DOR TO DOOR

Greater Houston Jewish Genealogy Society

Winter 2004

A Message From the President

How fortunate I am, to have assumed the presidency of such an active, involved, and well run organization. It will be my job to keep us healthy and motivated. Unlike my predecessor, I am not creative or an idea person. Therefore I desperately need the suggestions of our members. Our accomplishments in 2002 and 2003 indicate that we are capable of doing the previously unthinkable: this on line Newsletter is just one of many examples.

Genealogy has so many diverse components that everyone should be able to find his/her niche within the Greater Houston Jewish Genealogy Society. A new initiative was discussed at our December reorganization meeting: We want to reach young people in day and after school religious programs, and help them become excited about family history. If you are intrigued by this or any of the other projects described herein, please let us know..

Looking forward to working with you,

Ann Oppman

IAJGS INFORMATION

You have been sent this e-mail due to your position as a constituent branch of the IAJGS. This message is intended for ALL those interested in Litvak genealogy. Please distribute this message to your membership andtonewcomers to your next meeting. It would also be appreciated if you could publish it in any regular publication you distribute.
Vilna District Research and Record Translations
The Vilna District Research Group, a sub-group of the LitvakSIG,seeks to assist and advance the knowledge base of researchers byprocuring, translating and distributing genealogical records for towns inwhat was the Vilna uezd [district] in Imperial Russia.

Our group has been involved in the 1858 Revision List project for thecity of Vilna for several years. We have the complete 1858 RL for theJewish residents of the city of Vilna consisting of almost 3000 pages and26,000 records. To date we have translated 70% of these records. Inaddition, our group is now procuring the Revision Lists [1834,1834-1849supplements,1850, 1851-1857 supplements, and 1858] for the town ofMOLETAI [MALAT] and will be translating these in the next few months.

Revision List records and/or family lists also exist for the following towns in the Vilna district:
Antakalnis 1795; 1811; 1813-1814; 1816-1818; 1822/1833; 1834; 1843/1849;

1850; 1850/1854; 1858
Boguslavishok 1795-1796; 1816; 1818; 1822/1833; 1834; 1843/1849;
1850/1854; 1858
Ciobiskis 1816/1818; 1822/1833; 1834; 1843/1849; 1850-1854; 1858
Gedrovitz INCLUDED IN VILNIUS UEZD, DISTRICT C
Gelvan 1765; 1795-1796; 1811; 1816/1818; 1822/1833; 1834; 1843/1849;
1850/1854; 1858
Mikhalishok 1795/1796; 1816/1818; 1822/1833; 1834/1843/1849; 1850/1854;
1858; 1888?; 1897?
Malat 1784; 1816/1818; 1822/1833; 1834; 1843/1849; 1850/1854; 1858
Musnik 1795/1796; 1811; 1816/1818; 1822/1833; 1834; 1843/1849; 1850/1854; 1858
Nemencine 1795/1796; 1811; 1816/1818; 1834; 1843/1849; 1850/1854; 1858
Novy Gorod 1816/1818; 1822/1833; 1834; 1843/1849; 1850/1854; 1858; 1874?,
1897?
Shirvint 1816/1818; 1822/1833; 1834; 1843/1849; 1850/1854; 1858
Snipishok 1795; 1800; 1813-1814; 1816/1818; 1822/1833; 1834; 1843/1849;
1850/1854; 1858; 1874?
Vilna 1765?, 1784?,1795, 1810, 1816, 1834, 1850/51, 1858
Vilna Uezd 1795-1796; 1800-1801; 1811; 1813; 1816-1838; 1840; 1842-1846;
1850-1858; 1875?; 1878?; 1892/1899?
Vital records [birth, marriage, death, and divorce] also exist formany towns in the Vilna district. These are as follows:
Bezdonys (Bezdany)

Bogoslavas (Boguslaviskis)
Ciobiskis
Gelvonai (Gelvon)
Giedraiciai (Gedrovitz)
Inturkes (Intorik)
Laibiskis (Leibishok)
Maisagola (Maishagola)
Michaliskis
Moletai (Malat)
Musninkai (Musnik)
Naujoji-Vilna (Novo-Vileisk)
Paberzhe (Podberezhe)
Rudamina (Rudamin)
Salcininkai (Solechniki)
Sesuoliai (Sheshol)
Sirvintos (Shirvint)
Stundishki (Strunaitis?)
Turgeliai (Turgeli)
Vilna
Yonishkis
For most towns, the vital records cover the time period 1854-1915, although most towns have incomplete sets of data. The Vilna city records are the most complete and exist for the time period 1837-1915.
Anyone interested in obtaining information on the work of the Vilna District Research Group and wants to learn how much is required [for each project] to become eligible for various record translations should contact Joel Ratner at mailto:. Thanks. Have a happy and peaceful New Year!

Joel Ratner

Coordinator, Vilna District Research Group

PROGRAM INFORMATION

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are the Seven Acres at 7:00 PM on the first Thursday of the month.

February Program: Thursday, February 5, Marje Harris, Clayton Library Manager, to speak on the Library's holdings with emphasis on relevance to Jewish Genealogy.

May, almost definite,

DNA and the Genealogist

Bennet Greenspan or alternate speaker from his company

Further information will be forthcoming by e-mail and on our web site: http://www.texsys.com/ghjgs/

THE PROJECT

Our major project, documenting the life cycle events of the Jewish Herald-Voice from its beginning in 1908 to the present, is now in high gear. All of the issues which are on microfilm have been copied to CD’s for reading on a computer. This enables those who work on the project to do so at home at their leisure, rather than having to go to the Herald-Voice office where the microfilm reader is located.

What is now needed are more participants in the project. Anyone who is slightly computer-knowledgeable can contribute to the effort. Training at your residence will be provided and support will always be available by phone.

We are most thankful to Merv Rosenbaum, who has done a magnificent job of getting the project to this point. Due to his effort the 1908-1921 period will soon be available on JewishGen for access by name. He, Max Heffler and Deena Gordon have also been our source of finance for the project by obtaining awards from their or their spouses employment with Exxon. We still need financial assistance to continue the project, and voluntary contributions from the membership would be most welcome.

For information on becoming a participant, contact Merv Rosenbaum, 281/424-8765, or Don Teter, 281/424-5829,

DUES

If you have not already done so, you may pay your 2004 dues by sending a check to Treasurer Evan Snyder, 3446 Quail Meadow, Missouri City TX, 77459. They are $18 for individuals, $20 for families.

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