Simple guidelines to finding your Jewish family history.
Learning about family history is an interest of many people-evidenced by the large number of Genealogical libraries and associations across the country and world wide. Ferreting out in formation about y our ancestors can be difficult, but it's very exciting. To do this kind of research, you'll need to hone your detective skills, and occasionally think outside of the box to continue your search when you hit an apparent dead end.
If your family is Jewish, ancestral research can be even more complicated. Migration across the world as a result of religious persecution dating back to the time of the Inquisition, and the devastation caused within the last 100 years as a result of the Holocaust can make finding information daunting.Because religious practice was illegal in many areas of Europe, official records can be scant.Ultimately, many Jewish immigrants to the US changed or modified their names upon arriving at Ellis Island.Once you do find information about your family's origins in Eastern Europe, changing territories and borders during the early 20th century can make for confusing results.When original documents are in German, Polish, Yiddish, Russian or other languages, it can be even more complicated.
Step One-Plan Your Search
As with any research on family history, it is best to begin with a plan and an inventory. Decide what you want to learn, for example, what is the earliest relative of mymother,"Anna Goldsmith" that can be found.Next, gather all the records that you already have. You may be surprised at how much information you have to start with.Begin with all birth records you can find.Marriage records, Social Security Information, Death Certificates, Military records all provide information valuable to your search.Once you know what information you have, you can begin to create a plan to search for the records you want.
Talk with your relative to develop a family tree and gather as much verbal information as possible. Old photographs, Birth Certificates, letters can also provide important clues in your search. Take advantage of the memories and knowledge of your living relatives.You'll need to learn how to take an oral history.Several websites provide excellent guidelines, or you can use numerous books available on the subject.Using these guidelines, ask your relatives about their earliest memories, favorite relatives and to describe your old family photos.This will give you many valuable clues to begin your research.
The Next Step-Gathering Information
The documents you have will provide the names of some of your ancestors. It will also provide the information necessary to request records that will enable you to search further. If you know where your relatives were living in the US in a census year, you can obtain those records. To obtain marriage records, death records and social security applications you'll need to provide some basic information, and in some cases provide a valid reason for your requests.These requirements vary by state, so you'll need to contact you're the specific agencies in states you are searching.Social Security applications required a birthplace to be listed, and Birth Certificates request the birthplace of the mother and father, providing vital clues to your search.Other sources of information can be orphanage records, personal papers and letters, and court records in the cities or towns you suspect your relatives lived in.
Several agencies to assist displaced Jewish refugees existed and still exist today.Immigrant Aid records were preserved and provide significant information for genealogy searches. The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), in operation since 1881 has worked to rescue and resettle Jewish refugees throughout the world.This agency has retained records, or can redirect researchers to other agencies which may shed further information needed for family history research.For European research, it is helpful to have maps over several time periods to visualize border changes between 1900 and 1950.Many Easter European Jews were born in areas of Poland, Germany and Russia which changed during that period.
One of the country's largest collections of genealogical data is located at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.Chicago's Newberry Library is devoted almost exclusively to humanities and genealogical research.This public library requires users to obtain a card, and unlimited access is limited to those actively researching genealogy areas. Newberry has created a partnership with the Family History Library allowing patrons to access their databases through the Newberry.
While it can be tempting to jump on the internet and access the plethora of information available, in-person research using original or reproduced documents is preferable.It is very important that you verify the in formation you find against other records and oral family history.As you progress in you search, be sure to note the sources of your information. When comparing conflicting or contradictory information, you'll be relived to know where you found questionable data.
The Center for Jewish History Genealogy Institute located in lower Manhattan has brought together five organizations to create one of the most comprehensive collections of historical and genealogical information available.One of these is the American Jewish Historical Society founded in 1892. With locations in New York City and Massachusetts, the society collects and houses information on 350 years of Jewish History in the United States.Another is YIVO-Institute for Yiddish Studies providing resources, databases and sponsoring both Continuing Education for general interest and supporting Graduate Studies in Jewish Historywith several New York area universities.Assistance with translation of foreign language documents is available.Through this comprehensive organization, the public can take courses in genealogical research techniques and obtain assistance in finding family records.
Don't overlook your local magazine stand. Several high quality monthly publications such as Family Tree Magazine and Ancestry Magazine are filled with helpful tips for general genealogy research and specific topics relevant to a Jewish heritage research project. Using these guidelines, you can get a great start of researching your Jewish history.
Resources:
The Center for Jewish History Genealogy Institute
15W. 16th St.
NYC, NY 10011
212-294-6160
YIVO-Institute for Yiddish Studies
1948 5th Ave.
NYC, NY 10028
Chicago JewishHistorical Society/Spertus Museum
618 S. Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60605
Yad Vashem
Jerusalem, Israel
US Holocaust Memorial Museum
10 Raoul Wallenberg Place SW
Washington DC 20024
202-488-0400
Ellis Island Historical Museum
Statue of Liberty National Park,
New York City, NY
Newberry Library
60 W. Walton
Chicago, IL 60610
312-943-9090
