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Getting Started

There are dozens of how-to guides online that will help you to start your research.  One that is helpful and succinct is provided by The Center for Jewish History Online Help Guide.

“Genealogy is the pursuit of information about your ancestors. Family history research goes beyond simply tracing family lines — gathering names, dates, and places — to discovering how our ancestors’ experiences were affected by the times in which they lived.

The most basic principle of family history research is to use the facts you know about your family history and work backwards, looking for documents and artifacts that reveal more information and bring to life the bare outline of your family tree.”

Getting Started

Download the forms to begin your genealogical journey

Ancestral Chart
Family Group Sheet
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  • Making Time to Work on Genealogy Research

    • Short timed sessions or write short stories that will fit into your book or research
    • Visit local libraries between appointments and/or driving kids
    • Call relatives when you have free long distance minutes or use free Skype or Google
    • Research on the internet when you can’t sleep or give up some TV or reading time
    • Organize for specific research projects

  • Sharing Your Research

    • Easily create several types of genealogical reports generated with your family tree software
    • Simply post your tree on JewishGen® Family Tree of the Jewish People (FTJP)
      • Upload GEDCOM file (GEnealogical Data COMmunication) and set privacy options
    • Self Publish
      • Use sites like http://www.lulu.com/publish/books/ for easier and cheaper self-publishing and sales
      • Use software or subscription sites like Family Tree Maker® or MyHeritage® to easily turn your genealogical research into a book, poster, etc.
    • Create Personal Family Website or Generate a family newsletter

  • Select Bibliography

    • Barnes, Nancy. Stories To Tell; an easy guide to self-publishing family history books & memoirs. Redding, CA: Stories To Tell, 2010.
    • Blatt, Warren. “JewishGen FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions.” JewishGen Info Files 17. Jewish Names. n.d. Web. 12 April 2017. http://www.jewishgen.org/InfoFiles/faq.html#Names.
    • Buswell, Carol. Education Specialist, National Archives and Records Administration Pacific Alaska Region. Personal Interviews. Seattle, WA: 2009 and 2010 and 2012 and 2013.
    • Family Tree Magazine. “Timeline of US Immigration Laws.” Timeline of US Immigration Laws. Family Tree Magazine, n.d. Web 15 July 2014. http://familytreemagazine.com/upload/images/PDF/naturalizationlaws.pdf.
    • FamilySearch. “Jewish Genealogy Research.” Jewish Genealogy Research. FamilySearch.org. n.d. Web 12 April 2017. https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Jewish_Genealogy_Research.
    • Hait, Michael. “United States Federal Census Pathfinder.” United States Federal Census Pathfinder; Free Resources, haitfamilyresearch.com. 2012. Michale Hait Professional Genealogist, n.d. Web 15 July 2014. http://haitfamilyresearch.com/pdf_files/Census_Pathfinder.pdf, http://haitfamilyresearch.com/freeResources.htm.
    • Hamilton, Darlene. Senior Genealogy Librarian, Seattle Public Library. Personal Interviews. Seattle, WA: 2011.
    • Jewish Genealogy Society of Long Island. Videos. Numerous Helpful YouTube videos. Jewish Genealogy Society of Long Island, n.d. Web 12, April 2017. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUV8xttIn93AwJX2_I0AIAg/videos.
    • Malka, Jeffrey S. Sephardic Genealogy: Discovering Your Sephardic Ancestors and Their World. Bergenfield, NJ: AVOTAYNU, INC., 2009.
    • Malka, Jeffrey S. “Sephardic Jewish Names and Genealogies.” JewishGen® Sephardic SIG; preserving our history for future generations. JewishGen®, n.d. Web. 12, April 2017. http://www.jewishgen.org/Sephardic/yohasin.HTM.
    • Mehr, Kahlile. “Finding Records of Your Ancestors: Tracing Your Jewish Ancestors From the United States to Europe 1850 to 1930.” Tracing Your Jewish Ancestors. FamilySearch Where Generations Meet, n.d. Web. 12 April 2017. (In process of being added to FamilySearch Wiki.) https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/FamilySearch_Wiki:WikiProject_Copy_Research_Guidance_and_Help_Content_into_the_Wiki/United_States_Content.
    • Mills, Elizabeth Shown. Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.
    • Mokotoff, Gary. “Consolidated Jewish Surname Index.” Consolidated Jewish Surname Index. Avotaynu, n.d. Web. 20 June 2013. <http://www.avotaynu.com/csi/jewishname.htm>.
    • Mokotoff, Gary. Getting Started in Jewish Genealogy: 2015 Edition. Bergenfield, NJ: AVOTAYNU, INC, 2015.
    • Mokotoff, Gary and Sack. Sallyann Amdur Sack, eds. Avotaynu Guide to Jewish Genealogy. Bergenfield, NJ: AVOTAYNU, INC., 2004.
    • Smith, Marian L. “’Any Woman Who Is Now or May Hereafter Be Married . . .’ Women and Naturalization, Ca. 1802-1940.” Prologue Magazine, Summer 1998, Vol. 30, No. 2. National Archives, n.d. Web. 20 June 2013. <http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/1998/summer/women-and-naturalization-1.html>.
    • Taylor, Maureen. Uncovering Your Ancestry Through Family Photographs. Cincinnati, OH: Betterway Books, 2000.
    • Tepper, Michael. American Passenger Arrival Records. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1999.

