Thursday, December 19, 2013

Jewish Newspapers in the Florida Digital Newspaper Library


ORLANDO, FL, December 18, 2013 — Join the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO) for a program featuring Rae Price Library of Judaica at the University of Florida (UF) Curator, Rebecca Jefferson, and Journalism and Mass Communications Librarian at UF, April Hines, “Jewish Newspapers in the Florida Digital Newspaper Library: an introduction and tutorial”.

Learn about the Jewish newspapers in the newly created Ethnic Newspapers Database within the Florida Digital Newspaper Library at the University of Florida, and find out how to navigate this important new resource. The new database was created thanks to a Library Services and Technology Act grant (The Florida Digital Newspaper Library: Broadening Access and Users) enabling the digitization of one of Florida’s longest running ethnic newspapers, The Jewish Floridian. This database is online and there is no charge for access. The Jewish Floridian was the first ethnic newspaper of note to be published in Florida. Founded in 1927 by J. Louis Shochet, its editorship was taken over by his son Fred K. Shochet until the paper was disbanded in 1990. 


The one hour presentation and training will include: an overview of the newspapers within the Ethnic Newspapers Database, comprising 7,526 items with over 139,000 pages; a history and survey of The Jewish Floridian newspaper, 1928-1990; a tutorial on how to access these materials: searching, viewing results, saving images etc.,; and a Q&A session. Prior to the program, starting at 6:30pm, there will be time for newcomers to network and to receive free consulting assistance or mentoring from a Jewish genealogy maven
    
Rebecca Jefferson is the Curator of the Isser and Rae Price Library of Judaica at UF’s George A. Smathers Libraries. With holdings of over 100,000 volumes, the Price Library is considered the foremost Jewish studies research collection in the southeastern United States. In terms of its scarce late 19th and early 20th century imprints, it ranks among the top 20 academic libraries in the world. Jefferson is the project investigator on the LSTA grant The Florida Digital Newspaper Library: Broadening Access and Users, and has been involved in numerous digitization projects at UF. Jefferson’s background is in special collections: prior to moving to the U.S., she was the bibliographer for a large collection of medieval Hebrew manuscripts in Cambridge University Library, England.

April Hines is the Journalism and Mass Communications Librarian at UF’s George A. Smathers Libraries. Her areas of responsibility include research assistance, instruction, outreach and collection development. A Southwest Florida native, she received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from UF in 2004. Hines did freelance work for the Gainesville Sun before completing a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of South Florida. She has more than a decade of academic library experience, having worked at the UF Law Library and UF Education Library.

DATE: Tuesday, January 7, 2014
TIME: 7:00pm - 9:00pm (6:30pm for networking and mavens)
ADMISSION: Open to the public. Free admission.
LOCATION: Maitland Public Library, 501 S. Maitland Ave., Maitland, FL 32751.

About the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando
The Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO) is a not for profit organization dedicated to sharing genealogical information, techniques and research tools with anyone interested in Jewish genealogy and family history. Anyone may join JGSGO. Annual dues are $25 for an individual and $30 for a family. For more information visit our blog at www.jgsgo.blogspot.com , “like” us at www.facebook.com/jgsgreaterorlando  or call us at 407-494-4230.


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Contact Information: 
Marlis Humphrey
JGSGO VP Programs & Publicity
jgsgo.programs@gmail.com


Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Making the Most of FamilySearch for Jewish Research

Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando Program

ORLANDO, FL, November 26, 2013 — Join the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO) for a program featuring FamilySearch and Jewish genealogy expert, Todd Knowles, “Making the Most of FamilySearch for Jewish Research”.

FamilySearch.org is the largest website in the world for genealogical information. FamilySearch has more than 6.8 billion historic records on microfilm that are being digitized and eventually indexed. These records contain an estimated 20.6 billion names. FamilySearch has over 200 digital record preservation camera teams in 45 countries who produce more than 100 million new digital images for free online publication each year. You can find U.S. census records, birth, marriage, and death records, and many registers from overseas through FamilySearch. You are also likely to find records from your ancestors’ shtetls. Todd Knowles will demonstrate the tools that can make searching for your Jewish ancestors a more successful experience. Whether looking through the catalog, or trying to access the digital images from hundreds of free online databases, this program will be a great help to everyone. Todd will be speaking to the group from Salt Lake City, headquarters of FamilySearch and the Family History Library.

