Date   

Re: What is "rekte" ? #austria-czech

Saul Zeichner <Saulzee@...>
 

Dear Peter,

According to Beider's book, A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames From
Galicia, Maresse is found in Kolbuszowa, Jaworow, and Lwow and is
based on the surname Mirem, a Matronymic surname based upon the
Yiddish feminine given name Mirem, a colloquial form of the
biblical Mirim (Exodus 15:20). Marehse is not listed in the book
either alone or as a variant of Mirem. Batist is found in Biala,
Krakow, Tarnow, Przemyslany, Zloczow and is an Artificial
Surname, one made up or assigned by a clerk and is German for
batiste, cambric.

Based on my experience with surnames, it is possible, although
remote that it was an occupational surname for someone who sold
cambric depending on when and how the surname was adopted.

Saul Zeichner, Rhode Island
Researching ZEICHNER >from Kolomea


To London From Pultusk #poland

Raanan Wlosko
 

Greetings,

Two cousins born in 1914 and 1916 in Pultusk Poland had mention the name
of their uncle Yizehak Wlosko, son of Shelomo Zalman and Sure Wlosko.
The cousins mentioned that they didn't know him personally since he
emigrated to London when they were young babies or before. They did mention
he had 2 sons but didn't remember their names.
Contact was lost before WWII.
I didn't find any Wlosko surname in London online.
Does that surname look familiar to any researcher?
Thank you
Raanan Wlosko

Researching: Wlosko, Tieger, Redicsh, Ludmer, Fejer, Golomb, Perl, Wosk,
Alabaster

MODERATOR'S NOTE: If you haven't already done so, make sure you search
the JewishGen Family Finder at www.jewishgen.org/jgff for WLOSKO. You
will find other researchers looking for that name in Pultusk(including
some spelling variants -- remember that "W" is pronounced like "V" in
Poland)


Gesher Galicia SIG #Galicia Re: What is "rekte" ? #galicia

Saul Zeichner <Saulzee@...>
 

Dear Peter,

According to Beider's book, A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames From
Galicia, Maresse is found in Kolbuszowa, Jaworow, and Lwow and is
based on the surname Mirem, a Matronymic surname based upon the
Yiddish feminine given name Mirem, a colloquial form of the
biblical Mirim (Exodus 15:20). Marehse is not listed in the book
either alone or as a variant of Mirem. Batist is found in Biala,
Krakow, Tarnow, Przemyslany, Zloczow and is an Artificial
Surname, one made up or assigned by a clerk and is German for
batiste, cambric.

Based on my experience with surnames, it is possible, although
remote that it was an occupational surname for someone who sold
cambric depending on when and how the surname was adopted.

Saul Zeichner, Rhode Island
Researching ZEICHNER >from Kolomea


JRI Poland #Poland To London From Pultusk #poland

Raanan Wlosko
 

Greetings,

Two cousins born in 1914 and 1916 in Pultusk Poland had mention the name
of their uncle Yizehak Wlosko, son of Shelomo Zalman and Sure Wlosko.
The cousins mentioned that they didn't know him personally since he
emigrated to London when they were young babies or before. They did mention
he had 2 sons but didn't remember their names.
Contact was lost before WWII.
I didn't find any Wlosko surname in London online.
Does that surname look familiar to any researcher?
Thank you
Raanan Wlosko

Researching: Wlosko, Tieger, Redicsh, Ludmer, Fejer, Golomb, Perl, Wosk,
Alabaster

MODERATOR'S NOTE: If you haven't already done so, make sure you search
the JewishGen Family Finder at www.jewishgen.org/jgff for WLOSKO. You
will find other researchers looking for that name in Pultusk(including
some spelling variants -- remember that "W" is pronounced like "V" in
Poland)


New Visuals of Our Ancestral Shtetls- visiting them w/o leaving your home #galicia

roe kard
 

Professor Stephen Egbert (University of Kansas) and I (Karen
Roekard) have been working on developing the field of Geospatial
Genealogy i.e. an arena of genealogical research, both micro- and
macro-, that utilizes geographic "place" as the primary defining
variable in researching ancestors. We have recently noticed
something related to Google Earth that was not available just a
few months ago and is so-o-o-o exciting that we could not wait
till we finish the article we are writing to share it.

