Ohio: 20th-century black sheep in Cleveland, June 1

Learn about Cleveland, Ohio's Jewish black sheep at the next meeting of the Jewish Genealogy Society of Cleveland, on Wednesday, June 1.

The meeting begins at 7.30pm at Menorah Park, 27100 Cedar Road, Beachwood. There is no admission fee.

The speaker is Sean Martin, associate curator for Jewish history of the Western Reserve Historical Society. He will speak on "The Jewish Connection: Jews and Crime in 20th-century Cleveland."

For more information, click here.

NGS 2011: Some stats

Tracing the Tribe spoke at the National Genealogical Society conference this year for the first time.

The NGS has distributed a short informational release with statistics pertaining to this year's event:

-- Attendance was 2,270 at NGS 2011 in Charleston, South Carolina.

-- More than 1,500 purchased full conference registrations, with more than 100 attending on daily registrations. Conference attendance included speakers, vendors, booth staff and volunteers from the South Carolina Genealogical Society (SCGS) and its local chapters.

--Ancestry sponsored a Saturday "Ancestry Day" program which brought in 575 people to the venue.

-- More than 2,000 meals were served at the convention center and social events sponsored by the SCGS.

-- Mark your calendars for the NGS 2012 Family History Conference (9-12 May 2012; Duke Energy Convention Center, Cincinnati, Ohio). The Hyatt Regency Cincinnati is the conference hotel; conference registration will open 1 December.

As a first-time NGS speaker, I found the experience excellent, and my DNA talk was well-received. A highlight of the week was staffing the MyHeritage.com booth, which provided an opportunity to meet with so many attendees and discuss matters of mutual interest.

On a personal note, it was enlightening to speak with numerous individuals who, while not Jewish today, know about their Jewish ancestry. Quite a few had only recently discovered that connection and needed guidance on where to go for more information.

If you haven't already visited Charleston, consider it for a vacation. It is a quaint town, with major Civil War history, Jewish history, very friendly people and fantastic food!

The only criticism pertained to the conference center's spotty internet connection and non-existent ATT cellphone signal. Other than that - and the $3.50 charge for a small bottle of water (there's nothing like a thirsty captive audience!) - things went swimmingly.

I'm looking forward to next year's edition.

Seattle: 150 years of Jewish history, May 9

Rabbi Jim Mirel will speak on 150 years of Jewish history in Washington State at the next meeting of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State on Monday, May 9.

The program includes powerpoints by Jeff Adelson and the Washington Jewish Historical Society.

Doors open at 7pm at the Stroum Jewish Community Center on Mercer Island. Admission: free for members and one guest per year; others, $5.

Rabbi Mirel will talk about the three waves of Jewish immigration into Washington, including Ashkenazi and Sephardic populations. He'll give highlights about Jewish individuals and families who affected the state and Seattle history. He'll show historic pictures of these families, their synagogues, businesses and social life.

Senior Rabbi of Bellevue's Temple B'nai Torah, Mirel has served there since 1985. Previously, he was rabbi at Temple De Hirsch Sinai in Seattle.

He was educated at Reed College, the University of Cincinnati, the University of Washington, and was ordained at Hebrew Union College.

The author of "Stepping Stones to Jewish Spiritual Living," Mirel has served as president of the Washington State Jewish Historical Society, the Pacific Association of Reform Rabbis, University Kiwanis, Washington State Coalition of Rabbis, and is a founder of the Jewish Archives at UW. He has lectured at most colleges in the state and at many local churches and mosques.

For more information and directions, click here.

NEHGS: Jewish cemetery database growing

A growing Jewish cemetery database, with records dating from the 1840s, is being made available by the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS), the American Jewish Historical Society of New England (AJHSNE), and the Jewish Cemetery Association of Massachusetts (JCAM).

The online database currently includes 13 Massachusetts Jewish cemeteries, with some 5,000 records. By the end of the year, according to the press release, all 106 JCAM cemeteries, with more than 100,000 total records, will be online.

