River which Doukhobor leader Peter “Lordly” Verigin renamed Ootischenia. Among the first group of settlers was William A. Fominoff. The following is his account of their historic arrival.

Doukhobor Dugout House - Special Events in 2008

The following is a listing of upcoming events at the Doukhobor Dugout House historic site near Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan in 2008, which include: Doukhobor wedding re-enactments and renewals, Dedushka Day in honour of our grandfathers, site tours, and more. Everyone is welcome!

Several Characteristics of Doukhobor Society, 1805

In 1805, an unknown “gentleman of the highest respectability” in St. Petersburg, Russia composed a sympathetic exposition of the religious and social teachings of the Dukhobortsy. Translated and published in 1815 by Robert Pinkerton, it contains the earliest systematic account of Doukhobor religious doctrine and provides invaluable historic insights into their faith.

Update - Doukhobor Cemetery Transcription Project

The following Doukhobor cemetery transcriptions have been updated to include new and unmarked burials: Bogdanovka (Cee Pee) Cemetery, Kirilowka Cemetery & Pakrowka (Henrietta) Cemetery, Langham district, SK; Chursinoff Cemetery, Mikado district, SK; USCC (Sion) Cemetery, Grand Forks, BC; Brilliant Cemetery, Brilliant, BC; Ootischenia Cemetery, Ootischenia, BC; Porto Rico Cemetery, Porto Rico, BC; Gilpin Cemetery (No. 2), Gilpin, BC.

Index of Doukhobor Border Crossings from Mexico to USA, 1903-1950

This is an index of border crossings by 38 Doukhobors from Mexico into Texas, USA in transit to Canada between 1903 and 1950. Information includes full name, age, birth date, birthplace, permanent residence, port of arrival and destination. Includes six delegations investigating lands in Mexico for Doukhobor resettlement in 1924, 1929, 1930 and 1931.

Early Memories of Hills, British Columbia

In 1929-1934, eight Independent Doukhobor families from Saskatchewan established a farming hamlet at Hill Siding in the Slocan Valley of British Columbia. Other families of different backgrounds followed, and it soon became a busy lumber village. The following article written by the late George P. Markin (1905-1975) describes some of his early memories of Hills.

The Molokan Arrival in Manitoba, 1905

In 1905, a group of 160 Molokans from Kars, Russia arrived in Winnipeg, Manitoba seeking land in the Canadian West to settle on and farm. They aroused widespread interest and curiosity among city residents, and received a hearty welcome from local Doukhobors and Russian émigrés. The account of their stay in Manitoba is taken from the Manitoba Free Press.

Doukhobor Article Published in Saskatchewan History

The article "The Hyas Doukhobor Settlement" by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff has been published in the latest edition of the prestigious journal Saskatchewan History (Winter 2007 Issue, Volume 59, Number 2). It traces the history of a virtually unknown Doukhobor village and offers a new perspective on Independent Doukhobor settlement. Click here to read article in website format.

Update - Origin and Meaning of Doukhobor Surnames

This encyclopaedic glossary has been updated to include the origin and meaning of an additional 19 surnames that occurred historically among the Doukhobors including: Baranov, Dmitriev, Gibanov, Klement'ev, Kondrashev, Kozodoev, Kudryatsev, Lepekhin, Men'shagin, Neronov, Okovantsev, Perevalov, Perov, Pimenov, Shalimov, Shenyakin, Sukhodolin, Yarovenko, Zamyatin.

My Father, A Doukhobor?

For many years, Terry Terichow was unaware of his ancestral roots. Growing up in the 1950s and 1960s, he was taught that he was Irish and Norwegian – his mother’s nationality – and that his father was a Turk. Then, on a fateful trip to British Columbia in 1970 to visit distant relatives, he discovered a hidden family secret. His father was a Doukhobor! Read about his story here.

The Novgorod Doukhobor Elder, 1796

In his autobiography, Russian writer and thinker Alexander Ivanovich Herzen relates the story of a Novogorod Doukhobor elder who in 1796, when summoned before the soon to be crowned Tsar Paul (1754-1801), refused to doff his cap. For his impertinence, the insecure and unstable Tsar had the unfortunate Doukhobor immediately exiled and imprisoned.