Most of us have now been exposed to the wonders of Google Earth:
its "eye-in-the-sky" views that let us zoom in on cities, towns,
and natural wonders in exotic places as easily as we can zoom in
on our own homes (and those of our neighbors!). It seems that as
part of their continual upgrading of the level of detail
available >from their air photos and satellite images, they have
recently added very, very detailed satellite images of many towns
and villages in eastern Europe.

As part of our work, we have been inputting our 19th century
cadastral maps (maps of land ownership) of towns in Galicia into
the Geographic Information System (GIS) format. Now we are
finding that we can use Google Earth as an easy way to overlay
our 19th century maps on top of present-day satellite images,
thus being able to identify the current locations of our
ancestors' homes.

This is done by adding a photo of a cadastral map (or any
surveyed map!!) into Google Earth as an "image overlay." You then
move and stretch the map into its correct location using features
you can see on both your map and the satellite image as reference
points. These might be road intersections or large permanent
buildings such as churches.

The best part of overlaying your map is that once you have
positioned it correctly, you can use a slider to make the map
appear transparent or opaque, or anything in between. This lets
you see where buildings and roads have disappeared, where they
have been added or changed, and perhaps most exciting, where they
still exist. The image overlay of your map can be saved to your
Google Earth Places and can also be shared with others. Making
image overlays can be easily accomplished by referring to Google
Earth's online help. If you need an additional reference, we will
be putting together a more detailed technical note that we can
email to you.

We encourage you to check your ancestral shtetl again on Google
Earth -- you may be able to visit it without leaving your home.
Much of what you will see very well may be as it was 160 years
ago. We would bet that in Galicia/Ukraine, if you see large
stretches of empty ground near the center of a town -- what had
been the Ryneck -- you can probably assume it was part of the
Jewish neighborhood. Much of what seems to have changed in the
160 years since the cadastrals were drawn is the fact that the
Jewish neighborhoods, like their occupants, are gone -- razed to
the ground. Still, >from place to place there are intriguing
remnants -- buildings or houses here or there -- that hint at
evidences of an earlier era.

Good luck.

Karen Roekard (aka Gitel Chaye Eta Rosenfeld Rokart)
and Stephen Egbert


Gesher Galicia SIG #Galicia New Visuals of Our Ancestral Shtetls- visiting them w/o leaving your home #galicia

roe kard
 

Professor Stephen Egbert (University of Kansas) and I (Karen
Roekard) have been working on developing the field of Geospatial
Genealogy i.e. an arena of genealogical research, both micro- and
macro-, that utilizes geographic "place" as the primary defining
variable in researching ancestors. We have recently noticed
something related to Google Earth that was not available just a
few months ago and is so-o-o-o exciting that we could not wait
till we finish the article we are writing to share it.

Most of us have now been exposed to the wonders of Google Earth:
its "eye-in-the-sky" views that let us zoom in on cities, towns,
and natural wonders in exotic places as easily as we can zoom in
on our own homes (and those of our neighbors!). It seems that as
part of their continual upgrading of the level of detail
available >from their air photos and satellite images, they have
recently added very, very detailed satellite images of many towns
and villages in eastern Europe.

As part of our work, we have been inputting our 19th century
cadastral maps (maps of land ownership) of towns in Galicia into
the Geographic Information System (GIS) format. Now we are
finding that we can use Google Earth as an easy way to overlay
our 19th century maps on top of present-day satellite images,
thus being able to identify the current locations of our
ancestors' homes.

This is done by adding a photo of a cadastral map (or any
surveyed map!!) into Google Earth as an "image overlay." You then
move and stretch the map into its correct location using features
you can see on both your map and the satellite image as reference
points. These might be road intersections or large permanent
buildings such as churches.

The best part of overlaying your map is that once you have
positioned it correctly, you can use a slider to make the map
appear transparent or opaque, or anything in between. This lets
you see where buildings and roads have disappeared, where they
have been added or changed, and perhaps most exciting, where they
still exist. The image overlay of your map can be saved to your
Google Earth Places and can also be shared with others. Making
image overlays can be easily accomplished by referring to Google
Earth's online help. If you need an additional reference, we will
be putting together a more detailed technical note that we can
email to you.

