GUIDEBOOKS
Published by member Jewish Genealogical Societies: Including beginner's guides, handbooks, workbooks, manuals, etc.


Below is a list of guidebooks published by IAJGS member Jewish Genealogical Societies. You will find the title of the publication, the author or editor, which JGS published it, the year/edition, a brief description, how to order it and the cost.

This list will be updated as new information becomes available.

Capital Collections: Resources For Jewish Genealogy in the Washington, D.C. Area

Author/Editor: Marlene Bishow

Published by: Jewish Genealogy Society of Greater Washington

Year/Edition: Fourth edition, April, 2007

Brief Description: Spiral-bound, Paperback; English; 8-1/2 x 11"; 103 pages.
Includes archives, courts, libraries, cemeteries and other resources in Washington, DC; northern Virginia, and Maryland. Cities included are Baltimore, Annapolis, and Richmond.

How to Order: Check made out to "JGSGW" with order

By mail from:
JGS of Greater Washington
PO Box 31122
Bethesda, MD 20824

Cost: $12 for members & IAJGS member libraries, $18 for non-members. Plus $5 domestic Postage.

 

Beginners And Intermediate Genealogical Workbook

Author or Editor: Compiled and Edited by Sylvia Furshman Nusinov

Published by: JGS Palm Beach County, FL

Year/Edition: 6th Edition, April 2005

Brief Description: Paperback, coil binding, clear cover front, back is maroon color hard textured card stock. 8 1/2" x 11", English language, 191 pages. Awarded the IAJGS 2003 Achievement Award for Outstanding Publication, the Workbook is a compilation of genealogical resource materials. 36 topics are covered, including examples and instructions, charts and forms. Several distinguished members of IAJGS contributed their individual expertise to the contents of the Workbook. The Award states: "It [the Workbook] has proven to be a most useful tool in encouraging individuals to pursue their genealogical research, and in providing them with the instructions and procedures to do so." Contents includes: Soundex System and Code, Immigration and Naturalization Records, Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts, Origins of Names, U.S. Census Records 1880-1930, and articles on Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Pale of Settlement, Yad Vashem, etc.

How to Order:

By E-mail curiousyl@bellsouth.net
Or write:
Jewish Genealogical Society of Palm Beach County
C/O Sylvia Furshman Nusinov
10298 Buena Ventura Drive
Boca Raton, FL 33498-6766

Cost: $15.00 +S&H

 

Genealogical Resources In New York

Author/ Editor: Revised and Edited by Estelle M. Guzik

Published by: Jewish Genealogical Society, Inc (New York City)

Year/Edition: 2003 (ISBN 0-9621863-1-7)

Brief Description: Genealogical Resources in New York is the most comprehensive guide available to genealogical and biographical resources in the five boroughs of New York City and Albany. For each repository, Genealogical Resources in New York provides a description of its holdings including new acquisitions, a geographic scope of its collection, the time span covered and finding aids. New features include maps to assist researchers in coordinating visits to facilities within a particular area, wheelchair accessibility, e-mail and Internet addresses, fa x and telephone numbers, and much more! The place, subject and name indexes are a quick way to determine where to find census records, birth and death records, marriage and divorce records, name changes, passenger and naturalization records, military, cemetery, probate and court records, newspaper collections, oral histories and other significant records.

The 1989 edition, Genealogical Resources in the New York Metropolitan Area, was selected by the New York Public Library, Research Libraries, as one of the best reference books of that year. Researchers will find this new volume even more valuable! Included are 32 government agencies and courts, 27 archives, 33 libraries (10 facilities with both archives and libraries) and 12 new facilities. This edition includes records and materials of 10 additional facilities whose collections were merged with repositories included here. With the publication of Genealogical Resources in New York, the Jewish Genealogical Society offers anyone with a genealogical research interest in New York a valuable key to the City. 

How to Order:

Go to: http://www.jgsny.org/newbook.htm for ordering information.

