Lecture descriptions Joanne M. Sher, FEEFHS 2021

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Basics of Jewish Genealogical Research (Jewish track)

This session will present an overview of the many specialized resources and techniques that need to be known and used for effective Jewish genealogical research. Print, filmed, and online resources will be discussed.

Researching a Shtetl (Jewish track)

What was life like in your ancestors’ villages? Where can you find information and images about those shtetls?  Resources and examples will be presented.

The Blue Army, Grey Samaritans, & the White Cross: Polish-Americans in France, 1917-1920 (Polish track)

More than 20,000 Polish immigrants fought with the Polish Army in France (the Blue Army) for Poland’s independence. Young Polish-American women served with the Grey Samaritans and the White Cross supporting the Blue Army as well providing relief to the people of Poland. This session will provide information about the recruitment, training, and service of those men and women as well as resources for finding records.

Some Techniques for Finding the Village of Origin When All You Know is “Austria” (Austro-Hungarian track)

So often the documents found in the U.S. and Canada merely state that Austria was the birthplace of your ancestors. Actually they most likely were from a location in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and not the country of Austria. How you can find out what was their village of origin?  Techniques, resources, and examples will be discussed.