Here's the press release for more information:

NEHGS PROVIDES ACCESS TO MASSACHUSETTS JEWISH CEMETERY RECORDS

Access Program Part of collaboration with Jewish Cemetery Association of Massachusetts and American Jewish Historical Society

Boston, MA–March 2, 2011 –The New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) today announced that, together with the Jewish Cemetery Association of Massachusetts (JCAM), and the American Jewish Historical Society of New England (AJHSNE) have made available for the first time online access to a growing database that currently includes 13 Massachusetts Jewish cemeteries, with approximately 5,000 records. More records are being added weekly until all 106 JCAM cemeteries, which include more than 100,000 total records, are online.

The names in this extensive database cover the years 1844 to the present, and, when completed later this year, will offer access to more than 100,000 names of Jewish Americans buried in Massachusetts.

NEHGS President and CEO, D. Brenton Simons, said, “For genealogists and researchers, this database is a tremendous resource and provides unique access to a set of names vital to Jewish family research. We are pleased to work with AJHS and JCAM in this way. The Jewish Cemetery Association of Massachusetts is a marvelous society for those with Jewish ancestry and we know countless people will benefit from having it available online.”

“This is one of the first of many benefits that will accrue as a result of our strategic partnership with NEHGS,” said Justin Wyner, chair of the Boston Board of Overseers of the American Jewish Historical Society. “This additional resource is of significant genealogical importance. AJHSNE now makes its home inside the NEHGS research center in downtown Boston.

According to JCAM’s Executive Director Stanley Kaplan, “This partnership with NEHGS and AJHS provides people with access to where their loved ones are resting, a source that is known for genealogy,” said Kaplan. “We have broadened …our reach within the community.”

For more information, visit the NEHGS website at www.AmericanAncestors.org , the American Jewish Historical site at www.ajhsboston.org or visit the Jewish Cemeteries Association of Massachusetts at http://www.jcam.org/.

About NEHGS

Founded in 1845, New England Historic Genealogical Society is the country's leading resource for family history research. We help family historians expand their knowledge, skill, and understanding of their family and its place in history. The NEHGS research center, located at 99-101 Newbury Street, Boston, houses millions of books, journals, manuscripts, photographs, microfilms, documents, records, and other artifacts that date back more than four centuries. NEHGS staff includes some of the leading expert genealogists in the country, specializing in early American, Irish, English, Italian, Scottish, Atlantic and French Canadian, African American, Native American, and Jewish genealogy. Our award-winning website, http://www.americanancestors.org/, provides access to more than 135 million searchable names in 3,000 collections.

Readers with Massachusetts connections may well find information on their families at the links above.

FGS: Strategies for societies now available online

The Federation of Geneaogical Societies (FGS) has placed a series of expert papers on society strategies on its website.

February 28, 2011 – Austin, TX. The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) announces that a vast collection of its Society Strategy Series papers is now available—free to the public—at the FGS website (http://www.fgs.org/societystrategy/).

The Society Strategy Series is a collection of papers filled with suggestions and instructions for the management of genealogical societies, historical societies, and family associations.

These papers have been expertly written by respected authors in the genealogy community to help you and your society grow and prosper.

Timely Topics by Well-Known Authors
Topics covered in the Society Strategy Series papers include:
·        Series I: Strategies for Societies
·        Series II: Strategies for Presidents
·        Series III: Strategies for Vice-Presidents
·        Series IV: Strategies for Treasurers
·        Series V: Strategies for Secretaries
·        Series VI: Strategies for Program Chairpersons
·        Series VII: Strategies for Librarians
·        Series VIII: Strategies for Editors

Most genealogists and genealogy society members will recognize the authors of the Society Strategy Series papers which include Jana Sloan Broglin, Karen Clifford, Betty Robertson Kaufman, Roberta “Bobbi” King, Gary Mokotoff, David Rencher, Curt Witcher, and the late Sandra H. Luebking and Marsha Hoffman Rising.

Newer Society Strategy Series topics are placed in the Members Only area of the FGS website for a period of one (1) year as a member benefit for FGS member societies. Additional new papers are being written and are planned for the coming year.

Helping Genealogy Societies Grow and Prosper
FGS is proud to make the Society Strategy Series available to the entire genealogical community as a means of helping societies become better at managing and growing their organizations.

