Oregon: Heirlooms and genealogy, Jan. 24

We all have them - mementos and heirlooms. How can genealogists and family historians use old letters, jewelery, newspaper clippings, photographs and even household items in our research?

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Oregon will host Toby Forim Blake, who has many such items and will share some of them, on Sunday, January 24. She's been researching her family since the late 1980s.

The program begins at 1.30pm at Ahavath Achim Synagogue in Portland, where Blake will demonstrate how these family treasures have impacted her own research and how your own heirlooms can help you.

She earned an MA in Jewish History (Baltimore Hebrew University)., and has served on the Baltimore Community Board of Jewish Women's Archives where she was involved in personal history interviews and other project components. She's been a Jewish educator and administrator in the classroom and for the Baltimore Board of Jewish Education. Currently at the Portland Jewish Academy, she is the International Baccalaureate Coordinator for the Primary Years Program.

For more information and directions, see the JGSO site, and check out their resources to help readers tracing family that lived in the state.