It seems every time I post information about extracted data >from a city
directory, I get a slew of eMail asking me where to get the information.

For those of you not familiar with the Family History Centers (FHC) in your
area, please check them out.

The Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) have a Family History Library
(FHL) in Salt Lake City, Utah, with the largest collection of genealogical
material. If the specific item you want to see is not housed at your local
FHC, then it can be rented for only $3.75 for 6 weeks.

As far as I know, all the centers also have free classes about genealogical
research. Even though it is not geared specifically for Jewish research,
much of the information is applicable, particularly for the United States.

I have never experienced any one trying to convert me, so I would not
hesitate recommending going there. Don't be afraid. I've been to the FHC's
in El Cajon (CA), Mission Valley (CA), Laguna Niguel (CA), Chevy Chase (MD)
and Washington, DC. I always found the volunteers helpful and courteous,
though not always able to help me with specific Jewish questions.

For specific Jewish questions, go to your local Jewish Genealogical society
(see http://www.jewishgen.org/ajgs/ajgs-jgss.html)

To find a local FHC, check the business section of your white page
directory or:
http://www.familysearch.org/Search/searchfhc2.asp

For more information, see the FAQ
(http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/faq.html). The information is more
accurate and complete.

Regards,
Jeanne
eMail: JeanneGold@...
Home Page: http://www.gold-cousins.org/

It seems every time I post information about extracted data >from a city
directory, I get a slew of eMail asking me where to get the information.

For those of you not familiar with the Family History Centers (FHC) in your
area, please check them out.

The Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) have a Family History Library
(FHL) in Salt Lake City, Utah, with the largest collection of genealogical
material. If the specific item you want to see is not housed at your local
FHC, then it can be rented for only $3.75 for 6 weeks.

As far as I know, all the centers also have free classes about genealogical
research. Even though it is not geared specifically for Jewish research,
much of the information is applicable, particularly for the United States.

I have never experienced any one trying to convert me, so I would not
hesitate recommending going there. Don't be afraid. I've been to the FHC's
in El Cajon (CA), Mission Valley (CA), Laguna Niguel (CA), Chevy Chase (MD)
and Washington, DC. I always found the volunteers helpful and courteous,
though not always able to help me with specific Jewish questions.

For specific Jewish questions, go to your local Jewish Genealogical society
(see http://www.jewishgen.org/ajgs/ajgs-jgss.html)

To find a local FHC, check the business section of your white page
directory or:
http://www.familysearch.org/Search/searchfhc2.asp

For more information, see the FAQ
(http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/faq.html). The information is more
accurate and complete.

Regards,
Jeanne
eMail: JeanneGold@...
Home Page: http://www.gold-cousins.org/

I received the following letter in response to a question I wrote about a
letter on an immigration card which may be of interest to some of you.

Dear Ms. Kurtzman,

Thank you for your letter of March 8, 2000. I hope you do not mind my
responding via email.

The letter "Q" on the inspection card attached to your letter is there
to facilitate inspection and to "match up" a variety of documents
relating to immigrant inspection at U.S. ports of entry in the early
20th century.

As you may know, steamship lines carrying immigrant passengers to the
United States had to list those passengers on manifest forms and
submit those forms to Immigration officials upon arrival and before
any passengers could be landed.

Regulations covering these lists dictated that each page could contain
no more than 30 names, and the lists were to be arranged in
"convenient groups" for the Immigrant Inspectors. A convenient group
not only meant people of the same family, speaking the same language,
and coming >from the same general location, but also grouped into
bundles of the appropriate size for one inspector's work. Thus
passenger manifest for a ship like the MERION arriving June 26th,
1907, would actually be broken down into different parts, and those
parts might be designated alphabetically. Parts Q, R, and S might
list Yiddish-speaking immigrants, and so be given to a
Yiddish-speaking Immigrant Inspector for processing.

