Northwest tour for Jewishgen's Blatt - UPDATE

UPDATE: Warren Blatt's topic will be Polish resources in Vancouver, B.C. on May 10.

Jewish genealogical societies in the Northwest have been doing a great job sharing sometimes substantial expenses to bring in excellent speakers who make the rounds in Washington, Oregon and British Columbia.

I believe that this is a model more geographically- related societies should be considering.

This time, the speaker is Warren Blatt, editor-in-chief of JewishGen, the primary Internet site for Jewish genealogy, a division of the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City.

Blatt has authored Resources for Jewish Genealogy in the Boston Area (Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Boston, 1996); co-authored (with Gary Mokotoff), Getting Started in Jewish Genealogy (Avotaynu, 1999); and is editor of the Kielce-Radom Special Interest Group Journal. In 2004, he received the IAJGS’ Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2004 Jerusalem conference.

He has more than 25 years of research experience with Russian and Polish Jewish records, and authors the "JewishGen FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Jewish Genealogy" and many JewishGen InfoFiles.

Portland, OR: Brunch with Blatt on Sunday, May 6

The JGS of Oregon's 2007 annual brunch will take place from 10.30 a.m.-1 p.m., and Blatt will discuss new JewishGen developments and preview new features coming soon to your computer. For all details about reservations, event, location, directions, click here.

Seattle, WA: Two talks on Monday, May 7

The JGS of Washington State has announced that Blatt will give two presentations. Doors at the Mercer Island JCC auditorium will open at 6.30 p.m. and the program will begin at 7 p.m. Photo ID is required to enter the building.

He will present "Jewish Given Names" and "JewishGen Highlights."

Learn why Mordechai Yehuda is also Mortka Leib is also Max, in Blatt's overview of Jewish first names, focusing on practical issues for genealogical research. Our ancestors each had many different given names and nicknames, in various languages and alphabets - this can make Jewish genealogical research difficult. This presentation will demonstrate the history and patterns of Jewish first names, and how to recognize your ancestors' names in genealogical sources.

He will also highlight recent updates to JewishGen including its most popular databases: the JewishGen Family Finder (JGFF), JewishGen ShtetlSeeker; the Family Tree of the Jewish People (FTJP), and JewishGen Discussion Group message archives. Learn how JewishGen's internet databases can help add to your own genealogical data.

JGSWS library materials will be available for research before and after the presentations. Programs are free for JGSWS members, $5 for non-members. For more information, click here.

Vancouver, B.C. on Thursday, May 10

On May 10, Blatt's subject will be Polish resources at the Jewish Genealogical Institute of British Columbia event. For more information, email jgibc@yahoo.com.

The JGIBC was founded in 1992 and has an extensive collection of genealogical research books, journals, maps, microfiche and reader housed in the Jewish Community Centre. On March 26, The Jewish Historical Society of BC celebrated the grand opening of the Jewish Museum and Archives in the same location.