Philadelphia: Marion Smith to speak, Oct. 11

Senior CIS historian Marion Smith will speak on Philadelphia's role as an immigration center and the Red Star Line at the next meeting of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Philadelphia, on Monday, October 11.

This special program is co-hosted by the JGSGP and the Gershman Y to spotlight the Borowsky Gallery exhibit at the Y.

The JGSGP meeting will begin at 7.30pm at the Gershman Y, 401 S. Broad St., Philadelphia.

Smith - Chief of the Historical Research Branch for US Citizenship and Immigration Services - will discuss various organizations and individuals who made their living from immigration to Philadelphia at the turn of the last century. The two presentations are:

-- "One Foot in America - The Jewish Emigrants of the Red Star Line and Eugeen Vn Mieghem," and

--  "Philadelphia's Immigration Business in the Late 19th-Early 20th Century"

For more information, see these links: Red Star Line Friends, and two Gershman Y links here and here.  information check out the following links:

Guests are always welcome. Fee: JGSGP members, free; others: $2.

The JGSGP - and the entire Jewish genealogical community - extends its deep condolences to Mark and Joan Halpern on the death of their beloved son, Jeremy, on September 2. May his memory be a blessing.

Contributions may be made In Jeremy’s memory to: Be The Match Foundation, 3001 Broadway Street NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413-1753.

In the story of Jewish immigration to America, Philadelphia and the Belgian city of Antwerp share a special link. Ships of the Red Star Line carried over one million Jews from Antwerp to Philadelphia and other cities. The artist Eugeen Van Mieghem captured many of them in poignant portraits just before they set sail - as they figuratively put "One Foot in America."

From government officials to steamship lines, local businesses to charitable organizations, each played a role in the business of immigration.