Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay

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Meetings/Programs
Our meeting programs feature guest lecturers, workshops, seminars, roundtable discussions and the opportunity to network with others sharing the same interests. Visitors with an interest in Jewish genealogy are always welcome.

Meetings are held from September to June, normally on the second Sunday of each month, beginning at 1:30 PM. Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are held at the offices of Gulf Coast Family and Community Services in Clearwater.

Location:
14041 Icot Boulevard
Clearwater, FL 33760-3702

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(Scroll down to view our 2017 Monthly Meeting Schedule)

Upcoming Meeting Announcement:
  Jewish Genealogy Society of Tampa Bay

Lunch & Learn Social

Sunday December 10, 2017

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay will meet at Gulf Coast Jewish Family & Community Services, 14041 Icot Blvd., Clearwater, Florida on Sunday, December 10, 2017 at 12:00 PM. 

A “Pot Luck” luncheon will be served at 12 noon followed by a brief business meeting at 1:30 PM to elect and install new officers.  The program will feature “success stories” and “lessons learned” by members in researching their families. 

There is no charge to members for the luncheon.  Non-members and guests will be charged $5 for the luncheon.  Reservations must be made by December 2rd to ensure there will be ample food for those attending.  Make your reservation by calling Sally Israel at 727-343-1652.

This is the JGSTB's annual opportunity to "schmooze," to socialize and get to know each other – members and guests – better, and to exchange genealogical tips, research successes and failures, and plans and ideas.  This meeting will be a combined social and open agenda learning experience in a casual and informal setting.

Anyone interested in learning how to do Jewish genealogical research is invited to attend. Beginners as well as experienced researchers are welcome.  For further information on the Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay or directions to the meeting call Bruce Hadburg at 727-796-7981.


2017 JGSTB Meeting Schedule
Date Topic Presenter
December 10, 2017 Annual Meeting & Social All


Previous Meetings/Programs
2017
November Bob Bryan and Peter Summers, Introduction to the Largo Library Genealogical Collection
October Drew Smith, Organizing Your Genealogy Research Process
September Urszula Szczepinska, FHM: Retrieving Identities of the Holocaust by Bullets (Cancelled: will be rescheduled)
June Dr. Emil Isaacson, Bill Israel, Chris Burklund: Jewels In The Cabinet
May Bob Bryan: Digital Cameras for Genealogy
April JGSTB Mavens: Hands-on Genealogy Work Session
March Emil Isaacson: Seminar: JGSTB Guide To Jewish Genealogical Research Part II
February Emil Isaacson: Seminar: JGSTB Guide To Jewish Genealogical Research Part I
January Bill Israel: Virtual Family Reunions - Getting the Family Together for an Online Reunion

2016
December Annual Meeting & Social
November Drew Smith: Your Ancestors' FAN Club: Using Cluster Research to Get Past Brick Walls
October Bill Israel: Cemetery Research - JOWBR, FindaGrave, BillionGraves (View Presentation)
September Clint Elbow: The Use of Computers in Genealogical Research (View Presentation)
June Peter Summers: Introduction to Roots Magic
May George G. Morgan: Dissect Obituaries for New Clues
April Hands-On Genealogy Workshop With Guided Assistance
March Emil Isaacson: JGSTB 2016 Guide to Naturalization Research, Part 2
February Emil Isaacson: JGSTB 2016 Guide to Naturalization Research, Part 1
January Bill Israel: Finding Your Jewish Roots; Bringing Your Past Alive

2015
December Year-End Social
November Chris Burklund: DNA and Genealogy
October Hands-On Genealogy Workshop With Guided Assistance
September Bob Bryan: Brick Wall Solutions
June Walter Schlomann: Creating a Family Video Biography
May Deanna Bennett: European Immigration 1860-1930
April Debbe Hagner: How to Research Your Jewish Ancestors Using Familysearch.org
March Emil Isaacson: JGSTB Guide To Jewish Genealogical Research Part 2
February Emil Isaacson: JGSTB Guide To Jewish Genealogical Research Part 1
January Peter Summers: Using Dropbox and Evernote

2014
December Year-End Social
November Hands-On Genealogy Workshop With Guided Assistance
October Urszula Szczepinska: Research-Based Remembrance of Victims of the Holocaust
September Kim Isaac Eisler: Finding My Polish-Jewish Roots - A Journey of Discovery
June Dr. Eleanor Wachs: The Joys of Jewish Folklore
May Hands-On Genealogy Workshop With Guided Assistance
April Peter Summers: Genealogy Software Utilities
March Emil Isaacson: JGSTB Guide To Jewish Genealogical Research Part 2
February Emil Isaacson: JGSTB Guide To Jewish Genealogical Research Part 1
January Nolan Altman: Navigating the JewishGen Website