We encourage you to check your ancestral shtetl again on Google
Earth -- you may be able to visit it without leaving your home.
Much of what you will see very well may be as it was 160 years
ago. We would bet that in Galicia/Ukraine, if you see large
stretches of empty ground near the center of a town -- what had
been the Ryneck -- you can probably assume it was part of the
Jewish neighborhood. Much of what seems to have changed in the
160 years since the cadastrals were drawn is the fact that the
Jewish neighborhoods, like their occupants, are gone -- razed to
the ground. Still, >from place to place there are intriguing
remnants -- buildings or houses here or there -- that hint at
evidences of an earlier era.

Good luck.

Karen Roekard (aka Gitel Chaye Eta Rosenfeld Rokart)
and Stephen Egbert


JGSGW, Rockville, Maryland, March 7, Our Heritage and Our Health #general

Jeff Miller
 

Full Program Title: Whatever you wanted to know about Ashkenazi Jewish diseases;
a program about our heritage and our health Location: B'nai Israel, 6301
Montrose Road, Rockville, MD 20852-4120 Time: 1:00 PM Schmooze; 1:30 PM -
Business Meeting and Announcements 2:00 PM - Program
Speaker: Gary S. Frohlich, MS, CGC

Program Objectives: The purpose of this program is to provide up-to-date
information on the genetic conditions which occur more frequently in Jews of
Ashkenazi descent. Each of these disorders can be devastating, not only to those
affected, but to the families involved. This workshop will explore the diagnosis,
management, and treatment of all eleven of the Ashkenazi Jewish Genetic Conditions
with a focus on the most common Jewish Genetic disorder - Gaucher disease. More
than 9 out of 10 Jewish Americans are unaware of Gaucher disease. Approximately one
in 450 people may have Gaucher, and the carrier rate is approximately 1 in 14.
Gaucher disease is two and a half times more common that Tay-Sachs.

The objectives of the workshop are as follows:
1. To learn about "Founder Effect" among the Ashkenazim.
2. To gain knowledge about the eleven genetic conditions among the Ashkenazim.
3. To understand the signs and symptoms of Gaucher disease.

Gary Frohlich is Senior Medical Affairs Liaison and Certified Genetics Counselor
for Genzyme Therapeutics. Mr. Frohlich has been a genetic counselor over 35 years
and has seen over 26 thousand couples for genetic counseling. He is a published
author or both scientific articles as well as pamphlets on Ashkenazi Jewish
Diseases.

Cost for Program: Free to members of JGSGW. Non-members/visitors are welcome to
attend for a $5.00 fee. If a guest joins JGSGW the fee will be applied toward the
membership dues. Non-members may attend one meeting per year free - see certificate
on the Current Programs page of the JGSGW website More details including directions
available at http://www.jewishgen.org/jgsgw/

Jeff Miller, President, JGSGW
No. Virginia/Washington DC/Maryland
Messages can be sent to jgsgw_dc@...


JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen JGSGW, Rockville, Maryland, March 7, Our Heritage and Our Health #general

Jeff Miller
 

Full Program Title: Whatever you wanted to know about Ashkenazi Jewish diseases;
a program about our heritage and our health Location: B'nai Israel, 6301
Montrose Road, Rockville, MD 20852-4120 Time: 1:00 PM Schmooze; 1:30 PM -
Business Meeting and Announcements 2:00 PM - Program
Speaker: Gary S. Frohlich, MS, CGC

Program Objectives: The purpose of this program is to provide up-to-date
information on the genetic conditions which occur more frequently in Jews of
Ashkenazi descent. Each of these disorders can be devastating, not only to those
affected, but to the families involved. This workshop will explore the diagnosis,
management, and treatment of all eleven of the Ashkenazi Jewish Genetic Conditions
with a focus on the most common Jewish Genetic disorder - Gaucher disease. More
than 9 out of 10 Jewish Americans are unaware of Gaucher disease. Approximately one
in 450 people may have Gaucher, and the carrier rate is approximately 1 in 14.
Gaucher disease is two and a half times more common that Tay-Sachs.

The objectives of the workshop are as follows:
1. To learn about "Founder Effect" among the Ashkenazim.
2. To gain knowledge about the eleven genetic conditions among the Ashkenazim.
3. To understand the signs and symptoms of Gaucher disease.