Prior to the program, starting at 6:30pm, there will be time for newcomers to network and to receive free consulting assistance or mentoring from a Jewish genealogy maven

W. Todd Knowles is a member of the reference staff at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. He specializes in Jewish and English research. He began searching for his great great grandfather, a Polish Jew over 35 years ago. That search and the records found began what today is known as the Knowles Collection, six databases containing the genealogical records of the Jewish people. Today those databases contain the records of almost 700k people. Todd has lectured around the world and his papers have been widely published. He has a blog, knowlescollection.blogspot.com, discussing his database. 

DATE: Tuesday, December 3, 2013
TIME: 7:00pm - 9:00pm (6:30pm for networking and mavens)
ADMISSION: Open to the public. Free admission.
LOCATION: Maitland Public Library, 501 S. Maitland Ave., Maitland, FL 32751.

About the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando
The Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO) is a not for profit organization dedicated to sharing genealogical information, techniques and research tools with anyone interested in Jewish genealogy and family history. Anyone may join JGSGO. Annual dues are $25 for an individual and $30 for a family. For more information visit our blog at www.jgsgo.blogspot.com , “like” us at www.facebook.com/jgsgreaterorlando  or call us at 407-494-4230.

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Contact Information: 

Marlis Humphrey
JGSGO VP Programs & Publicity
jgsgo.programs@gmail.com

Friday, October 18, 2013

“The Knowles Collection - What Is It and How Do I Use It?”



 “The Knowles Collection - What Is It and How Do I Use It?”
Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando Program

ORLANDO, FL, October 17, 2013 — Join the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO)  for a program featuring FamilySearch and Jewish genealogy expert, Todd Knowles, “The Knowles Collection – What Is It and How Do I Use It?”.

The Knowles Collection contains the genealogical records of Jewish people throughout the world. The people listed in the records are linked as families, and are compiled from over 1200 different sources. The collection has six databases, Jews of North America, Jews of South America and the Caribbean, Jews of Europe, Jews of the British Isles, Jews of Africa and the Orient, and the Jews of the South Pacific. As of 1 Jan 2013 the collection held the records of almost 700,000 people. Todd will show how to use this free research tool and how to make the most of it. The collection also has its own blog at knowlescollection.blogspot.com . Todd will be speaking to the group from Salt Lake City, headquarters of FamilySearch and the Family History Library.

Prior to the program, starting at 6:30pm, there will be time for newcomers to network and to receive free   consulting assistance or mentoring from a Jewish genealogy maven
                                       


W. Todd Knowles is a member of the reference staff at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. He specializes in Jewish and English research. He began searching for his great great grandfather, a Polish Jew over 35 years ago. That search and the records found began what today is known as the Knowles Collection, six databases containing the genealogical records of the Jewish people. Today those databases contain the records of almost 700k people. Todd has lectured around the world and his papers have been widely published. He has a blog, knowlescollection.blogspot.com, discussing his database. 

DATE: Tuesday, November 5, 2013
TIME: 7:00pm - 9:00pm (6:30pm for networking and mavens)
ADMISSION: Open to the public. $5.00 for non-members. Free for members.
LOCATION: Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando – Roth JCC – Maitland Campus, Senior Lounge, 851 N. Maitland Ave., Maitland, FL 32751.

About the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando
The Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO) is a not for profit organization dedicated to sharing genealogical information, techniques and research tools with anyone interested in Jewish genealogy and family history. Anyone may join JGSGO. Annual dues are $25 for an individual and $30 for a family. For more information visit our blog at www.jgsgo.blogspot.com , “like” us at www.facebook.com/jgsgreaterorlando  or call us at 407-494-4230.

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Contact Information: 
Marlis Humphrey
JGSGO VP Programs & Publicity
jgsgo.programs@gmail.com

Thursday, October 3, 2013

“Finding Your Family on the Web”



Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando Program

ORLANDO, FL, October 2, 2013 — Join the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO) in celebration of International Jewish Genealogy Month, for a program featuring our own digital genealogy expert, Tom Hirsch, “Finding Your Family on the Web”.

The Internet is probably the best tool ever for genealogy.  It allows you to access billions of webpages all over the globe by using your home computer.  The Internet can help you find lots of material that you could not find otherwise.  Tom Hirsch, will use his 20 years of genealogy experience, and his journalistic skills to show you how you can find relatives that you did not know existed and how to use the enormous connectivity of the worldwide web to share your family tree and link you to other people researching the same ancestors.