About the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS)
The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) was founded in 1976 and represents the members of hundreds of genealogical societies. FGS links the genealogical community by helping genealogical societies strengthen and grow through resources available online, FGS Forum magazine (filled with articles pertaining to society management and genealogical news), and Society Strategy Series papers, covering topics about effectively operating a genealogical society. FGS also links the genealogical community through its annual conference -- four days of excellent lectures, including one full day devoted to society management topics. To learn more visit http://www.fgs.org/.

Editor’s Note:  Whether you have a robust society or are experiencing waning membership, whether you are a long-established society or just starting out as a society, this series is very useful to genealogy societies and similar organizations.

Society members should take a look and see if the articles can  help their organization solve problems and issues.

UK: Jewish exhibits and museums in London, 1887-1932, February 17

The British Association of Jewish Studies (BAJS), in conjunction with the Jewish Historical Society of England, will offer a lecture on London's Jewish exhibits and museums (1887-1932) on Thursday, February 17.

The program - "Jewish exhibitions and museums in London: From the Anglo-Jewish Historical Exhibition of 1887 to the Foundation of the Jewish Museum in 1932" - begins at 7pm, in the Court Room (Senate House) of the Jewish Historical Society of England, University of London. Refreshments follow.

To register or for additional information, contact the  Jewish Historical Society of England.

New Mexico: Two gen, history conferences, October

New Mexico genealogists have two October treats in store.

New Mexico Genealogical Society Conference, Friday-Saturday, October 15-16, in Albuquerque, will be followed by the New Mexico Jewish Historical Society, Friday-Sunday, October 22-24, in Las Vegas.

The New Mexico Genealogical Society Conference is its 50th anniversary. Details: Early registration (through September 15) is $35, members ($55, others); banquet, $35; hotel, $69 per night(Marriott Pyramid Hotel). The theme is ¿Quién Eres? (Who are you?). See below for speakers. Another reason to go: The New Mexico History Museum will debut “Hilos de la Memoria,” an exhibit on oral histories relating to New Mexico.

The New Mexico Jewish Historical Society Fall Conference - the 23rd - is themed "Adventures Along the Santa Fe Trail," set for Friday-Sunday, October 22-24, at the historic Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas, NM. The focus is on the Jews of Las Vegas and Northeast New Mexico. See below for speakers. Pre-conference tours include: historical Jewish Las Vegas, Montezuma Castle and Montefiore Cemetery, the oldest Jewish cemetery in the state. For more details, send an email. Saturday night includes a 19th-century liturgical music at the old Congregation Montefiore. See below for speakers.

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Speakers: New Mexico Genealogical Society Conference

-- Paul Hutton, Ph.D, Keynote, "Billy the Kid"
Award-winning speaker and UNM history professor

-- Al Regensberg, "Migration around New Mexico"

Learn to use migratory patterns to solve the mystery of where or when your ancestors

came from; the process of reversing migratory patterns to locate appropriate Catholic parish records for genealogists with a New Mexico heritage.

-- Robert J. Tórrez, "Rio Arriba County"

Overview of a new to-be-published book on the county where New Mexico was first settled. Author, former state historian and historical lecturer.

-- Krysten Baca, "Getting the Most Out of Ancestry.com"

A genealogist on the Ancestry.com public relations and conference team, her responsibilities

have included conducting research on new content and celebrity research.

-- Jim Greene, "FamilySearch.org"

Explore how FamilySearch proposes to help curb the loss of records worldwide and increase the volume of records accessible online.

-- Krysten Baca, "Best Strategies for Researching using Ancestry.com"

Workshop and "how to" strategies on the fine points of online research.
-- Richard Melzer & Robert J. Tórrez, "Rich and Powerful Hispanic Leaders in the Rio Abajo"

Historians, authors and lecturers.

-- Rick Hendricks, "Research In and About Durango and Parral"

Researcher, author and NMSU history professor; learn how to research the archives of Durango and Parral.

-- Bennett Greenspan, "FamilyTreeDNA"

President & CEO of FamilyTreeDNA.com, Greenspan; DNA testing for Genetic Genealogy, how to pick the right person to test, understanding results and other questions regarding DNA. Bring your questions!

