Texas: Galveston's Jewish immigrants, March 14

Austin residents will have a chance to see a living history one-woman show about two of the 10,000 Russian Jews who immigrated to the US through Galveston port in the early 1900s.

Jan Siegel Hart will share the tale of her grandparents, Hanna and W.H. Novit, from 2-4pm, March 14, at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin.

Hart dresses in costume and utilizes music, props and a Russian accent for the program based on a children's book - "Hanna: The Immigrant" - she wrote about her grandmother.

She hopes to educate the audience about the difficulties of being an immigrant, of being in a place where the language was strange, where they had no friends, no home, no job. It is a story of brave people starting over in a strange land.

The program is part of the museum’s “Forgotten Gateway” exhibit, which will run through October 11, and shares stories of early Galveston immigrants. Exhibit curator Suzanne Sieriff learned about Hart through the Texas Jewish Historical Society.

The program is free (although there is a nominal charge to see the entire exhibit), seating is limited, so make reservations by calling 512-936-4649.