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JEWGHOW1.TXT
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                 | JEWISH GENEALOGY FOR BEGINNERS |
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THESE ARE THE STEPS YOU TAKE:

  1.  CONSULT YOUR FAMILY.  Write, talk to, or tape record every older
      member of your family you can reach. Don't forget the in-laws.
      The basic facts you need are:

    a. The family names - In the old country and in America.

    b. The towns they came from- variant spellings, todays country as well
       as the country when they left it.

    c. The approximate dates of arrival in America, ship names (If known),
       ports of arrival, and communities in which they settled.

  2.  CHECK THE  TOMBSTONES:  Take someone who can decipher  the Hebrew or
  photograph the stones.  Take several angles,  including close-ups, to be
  sure the letters are legible.

  3.  CHECK THE U.S. CENSUSES:  If you know where  your ancestors lived in
  a census year, (1850,  1860,   1870,  1880,  1890,  1900,  1910,   1920;
  1850,  1900,  1910  &  1920 indexed by state;  1880 partial index),  you
  can find the microfilms at National Archives branches,  local historical
  societies, public libraries, etc.

  4.  CHECK CITY DIRECTORIES:  In census years and at  other times  to get
  street  addresses of your ancestors (usually  available in  large public
  libraries).

  5.   CHECK  ATLASES  &  GAZETTEERS  for  your  ancestral  towns,  noting
  present-day spelling and country.

  6.  FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH LOCAL AND COUNTY COURT RECORDS: Useful for
  finding  ancestral  wills,  probate  (estate)  records,  deeds (property
  bought or sold), and vital (birth, marriage, death) records.

  7. VISIT IMPORTANT ARCHIVES:

    a.  U.S.  NATIONAL  ARCHIVES in Washington, DC  with Regional Branches
  around the country. Has census, ship's passenger lists, military records
  (pre-WWI). Write: National Archives & Records Administration, Washington
  DC 20408. Ask for General Information Leaflet for Genealogical Research.

    b.  AMERICAN JEWISH ARCHIVES,  3101  Clifton Ave., Cincinnati OH 45220
  (Hebrew  Union College campus)  has congregational records  and communal
  records in the U.S.

    c. AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 2 Thornton Rd, Waltham MA 02154
  (Brandeis Univ. campus) has a guide to its genealogical resources.

    d.  FAMILY  HISTORY LIBRARY (L.D.S.,  MORMON  LIBRARY),  35 North West
  Temple St., Salt Lake City, UT 84150,  has world's largest collection of
  birth, marriage,  death,  and  other genealogical  records. Cataloged by
  locality. Much of it is available on microfilm via inter-library loan at
  branch  L.D.S.  Family History Centers  (small fee).  For nearest branch
  locations, see your local phone directory- "Churches, LDS".

  8. TO FIND YOUR WAY THROUGH THESE AND OTHER SOURCES, OBTAIN:

    a.  From Generation To Generation:  How to Trace Your Jewish Genealogy
  and  Personal  History  by  Arthur  Kurzweil,  Rev. Ed. 1994
  (HarperCollins Publishers Inc., 10 East 53rd St., NY NY 10022)

    b.  Resources for Jewish  Genealogy in the  New York Metropolitan Area
  (published by Jewish Genealogy Society Inc.,  PO Box 6398,   New York NY
  10128).  Details of every major source,  hours,  contents, finding aids,
  directions, etc.

    c.  The  Encyclopedia  of  Jewish Genealogy,  Volume 1, Sources in the
  United States and Canada,  edited by Arthur Kurzweil  and Miriam Weiner.
  (published by Jason Aronson Inc.  1205  O'Neil Hway, Dunmore PA 18512.)
  A comprehensive  source  covering  all  aspects  of Jewish  genealogical
  research.

    d. The Source by Eakle & Cerny, (Ancestry Publishing, PO Box 476, Salt
  Lake City, UT 84110). A very complete guide to genealogical resources in
  the U.S. with a Jewish research chapter.

    e. Shtetl Finder: Gazetteer by Chester Cohen, (Periday Co., PO Box 583,
  Woodland Hills CA 91365).

    f. Where Once We Walked,  A Guide to  the Jewish Communities Destroyed
  in the Holocaust  (Gazetteer), By Gary  Mokotoff & Sallyann  Amdur Sack,
  (Published by Avotaynu, Inc., P.O. Box 900, Teaneck NJ 07666)

    g. AVOTAYNU,  The International Review of Jewish Genealogy,  (Journal,
  Published quarterly, by  Avotaynu Inc., P.O. Box 900, Teaneck NJ 07666)

  9. JOIN A JEWISH GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY (JGS).   For  information  on  the
  society nearest you, write Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies,
  P.O. Box 900, Teaneck NJ 07666.  (Enclose SASE).

  10.CHECK THE JEWISH GENEALOGICAL FAMILY FINDER, a computerized database.
  Learn whether others are seeking ancestors of the same surname or place
  of origin. Available for viewing at JGS meetings.


     Compiled by Bernard Kouchel <koosh@bcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us>
                        Fidonet: 1:369/68
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         |  JEWISH GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY  OF BROWARD COUNTY   |
         |  P.O. Box 17251, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33318   |
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             JEWGHOW1.TXT                       Rev. 11-94
             Previous filenames- tracejr.txt & tracejr.zip