What was life like in the old country? Through the eyes of Lisa Cooper’s grandmother Pearl, we experience family life in the Russian Empire in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the context of pogroms, World War I, the Russian Revolution, and civil war. Pearl's son recorded his mother's memories, which give a lively sense of life and culture in the Pale of our ancestors. Bio: Lisa Cooper is a British writer, journalist and artist. While spending a…

YIVO’s collections include more than 2.5 million documents and 12,000 books that were long thought to be lost and represent over 500 years of Jewish history in Eastern Europe.  The landmark Edward Blank YIVO Vilna project will preserve and digitize these materials, making them available to researchers.  Dr. Jonathan Brent’s talk describes the project and the political and social roles these records play in contemporary Lithuanian society and 21stcentury Jewish identity. Jonathan Brent Dr. Jonathan Brent is the Executive Director…

The daughter of Holocaust survivors, Deborah Munk Long reviews the best (as well as some of the obscure) resources and methods for determining the fate of those involved in the Holocaust, including survivors and victims. Deborah will use examples from her own research to demonstrate the documents and artifacts she discovered. Bio: Deborah Munk Long has been researching her family's Holocaust history and looking for surviving family members since she was 10 years old. Her research has led to the…

Researching our Eastern European ancestry remains challenging in many countries, where missing records may lead to frustrating “brick walls”. This presentation offers guidance in using the region’s historical events and geography to help fill in gaps and move past brick walls.  It shows you ways to identify your ancestors, find the places where they lived, and trace their migrations. Bio: Amy Wachs, past president of the Jewish Genealogy Society of Cleveland,  has been involved in Jewish genealogy for over 30…

Old family photos, documents, and heirlooms are vitally important in preserving your family's past. Learn how to organize and store these special items safely, and discover an easy step-by-step process for deciding what to retain in your collection and what to give to relatives or institutions. Finally, you will get ideas for preparing a "genealogical will" to preserve your family's photos, documents, and heirlooms for future generations. Bio: Marian Burk Wood is a popular speaker and author. Her Planning a Future…