Meanwhile, aboard the ship, passengers were given their inspection
cards (to show the Public Health Service Physician) and also given
manifest tags to attach to their clothing. Your immigrant would have
received the inspection card and the tag, both reading "Group Q, Line
6." Then he and the other immigrants were told to line up according
to their group ("all the Q's together") then according to number.

Because of this arrangement, the immigrants appeared before the
Immigrant Inspector in the same order they appeared on the list before
him. It was a wonderfully efficient system that allowed thousands of
immigrants to be inspected each day.

Sadly, it does not impart any vital information about your individual
immigrant. If I can be of further assistance, do not hesitate to
contact me at the address or numbers below.

INS Historian
Washington, DC 20536

The JGS (NY) has begun phase 2 of online searchable database of the index
to Brooklyn Naturalizations (1907 - 1924) located in the Kings County
Clerk's Office. Although still under construction and growing, the
database can be accessed and searched. It is accessible through the
JGS (NY) homepage located at http://www.jgsny.org

There are now, more than 75,000 names of individuals naturalized in the
Kings County Supreme Court in this database. Please keep in mind that with
this announcement there may be a flood of users that may possibly tie up
the system. Just try again later!

Enjoy!

Estelle Guzik
President
JGS (NY)

The JGS (NY) has begun phase 2 of online searchable database of the index
to Brooklyn Naturalizations (1907 - 1924) located in the Kings County
Clerk's Office. Although still under construction and growing, the
database can be accessed and searched. It is accessible through the
JGS (NY) homepage located at http://www.jgsny.org

There are now, more than 75,000 names of individuals naturalized in the
Kings County Supreme Court in this database. Please keep in mind that with
this announcement there may be a flood of users that may possibly tie up
the system. Just try again later!

Enjoy!

Estelle Guzik
President
JGS (NY)

I received the following letter in response to a question I wrote about a
letter on an immigration card which may be of interest to some of you.

Dear Ms. Kurtzman,

Thank you for your letter of March 8, 2000. I hope you do not mind my
responding via email.

The letter "Q" on the inspection card attached to your letter is there
to facilitate inspection and to "match up" a variety of documents
relating to immigrant inspection at U.S. ports of entry in the early
20th century.

As you may know, steamship lines carrying immigrant passengers to the
United States had to list those passengers on manifest forms and
submit those forms to Immigration officials upon arrival and before
any passengers could be landed.

Regulations covering these lists dictated that each page could contain
no more than 30 names, and the lists were to be arranged in
"convenient groups" for the Immigrant Inspectors. A convenient group
not only meant people of the same family, speaking the same language,
and coming >from the same general location, but also grouped into
bundles of the appropriate size for one inspector's work. Thus
passenger manifest for a ship like the MERION arriving June 26th,
1907, would actually be broken down into different parts, and those
parts might be designated alphabetically. Parts Q, R, and S might
list Yiddish-speaking immigrants, and so be given to a
Yiddish-speaking Immigrant Inspector for processing.

Meanwhile, aboard the ship, passengers were given their inspection
cards (to show the Public Health Service Physician) and also given
manifest tags to attach to their clothing. Your immigrant would have
received the inspection card and the tag, both reading "Group Q, Line
6." Then he and the other immigrants were told to line up according
to their group ("all the Q's together") then according to number.

Because of this arrangement, the immigrants appeared before the
Immigrant Inspector in the same order they appeared on the list before
him. It was a wonderfully efficient system that allowed thousands of
immigrants to be inspected each day.

Sadly, it does not impart any vital information about your individual
immigrant. If I can be of further assistance, do not hesitate to
contact me at the address or numbers below.

INS Historian
Washington, DC 20536

The Bialystok Shtetl CO-OP of Jewish Records Indexing - Poland (JRI-PL) is
pleased to announce that an index for death records for the years 1888 to
1890, 1892 to 1894, and 1897 to 1898 has been added to the JRI-PL
database. This index was prepared at the Bialystok Archives as part of the
JRI-PL / Polish State Archives intiative. The indices of Birth, Marriage
and Death records held at the PSA in Bialystok for the city of Bialystok,
for the years not microfilmed by the Mormons, has now been completed.