2013
December Year-End Social
November Pete Tanner: Navigating the Steven Morse Website
October How to Use Ancestry to Trace Your Jewish Family
September Debbe Hagner: How To Research Your Jewish Ancestors On FamilySearch.org
June Emil Isaacson: Breaking Down Brick Walls
May Elise Friedman: Genetic Genealogy and How It Can Be Used to Find Lost Family
April Peter Summers: Organizing Your Files: Paper and Electronic
March Emil Isaacson: The JGSTB 2013 Guide to Immigration Research Part II
February Emil Isaacson: The JGSTB 2013 Guide to Immigration Research Part I
January Bob Bryan: Genealogy Photos - Organizing, Managing, and Enhancing

2012
December Year-End Social
November Pete Tanner: Finding Living Relatives (View Presentation, View Links)
October Nolan Altman: Jewish Headstone Research and the JOWBR
September Debbe Hagner: Researching The 1940 Census (View Presentation)
June Bill Israel: Researching Your Litvak Roots Using the LitvakSig Website
May Debbe Hagner: Emerging Technologies to Improve Your Genealogical Research
April Peter Summers: Getting the Most out of the National Archives Website
March Emil Isaacson: The JGSTB 2012 Guide to Jewish Genealogical Research Part II
February Emil Isaacson: The JGSTB 2012 Guide to Jewish Genealogical Research Part I
January Breaking Down Brick Walls

2011
December Year-End Social
November Debbe Hagner: Newspapers, Magazines, and Specialized Publications Can Help Genealogical Research
October Clint Elbow: Genealogy Research Using the Website JewishGen
September Gregg Hickman: Preservation and Storage of Photos and Digital Images
June David Ellis: Copyright and Intellectual Property
May Peter Summers: Documenting Sources
April Debbe Hagner: FamilySearch.org
March Barbara Smith: Ancestry.com
February Emil Isaacson: JGSTB Library
January Liz Coursen: Telling Your Story

2010
December Year-end Social and Election of Officers
November Bill Israel: Genealogy Software Review
October John F. Germany Library Genealogy Resources Tour
September Bill Israel: American Passage: The History of Ellis Island
June Members' Genealogical Research Success Stories
May Clint Elbow: Use of Computers in Genealogical Research (View Presentation)
April Rita Shapiro, Vicki Adelson, Barbara Smith, Lynn Arroyo: Graveyards Tell Genealogical Stories (View Presentation)
March Emil Isaacson: JGSTB Guide to Jewish Genealogical Research, Part II
February Emil Isaacson: JGSTB Guide to Jewish Genealogical Research, Part I
January Bill Israel and Rita Shapiro - Jewish Surnames

2009
December Show and Tell
November Hands on Workshop
October Drew Smith: Genealogy and DNA
September Deborah Shapiro Radstrom and Rita Kirstein Shapiro: Hamburg, The Main Embarkation Port For European Jews
June An Introduction to the Largo Library Genealogy Collection
May Ask the Mavens
April Lisl Schick: The Kindertransport
March Ann Peterson: An Introduction to the Family History Center Archives
February Bill Israel: Finding Your Jewish Roots
January Howard Margol: Latest Developments in Lithuanian Research

2008
December Maxine Kronick: A Passport to Life - Destination Shanghai
November Pamela Treme: Producing a Family Newsletter
October Debbe Hagner: What's New with FamilySearch and Other Web Sites
September Bill Israel: Photo and Video Travel Journal of the Historic Synagogues of Budapest and Bucharest
June Hands-On Research Workshop Utilizing both Internet and Library Resources
May Bill Israel: The Anatomy of a Family Reunion (How to Have Fun and Frolic with Your Family)
April Hands-on Individual Research Session at the John F. Germany Public Library in Tampa
March Emil Isaacson: Part 2 of Finding Your Grandma’s Immigration Record
February Emil Isaacson: Part 1 of Finding Your Grandma’s Immigration Record
January Alex Friedlander: Using Both On-line and Off-line Resources For a Resource Trail

2007
December Larry Domnitch: The Cantonist: The Jewish Children's Army of the Tsar
November George Morgan: Getting the Most from Ancestry.com
October Dr. Herman Koren: Histories of the Jewish People of Pinellas County, Florida from 1883 to 2005
September Highlights of the 2007 IAJGS Conference
June Ask the Experts
May Debbe Hagner: Researching in Your Local Family History Library and Preparing to Research in Salt Lake City from Your Home Computer
April Al Koenig: Roots Trip to Romania
March Emil Issacson: A 2007 Guide to Jewish Genealogy Using the Internet - Part 2
February Emil Issacson: A 2007 Guide to Jewish Genealogy Using the Internet - Part 1

