JGSGB-Notices Mailing List: Program Sun Jan 17, 2009: Uncovering Hoaxes with Genealogical Detective Work

[JGSGB Notices List (jgsgb-notices]

This is the notice of our next program. For more details, please visit our website at www.jgsgb.org. A flyer in Adobe PDF format is available at flyer.jgsgb.org. We encourage you to print out the flyer and post copies in places where you think it would attract attendees, such as synagogues, community centers, supermarkets, etc.

Uncover Hoaxes with
Genealogical Detective Work

Sharon Sergeant

Sunday, January 17, 2010
1:30–4:30 PM
Temple Emanuel, Newton Centre

This program discusses how the genealogical research methods and skills-that we are used to thinking of for creating family trees and family histories-are also used in "detective" situations: uncovering frauds and hoaxes, or establishing historical truths. The speaker uses examples from two cases she worked on that were widely reported in the press: "Misha the Wolf Girl" and "Angel at the Fence."

Sharon Sergeant received international acclaim for exposing the Misha Defonseca "Jewish hidden child aided by wolves" and Herman Rosenblat "apple over the fence" Holocaust frauds. As an adjunct professor at Boston University Sharon Sergeant created the Problem Solving Techniques and Technology module in the genealogical professional development program. She combines technology and the Genealogy Proof Standard methods to research both modern and antiquarian records. Sharon has published in the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly, the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, and the PI Magazine. Sharon has served as Program Director for local and regional genealogical societies.

Upcoming programs:
    Feb. 7      Film of genealogical interest (Needham Library)
    Feb. 21    Problem Solving with Experts: A Research Session (Temple Emanuel)