Tom will show you a variety of websites, demonstrate some genealogy databases, capture official records, search for information, use translation tools, and find educational materials to help you be a better genealogist, and to work more effectively and efficiently. In addition to demonstrating numerous websites for you to use in your family history work, Tom will provide important information on how to protect your computer and the critical information that you have spent so much time and effort to find.

At the meeting, you will receive a list of some of the most useful websites for your research.  After seeing Tom's presentation, you can immediately use these tools to advance your work. Tour the Internet with Tom as he shares his knowledge of the worldwide web and computers to help you capture and share your family history. 
                                         
                             

Tom Hirsch is a veteran in the broadcast industry and News Assignment Editor at WESH, Channel 2. Tom is also VP Membership of the JGSGO and an avid genealogist with 20 years of research experience. Tom quickly learned that his investigative news gathering abilities and skill in doing great stories for radio and TV found another important use in compiling his family history. Tom has collected much of his genealogy by using the vast resources on the Internet. Tom is the author of “Tom’s List” – a compilation of more than 300 links to useful websites to aid in Jewish genealogy research. For more information on how to obtain “Tom’s List”, contact jgsgo.membership@gmail.com .

DATE: Tuesday, October 8, 2013
TIME: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
ADMISSION: Open to the public. $5.00 for non-members. Free for members.
LOCATION: Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando – Roth JCC – Maitland Campus, Senior Lounge, 851 N. Maitland Ave., Maitland, FL 32751.

About the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando
The Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO) is a not for profit organization dedicated to sharing genealogical information, techniques and research tools with anyone interested in Jewish genealogy and family history. Anyone may join JGSGO. Annual dues are $25 for an individual and $30 for a family. For more information visit our blog at www.jgsgo.blogspot.com , “like” us at www.facebook.com/jgsgreaterorlando  or call us at 407-494-4230.

# # # 
Contact Information: 
Marlis Humphrey 
JGSGO VP Programs & Publicity 

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

“Who Do You Think You Are, Bubala?”

"Who Do You Think You Are, Bubala?"
An Introduction to Jewish Genealogy Webinar

ORLANDO, FL, September 20, 2013 — Join the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO) in celebration of International Jewish Genealogy Month, for a free webinar that is certain to kick-start your family tree research.

Have you heard,
"They never talked about it"
"What kind of a name is Tauntie Saucie (i.e. Aunt Sosia)?", or
"All the records were destroyed"?

With some know how and persistence, you can find your Jewish ancestors! Join us for an “Introduction to Jewish Genealogy” webinar.  We will cover:
  • 4 steps to getting started
  • Records you might find & where to find them
  • Available resources, tools, and help

We will show you key documents to help put that family tree together and go further into the past: census; birth, death, and marriage certificates; city directories, cemetery records and obituaries, social security records, draft and military records, naturalization papers, ships passenger lists, tax records, pages of testimony, liberation records and more. 

Nothing is more exciting than discovering a new cousin, an unknown ancestor, or the real name of the shtetl where they once lived. Learn how to begin that journey of discovery with Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando experts.



Webinar presenter, Marlis Glaser Humphrey, is Vice President of Programs and Publicity for the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO), Publications and Technology Outreach Committee Chairs for the Florida State Genealogical Society (FSGS), President of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS), Co-Chair for the IAJGS Boston 2013 Conference, and a member of the IAJGS Membership Development Committee responsible for the Southeastern U.S. Region. She has successfully discovered all her ancestral shtetls. Marlis holds a B.A. in Russian and an M.S. in Management of Technology. You can reach Marlis at jgsgo.programs@gmail.com.

DATE: Tuesday, October 22, 2013
TIME: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
COST: There is no cost to attend. You must pre-register. Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar Seat Now:   https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/966295286
RSVP:      We highly suggest you pre-register by October 7th. After this date we will open up attendance to a wider audience. Space is limited, so be sure to RSVP by pre-registering as soon as possible. 

About the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando
The Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO) is a not for profit organization dedicated to sharing genealogical information, techniques and research tools with anyone interested in Jewish genealogy and family history. Anyone may join JGSGO. Annual dues are $25 for an individual and $30 for a family. For more information visit our blog at www.jgsgo.blogspot.com , “like” us at www.facebook.com/jgsgreaterorlando  or call us at 407-494-4230.


Thursday, June 13, 2013

“Smarter Searching on Ancestry.com”


Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando Program

ORLANDO, FL, June 13, 2013 — Join the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO) for a program featuring Ancestry.com’s expert, Crista Cowan, “Smarter Searching on Ancestry.com”.