Many thanks to all those who have helped with the Bialystok CO-OP/PSA
Indexing Project and particularly to Mark Halpern, Bialystok Archives
Project Coordinator, Michael Tobias, Hadassah Lipsius, Steve Zedeck, and
Stanley Diamond of JRI-PL.

Please go to <http://www.jewishgen.org/JRI-PL/jriplweb.htm> to search for
your surnames. If the search is successful, you can order the original
record directly >from the Polish State Archives. Special instructions for
ordering documents >from the PSA can be accessed at
<http://www.jewishgen.org/JRI-PL/psa/psainst.htm>.

The Bialystok Shtetl CO-OP Project now turns its attention to indexing the
remaining eight microfilms held at the LDS Family History Libraries. Work
is being conducted now on two of these microfilms. Please contact me
privately and read the JRI-PL digest for the latest information.

Sonia Hoffman
Coodinator, Bialystok Shtetl CO-OP, Jewish Records Indexing-Poland
Woodland Hills, CA

The Bialystok Shtetl CO-OP of Jewish Records Indexing - Poland (JRI-PL) is
pleased to announce that an index for death records for the years 1888 to
1890, 1892 to 1894, and 1897 to 1898 has been added to the JRI-PL
database. This index was prepared at the Bialystok Archives as part of the
JRI-PL / Polish State Archives intiative. The indices of Birth, Marriage
and Death records held at the PSA in Bialystok for the city of Bialystok,
for the years not microfilmed by the Mormons, has now been completed.

Many thanks to all those who have helped with the Bialystok CO-OP/PSA
Indexing Project and particularly to Mark Halpern, Bialystok Archives
Project Coordinator, Michael Tobias, Hadassah Lipsius, Steve Zedeck, and
Stanley Diamond of JRI-PL.

Please go to <http://www.jewishgen.org/JRI-PL/jriplweb.htm> to search for
your surnames. If the search is successful, you can order the original
record directly >from the Polish State Archives. Special instructions for
ordering documents >from the PSA can be accessed at
<http://www.jewishgen.org/JRI-PL/psa/psainst.htm>.

The Bialystok Shtetl CO-OP Project now turns its attention to indexing the
remaining eight microfilms held at the LDS Family History Libraries. Work
is being conducted now on two of these microfilms. Please contact me
privately and read the JRI-PL digest for the latest information.

Sonia Hoffman
Coodinator, Bialystok Shtetl CO-OP, Jewish Records Indexing-Poland
Woodland Hills, CA

It often pays to wait until the right person comes along!!! So I am
happy to report that by waiting I was able to find a person who is
the perfect match for the job.

I am delighted that Ernie Fine has accepted the very challenging
position of project manager for the Yizkor Book Necrology Index
project. All the wonderful people who contacted me in March to
volunteer for the project will receive an email >from Ernie as I have
forwarded your emails to him. If there are other people eager to
help on this project, please contact Ernie at <efine@...>.

Joyce Field
Manager, Yizkor Book Project

Joyce Field
jfield@...
jfield@...

It often pays to wait until the right person comes along!!! So I am
happy to report that by waiting I was able to find a person who is
the perfect match for the job.

I am delighted that Ernie Fine has accepted the very challenging
position of project manager for the Yizkor Book Necrology Index
project. All the wonderful people who contacted me in March to
volunteer for the project will receive an email >from Ernie as I have
forwarded your emails to him. If there are other people eager to
help on this project, please contact Ernie at <efine@...>.

Joyce Field
Manager, Yizkor Book Project

Joyce Field
jfield@...
jfield@...

I am happy to report that Ernie Fine has accepted the very
challenging position of project manager for the Yizkor Book Necrology
Index project. All the wonderful people who contacted me in March to
volunteer for the project will receive an email >from Ernie as I have
forwarded your emails to him. If there are other people dying to
help on this project, please contact Ernie at <efine@...>.

