Boston: Jews in the news, Oct. 26

Increasing numbers of family history researchers are exploring the treasures contained in historic newspapers. If you are just beginning to explore these resources and live in the Boston area, here's a fascinating look at what you just might find.

Pamela Weisberger will present “Jews in the News: Historical Newspaper Research,” at the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Boston, from 1.30-4.30pm Sunday, October 26, at Gann Academy, 333 Forest St., Waltham.

Some of the most exciting resources for persons researching their family lineage are the online databases and microfilms of old newspapers and journals.

From the scanned and digitized New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, and Times of London—to regional newspapers and Jewish community journals, following this oft-neglected “paper trail” will enhance your genealogical knowledge.

From obituaries, birth, engagement, marriage announcements, to curiosities such as “Yesterday’s Fires,” “News of the Courts,” and articles covering Eastern European towns and businesses, you will be astonished by the unexpected appearances immigrant ancestors make in the pages of these tabloids and broadsheets.

Learn techniques for locating people and events meaningful to you, with examples of unexpected insights gained into your relatives’ lives by exploring this under-utilized research tool.

Weisberger is the program chair for the Jewish Genealogical Society of Los Angeles's program chair, Gesher Galicia's research coordinator and active in the Hungarian and Sub-Carpathian JewishGen SIGs.

For more than 20 years, she has documented her family’s history, traveling throughout Eastern Europe visiting ancestral towns and villages and conducting research in Polish, Ukrainian and Hungarian archives. A special focus has been late-19th-early-20th century city directories, newspapers and court records.

Weisberger has produced the documentaries “I Remember Jewish Drohobycz” and “Genealogy Anyone? Twenty-Five Years in the Life of the JGSLA,” and coordinated the popular film festivals, since 2006, at the annual IAJGS international conferences on Jewish genealogy.

She holds a BA (English), Washington University in St. Louis and an MS (Broadcasting), Boston University.

The program is free for JGSGB members; others, $5; refreshments will be served. For directions to Gann Academy, click here. Click here for more JGSGB details.