 

Genealogical Resources within the Jewish Home and Family

Author/Editor: Rosemary Wenzerul

Published by: Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain

Year/Edition: 2002

Brief Description: The intention of this book is to bring to light all those documents, photographs, stories and memorabilia which most Jewish families will have tucked away in a drawer without realising how much valuable information is included on them. It explains how to begin your family history by illustrating how much information may be obtained from a very short interview with a relative, using examples which run throughout the book. In addition, there are numerous illustrations and ideas on various aspects of enlarging your family history. The idea is for the whole family to work together as a team - bridges the generation gap.

How to order:

By Mail: (Cheques with orders please payable to 'JGSGB')
JGSGB Publications
PO Box 2188
Ilford
Essex. IG1 9RE
England
U.K.

By PayPal – via our web-site: www.jgsgb.org.uk

Cost: £8.95 or US$16 (both include postage from the UK)

 


Getting Started In Jewish Genealogy:
    A Handbook For Beginners With Supplementary Information For Advanced Research

Author or Editor: Dr. Ronald D. Doctor

Published by: The Jewish Genealogical Society of Oregon

Year/Edition: November 2002, 3rd edition (4th edition to be published in 2006)

Brief Description: 8-1/2 x 11 inches, 150 pages, spiral bound, covered with heavy celluloid over cardboard cover (back and front), English. Chapter Headings: Preface, Introduction, Jewish Names, How to Begin, JewishGen Website and Discussion Group, Types of Records, Computers and Genealogy, Preparing for and Traveling in the "Old Country", Key References. Attachments include: Activities, Tools & Resources; Sephardic Genealogy websites; Interviewing Family Members; Family Relationships Chart; Soundex Coding; Genealogy Forms; Jewish Genealogy Online (annotated website listing, by categories); US Census Data; JewishGen Databases; Current LDS Microfilm Projects in Eastern Europe; Avotaynu Databases in Consolidated Jewish Surname Index; Genealogy Clues in Census Records, 1850-1930; Given Names, Hebrew & Russian and their Transliterations.

How to Order:

By mail from:
Jewish Genealogical Society of Oregon
PO Box 19736
Portland, Oregon 97280

Cost: Non-member cost is $18 plus $3 S&H. Cost for JGSO members and other JGSs and their members is $15 plus $3 S&H. Cost for the 4th edition will be higher because of additional pages.

 

A Guide to Jewish Genealogy in Germany and Austria

Author/Editor: Thea Sktye and Randol Schoenberg

Published by: Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain

Year/Edition: 2001

Brief Description: This book is written from the point of view of people in Great Britain tracing Jewish genealogy, but the clear explanation and mass of detail will make it useful for anyone using German and Austrian records. It shows how the borders of Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire changed, describes civil registration, and lists relevant libraries and Genealogy Societies in Germany and Austria. It has substantial information on records of the Holocaust, and on emigration during the 1930s. There is a bibliography, and suggested phrases in German for including in letters of enquiry to libraries and registration authorities.

How to order:

By Mail: (Cheques with orders please payable to 'JGSGB')
JGSGB Publications
PO Box 2188
Ilford
Essex. IG1 9RE
England
U.K.

By PayPal – via our web-site: www.jgsgb.org.uk

Cost: £4.00 or US$6 (both include postage from the UK)

 

A Guide to Jewish Genealogy in Latvia and Estonia

Author/Editor: Arlene Beare

Published by: Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain

Year/Edition: 2006 – 2nd Edition

Brief Description: This is the eighth publication in the Jewish Ancestors series published by the JGSGB. The intention is to provide an insight into Jewish genealogy in the former Russian Empire with special reference to the laws governing Jews in the Baltic countries of Latvia and Estonia. Subjects include a brief history of Latvia, information on archival research inside and outside Latvia, conscription, emigration, the Holocaust in Latvia including Rumbula memorial, cemeteries, museums and libraries. The internet section has been updated with useful URLs and details of databases on the net. There is a short guided tour of what Jewish sites to see when visiting Riga and includes a number of maps and coloured pictures. A listing of Jewish Firms in Riga in 1891 has many names and addresses.

