Education and Research Center
Resources
The Museum of Family
History endeavors to provide those involved in Jewish genealogical
research with the tools that might assist them in
their research. Here, educational material is also provided that
will enable the Museum visitor to learn, not only about
methodology and resources concerning genealogical research
and recording one's family history, but about the history of the Jewish
people as well.
The Museum's Education & Research Center tries in earnest to
make available information that may benefit those interested
in learning more about modern Jewish history in all its many
facets. It is hoped that having access to such information
and resource material will encourage the researcher to want
to learn more about not only their own family history, but about
the many contributions the Jewish people have made to the
world as a whole. Learning, as well as a deep understanding
and appreciation of the history of the Jewish people, is an
integral
process that one should strive for, and this interest should
be shared enthusiastically between the different generations
of one's family as well. Hopefully, this exciting journey of learning
will inspire this and future generations to do their own
research and allow them to experience the wonder of discovery
and self-erudition.
The Genealogy and Family History section discusses some of the
vast amount of information that is available to us and how to
access it. The Center provides links and contact information whenever possible, so that those pursuing
similar research might more easily find the information they
are looking for.
The Museum also exhibits the beginning of an Education
Department that has "thinking exercises" from children to
adult. The Museum is seeking educators and those interested
in preserve family history to present curriculum of a nature
that would be suitable to young children and adults,
material that could be presented online, which would both
educate and inspire others to learn more about the history of
the Jewish family. This educational material might, for
instance, include the
telling of stories of family life during one's youth, or it might
include a lesson in the technique of oral history, i.e. the
interviewing of older family members about their life
experiences.
The Education & Research Center will also provide the names
and bibliographic information for various books and other
printed material that might be of use or interest.
Be sure to
visit the Museum's Records page to see some of the records
that are available at various archives and research centers,
especially those located in New York City.
Below are listed a number of exhibition and resources that
can found found within the virtual confines of the Museum of
Family History:
|
 |
|
The Cemetery
Project
Within this
project, the researcher has access to a variety of information
and material relevant to the various cemeteries located in the
United Sates and Canada. Here one can find the overall grounds
maps to many cemeteries, contact and other information about
cemeteries (mostly located in New York, New Jersey,
Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island), unique surnames
lists of those buried in hundreds of society plots, as well as
photographs of the various society gates that front most of
these plots. There are also photographs of nearly two
hundred Holocaust memorials located in both the United States
and Canada.
►► |
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
Map Room of
Eastern Europe
Displayed
within the Museum's Map Room are more than one hundred
topographic maps of various regions in Poland, as well as some
of Belarus and the Ukraine. Most maps shown have been divided
into a right half and left half, and the map coordinates are
given for each. All of the maps were drawn and produced
between World Wars I and II. It is interesting to note the
names of the various towns and villages in the surrounding
areas as they appeared before World War II, as well as the
varying topographical features within each region.
►► |
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
The Synagogues
of New York City
An important
genealogical resource is a listing of the synagogues, both
former synagogues and ones still in existence, that Jews
attend or have attended many decades ago. In some instances
they tell us where our ancestors may have lived, as many Jews,
especially those who were religious, needed to live within a
short distance of their synagogue (shul.) Many synagogues were
also associated with certain landsmanshaftn, which were
associated with certain towns and cities in Europe. Whichever
the case, the Museum offers the researcher offers the
following information about the synagogues of New York City:
name of synagogue, address, name of "pastor," and their
address, as well as the date the synagogue was established.
You may also find some photographs of extant synagogues on
the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
►► |
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
Genealogy and
Family History
Whether as a
result of a search for the manifest of a ship that a relative
traveled on to come to the United States, or for a “Petition
for Naturalization” or Federal Census report, it is always
satisfying when one finds an answer to a vexing genealogical
problem. Whether combing through birth and marriage records at
a City Archives, or looking at a tax assessment photo that
were taken in 1939 of an old family residence or
business, spending hours upon hours, day after day, looking
through bleary eyes at records on microfilm, such diligence
often provides one with ample rewards. Here at the
Museum you will be introduced to a myriad of genealogical
gems, i.e. records and other documents that may provide great
value to the researcher.
►► |
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
The Schools of New York City
As genealogists,
amateur or professional, having access to school records or
photographs enable us not only to learn more about our
families, but they gives us a glimpse into what life was
like in society as a whole as seen through the student
biographies, a message from the principal or student body
president, or the activities the students pursued during
their formative years. Initially, "The Schools of New York
City" features information for Thomas Jefferson and Samuel J.
Tilden High Schools, as well as a searchable database for
the former. For Thomas Jefferson High School, you may browse from front to back
any of the yearbooks, or you may simply search by name and
graduating year for any senior.
►► |
| |
|
|
|
