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Portrait of the Rosenwald Family.
INTRODUCTION
The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives has a large
and growing genealogy collection which is used by persons seeking information
on their ancestry and family history. The American Jewish Archives is
committed to furthering knowledge and awareness of Jewish genealogy and
to assisting those who are tracing their Jewish roots. To this end, we
are making available a digital version of Dr. Malcolm Stern's classic
work, First
American Jewish Families, on this website.
IntroductionSubmitting Genealogical Research
RequestsHow to Research Your FamilyUsing
an Outside ResearcherLinks to Helpful Websites Jewish genealogy is a highly developed field
of study. There are numerous resources for the beginning and advanced
genealogist that are available on the Internet and in most bookstores
and libraries. A basic knowledge of genealogy procedures will allow researchers
to make better use of their time and improve their chances of success.
As part of our service, the AJA staff will be happy to provide you with
a listing of some of these most popular resources.
SUBMITTING GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH REQUESTS
The American Jewish Archives welcomes genealogy inquiries. All inquiries
should be in writing by either fax, email, or regular mail. Each inquiry
will receive a personal response. E-mail requests should be made using
our
research request form. Please include all pertinent information such
as full names, dates and locations if they are known. Of course, visitors
are always welcome to visit the American Jewish Archives where our staff
will personally assist you in researching your family history.
The American Jewish Archives does not perform extensive genealogy searches.
Our goal is to assist all who come to us by providing some information
or guidance that will be of help in a family search. If we locate requested
or needed materials in our files the AJA will - for
a fee - provide photocopies or other duplication of requested items
in compliance with copyright and restrictions.
HOW TO RESEARCH YOUR FAMILY
- Begin by working backwards with what you know about your parents and/or
other living relatives. Interview living relatives and gather stories
and documents that may help you in your search.
- Collect as much documentation as you can and begin to follow the lines
backwards as you get the vital documents from governmental repositories.
Check www.vitalrec.com for places
to contact.
- Visit your local library and genealogy web sites for reference material.
- Don’t overlook synagogue and organizational records such as sisterhoods
or brotherhoods. If you know your ancestor was active there may be some
useful information in those records.
- Once you reach an ancestor that immigrated you will need to find their
ship information. The National Archives has this information and there
are microfilm copies of these lists in large libraries and university
libraries (for more information on genealogical resources at the National Archives, please see: http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/.)
There are also census lists and military and naturalization records
that can be helpful.
- Once you obtain immigration records you can find the point of departure
and begin researching how to get documents from foreign countries. JewishGen is a great resource for this information.
Genealogical searches in the AJA's
online catalog can best be facilitated with a search by subject on
the drop-down menu. You can then key in either the desired surname or
location that the family is from.
Here are some examples:
To search for a family in Kovno, Lithuania, type in one or all of the
following searches in the subject box on the drop-down menu:
Immigrants–Lithuania–Kovno or
Jews–Lithuania–Kovno or
Kovno or Lithuania
To search for Meyer family, location unknown, use the subject box on
the drop-down menu and type in:
Meyer family
Visit
the AJA Online Catalog Now!
USING AN OUTSIDE RESEARCHER
Many genealogists prefer - and often insist - on doing their own genealogy
research. However, due to the time and effort involved, these searches
often require the services of a professional genealogist or heraldic searcher.
If you are in need of research assistance the AJA will provide lists of
professional genealogists that are available on a fee basis. Two good
Internet sources for locating a professional genealogist are:
Another useful source for professional genealogists is Everton's Family
History Magazine, a bimonthly periodical published by Everton Publishers,
Inc. (P.O. Box 708130, Sandy, Utah 84070). This magazine generally carries
an annual "Directory of Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Periodicals
and Professionals" in the United States and abroad, as well as a "Directory
of Genealogists" in the United States, including amateurs and professionals.
Names of professional genealogists can also be obtained from the advertisements
of their services carried in many genealogical periodicals. A convenient
list of these periodicals appears in Ulrich's International Periodicals
Directory, a standard reference work available in many libraries.
The American Jewish Archives does not have official government records
(birth, death, marriage) other than those that might be noted in synagogue
or rabbi’s records. We do not have telephone directories or Sanford maps,
both of which can be found through a public library.
LINKS TO HELPFUL WEBSITES
- American Jewish Historical Society
has many records that can be used for genealogical purposes. These include
orphanage, court, military and immigration records in addition to many
collections of family trees, memoirs and correspondence. The AJHS is a
part of the Center for Jewish History.
- American Sephardi
Federation has a wide variety of Sephardic sources of genealogical
information, such as family histories, cemetery records and histories
of Sephardic communities. They are a part of the Center for Jewish History.
- International Association of Jewish
Genealogical Societies is an independent non-profit umbrella organization
coordinating the activities and annual conference of more than 75 national
and local Jewish genealogical societies around the world.
- Avotaynu is a publisher
of products and information of interest to persons who are researching
Jewish genealogy, Jewish family trees and Jewish roots. They also publish
a journal quarterly with the latest genealogical findings.
- Center
for Jewish History Genealogy Institute caters to all levels of researchers.
They can help guide you through the records held at all of the CJH repositories
which include institutional records, immigration records as well as
personal and family papers.
- Cyndi’s List includes
a comprehensive listing of Jewish genealogy sites on the web.
- International Jewish
Cemetery Project is a listing of every Jewish cemetery or burial
site by town or city, country, and geographic region based on current
locality designation. Some listings include links to other websites
with additional information such as burial lists or a name to contact
by email or mail.
- JewishGen is the primary internet
source connecting researchers of Jewish genealogy worldwide. Its most
popular components are the JewishGen Discussion Group, the JewishGen
Family Finder (a database of 400,000 surnames and towns), the comprehensive
directory of InfoFiles, ShtetLinks for over 200 communities, Yizkor
Book translations, and databases such as the ShtetlSeeker and All Country
Databases. JewishGen's Family Tree of the Jewish People contains data
on more than three million people. JewishGen also serves as host to
independent organizations such as Jewish Records Indexing Poland. The site also
has a comprehensive listing of genealogical
resource books.
- Leo Baeck Institute is a research,
exhibition, and lecture center whose library and archives offer the
most comprehensive documentation for the study of German Jewish history.
They are a part of the Center for Jewish History.
- Louis Kessler's
Jewish Genealogy Links is a listing of Jewish genealogy sites on
the web.
- Sephardic
Genealogy Sources has links to web sites with information of conducting
research on Sephardic history and ancestors.
- YIVO Institute for Jewish
Research has a large collection of Eastern European and Yiddish
genealogical resources. Much of the Eastern European material is from
prior to World War II. There is also ample Holocaust material.
For further information on the American Jewish Archives and its genealogy
services, please contact
us.
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Major Manuscript Collections
