These pages represent my attempt to record the histories of our families both here, in the United States, and in Poland.  All errors and omissions are strictly mine and my responsibility.

I would like to dedicate these pages and this research to my mother Halina Stanislawa Kaminska, and to my father Leon Peter Janice, and to my wife's father and mother Eldon Ernest Gilliland and Charlotte Beth Martin - they are all missed.

I would like to extend my appreciation to Tadeusz Wysocki from RootsPoland.com and Zenon Znamirowski from PolishOrigins.com for their invaluable assistance and patience in helping me locate my Polish roots.  I whole-heartedly recommend these fine gentlemen to anyone doing research in Polish genealogy or wishing to travel to Poland "to find their roots".  See below for direct links to their websites.

I would also like to extend a special "thank you" to Mr. Fred Cyran who provided invaluable assistance by thoroughly documenting the immigration of numerous citizens of Budziwój, Poland to the United States, and freely sharing his work and data.

I would like to thank my wife, Rhesa Gilliland Janice, for her years of patience with me; my oldest son, Brian Michael Janice, for his assistance in developing this website; my daughter, Laura Shannon Janice, for going with me to cemeteries and being supportive of my "hobby"; and Joseph Eldon Janice, my youngest son, for being so proud of his Polish heritage.

To perform a more advanced search of this entire website for a specific word or phrase click here.

To view additional family pictures of genealogical interest and also of the beautiful cities and countryside of Poland please visit pics.janicefamily.net (a new browser window will open).  While there, "clicking" on a picture will display that picture at a higher resolution which will then be available for downloading.  All pictures are freely available to everyone.  A small random picture is shown below. 

To view a short (10 minute) video about immigration from Eastern Europe to America in the early 1900s click here.  [If the video does not play correctly make sure that you have Windows Media Player configured to display ".asf" files.]

Did you know that four out of ten Americans have an immigrant ancestor who came through Ellis Island? Learn more facts, listen to first-person accounts, view photographs, and find out what the journey through Ellis Island was like by visiting the interactive Ellis Island Experience now available at Ancestry.com.

If your family roots can be traced through Ellis Island, the site We Are Ellis Island will allow you to share your family stories, read about other individuals whose ancestors came through Ellis Island, and donate to the preservation of this great American historical site.

United States

Poland