Gary Frohlich is Senior Medical Affairs Liaison and Certified Genetics Counselor
for Genzyme Therapeutics. Mr. Frohlich has been a genetic counselor over 35 years
and has seen over 26 thousand couples for genetic counseling. He is a published
author or both scientific articles as well as pamphlets on Ashkenazi Jewish
Diseases.

Cost for Program: Free to members of JGSGW. Non-members/visitors are welcome to
attend for a $5.00 fee. If a guest joins JGSGW the fee will be applied toward the
membership dues. Non-members may attend one meeting per year free - see certificate
on the Current Programs page of the JGSGW website More details including directions
available at http://www.jewishgen.org/jgsgw/

Jeff Miller, President, JGSGW
No. Virginia/Washington DC/Maryland
Messages can be sent to jgsgw_dc@...


Census / community documents / "missing" vital records from Krakow #poland

Yaron Pedhazur
 

I am interested in exploring Krakow early census documents and community
(Kahal) records. I have already researched through Dan Hirschberg's very
informative website, and want to explore further.

1) The Hirschberg's website contains extractions of Krakow census' for
the years 1790 and 1795. I have been informed that there is at least one
column missing in these extractions, the one indicating the origin of
people not originally >from Krakow. Does anybody know how can I see copies
of the original census papers, or otherwise examine full extractions ?

2) Miriam Weiner's website indicates existence of Krakow census documents
dated "1701/1939" in the Jewish Historical Insitiute in Warsaw. Does
anyone know more precisly which kinds of census exist there ? does anybody
have copies or already investigated these documents ?

3) In the same place, Miriam Weiner mentions Krakow community records for
"1701/1939" (also, in the Warsaw Institute). Does anyone seean index of
these documents, and even better - already experienced research within
these documents ? Does anyone know where can I find elsewhere community
or Hevra Kadisha records >from Krakow=

4) Dan Hirschberg's website contains extracts of most Krakow's vital
records relevant to my research, >from the inventory mentioned in Weiner's
lists. However, marirage and death records >from the years 1798 - 1809 are
missing. Does anyone knows how can Iet access to extractions >from these
years ? [I think they neither exist on JRI-Poland].

Thanks in advance,
Yaron Pedhazur Tel Aviv, Israel


JRI Poland #Poland Census / community documents / "missing" vital records from Krakow #poland

Yaron Pedhazur
 

I am interested in exploring Krakow early census documents and community
(Kahal) records. I have already researched through Dan Hirschberg's very
informative website, and want to explore further.

1) The Hirschberg's website contains extractions of Krakow census' for
the years 1790 and 1795. I have been informed that there is at least one
column missing in these extractions, the one indicating the origin of
people not originally >from Krakow. Does anybody know how can I see copies
of the original census papers, or otherwise examine full extractions ?

2) Miriam Weiner's website indicates existence of Krakow census documents
dated "1701/1939" in the Jewish Historical Insitiute in Warsaw. Does
anyone know more precisly which kinds of census exist there ? does anybody
have copies or already investigated these documents ?

3) In the same place, Miriam Weiner mentions Krakow community records for
"1701/1939" (also, in the Warsaw Institute). Does anyone seean index of
these documents, and even better - already experienced research within
these documents ? Does anyone know where can I find elsewhere community
or Hevra Kadisha records >from Krakow=

4) Dan Hirschberg's website contains extracts of most Krakow's vital
records relevant to my research, >from the inventory mentioned in Weiner's
lists. However, marirage and death records >from the years 1798 - 1809 are
missing. Does anyone knows how can Iet access to extractions >from these
years ? [I think they neither exist on JRI-Poland].

Thanks in advance,
Yaron Pedhazur Tel Aviv, Israel


Re: Lwow Address Book/Directory #poland

Alexander Sharon
 

Henryk

Go to Logan Kleinkwas website at

http://genealogyindexer.org/

and click under "Collections" on "Directories" to review what is already
available.
Please pay attention to 1936 PKO accounts directory, a unique directory
indeed

Best,

Alexander Sharon
Calgary

----- Original Message -----
From: "Henryk Gruder" <henrygruder@...>
Subject: RE:[jri-pl] Lwow Address Book/Directory

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anybody knows about address book / directory of Lwow >from the times 1918 -
1939?