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Speakers: New Mexico Jewish Historical Society Conference

-- Susan Califate Boyle, National Park Service

"History of Hispanic Participation in the Santa Fe Trail Trade"

-- Laura Gonzales, New Mexico Highlands University

"Las Vegas: Place of Encounter"

-- Sharon Niederman, Raton

"Synagogues on the Santa Fe Trail - History of Temple Aaron (Trinidad, Colorado) & Congregation Montefiore (Las Vegas)"

-- Melanie LaBorwit, Albuquerque
"History of the Jews of Las Vegas"

-- Noel Pugasch, University of New Mexico

"The Jewish Commercial Presence in Mora County, New Mexico, 1860s to the 1940s: A Brief Overview"

-- Panel 1: Crypto-Jews in Las Vegas and Northeast New Mexico:
Isabelle Medina Sandoval, Santa Fe (Mora)
Orlando Mondragón, Santa Fe (San Luis, Colorado)
Hon. M. Christina Armijo, Albuquerque (Las Vegas)
-- A. David Scholder, Founder
"Reflections on the Establishment of the New Mexico Jewish Historical Society"
-- Panel 2: Legacy of Las Vegas’s and Northeast New Mexico’s Rich Jewish Past:
Betty Mae Hartman, Albuquerque
Gerald Meyer, Laramie, Wyoming
Nancy Paxton, Albuquerque
Mortimer Herzstein, San Francisco
-- Panel 3: Renaissance of the Las Vegas Jewish Community:
Diana Presser
Kate Immerman

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In words that are moving for all genealogists, the New Mexico Genealogy Conference theme is taken from a poem by Sabine R. Ulibarrí, PhD. See the conference link above for the Spanish version of ¿Quién Eres?

Who Are You?

If you forget where you came from, can you know where you're going?

If you've lost your past, where is your future?

If you're a man without a history, you're a man without a future.
If you turn your back on your parents, what can you expect from your children?

If you have no kinship with your family and your community,
when you laugh, you laugh alone, when you cry, you cry alone.

A solitary present without a yesterday or a tomorrow without parentage,
without fellowship, without friends, without brothers.

How alone you are in the world, How lost in the white mist.
Alone, with your guilt on your back. Alone, with your loneliness.

We can all relate to those words.

Youth awards: The way to go!

All genealogists know that new blood is the life of our passion and our commitment to learning about our ancestors.

Bringing new researchers into our world is the way to go. Even better is a determined effort to get young people involved.

In addition to learning about their individual family histories and ancestors, this pursuit increases and hones writing skills, personal interest in world history, language study and other additional skills.

Tracing the Tribe has talked for a number of years about a tiered award system for students (elementary, middle/junior, and high school). From local awards, winners could move to state or regional awards, and then a national award.

Such a competition - especially for Jewish genealogy, but equally applicable to all genealogy societies - would bring much-needed publicity and interest at all levels from students, parents and schools.

High school junior or senior winners could indicate the award on university applications, setting themseves apart from the sea of similar applicants, and this would also help elevate the study of family history in the eyes of academics at many universities.

Here's the announcement of the NGS Rubicam Award, given to 2009 winner Thomas Adams.

Dear Fellow Genealogist:

Young people with an interest in the history of their family, in search of a summer project, seeking to satisfy a school assignment or club project will want to see the videos of Thomas Adams, the 2009 winner of the National Genealogical Society Rubincam Youth Award.

Created by award winning filmmakers Kate Geis and Allen Moore, the videos go live today at the society’s website, http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/ and will soon appear on YouTube. The three short segments are:

· The Award: Genealogy puts history into personal perspective for high school student Thomas Adams, recipient of the Rubincam Youth Award.

· My Research: Young family history sleuth Thomas Adams talks about his "Eureka!" moment.

· Inspiring Others: Thomas' discoveries encourage his friends to follow their own
roots.

For more information, contact NGS President Jan Alpert.

What groups are willing to run with this idea to create more interest among young people in family history?

New Jersey: Jewish Historical Society, June 17

Jewish Historical Society of North Jersey president Jerry Nathans will speak at the next meeting of the Jewish Genealogical Society of New Jersey, on Thursday, June 17.

The program begins at 7pm at the YM-YWHA of Wayne.

Nathans will discuss the society's holdings, which include Yiddish books printed in Paterson to objects to cemetery ledgers, and much more. The area's Jewish history begins around 1840.

His talk will be followed by Q&A.

Fee: None.

For directions, or other information visit the JGSNJ site.