  • Research

    • The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Offers:
      http://www.archives.gov/research/genealogy/index.html
      • Permanent repository of historical records for US government which has Two WA DC facilities, 14 regional archives & 12 Presidential Libraries and is free to the public (http://www.archives.gov/locations/index.html provides address to regional archives , etc.
      • Digitized Original Records,35 Million Pictures & Posters,18 Million Aerial Photos, 5 Million Maps
      • US Federal Census from 1790-1940 (USA Census not made public for 72 years)
      • Microfilmed City Directories
        • Similar to telephone books; privately printed without phone numbers since early 1800’s
        • Contain alphabetical lists of the names of the heads of households, their addresses, and occupational information, included widows with their deceased husband’s name
      • Naturalization Papers covered by regional branch (offer indexes for other states too)
        • Declaration of Intention/First Papers: intention to become citizen
        • Petition for Naturalization/Final Papers: formal application
        • Certificate for Naturalization: proof of naturalization given to citizen
        • Naturalization papers filed after September 26, 1906 were standardized
        • September 22, 1922, passed the Married Women’s Act; “law finally gave each woman a nationality of her own… Prior to this, if a US-born woman married a man who was foreign-born, she lost her citizenship. If he was later naturalized, she then regained it, since women and children before this time were granted citizenship with their husband/father.” (M.L. Smith)
      • Some State Census AND International Census
        • Canada and Great Britain census become public after 100 years so 1911 census is available
      • US Passenger Arrival Manifests and Indexes
        • Manifests are written records of people immigrating from foreign ports into US ports
        • Records maintained since 1820 and available on microfilm
        • Usually provide name, age, country of origin prior to 1905
        • After 1905 arrival date based on port of entry, also provides place of last residence, birthplace, passenger’s destination, name of US relative going to join, occupation
        • After the requirement of visas in 1924, passengers were required to have travel documents and/or proof of birth, age, etc.
      • Important NARA Online Finding Aids for Databases and Records of Digitized Documents, Photos, Maps and Electronic files on NARA website which are available for free downloads and research – http://www.archives.gov/research/start/online-tools.html,
      • Online Public Access (OPA) – New online portal to all of the data and digitized records from ARC, also all the web pages from Archives.gov and from Presidential Libraries, some AAD and over 1 million electronic records from Electronic Records Archives (ERA) with results grouped into categories http://www.archives.gov/research/search/
      • Search Tips for OPA and Discover Locations of Archival Materials –
        http://www.archives.gov/research/search/help/search-tips.html
      • Microfilm Catalog – 3,400 numbered microfilm publications – Order reproductions at https://eservices.archives.gov/orderonline/start.swe
      • Federal Records Guide – high level including executive, judicial, and legislative branches. http://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/
      • Archival Records Database (ARC) – national holdings, use key words, person, etc. use this OPA URL http://www.archives.gov/research/search/
      • Access to Archival Databases (AAD) – search electronic holdings by person, date, etc. http://aad.archives.gov/aad/
      • Resources for Genealogists – http://www.archives.gov/research/genealogy/
      • All Regional NARA have volunteers to help you with your research
      • Print copies of documents for a nominal fee (so take change)
      • Request research for 1-4 family members at a time for a fee
    • Old Newspapers serve as “diaries of local communities and their inhabitants
    • Join Genealogical Societies
      • Your Local, State or National Jewish and Secular Genealogical Societies
      • Special Interest Groups (SIGs) by geographic region of origin or topic like JewishGen’s Regional Special Interest Groups described on http://www.jewishgen.org/JewishGen/sigs.htm
      • Offer educational programs, private libraries, research and translation assistance
    • Vital Records: Birth, Marriage, and Death Records
      • Considered excellent primary source (documents completed at the time of event)
      • Some information listed in Vital Records may be inaccurate
      • Various locations for Vital Records since they are city/county/state archived
        • State Offices of Vital Statistics (may order online, by mail or in person for a fee)
        • City or County/Borough Clerk’s offices (order online, by mail, or in person for a fee) like New York City Department of Records, Municipal Archives, Genealogy; http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/html/archives/genealogy.shtml
        • Libraries and local archives (may access online, by mail, or in person)
        • Online vital records databases provided by local genealogical societies like New York’s Italian Genealogical Group http://www.italiangen.org/
        • Dr. Steve Morse’s Website — http://www.stevemorse.org
      • Birth Certificates include some of the following information:
        • Name of child and parents including mother’s maiden name
        • Birth date and place of child and birth place, ages, and occupation of parents
      • Marriage Records include some of the following information:
        • Names, birth dates and places of bride, groom, and their parents
        • Marriage date and place and officiator and witnesses
      • Death Certificate
        • Name, occupation, and last residence of deceased
        • Date, place, and cause of death; spouse and parents of deceased
        • Burial date/place and funeral home; person who provided information for certificate
      • Some information listed in Vital Records may be inaccurate
        • Carefully review the document and confirm the listed information
    • Local Libraries
      • Genealogy and History Sections
        • Contain maps, books, newspapers, history and biography sections, knowledgeable librarians
        • Capable of borrowing any book from any other US library and the Library of Congress
      • Microfilmed City Directories
        • Similar to telephone books but privately printed without telephone numbers since early 1800’s
        • Contain alphabetical lists of the names of the heads of households, their addresses, and occupational information
      • Internet Access