Henryk Gruder,
Ottawa


JRI Poland #Poland Re: RE:Lwow Address Book/Directory #poland

Alexander Sharon
 

Henryk

Go to Logan Kleinkwas website at

http://genealogyindexer.org/

and click under "Collections" on "Directories" to review what is already
available.
Please pay attention to 1936 PKO accounts directory, a unique directory
indeed

Best,

Alexander Sharon
Calgary

----- Original Message -----
From: "Henryk Gruder" <henrygruder@...>
Subject: RE:[jri-pl] Lwow Address Book/Directory

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anybody knows about address book / directory of Lwow >from the times 1918 -
1939?

Henryk Gruder,
Ottawa


Re: searching family of Sarah Yachini #lithuania

Oscar Friedman <oscar.friedman@...>
 

It seems I made a mistake with Sara family name .
It should be Yachini instead of Yavini
Thanks in advance
Oscar Friedman
Israel

-----Original Message-----
From: Oscar Friedman [mailto:oscar.friedman@...]
Sent: Wednesday, 17 February, 2010 23:13
To: 'litvaksig@...'
Subject: searching family of Sarah Yavini


Hello Litvak Sigers
In Yad Vashem web site I saw testimony >from Sarah Yavini about Ziv family
from Rasinia (actually >from Betygala .
The testimony was >from 1956 .
I know that Sara was 85 or so few years ago but she wasn't in good health
and or memory
Will be happy to find any member of her family that interested in genealogy
Please answer privately : Oscar.friedman@...


Lithuania SIG #Lithuania RE: searching family of Sarah Yachini #lithuania

Oscar Friedman <oscar.friedman@...>
 

It seems I made a mistake with Sara family name .
It should be Yachini instead of Yavini
Thanks in advance
Oscar Friedman
Israel

-----Original Message-----
From: Oscar Friedman [mailto:oscar.friedman@...]
Sent: Wednesday, 17 February, 2010 23:13
To: 'litvaksig@...'
Subject: searching family of Sarah Yavini


Hello Litvak Sigers
In Yad Vashem web site I saw testimony >from Sarah Yavini about Ziv family
from Rasinia (actually >from Betygala .
The testimony was >from 1956 .
I know that Sara was 85 or so few years ago but she wasn't in good health
and or memory
Will be happy to find any member of her family that interested in genealogy
Please answer privately : Oscar.friedman@...


Association of Lithuanian Jews in Israel: litvaksig digest: February 17, 2010 #lithuania

Ezra Magid
 

B"H
Shalom
Please reply to LitvakSIG Digest to make this info available to me and
other interested Litvaks.
Thank you
Ezra Zalman Magid
Mitpe Ramon Israel
Researching MAGID & KLATZKO

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Subject: Lithuanian Jewish organizations in Israel
From: A S Goldberg
Date: Wed 17 Feb 2010 11:01:40 +0200
X-Message-Number: 1
I would appreciate the current location and contact details of:
(1)Association of Lithuanian Jews in Israel
and
(2) Association of Vilna Jews in Israel.
If anyone has this information, please respond to me direct at
alancomm@...
Thank you
Abraham Goldberg
Jerusalem

MODERATOR'S NOTE: Contact information that is a personal address,
email address or telephone number must be sent privately per the
discussion group guidelines under which the LitvakSIG Discussion
Group operates, to protect privacy. However, the contact information
for an organization's office may be certainly shared with the list.


Lithuania SIG #Lithuania Association of Lithuanian Jews in Israel: litvaksig digest: February 17, 2010 #lithuania

Ezra Magid
 

B"H
Shalom
Please reply to LitvakSIG Digest to make this info available to me and
other interested Litvaks.
Thank you
Ezra Zalman Magid
Mitpe Ramon Israel
Researching MAGID & KLATZKO

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Subject: Lithuanian Jewish organizations in Israel
From: A S Goldberg
Date: Wed 17 Feb 2010 11:01:40 +0200
X-Message-Number: 1
I would appreciate the current location and contact details of:
(1)Association of Lithuanian Jews in Israel
and
(2) Association of Vilna Jews in Israel.
If anyone has this information, please respond to me direct at
alancomm@...
Thank you
Abraham Goldberg
Jerusalem

MODERATOR'S NOTE: Contact information that is a personal address,
email address or telephone number must be sent privately per the
discussion group guidelines under which the LitvakSIG Discussion
Group operates, to protect privacy. However, the contact information
for an organization's office may be certainly shared with the list.