Update - Origin and Meaning of Molokan Surnames

This encyclopaedic glossary has been updated to include the origin and meaning of an additional 40 surnames that occurred historically among the Molokans including: Antipov, Arinin, Babakov, Baranov, Boldin, Burov, Vetrov, Glazov, Goryanov, Gritsik, Drachev, Zheltkov, Kazeev, Korolev, Kastryulin, Kasymsky, Kudelin, Kuksov, Kucherov, Lazev, Lebeshev, Legenko, Lobachev, Maslov, Nevskov, Neudakhin, Pominov, Poroshin, Radchenko, Soborov, Sosin, Strekalov, Tikunov, Tyrnov, Uvarov, Ushakov, Fomichev, Khynikin, Shemelev, Shnyakin.

Update - Doukhobor Marriages Registered in British Columbia, 1909-1931

This listing has been updated to include the groom's name, bride's name, place, date, registration number and microfilm number of 24 Doukhobor marriages registered in British Columbia in 1931. Compiled by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff from records from the British Columbia Marriage Registration Index.

The Mounted Police and the Doukhobors in Saskatchewan, 1899-1909

In documenting Mounted Police confrontations with the Doukhobors during their first decade in Saskatchewan, from 1899 to 1909, historian Carl Betke demonstrates how the disruptive activities of a minority of the Doukhobor immigrants were handled gently and tolerantly in order to assure the agricultural production of a massive number of effective farmers.

Update - Doukhobor Cemetery Transcription Project

The following Doukhobor cemeteries have been transcribed and are now online. Learn about their location, history, physical layout, driving directions and details with respect to burials: Pass Creek Doukhobor Cemetery, Pass Creek, BC; Doukhobors in the Valley View Cemetery, Agassiz, BC.

The Doukhobors of Georgia

This photo gallery by Agnes Montanari, a French documentary photographer living in Tbilisi contains 41 recent photos of the Doukhobors living in the Republic of Georgia. Includes scenes of Gorelovka village; the Mogilochki; the Peshcherochki; a Moleniye service; Doukhobor agricultural activities; and more.  

Update - Origin and Meaning of Doukhobor Surnames

This encyclopaedic glossary has been updated to include the origin and meaning of an additional 25 surnames that occurred historically among the Doukhobors including: Babanin, Balychev, Bulgakov, Burnashev, Dunaev, Gontarenkov, Kostikov, Mzhachev, Nemakhov, Nikishev, Ordikov, Stangvilov, Starodubtsev, Studenikin, Sulanov, Tsyplakov, Tulikov, Zabrodin, Zdvizhkov, Zhdanov, Zheltenkov, Zhernoklev, Zhilaev, Zlotov, Zvezdilin.

Update - Links

New links to interesting and useful websites: Virtual Saskatchewan Online Magazine; Bill Barry's People, Places; Glenbow Museum; A Guide to Archival Repositories in British Columbia; Travel.bc.ca; ProudGrandparents; and more.

Religion and Tradition in the Cultural Landscape of the Saskatchewan Doukhobors

Like other immigrant groups, the Doukhobors created cultural landscapes on the Prairies that reflected their traditions and values. The following case study by Carl J. Tracie examines the role of religion and tradition in the cultural landscapes of the Doukhobors in the Saskatchewan Colony and in the North and South Colonies of Saskatchewan.

Student Seeks Participants from Across Canada to Broaden Research

Are you interested in Doukhobor pasts, presents, and futures in Canada? Would you like to share your views on the importance that memory has in contemporary visions of Doukhoborism? Learn about University of Toronto Master's student Sonya White's broadened research initiative on Doukhobor memory, history and healing and how you can participate.

Update - Doukhobor Cemetery Transcription Project

The following Doukhobor cemeteries have been transcribed and are now online. Learn about their location, history, physical layout, driving directions and details with respect to burials: Gromovoe Cemetery, Pelly district, SK; Vosnesenie Cemetery, Arran district, SK; Tikhomirnoe Cemetery, Arran district, SK.