Joyce Field
Manager, Yizkor Book Project
--
Joyce Field
jfield@...
jfield@...

This is a very real virus. I received it too >from someone in Israel.

Indy Rebhun Spector

I am happy to report that Ernie Fine has accepted the very
challenging position of project manager for the Yizkor Book Necrology
Index project. All the wonderful people who contacted me in March to
volunteer for the project will receive an email >from Ernie as I have
forwarded your emails to him. If there are other people dying to
help on this project, please contact Ernie at <efine@...>.

Joyce Field
Manager, Yizkor Book Project
--
Joyce Field
jfield@...
jfield@...

This is a very real virus. I received it too >from someone in Israel.

Indy Rebhun Spector

In a message dated 4/15/00 12:48:54 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
yizkor@... writes:

Shalom Khaverim: Mark Swiatlow, Curator for the Judaica Archives at
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton Campus, asked that this
announcement be posted.

Does anyone know whether or not the Yizkor book collection at FAU are open to the public?

Thank you!

Barbara L. Kornblau

MODERATOR NOTE: You can find the answer to this and other questions about
Yizkor books in libraries by reading our Infofile on libraries, available
at http://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/yizlibs.txt. Good luck!

In a message dated 4/15/00 12:48:54 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
yizkor@... writes:

Shalom Khaverim: Mark Swiatlow, Curator for the Judaica Archives at
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton Campus, asked that this
announcement be posted.

Does anyone know whether or not the Yizkor book collection at FAU are open to the public?

Thank you!

Barbara L. Kornblau

MODERATOR NOTE: You can find the answer to this and other questions about
Yizkor books in libraries by reading our Infofile on libraries, available
at http://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/yizlibs.txt. Good luck!

In Answer to:

Does anyone know when NYC started including Social Security Numbers on
death certificates? Are there any other good sources of NYC residents'
Social Security Numbers--perhaps voter registration records?

I recently obtained a NYC Death certificate >from 1951 with the Social
Security number recorded.

Stephen Shamroth
West Hartford, CT

In Answer to:

Does anyone know when NYC started including Social Security Numbers on
death certificates? Are there any other good sources of NYC residents'
Social Security Numbers--perhaps voter registration records?

I recently obtained a NYC Death certificate >from 1951 with the Social
Security number recorded.

Stephen Shamroth
West Hartford, CT

You will probably get a hundred replies... LBI is the Leo Baeck
Institute. The main office is in New York. There are also offices in
London and Jerusalem. The Archives at LBI contains a wealth of genealogy
information -- including the Simonis collection.

Good luck.
Stephen Falk
Wayne, PA
sfalk81162@...

Searching: all in Breslau (and in)
FALK (Lissa) FREUND (Schmiegel) BACH (Inowroclaw-Tarnowitz-Myslowitz) PERL
(Kieferstadtel) IMMERWAHR (Brieg-Kreuzberg) SILBERSTEIN (Brieg)
KALISCHER (Lissa-Thorn-Kalisch)

MODERATOR NOTE: The original question has been answered. This thread is
closed.

You will probably get a hundred replies... LBI is the Leo Baeck
Institute. The main office is in New York. There are also offices in
London and Jerusalem. The Archives at LBI contains a wealth of genealogy
information -- including the Simonis collection.

Good luck.
Stephen Falk
Wayne, PA
sfalk81162@...

Searching: all in Breslau (and in)
FALK (Lissa) FREUND (Schmiegel) BACH (Inowroclaw-Tarnowitz-Myslowitz) PERL
(Kieferstadtel) IMMERWAHR (Brieg-Kreuzberg) SILBERSTEIN (Brieg)
KALISCHER (Lissa-Thorn-Kalisch)

MODERATOR NOTE: The original question has been answered. This thread is
closed.