Interpreting Arrival Record Help Needed #lithuania

Susan Goldsmith
 

Dear SIG,
If someone has time to look at Philadelphia arrivals, T840_127,
images 29-30, line 3, arr. 28 Jul 1914, ship is the Merion, on A.com,
I would appreciate your reading of Juste GOLDSMITH's given name and
the given name of her father (whom she left in Krok (Krakes).

I have seen the manifest on Ancestry, but I'm just not entirely sure
of the passenger's first name or her father's first name.

Thank you very much.
Best Regards,
Susan Goldsmith
San Francisco Bay Area, CA US

GOLDSHMIDT,GITTES (GADIE,GADYE,GIDUT,GDUD), F(P)ILVINSKY, SHLOMOVICH,
DRUSKOVICH, LANGMAN, NEKRITZ, RANDMAN, ROCHELSON, ZHIZSMORSKI, ZUKHOVSKI
Lithuania:Seta, Kaunas, Jonava, Ukmerge, Vandziogala, Kedainiai, Krakes,
Adutiskis, Zemaiciu Naumiestes

TOBIAS, ROZHANSKY, MIRANSKY, BILINSKY, FOGEL, PROTAS, RUSEK, TRIBUKH
Belarus: NovyySverzhen, Stolbtsy, Mir, Yasevichi, GUREWICZ, DRASNAN
Belarus: Dolginovo, Vileika

Above names + TSOREF, AMORON, LUKMAN, ZILBOVITZ Israel

MODERATOR'S NOTE: Please respond privately.


Lithuania SIG #Lithuania Interpreting Arrival Record Help Needed #lithuania

Susan Goldsmith
 

Dear SIG,
If someone has time to look at Philadelphia arrivals, T840_127,
images 29-30, line 3, arr. 28 Jul 1914, ship is the Merion, on A.com,
I would appreciate your reading of Juste GOLDSMITH's given name and
the given name of her father (whom she left in Krok (Krakes).

I have seen the manifest on Ancestry, but I'm just not entirely sure
of the passenger's first name or her father's first name.

Thank you very much.
Best Regards,
Susan Goldsmith
San Francisco Bay Area, CA US

GOLDSHMIDT,GITTES (GADIE,GADYE,GIDUT,GDUD), F(P)ILVINSKY, SHLOMOVICH,
DRUSKOVICH, LANGMAN, NEKRITZ, RANDMAN, ROCHELSON, ZHIZSMORSKI, ZUKHOVSKI
Lithuania:Seta, Kaunas, Jonava, Ukmerge, Vandziogala, Kedainiai, Krakes,
Adutiskis, Zemaiciu Naumiestes

TOBIAS, ROZHANSKY, MIRANSKY, BILINSKY, FOGEL, PROTAS, RUSEK, TRIBUKH
Belarus: NovyySverzhen, Stolbtsy, Mir, Yasevichi, GUREWICZ, DRASNAN
Belarus: Dolginovo, Vileika

Above names + TSOREF, AMORON, LUKMAN, ZILBOVITZ Israel

MODERATOR'S NOTE: Please respond privately.


New Visuals of Our Ancestral Shtetls- visiting them w/o leaving your home #general

roe kard
 

Professor Stephen Egbert (University of Kansas) and I (Karen Roekard) have been
working on developing the field of Geospatial Genealogy i.e. an arena of
genealogical research, both micro- and macro-, that utilizes geographic place as
the primary defining variable in researching ancestors. We have recently noticed
something related to Google Earth that was not available just a few months ago and
is so-o-o-o exciting that we could not wait till we finish the article we are
writing to share it.

Most of us have now been exposed to the wonders of Google Earth: its eye-in-the-sky
views that let us zoom in on cities, towns, and natural wonders in exotic places
as easily as we can zoom in on our own homes (and those of our neighbors!). It
seems that as part of their continual upgrading of the level of detail available
from their air photos and satellite images, they have recently added very, very
detailed satellite images of many towns and villages in eastern Europe.

