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

1. 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.


2. 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.


3. Visit your local library and genealogy web sites for reference material.


4. 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.


5. 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. http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/ There are also census lists and military and naturalization records that can be helpful.


6. 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:

• Family History Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 35 North West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, UT. 84150-3400
• Board for Certification of Genealogists, P.O. Box 14291, Washington DC 20044.

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. They are 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 is 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. 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.