“Graveyards Tell Genealogical Stories”
Sunday, April 18, 2010
The Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay (JGSTB) will meet at Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services, 14041 Icot Blvd., Clearwater, Florida on Sunday April 18, 2010, where a team of veteran genealogists of the JGSTB will speak on genealogical clues that can be found on tombstones. A social with refreshments and library access at 1:30 PM will precede the featured program that starts at 2:00 PM.
Graveyards are not just a resting place for the dead. They have stories to tell. Tombstone inscriptions quite often provide valuable information about the deceased that is not available from other sources. Rita Shapiro and Vicki Adelson, assisted by a team of JGSTB members with experience in cemetery research, will tell how to locate the cemeteries where your ancestors are buried, and they will discuss the types of genealogical clues that can be found on tombstones. Internet resources such as the “JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial Register” (JOWBR) will be demonstrated, showing how to locate the cemetery where your ancestor is buried, the location within a cemetery of his or her gravesite, and in some cases how to see an actual photograph of the tombstone of the deceased. Inscriptions on tombstones often identity the name of a parent of the deceased, and that can take your research back another generation. The presenters will give examples of their successful research in cemeteries to show you how graveyards can tell genealogical stories about your own ancestors.
The mission of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay is to assist interested individuals in learning about Jewish genealogy and learning how to research, document and preserve their own family histories. The Society does this by facilitating the exchange of research information, encouraging and facilitating research activities, educating members to help themselves and others, making available research resources and materials, and presenting monthly programs of interest to Jewish genealogical researchers. The Society’s library and research resources include both printed materials and Internet access as well as guided assistance from experienced researchers. Special emphasis is given to helping beginners.
Anyone interested in learning how to do Jewish genealogical research is invited to attend. Beginners as well as experienced researchers are welcome. For information on the organization or directions to the meeting call Sally Israel at 727-343-1652.