Forced Doukhobor Schooling in British Columbia

In British Columbia, the Doukhobors’ strong communalism and great hesitancy about the larger society, combined with the rigid approach of the provincial government, resulted in decades-long conflict over education. The following article by William Janzen examines the forced schooling of Doukhobors in British Columbia during 1909-1913, 1914-1927 and 1927-1959.

Update - Origin & Meaning of Molokan Surnames - Cyrillic Spellings Added

By popular demand, Russian (Cyrillic) spellings have been added to the over 513 surname entries in the "Origin & Meaning of Molokan Surnames".  This handy reference work is now even more useful, allowing researchers to identify the original spelling of their Molokan surnames as they occur in Russia and Russian-language records.

Update - Doukhobor Ship List Index

The index of Doukhobor Ship Lists has been updated to include the ship name, line, date and port of arrival and departure, number of Doukhobor passengers and microfilm references for the following voyages: SS Umbria (New York, 1904); SS Canada (Quebec, 1911); SS Ionian (Quebec, 1912); SS Royal Edward (Halifax, 1912); SS Antonia (Quebec, 1924); SS Cameronia (Halifax, 1925); SS Arabic (Halifax, 1925); SS Empress of Scotland (Quebec, 1925); SS Western World (New York, 1926); SS Andania (Quebec, 1927); SS Paris (New York, 1928).

Update - Doukhobor Immigrant Ship Descriptions

The index of Doukhobor Immigrant Ship Descriptions has been updated to include entries and pictures of the following eight new ships: SS Paris; SS Andania; SS Western World; SS Umbria; SS Empress of Scotland; SS Antonia; SS Arabic; and SS Cameronia.

Update - Doukhobor Ship Passenger Surname Index

The Ship Passenger Surname Index has been updated to include the following Doukhobor immigrant names: Chivil'deev (SS Paris); Goncharov (SS Andania); Astafurov (SS Ionian #3); Savenkov (SS Royal Edward #2); Dergausov (SS Umbria, SS Western World); Vereshchagin (SS Canada #3); Semenov (SS Empress of Scotland); Popov (SS Antonia, SS Western World); Kabatov (SS Arabic); Gor'kov (SS Cameronia; Strelyaev (SS Cameronia); Kazakov (SS Cameronia); Malakhov (SS Cameronia, SS Western World); Konkin (SS Ausonia #3); Kazakov (SS La Bourdonnais #2); Svetlichnov (SS Western World).

Update - Doukhobor Cemetery Transcription Project

The following Doukhobor cemetery has been transcribed and is now online. Learn about its location, history, physical layout, driving directions and details with respect to burials: Glade (Plodorodnoe) Doukhobor Cemetery, Glade, BC.

Update - Origin & Meaning of Doukhobor Surnames - Cyrillic Spellings Added

By popular demand, Russian (Cyrillic) spellings have been added to the over 570 surname entries in the "Origin & Meaning of Doukhobor Surnames".  This landmark reference work by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff is now even more useful, allowing researchers to identify the original spelling of their Doukhobor surnames as they occur in Russia and Russian-language records.

Ivan Vladimirovich Lopukhin: His Life and Role in Doukhobor History

The following is a brief biographical sketch of Ivan Vladimirovich Lopukhin (1756-1816), Russian statesman, philosopher, writer, educator and philanthropist. A sympathizer and benefactor of the Doukhobors, he intervened with Tsarist authorities on their behalf and masterminded their resettlement to the Molochnaya region in Tavria. By Jonathan J. Kalmakoff.

More About the History of the Dukhobortsy of Kharkov Province

The following rare, historic account outlines the history of the Dukhoborty of Sloboda-Ukraine (Kharkov) province, Russia, from their exile to Siberia and the Baltic in the 1790's, to their return to Kharkov in 1801 and renewed persecution, to their resettlement to the Molochnaya region in Tavria in 1802. By V.I. Savva, translated by Vera Kanigan and Jack McIntosh.

