CBH Talk | Preserving Your New York Story: Investigating Jewish Genealogy in Brooklyn
Join the Center for Brooklyn History and the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society (NYG&B) for this free in-person event to learn the essentials of tracing Jewish ancestors and preserving your own family history.
Family history is a fascinating and personal way for everyone to better understand who they are and how our past has shaped us. Genealogy also helps reveal and strengthen connections between individuals and communities. But how do you get started? This program will feature two parts:
- A presentation at 6:30 PM by genealogist Chaya Sara Herman, who will discuss the basics of starting your family history research, with a focus on Eastern European Jewish lineages. Attendees will also learn the fundamental building blocks for conducting Brooklyn family history research with CBH’s unique resources.
A limited number of 30-minute scanning sessions prior to the presentation, where participants may digitally preserve their own family history documents. Upon registering below, participants will receive a confirmation email that includes a sign-up link to choose a time slot before the 6:30 PM program. Bring a folder of portable family history documents (e.g., birth certificates, family religious records, or photographs), and NYG&B staff will digitally scan these documents on site. Participants will then receive Dropbox access to their stored digitized records.
Please email digitizeny@nygbs.org if you have questions about this aspect of the program.
REGISTER HERE
Pictured above, clockwise from top left:
[United States certificate of naturalization for Myrna Levine], 1953, still image, BJHP_0316: Brooklyn Jewish History Project, Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History. Photograph of Chaya Sarah Herman. [Geller family Jewish wedding contract in Hebrew], January 23, 1944, still image, BJHP_0097: Brooklyn Jewish History Project, Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History. [The Gottlieb family on the Lower East Side], 1939, still image, BJHP_0186: Brooklyn Jewish History Project, Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
About NYG&B and the Preserving Your New York Story Series
Founded in 1869, the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society (NYG&B) is a nonprofit organization that preserves, documents, and shares family history and stories from across New York State. Learn more at www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org.
The Preserving Your New York Story series offers free sessions for people to digitally preserve their own family history records as well as programming for tracing their family history and connecting with their past. Whether someone is just starting out on their search or needs a refresher on the basics, participants will gain the fundamental building blocks for conducting family history research and preserving their New York story.
About Chaya Sara Herman
Chaya Sara Herman is a professional genealogist located in Brooklyn, New York. She is on the Executive Council of the Jewish Genealogical Society of New York, a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and serves on New York City's Archives, Reference and Research Advisory Board. She specializes in Eastern European Jewish research. In addition to her work for private clients, Chaya Sara works as a genealogical consultant for JewishGen's Kalikow Center, located in the Museum of Jewish Heritage.
This series is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