Shaky leaf hints. Global searches. Database specific. Fuzzy. Exact. These are just a few of the ways to locate records on Ancestry.com. You can search by person or location.  You can use the Card Catalog to discover what is online before you begin your search.  You can change your collection priority to focus on records specific to your Jewish ancestry and utilize the Daitch-Mokotoff Soundex. Join Crista Cowan as she shares her best search tips and tricks to help you find all of the information available on Ancestry.com about your ancestors. Crista will be speaking over the Internet from Ancestry.com’s headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah.




Crista Cowan has been employed at Ancestry.com, the company that sponsors the popular TV series, “Who Do You Think You Are?” and is the leader in the market for online family history research with more than 2.5 million subscribers, since 2004. Her interest in family history, however, reaches all the way back to childhood.  She is a popular genealogy teacher.  You can watch her live internet show – The Barefoot Genealogist – every Tuesday and Thursday at 1:00 pm (Eastern) on http://livestream.com/ancestry.

Ancestry.com has partnered with JewishGen®, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the American Jewish Historical Society and The Miriam Weiner Routes to Roots Foundation, Inc. to create the world’s largest online collection of Jewish historical records.

Crista’s lectures are always amongst the most popular lectures at the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS). Crista will be a guest lecturer at this year’s IAJGS conference in Boston, August 4-9, 2013. To learn more about the 250+ lectures and workshops on Jewish genealogy at IAJGS Boston 2013, visit www.iajgs2013.org.

DATE: Sunday, June 23, 2013
TIME: 1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
LOCATION: Southwest Orlando Jewish Congregation, Social Hall, 11200 South Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando, FL 32836.
ADMISSION: Open to the public. $5.00 for non-members. Free for members.

About the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando
The Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO) is a not for profit organization dedicated to sharing genealogical information, techniques and research tools with anyone interested in Jewish genealogy and family history. Anyone may join JGSGO. Annual dues are $25 for an individual and $30 for a family. For more information visit our blog at www.jgsgo.blogspot.com and “like” us at www.facebook.com/jgsgreaterorlando .

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

“The Changing Borders of Eastern Europe”


Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando Program

ORLANDO, FL, May 6, 2013 — Join the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO) for a program featuring world renowned expert, Hal Bookbinder, “The Changing Borders of Eastern Europe”.

Few Jews lived in Eastern Europe 1,000 years ago. Yet, it was to become the home of 80% of the world’s Jews. As Russia expanded westward, more and more Jews came within the Russian Empire. This talk examines Russia’s efforts to limit the Jews in its midst and the Eastern European borders changes which frequently resulted in ancestral towns coming under the rule of several countries over time. Recognizing which governments were in control at various times can help in understanding the environment in which ancestors lived, events that stimulated migration, languages in which records were kept and likely locations where these records might be found.



Hal Bookbinder has served as president of the JGS Los Angeles (JGSLA) and the International Association of JGS’s (IAJGS) as well as a founding member of the JGS of the Conejo Valley and Ventura County (JGSCV).  He currently serves on the JewishGen Board of Governors, chairing its Strategic Planning Committee. He has chaired or served in a leadership role for eight IAJGS conferences, is advisor to the 2013 Conference in Boston and is co-chairing the 2014 conference in Salt Lake City. Hal has published numerous articles on research techniques, Jewish history, border changes and safe computing and has lectured at most recent annual conferences. In 2010, he was honored with the IAJGS Lifetime Achievement Award.

Hal has identified over 3,500 relatives in eight lines, taking two of these back into the mid-18th century. His family roots are primarily from the area currently within the Ukraine and adjacent areas of Moldova, Belarus, Russia and Poland.

Hal’s lecture on “The Changing Borders of Eastern Europe” is fundamental to those researching their Jewish Eastern European family history.

DATE: Sunday, May 19, 2013
TIME: 1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
LOCATION: Southwest Orlando Jewish Congregation, Social Hall, 11200 South Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando, FL 32836.
ADMISSION: Open to the public. $5.00 for non-members. Free for members.

About the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando
The Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO) is a not for profit organization dedicated to sharing genealogical information, techniques and research tools with anyone interested in Jewish genealogy and family history. Anyone may join JGSGO. Annual dues are $25 for an individual and $30 for a family. For more information visit our blog at www.jgsgo.blogspot.com and “like” us at www.facebook.com/jgsgreaterorlando .