New Doukhobor Historical Novel - "Svoboda" by Bill Stenson

Langford, BC novelist Bill Stenson has written a new Doukhobor historical novel. "Svoboda" follows the life of Vasili Saprikin, a young Doukhobor living in the Kootenays who is seperated from his family and forced to attend a residential school at New Denver.  The book follows the family's struggle to adapt to Canadian culture and society.

Update - Links

Mon-Photo - Caslegar contains dozens of photographs, descriptions and information about Castlegar, British Columbia including Zuckerberg Island and the Doukhobor Village Museum, as well as surrounding communities in the Kootenays. 

Doukhobor Immigrant Ship Descriptions

Are you seeking information about the ships that brought your Doukhobor immigrant ancestors to Canada? Visit this index to learn about the physical dimensions, builders, launches, shipping lines, shipping routes, name changes, wreck and salvage data, pictures, and other information for over 54 Doukhobor immigrant ships. By Jonathan J. Kalmakoff.

Update - Doukhobor Cemetery Transcription Project

The following Doukhobor cemetery has been transcribed and is now online. Learn about its location, history, physical layout, driving directions and details with respect to burials: Winlaw Doukhobor Cemetery, Winlaw, BC.

"New" Section Added

The Doukhobor Genealogy Website is updated regularly to bring you the most recent and interesting family history information. In order to assist you in locating the latest additions, this new, user-friendly "New" section has been added to the site. You can access this page from the sliding menu bar on the right side of the screen.

A Fading Minority: The Doukhobors' Continued Struggle for Survival

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, many of Georgia's Doukhobors resettled to Russia.  Those who remained became minorities in their own villages.  Now, those who are left are applying for Russian citizenship.  Should they leave, it is feared that ethnic disputes may erupt between their Armenian and Georgian neighbours. By Hedvig Lohm & Ilya Chkhutishvili.

Doukhobor Memory - Masters Research By Sonya White

Are you interested in Doukhobor pasts, presents, and futures in Canada? Would you like to share your views on the importance that memory has in contemporary visions of Doukhoborism? Learn about University of Toronto Master's student Sonya White's research on Doukhobor memory, history and healing and how you can participate in her research interview.

Brilliant History - Fading Into Obscurity

In the following article, William M. Rozinkin documents the history of the "Besedushka", the stately “retreat house” built for Peter “Lordly” Verigin by his followers in Brilliant, British Columbia in 1922. In the quiet atmosphere of its location, the Doukhobor leader spent time writing and meditating. However, it was destroyed by arson in 1924.

05 Sep 2007

A Visit with the Doukhobors of Irkutsk

In 1891, Russian writer Nikolai Astyrev visited the village of Kotinskoye in northern Irkutsk. The population was predominantly Orthodox, but the village did serve as the sole point of the weak development of Doukhoborism in the province. He provides a rare glimpse of this small, isolated group of Doukhobors. Translated by Jack McIntosh for the Doukhobor Genealogy Website.

01 Sep 2007

The Mystery of Terpenie's Buried Treasure

In 1963, a Ukrainian workman discovered a large hoard of Imperial Russian coins buried on a hillside in the village of Terpenie in Zaporozhye, Ukraine. All the evidence - the dates of the coins, the size of the hoard, and its location – strongly suggests that the coins were buried by Doukhobors prior to their expulsion in 1841-1845. By Alexander Chukhraenko.

31 Aug 2007

Village-Surname-Village Index for the 1905 Doukhobor Census

The following index (by village-surname or by surname-village) contains a listing of surnames that appear in each Doukhobor village in the 1905 census. Researchers can use this index to find out where Doukhobor families were living in 1905, and to decide where (in which villages) to start searching in the census records.

25 Aug 2007

Update - Doukhobor Historical Maps

The following detailed maps have been added to the online Doukhobor historical map collection: Brilliant, British Columbia; Ootischenia, British Columbia; Doukhobor Settlements in Tambov, Russia.

22 Aug 2007

Update - Local Histories Index

The Local Histories Index has been updated to include seven more local history books containing group settlement history and detailed family biographies: Langham (SK), Hyas (SK), Yorkton (SK), Ebeneezer (SK), Hafford (SK), Dydland (SK), Vulcan (AB).