As part of our work, we have been inputting our 19th century cadastral maps (maps
of land ownership) of towns in Galicia into the Geographic Information System (GIS)
format. Now we are finding that we can use Google Earth as an easy way to overlay
our 19th century maps on top of present-day satellite images, thus being able to
identify the current locations of our ancestors' homes.

This is done by adding a photo of a cadastral map (or any surveyed map!!) into
Google Earth as an "image overlay." You then move and stretch the map into its
correct location using features you can see on both your map and the satellite
image as reference points. These might be road intersections or large permanent
buildings such as churches.

The best part of overlaying your map is that once you have positioned it correctly,
you can use a slider to make the map appear transparent or opaque, or anything in
between. This lets you see where buildings and roads have disappeared, where they
have been added or changed, and perhaps most exciting, where they still exist. The
image overlay of your map can be saved to your Google Earth Places and can also be
shared with others. Making image overlays can be easily accomplished by referring
to Google Earth's online help. If you need an additional reference, we will be
putting together a more detailed technical note that we can email to you.

We encourage you to check your ancestral shtetl again on Google Earth you may be
able to visit it without leaving your home. Much of what you will see very well
may be as it was 160 years ago. We would bet that in Galicia/Ukraine, if you see
large stretches of empty ground near the center of a town what had been the Ryneck
you can probably assume it was part of the Jewish neighborhood. Much of what
seems to have changed in the 160 years since the cadastrals were drawn is the fact
that the Jewish neighborhoods, like their occupants, are gone razed to the ground.
Still, >from place to place there are intriguing remants buildings or houses here
or there that hint at evidences of an earlier era.

Good luck.
Karen Roekard (aka Gitel Chaye Eta Rosenfeld Rokart) and Stephen Egbert


JewishGen Discussion Group #JewishGen New Visuals of Our Ancestral Shtetls- visiting them w/o leaving your home #general

roe kard
 

Professor Stephen Egbert (University of Kansas) and I (Karen Roekard) have been
working on developing the field of Geospatial Genealogy i.e. an arena of
genealogical research, both micro- and macro-, that utilizes geographic place as
the primary defining variable in researching ancestors. We have recently noticed
something related to Google Earth that was not available just a few months ago and
is so-o-o-o exciting that we could not wait till we finish the article we are
writing to share it.

Most of us have now been exposed to the wonders of Google Earth: its eye-in-the-sky
views that let us zoom in on cities, towns, and natural wonders in exotic places
as easily as we can zoom in on our own homes (and those of our neighbors!). It
seems that as part of their continual upgrading of the level of detail available
from their air photos and satellite images, they have recently added very, very
detailed satellite images of many towns and villages in eastern Europe.

As part of our work, we have been inputting our 19th century cadastral maps (maps
of land ownership) of towns in Galicia into the Geographic Information System (GIS)
format. Now we are finding that we can use Google Earth as an easy way to overlay
our 19th century maps on top of present-day satellite images, thus being able to
identify the current locations of our ancestors' homes.

This is done by adding a photo of a cadastral map (or any surveyed map!!) into
Google Earth as an "image overlay." You then move and stretch the map into its
correct location using features you can see on both your map and the satellite
image as reference points. These might be road intersections or large permanent
buildings such as churches.

The best part of overlaying your map is that once you have positioned it correctly,
you can use a slider to make the map appear transparent or opaque, or anything in
between. This lets you see where buildings and roads have disappeared, where they
have been added or changed, and perhaps most exciting, where they still exist. The
image overlay of your map can be saved to your Google Earth Places and can also be
shared with others. Making image overlays can be easily accomplished by referring
to Google Earth's online help. If you need an additional reference, we will be
putting together a more detailed technical note that we can email to you.

We encourage you to check your ancestral shtetl again on Google Earth you may be
able to visit it without leaving your home. Much of what you will see very well
may be as it was 160 years ago. We would bet that in Galicia/Ukraine, if you see
large stretches of empty ground near the center of a town what had been the Ryneck
you can probably assume it was part of the Jewish neighborhood. Much of what
seems to have changed in the 160 years since the cadastrals were drawn is the fact
that the Jewish neighborhoods, like their occupants, are gone razed to the ground.
Still, >from place to place there are intriguing remants buildings or houses here
or there that hint at evidences of an earlier era.

Good luck.
Karen Roekard (aka Gitel Chaye Eta Rosenfeld Rokart) and Stephen Egbert