NAM'S QUICK GUIDE TO JEWISH GENEALOGY (Rev. 4/19/2019)
1. Searching Without a Computer
Accessible Records
a. Oral histories from known relatives
b. Letters, diaries, and existing genealogies
c. Vital records - birth, marriage, and death
d. Censuses (U.S., State, and City)
e. City directories
f. Immigrant passenger lists
g. Naturalization papers
h. Cemetery records and newspaper obituaries
Other Sources
a. Read books on Jewish genealogy (see list below)
b. Subscribe to the Jewish genealogical magazine Avotaynu
c. Join the local Jewish Genealogical Society
d. Attend annual meetings of local, regional, and national genealogical organizations
e. Go to a Mormon LDS Family History Center (in Tallahassee, 312 Stadium Drive)
f. Visit the National Archives or a Regional Archives in the U.S. or another country
g. Write to archivists in countries where relatives lived
h. Travel to villages where your ancestors resided
i. Visit Tallahassee's LeRoy Collins Public Library (2nd fl.) for genealogical reference material
2. Searching With a Computer
a. Get genealogical software and set up your own family tree
b. Search for ancestors through Google Search (www.google.com)
c. Become familiar with the extensive JewishGen website (www2.jewishgen.org))
d. Scan the Social Security Death Index (http://stevemorse.org/ssdi/ssdi.html)
e. Look through the Mormon genealogical website (www.familysearch.org)
f. Explore various genealogical data sources at www.rootsweb.com, www.cyndislist.com, www.ancestry.com, www.myheritage.com
g. Access to original US census records thru 1940 (annual fee but often free at public libraries) www.ancestry.com
h. General information about Hamburg departures at www.germanroots.com/hamburg.html
i. Examine Steve Morse's links re. immigration (incl. passenger lists) and censuses (www.stevemorse.org)
j. Go to the Tallahassee Genealogical Society website http://talgensoc.com
k. Subscribe to Eastman's Online Genealogical Newsletter (www.eogn.com)
l. Explore ethnic websites - www.hispanicgenealogy.com - www.afrigeneas.com - www.genealogybranches.com/nativeamericans.html
m. Have your DNA tested (www.familytreedna.com) (www.ancestry.com/DNA) (www.23andme.com) (www.myheritage.com)
n. Search newspapers at chroniclingamerica.loc.gov and the Florida State Library and Archives
o. Find obituaries at www.legacy.com and burials under Databases/JOWBR at www2.jewishgen.org
p. Get on Avotaynu's free email letter list (www.avotaynu.com)
q. Check the JDC Archives of the Joint Distribution Committee (http://archives.jdc.org)
3. Recommended Books on Genealogy
a. Sallyann Amdur Sack and Gary Mokotoff, Avotaynu Guide to Jewish Genealogy, Avotaynu, 2004
b. Ira Wolfman, Climbing Your Family Tree, Workman Publ. Co., 2002
c. George G. Morgan, The Official Guide to ancestry.com, Ancestry, 2008
d. Daniel M. Lynch, Google Your Family Tree, FamilyLink.co, Inc., 2008
e. Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak and Ann Turner, Trace Your Roots with DNA, Holtzbrinck Publ., 2004
f. George G. Morgan, Genealogy (Fourth Edition), McGraw-Hill, 2015
Members of JGST are eligible for one hour of free genealogical research assistance. Contact Charles B.Nam at (850) 391-1408 or via email at [email protected]
Accessible Records
a. Oral histories from known relatives
b. Letters, diaries, and existing genealogies
c. Vital records - birth, marriage, and death
d. Censuses (U.S., State, and City)
e. City directories
f. Immigrant passenger lists
g. Naturalization papers
h. Cemetery records and newspaper obituaries
Other Sources
a. Read books on Jewish genealogy (see list below)
b. Subscribe to the Jewish genealogical magazine Avotaynu
c. Join the local Jewish Genealogical Society
d. Attend annual meetings of local, regional, and national genealogical organizations
e. Go to a Mormon LDS Family History Center (in Tallahassee, 312 Stadium Drive)
f. Visit the National Archives or a Regional Archives in the U.S. or another country
g. Write to archivists in countries where relatives lived
h. Travel to villages where your ancestors resided
i. Visit Tallahassee's LeRoy Collins Public Library (2nd fl.) for genealogical reference material
2. Searching With a Computer
a. Get genealogical software and set up your own family tree
b. Search for ancestors through Google Search (www.google.com)
c. Become familiar with the extensive JewishGen website (www2.jewishgen.org))
d. Scan the Social Security Death Index (http://stevemorse.org/ssdi/ssdi.html)
e. Look through the Mormon genealogical website (www.familysearch.org)
f. Explore various genealogical data sources at www.rootsweb.com, www.cyndislist.com, www.ancestry.com, www.myheritage.com
g. Access to original US census records thru 1940 (annual fee but often free at public libraries) www.ancestry.com
h. General information about Hamburg departures at www.germanroots.com/hamburg.html
i. Examine Steve Morse's links re. immigration (incl. passenger lists) and censuses (www.stevemorse.org)
j. Go to the Tallahassee Genealogical Society website http://talgensoc.com
k. Subscribe to Eastman's Online Genealogical Newsletter (www.eogn.com)
l. Explore ethnic websites - www.hispanicgenealogy.com - www.afrigeneas.com - www.genealogybranches.com/nativeamericans.html
m. Have your DNA tested (www.familytreedna.com) (www.ancestry.com/DNA) (www.23andme.com) (www.myheritage.com)
n. Search newspapers at chroniclingamerica.loc.gov and the Florida State Library and Archives
o. Find obituaries at www.legacy.com and burials under Databases/JOWBR at www2.jewishgen.org
p. Get on Avotaynu's free email letter list (www.avotaynu.com)
q. Check the JDC Archives of the Joint Distribution Committee (http://archives.jdc.org)
3. Recommended Books on Genealogy
a. Sallyann Amdur Sack and Gary Mokotoff, Avotaynu Guide to Jewish Genealogy, Avotaynu, 2004
b. Ira Wolfman, Climbing Your Family Tree, Workman Publ. Co., 2002
c. George G. Morgan, The Official Guide to ancestry.com, Ancestry, 2008
d. Daniel M. Lynch, Google Your Family Tree, FamilyLink.co, Inc., 2008
e. Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak and Ann Turner, Trace Your Roots with DNA, Holtzbrinck Publ., 2004
f. George G. Morgan, Genealogy (Fourth Edition), McGraw-Hill, 2015
Members of JGST are eligible for one hour of free genealogical research assistance. Contact Charles B.Nam at (850) 391-1408 or via email at [email protected]
