Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando Blog: Knowles Collection

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.