The Estonian section includes a short history of the Country, archives and resources, Holocaust, Jewish schools and education, bibliography and references.

The author, Arlene Beare, is a past Chairman of the JGSGB Latvian Special Interest Group and past President of Jewishgen Latvia SIG. She is the Latvia SIG's co-ordinator of the Jewishgen Latvia Database and has extensive knowledge of research in this part of the world.

How to order:

By Mail: (Cheques with orders please payable to 'JGSGB')
JGSGB Publications
PO Box 2188
Ilford
Essex. IG1 9RE
England
U.K.

By PayPal – via our web-site: www.jgsgb.org.uk

Cost: £8.95 or US$16 (both include postage from the UK)

 

A Guide to Jewish Genealogy in the United Kingdom

Author/Editor: Rosemary Wenzerul

Published by: Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain

Year/Edition: 2006

Brief Description: This new and enlarged publication updates and augments our previous Beginner's Guide to Jewish Genealogy in Great Britain. It is designed specifically with the family historian in mind, (whether or not a beginner) since the majority of information is given under town headings – invaluable for the tourist to the UK.

The Guide includes detailed information about the (Jewish) holdings of the various resource centres throughout the UK with a large section on London (including Archives, Libraries, Museums, Record Offices, Synagogues etc). It has specific sections on using public records, cemeteries, computers in genealogy, medical records, burial records and marriage records. A full list of Jewish cemeteries throughout the United Kingdom is given with information about each and where they are located. There is a bibliography; where many of the books relate specifically to individual towns.

How to order:

By Mail: (Cheques with orders please payable to 'JGSGB')
JGSGB Publications
PO Box 2188
Ilford
Essex. IG1 9RE
England
U.K.

By PayPal – via our web-site: www.jgsgb.org.uk

Cost: £8.95 or US$16 (both include postage from the UK)

 

A Guide to Jewish Genealogy in Lithuania

Author/Editor: Sam Aaron

Published by: Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain

Year/Edition: 2005

Brief Description: "Genealogical research in Lithuania is often difficult because so many of the old records from Czarist times (1794 to 1917) were lost or destroyed. Here is a practical guide that will tell you what types of records there were, which have survived for each of the three provinces that Lithuania was divided into, how to access them, and what information you can expect to find.

Archives often take a long time to reply to researchers because of the large number of enquiries they receive. The guide describes the large amount of information that can be directly accessed in on-line databases, or in databases which are made available by e-mail to subscribers, and provides an up-to-date list of all these resources, and should help you make quicker progress with your researches.

For beginners, the Guide explains how to identify your ancestral shtetl (the small town in which Jews were obliged to live), how to start off your research, and eventually find information on your ancestors. Included are also suggestions as to where you can look for clues to your ancestors in UK, USA, Israeli and South African records. The latter section should be useful also to those researching their roots in Eastern European countries other than Lithuania".

How to order:

By Mail: (Cheques with orders please payable to 'JGSGB')
JGSGB Publications
PO Box 2188
Ilford
Essex. IG1 9RE
England
U.K.

By PayPal – via our web-site: www.jgsgb.org.uk

Cost: £8.95 or US$16 (both include postage from the UK)

 

A Guide to Reading Hebrew Inscriptions and Documents

Author/Editor: Rosemary Wenzerul

Published by: Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain

Year/Edition: 2005

Brief Description: When researching a Jewish family, it is extremely likely that you will come across various items and documents written in Hebrew. "A Guide to Reading Hebrew Inscriptions and Documents" is designed specifically to help those people (whether Jewish or non-Jewish) who have difficulty in reading or understanding Hebrew. The idea is to compare the Hebrew on a document, photograph, inscription etc with the information shown in the Guide. For example, you may not be able to read the Hebrew inscription on a relative's grave. By referring to the sections in this Guide, this will be easily achieved. All the Hebrew in the book has English explanation, translation and transliteration. Reasons behind some of the inscriptions and Jewish customs both in the home and in the Synagogue have also been included in order to help researchers understand the religious side of their roots.

