November 1 – December 14, 2015
The Center for Jewish History’s landmark Ackman & Ziff Family Genealogy Institute will showcase its vast resources and host expert speakers on specific genealogy topics throughout November and December in an ongoing event series called “Family History Today.” Whether visitors are just beginning their family history searches or are expert genealogists, all are welcome to join in the following free programs. Reservations required at SmartTix.com
Ackman & Ziff Family Genealogy Institute, Center for Jewish History,
15 West 16th Street, New York, NY
917 606 8217 – gi@cjh.org
Sunday, November 1 2:00pm
Searching for Relatives in the Joint Distribution Committee Names Database
Cosponsored by the JDC Archives
The JDC Archives Names Database includes more than 500,000 names of individuals who received assistance from the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (or JDC) between 1915 and 1973. This important resource for genealogists is drawn from client lists and index cards from the JDC’s rescue, relief, and rehabilitation operations worldwide. This presentation will focus on World War II-era lists of refugees assisted during and after the Shoah in British Mandate Palestine, Spain, China, Australia, Germany, and South America, among others, with a particular focus on children, orphans and students. Naomi Barth, Manager of the JDC Names Database, will be presenting.
Reservations required: http://www.smarttix.com/show.aspx?showcode=sea179&ss=1
Tuesday, November 10 6:00pm
Tour of the Ackman & Ziff Family Genealogy Institute
Moriah Amit, Senior Reference Services Librarian for Genealogy, will tour the Center’s newly redesigned Ackman & Ziff Family Genealogy Institute, a comfortable and cutting-edge facility for family history research. The Institute makes available to the public an enormous wealth of genealogical resources.
Reservations required: http://www.smarttix.com/show.aspx?showcode=touDA6&ss=1
Monday, November 16 6:30pm
Connecting to Your Extended Family Using DNA
DNA is rocking the world of genealogy. It is the certain way to determine if you are related to someone and how close that relationship might be. This basic lecture will cover the topic beginning with egg and sperm and ending with haplogroup, encompassing the three types of DNA used for genetic genealogy: mitochondrial, Y and autosomal. Participants will learn what type of test to use for specific goals, see who is a suitable candidate for various types of testing and which companies offer which tests. Nora Galvin, a trained biologist, Editor of Connecticut Ancestry, and a certified genealogist, will be presenting.
Reservations required: http://www.smarttix.com/show.aspx?showcode=con314&ss=1
Tuesday, December 1 6:30pm
JewishGen’s Online Worldwide Burial Registry (JOWBR) and the Importance of Jewish Burial Records
Jewish headstone inscriptions and burial records can provide crucial information to genealogists. Hebrew name inscriptions, based on patronymics, can link together two generations of Hebrew names unlike any other source document. This can be especially helpful when trying to link first generation American ancestors to their European families. Through photographic examples and case studies, this event will discuss how the information and symbols found on stones can help to create your family tree. Nolan Altman, Vice President for Data Acquisition and Coordinator of the Online Worldwide Burial Registry project for Jewish Gen will be the featured speaker.
Reservations required: http://www.smarttix.com/show.aspx?showcode=jowB4B&ss=1
Monday, December 14 6:30pm
Jewish Populations in Europe, 1750 – 1950: Maps for Your Research
With the frequently changing borders of European countries in the 18th – 20th centuries, it can be a challenge to understand the locations of Jewish communities of interest within those countries. On behalf of the International Institute for Jewish Genealogy, Sandy Crystall developed a series of digital maps that show the populations of as many as 700 Jewish communities, along with the contemporaneous boundaries of countries and smaller administrative units (provinces), serving as snapshots of the geopolitical context of Jewish demographics over the course of this tumultuous period. This presentation will provide information about the creation of these digital maps and how they can be used to assist in genealogical research. Sandy Crystall has a post-baccalaureate certificate in Geographic Information Systems and has been an amateur genealogist for more than 25 years.
Reservations required: http://www.smarttix.com/show.aspx?showcode=jew3D3&ss=1
Last 3 Images: Creative Commons, Christoph-bock/DKrieger/ Spiridon Ion Cepleanu