        • Many larger libraries and LDS Family History Centers offer internet access to their many free (to library visitors or members) data bases including regional newspapers, maps, biographies, etc.
      • Free AncestryPlus — http://www.ancestry.com (annual or monthly membership fees are charged to access outside of libraries)
      • Free MyHeritage Library Edition — www.MyHeritage.com
        • More than 6 billion historical records from the United States, Europe, Latin America, and other regions
        • Full USA federal census (1790-1940) with images
        • Census of England and Wales (1841-1901) with images
        • 2 billion exclusive family tree profiles from MyHeritage and Geni
        • 816 million US public records
        • Hundreds of millions of European records
        • More than 100 million gravestone photos
        • More than 80 million historical photographs
        • Military records, immigration records and passenger lists
        • Citizenship & naturalization records
        • Directories, guides, references, biographies and yearbooks
        • Government, land and court records
        • Wills and probate records
        • Exclusive databases
        • Additional content under license including Tributes obituaries, WikiTree, BillionGraves, Canadian Headstones and many others
        • New collections containing millions of records added monthly
      • Free HeritageQuest™— http://www.heritagequestonline.com/hqoweb/library/do/index
        • Access from library or home using your local library username and/or library card number
        • Click “People” to search for ancestors in periodical articles
        • Click “Places” to search for information about towns, cities/regions in periodical articles
        • Click Icon in black & white at top of page “Census” to research 1790-1940 US Census
      • Free ProQuest® (offered in some larger libraries) — http://www.proquest.com then enter “Genealogy” and “Go” in Products & Services “By Subject” drop down box
        • Can access from library online databases or use their extensive microfilm in libraries
        • Offers online:
          • HeritageQuest™ Online and Ancestry.com Library Edition
          • Historical Newspapers including 10.5+ million obituaries and death notices
    • Cemeteries, Gravestones and Funeral Homes
      • Jews primarily buried in “Jewish Section” of cemeteries or sections/cemeteries owns by Jewish societies
      • Gravestone inscription may provide; English/Hebrew name, picture, inscription, birth and/or death date of deceased and possibly the deceased’s father’s Hebrew Name (“Son of…”)
      • Cemetery office records offer next of kin or person paying for upkeep contact information, gravesites of other family members, death and burial dates, funeral home/director, etc.
      • Religious and Jewish Burial Societies Records
    • Internet
      • http://www.jewishgen.org/ — JewishGen® hosts 20+ million records, thousands of databases and resources and offers the most resources and information for Jewish genealogical research
        • Databases – A source of all kinds of genealogical information from around the world hosts
          • JewishGen Communities Database – (aka Town Finder) Searchable information, maps, links and resources for more than 6,000 Jewish communities in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East using various languages and many political jurisdictions
          • Family Finder (JGFF) – A widely-used searchable database which connects people who are searching the same ancestral towns and surnames
          • JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial Registry (JOWBR) — A database of 1.8 million records from over 2,700 cemeteries/cemetery sections from 46+ countries of Jewish names, gravestone photos and other identifying information
          • Jewish Records Indexing – Poland (JRI-PL) – An index of 3.8+ million Jewish vital records in Poland from 500+ Polish towns
          • Given Names Data Bases (GNDB) – Searchable databases to find Jewish given names in Europe from 1795-1925 in Hebrew, Yiddish, and local & pan-European secular names used by Jews including the new names adopted in foreign countries
          • Holocaust Global Registry – A central place for searching Holocaust survivors, for survivors searching family members or friends, and for child survivors searching clues to their identity
          • Family Tree of the Jewish People (FTJP) – A searchable compilation of family trees of Jewish researchers
      • http://MyHeritage.com – MyHeritage® provides free genealogy software, search engine, personal family websites and can connect to JewishGen® and for fee searchable records
        • Israeli company developed search engine that identifies which of 1,526+ online genealogy databases have information about a given person plus their spelling variations
        • Annual Data Subscription ($9.95 mo): Unlimited access to billions of historical records
          • Full set of USA Census Records from 1790-1940 with 650 million names
          • England and Wales birth, marriage and death records from 1700’s to 2000 and England and Wales census records between 1841-1901
          • Newspapers, yearbooks, directories, documents, census, guides, photos, family trees and maps from around the world
        • MyHeritage.com— http://www.myheritage.com (annual or monthly membership fees outside of the libraries that offer MyHeritage.com
          • Offers over 6 billion historical & international records: http://www.myheritage.com/research
            • US, UK, Canadian, and Argentina Census, Australian Electoral Rolls, Venezuela Voter Lists, 1867 & 1890 Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany Census, 1574-1902 Westfalen, Minden, Germany Citizen Lists & more
            • Birth and Baptism/Christening from 1500’s to 20th century for Austria, Bolivia, Caribbean, Chile, England, Germany, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Scotland, Spain, Wales and more: 1600’s to 20th century for Argentina, Brazil, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and more: for many USA States during 1800’s and1900’s
            • Marriage & Divorce Records from 1500’s to late 1900’s for many countries and 1800’s to late 1900’s for many USA States
            • Death, Burial, Cemetery, Internment AND Obituaries for many countries with some starting in the 1500’s and including US Social Security Death
              Index
            • Civil Registrations, Military & Court Records, Church Records, other Vital Records, Photos, Newspaper Archives, etc.
          • 1.5 billion worldwide family tree profiles
          • Acquired World of Vital Records and Geni.com
    • http://landing.ancestry.com/jewishfamilyhistory/us/default.aspx – FREE Ancestry.com Jewish Family History Collection Highlights: Partnered with JewishGen®, American Jewish Historical Society (AJHS) and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)