It is very difficult, in fact near impossible, for those of us who are unable to understand or read Hebrew to interpret the Hebrew wording. Being in this position is most frustrating and restrictive. I have, therefore, put together a comprehensive guide which I hope will help resolve this problem.

The Guide includes the Hebrew alphabet, Hebrew vowels, numerical values, Jewish calendar, conversion tables, formula to convert a Jewish year to a Gregorian year, how to read headstones, symbols on headstones and their meanings, frequently used Hebrew words with abbreviations found on tombstones, Hebrew given boys' and girls' names, Hebrew letters which are liable to be misread, glossary of Yiddish terms, examples of Hebrew documents/inscriptions, (how to read a Ketubah, marriage authorisation, get etc), many photographs and much more.

How to order:

By Mail: (Cheques with orders please payable to 'JGSGB')
JGSGB Publications
PO Box 2188
Ilford
Essex. IG1 9RE
England
U.K.

By PayPal – via our web-site: www.jgsgb.org.uk

Cost: £6.00 or US$12 (both include postage from the UK)

 

A Guide to Organising your Family History Records

Author/Editor: Rosemary Wenzerul

Published by: Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain

Year/Edition: 2004

Brief Description: A Guide to Organising your Family History Records is written in the simplest way, to help Family Historians who have just started their family history and those who have gathered a lot of information about their family and need help with putting it in order. Whether you have a computer or not this book provides examples, advice and suggestions on how to keep your records in order by the most up-to-date methods plus ideas to enlarge the social history of your family. The section on preservation is intended to help keep your documents and photographs in the best possible condition.

When thinking about a suitable filing system, it is important to introduce one which is simple, yet efficient, so that future generations will be able to pick up where you left off.

Keeping records in order is extremely important and the chapter headed 'Document Links' illustrates the relationships between sets of documents. It is only a guide and is intended for the reader to decide which documents to include.

How to order:

By Mail: (Cheques with orders please payable to 'JGSGB')
JGSGB Publications
PO Box 2188
Ilford
Essex. IG1 9RE
England
U.K.

By PayPal – via our web-site: www.jgsgb.org.uk

Cost: £6.95 or US$13 (both include postage from the UK)

 

Jewish Genealogy Basics and Resource Guide for
      the San Francisco Bay Area

Authors: Jeremy Frankel, Dana Kurtz, Rosanne Leeson

Published by: San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society

Year/Edition: June 2005, 2nd Edition

Brief Description: Paperback; English; 8-1/2 x 11"; 22 pages.
Includes an Introduction to Jewish genealogical research, followed by a description of the local, state and federal resources available in
the nine-county Bay Area. Additional resources include academic libraries and archives, synagogues, cemeteries, funeral homes, genealogical and historical societies and LDS Family History Centers and more!

How to Order:

By mail from: 
SFBAJGS
PO Box 471616
San Francisco, CA 94147

Cost: $3 (members) $5 (non-members) plus $1. postage.

Jewish Memorial (Yizkor) Books in the United Kingdom – Destroyed European Communities

Author/Editor: Cyril Fox and Saul Issroff

Published by: Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain

Year/Edition: 2006

Brief Description: This book is a unique listing of approximately 1,000 Yizkor books and Memorbücher in 32 academic libraries in the United Kingdom.

Localities such as country or place names are listed alphabetically. The original language(s) of each book are noted.

Bibliographic details about each entry, including the geographical co-ordinates of specific towns or villages are given (because many places have similar or even identical names).

A list of books translated or partly translated into English is given.

Smaller places, mentioned in yizkor books but not in the title of the book are listed. There are also notes on how to use a yizkor book.

A detailed introduction explains the historical origins, the significance and structure of yizkor books, the methods of compilation and the value to historians and
genealogists.

How to order:

By Mail: (Cheques with orders please payable to 'JGSGB')
JGSGB Publications
PO Box 2188
Ilford
Essex. IG1 9RE
England
U.K.

By PayPal – via our web-site: www.jgsgb.org.uk

Cost: £25.50 or US$45 (both include postage from the UK)