Philadelphia: Jewish newspapers, May 14

The next meeting of the JGS of Greater Philadelphia will focus on Historical Jewish newspapers with Harry Boonin.

The meeting is at 7 p.m. Monday, May 14 at Congregation Keneseth Israel in Elkins Park.

Founding president of the JGSGP, Boonin has done extensive research on the Philadelphia Jewish community, has authored two books on genealogical and historical interest: The Davidows: The Experience of an Immigrant Family and The Jewish Quarter of Philadelphia, A History and Guide, 1881-1930, and is writing another. He is also known for his walking tours of old Jewish neighborhoods in the city.

The talk will center on five Jewish newspapers in Philadelphia: The
Exponent, The Jewish Times, The Jewish Record and two Yiddish papers, Di Yiddishe Velt and the Philadelphia edition of the Jewish Daily Forward.

Boonin will explain what information is in each paper and locations of each for doing research. While not focusing specifically on "hatch, match and dispatch" (birth, marriage and death records), he will focus on other types of information for immigrants, and offer details on the popular general press.

Each meeting features a 30-minute general Q&A session before the program begins.

Admission: JGSGP members, no charge; others, $2.

The society has a Delaware County Main Line affiliate, which meets at Martins Run Life Care Community in Media, PA. The next meeting is at 7.30 p.m. June 12, when Helaine Shoag Greenberg will speak on her book, Voices from Vilna.

For more information on both meetings, the society, and local resources, click here.