22 Aug 2007

Search Function Added to Menu Bar

A link to the Google-powered site search engine has been added to the menu bar which appears on the right side of the screen on the Doukhobor Genealogy Website. Use it to perform searches and queries of all the data contained on the web site. Quick and easy-to-use for reference and look-ups.  

20 Aug 2007

Doukhobors in the 1920 Cummins Rural Directory of Saskatchewan  

The following is an index of Doukhobor landowners that appear in the 1920 Cummins Directory Map for Saskatchewan.  It contains the landowner name, legal land description, post office district and map number for 1,654 quarter-sections, comprising 264,640 acres of land, owned and farmed by Doukhobors. By Jonathan J. Kalmakoff.

15 Aug 2007

Update - Links

New links to interesting and useful websites: Doukhobor Talks; Worldisround: National Heritage Doukhobor Village; The Canadian Encyclopaedia; Manitoba Life and Times; Saskatchewan Western Development Museum; Peel’s Prairie Provinces; Slocanvalley.com; Rodstvo.ru; Russkie Familii; Translit.ru; Onlinenewspapers.com; Google Book Search; Wikipedia; Deacure and Davis (and Salikin) Family Tree Genealogy; Mapquest.com; Slocan Valley (Doukhobor) Cooperative; Baba’s Home Cooking; Victoria Doukhobor Choir (MySpace.com); Doukhobor Hymns & Songs; Brilliant Suspension Bridge; and more!  

15 Aug 2007

Publications

Copies of genealogical reference books by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff are available for sale: 1853 Tax Register of Doukhobors in the Caucasus; 1918 Independent Doukhobor Census; and 1930 Names Doukhobors of Canada, Saskatchewan Membership List. Coming soon: Doukhobor Ship Passenger Lists (2nd Edition); Doukhobors in the 1911 Canada Census.

12 Aug 2007

Documentary Series - Courage of the Doukhobors

The Doukhobors have been featured in a new, three-part documentary entitled "The Courage of the Doukhobors".  With extensive interview footage of writer Koozma J. Tarasoff, the "Courage of the Doukhobors" highlights the vegetarianism practiced by some Doukhobors in Canada as part of the series "Vegetarianism A Noble Way of Living".

05 Aug 2007

Family Names in British Columbia Doukhobor Settlements, 1930s-1950s

The following is a list of families who lived in the former CCUB and surrounding settlements in the Grand Forks, Castlegar and Slocan Valley areas of British Columbia, from the 1930s to the 1950s. Based on groundbreaking fieldwork, it is a tremendous resource for family research.  Written by Mike W. Popoff with Jonathan J. Kalmakoff for the Doukhobor Genealogy Website.

01 Aug 2007

A Doukhobor Wedding Dress

In 1867, a wedding dress was handmade and worn in a traditional Doukhobor wedding ceremony in the Caucasus, Russia.  After, it was carefully preserved and passed down through the generations.  Today, over 140 years later, the garment is part of the extensive collection at the Saskatchewan Western Development Museum. By Leslee Newman.

01 Aug 2007

New Book Traces History of Langham, Saskatchewan and District

A new local history book entitled “Langham & District History, 1907-2007” traces the history of Langham, Saskatchewan from its origins as a small prairie railway siding, through its incorporation as a town, to its development into a modern centre.  Contains general settlement history of the Doukhobors and detailed biographies of Doukhobor families. 

31 Jul 2007

Georgian Doukhobors Relocate to Tambov, Russia

57 Doukhobors have relocated from the Bogdanovka region of the Republic of Georgia to the Pervomayskiy district of Tambov province, Russia as part of a state-sponsored program to voluntarily repatriate Russians residing in former Soviet republics.  Their families, up to 760 Doukhobors, are expected to join them from Georgia by September. 

20 Jul 2007

Memories of Blaine Lake and Area

The following exhibition of black and white photographs was taken by Dr. Nicholas Zbitnoff (1902-1987), Doukhobor philosopher, traveler, genealogist and photographer, during his visits to Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan in 1965 and 1966. It captures his memories, reminiscences and perspectives of the people and place.

15 Jul 2007

Childhood Memories

Alexey I. Pop