2006
December Lunch and Learn Social: Year end social and election of officers
November Debbe Hagner: Where Do I Find Public Records and Vital Statistics and Census Reports
October Bill Israel: You Brought Your Ancestors Back to Life, Now Introduce Them to Their Living Family
September Lunelle Siegel: Researching Jewish Confederate Ancestors
June Show and Tell
May Bill Israel: Internet Genealogy Resources (View Presentation) (Bill's Bookmarks)
April Drew Smith: Kicking the Tires of Popular Genealogy Programs - Which One to Get?
March Emil Isaacson: The JGSTB Library (View Presentation)
February Al Koenig: Our Great Find Using the Yad Vashem Database
January Howard Margol: Latest Developments on Lithuanian Research

2005
December Sue Farley: A Holocaust Survival Story - A Relentless Flight for Freedom
November Hank Koren: Presentation on the Jewish history of Pinellas county
October George G. Morgan: Genealogy Orienteering - Using Maps to Find the Right Place
September William Israel: Harnessing the Newly Expanded Powers of JewishGen
August Summer Hands-on Workshop with Guided Assistance from JGSTB Members
June Emil Isaacson and Debbe Hagner: Working Session - Brick Walls
May Clint Elbow: Presentation on the genealogy website JewishGen (View Presentation)
April Donna Murray Allen: Triple Feature Presentation
March Emil Isaacson: Seminar on Naturalization Research Part 2
February Emil Isaacson: Seminar on Naturalization Research Part 1
January Emily Rose: Discovering the life and times of your ancestors

2004
December Business Meeting
November Worshop Session
October Gregg Hickman (Lake Shore Camera Exchange): Preserving and restoring old photographs
May Drew Smith and George Morgan: How to do genealogy without guilt, and The organized genealogist
April Debbe Hagner: How to use the Family History Catalog
March Seminar Part 2: Guide to Jewish genealogy
February Seminar Part 1: Guide to Jewish genealogy
January Clint Elbow: Using Google for genealogical research (View Presentation)

2003
November Ms. Lindsay Colton, Investigator: Using public records as an aid to genealogical research
October Bettylou Rosen: Roots tour of Lithuania, June 2003
September IAJGS Conference Report
August George Morgan: Introduction to immigration and naturalization research
July Research sessions at John F. Germany Library, with Larry Blum and Debbe Hagner
June Research sessions at John F. Germany Library, with Larry Blum and Debbe Hagner
May Question and answer session conducted by Dr. Emil Isaacson and Debbe Hagner
March Immigration and naturalization resources in the Tampa Bay area Part 2
February Immigration and naturalization resources in the Tampa Bay area Part 1
January Kay Turansky: How to write your personal life history

2002
December Individual Presentations
October Video: Ellis Island, Part 3
September Video: Ellis Island, Parts 1 and 2
August Informal sessions held at John F. Germany Library, with Larry Blum and Debbe Hagner
July Informal sessions held at John F. Germany Library, with Larry Blum and Debbe Hagner
June Computer instruction session
May Mercedes Bleattler: Genealogical resources at Largo Public Library, Largo, Florida
April William Israel: How to organize a family reunion
March Emil Isaacson: Beginners workshops
February Emil Isaacson: Beginners workshops
January Debbe Hagner: How to use your local Famly History Library effectively

2001
December George Morgan: Bring 'em back to life - creating an ancestor profile
November William Israel: Research trip to Mormon Family History Library, Salt Lake City
October Wallace West: Two centuries of Polish history (1572-1764)
September Drew Smith: Effective Internet research techniques
July Video: The Lost Wooden Synagogues of Eastern Europe
June Bette J. Hostetler: Courthouse records and how to use them
May Debbe Hagner: Organizing your research
April April: Research session held at John F. Germany Library, conducted by Debbe Hagner and Larry Blum
March Emil Isaacson: Beginners workshops
February Emil Isaacson: Beginners workshops
January Howard Margol: Travel and research in Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus

2000
December Atty. Gerald R. Colen: Jewish experience in the Civil War
November Cantor William Hauben: The history and meaning of Jewish music
September Joy Katzen-Guthrie: The entry of Jews into China
August Bill Balter: Anecdotal remembrances of my personal family research
May Gladys Paulin: Jewish genealogical myths
April William Israel: Finding your Jewish roots
March Debbe Hagner: Doing research in LDS Family History Centers
February Review of ICJG Conference
January Howard Margol: Suggestions for promoting our new genealogical group

1999
November Manny Arocho: Historical and genealogical resources in the John F. Germany Library, Tampa
October Melvin B. Estroff" Southern Jewish history
July Howard T. Smith: Basic and unusual sources of Jewish genealogical information