  • History of Jewish Surname Adoption Recommended Resources

    Some Sephardic surnames were used since Babylonian times. Over the last 900 years, every country or region or monarchies or principalities required and enforced Jewish surname adoptions using varying processes at different times.

  • Jewish Names Search Sites and Resources

  • Typical Sephardic Naming Tradition

    • First born son named after paternal grandfather and first born daughter named after paternal grandmother; second boy named after maternal grandfather; second girl named after maternal grandmother; next child named after paternal uncle or aunt, next child after maternal uncle or aunt
    • A deceased grandparent or sibling took precedence over typical naming tradition
    • Children had Hebrew names, Ladino/nick names, and/or Americanized names
    • First born maybe called “Bohor” for boys and “Behora” for girls (means “first born” in Ladino)

  • Typical Ashkenazi Naming Tradition

    • New Born named after deceased ancestor like baby’s departed grandparent
    • Children had Hebrew names, given names, Yiddish/nick names, and/or Americanized names
    • First born male maybe called “Alter” (means “old” in Yiddish)

  • Tips on Jewish Names:

    Spellings vary; misspellings are common; translated/shortened names

  • Interviewing Relatives

    • Pace & record your interviews; don’t judge or disagree; ask clarifying questions; let them talk
    • Tools for interviewing; Telephone, SKYPE, Tape recorders, video, lap top, camera, paper and pencil
    • Basics First
      • Put them at ease; then request Full Names, Birth/Marriage/Death Dates and Places, Occupations, Religious/Synagogue Affiliation
    • More questions
      • Hebrew/Yiddish names, info on Aunts, Uncles and Cousins, immigration-dates, ports, and steamship name, town/city emigrated from and why, cities lived in and dates, burial dates and sites, community service organizations, hobbies
      • Request any documents or family memorabilia or pictures, etc. to copy or see
    • Stories Next

  • Getting Started

Handout 1
Handout 2

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Getting Started

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Getting Started

Tracing your family history may seem like a major challenge. Like all new endeavors, you need to take it one step at a time. The two presentations and handouts were created by Nancy Adelson and given at the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies held in Orlando in July 2017. They will give you an overview of what resources are out there for you to learn from and what you can do. The total of 3 hours may seem like a lot, but they will give you a big picture so you can see more than one step ahead on your new journey! The ancestral chart and family group sheet are for your use for starting to collect information.

The handouts are extensive with hot links to a variety of resources. You will use this material over and over again until you have a question that can’t be answered, when you will start looking for more specialized resources!