Gen Podcasts: The Forget-Me-Not Hour

An occasional blog series identifying online locations of genealogical knowledge in both audio and video podcasts with an emphasis on (Jewish) genealogy.  

It's been a while since I've reviewed a podcast show. I wanted to do this one now because this coming Wednesday, 6 March 2013 [Update: episode postponed until 13 March 2013], Jane E. Wilcox will broadcast an episode of interest to Jewish genealogical researchers: Pre-Civil War New York Jews with David Kleiman. See below for access information for both the broadcast and internet versions of this show.

The Forget-Me-Not Hour – Jane E. Wilcox, host

This genealogy show focuses on both New York's Hudson Valley and topics of more general national genealogical interest. Even the Hudson Valley topics  are often broad enough to appeal to those whose interests lie outside this geographical area. 

Technical aspects of the show are often a tad rough; with a great deal of extraneous noise. It often sounds like someone's talking, closing cupboard doors and using a blender in the background. On the last few shows, however, the sound quality has improved and I have not had to resist the desire to find a chocolate milkshake.

Format:  Jane broadcasts/records live twice each month from Poughkeepsie, New York. The first Wednesday of the month is the Hudson Valley show. The second show, of more general appeal, is not broadcast on radio, but may be heard only online via Blog Talk Radio. It is available on the third Wednesday each month. 

As of this date, there are 54 episodes archived on both iTunes and the Blog Talk Radio website. The earliest episode was recorded on 3 February 2011. 

The show runs about an hour and has involved interviews with genealogists, historians, archivists, librarians, a county clerk and others whose expertise is of interest to family historians. Jane has interviewed people on a variety of topics including the  Great Depression, Slavery in New York State, a variety of historic homes, political history, up-coming genealogy conferences, particular record types, genealogy techniques and methodologies. 

Episodes of interest to Jewish genealogy researchers: 

New York Slavery and Sojourner Truth - 2 June 2011 
OK, so I lied. This one is not about Jewish genealogy. I wanted to highlight this show because it is one of the most interesting episodes in the series. Slavery in New York ended in 1827 and Sojourner Truth's life and the life of her children begin in slavery. She essentially frees herself in New York, goes to court to free her son, joins the abolition movement in Massachusetts, becomes a compelling speaker, and moves on to Michigan. Jane discusses Sojourner Truth's full and fulfilling life with Ulster County (N.Y.) Historian Anne Gordon and the man behind an effort to erect a statue of Truth in her hometown of Port Ewen, New York, Bob Lusk. In addition, Jane talks with Thomas McLiechey, a descendant of Sojourner from Battle Creek, Mich.

Jewish Gen and IAJGS - 17 August 2011 -
Gary Mokotoff speaks about Jewish genealogy, the 2011 International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies conference in Washington, D.C. He also discusses Holocaust resources at Yad Vashem, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the International Tracing Service.

The Great Depression in New York City - 24 October 2012
Suzanne Wasserman, director of the Gotham Center for New York City History talks about New York City (especially the Lower East Side) during the Great Depression of the 1930s. I did not know much about the Gotham Center, so this is an interesting introduction to a New York City resource. There is a great deal of extraneous noise on this one. Try to hang in there.

The New York Public Library - 3 August 2012
Maira Liriano, manager of the Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy of the New York Public Library, talks about her experience on the TV show "Who Do You Think You Are?" and the resources of the Millstein Division. These resources go well beyond the boundaries of New York City.

Pre-Civil War New York Jews - 6 March 2013 (Live at 10:00 a.m. on WHVW 950 AM radio and rebroadcast at 9:00 p.m. on http://www.blogtalkradio.com/janeewilcox)
This show will air this coming week. David Kleiman, will focus on an era of Jewish American history that is less well-known to those of us whose United States genealogical studies begin with the flood of immigration in the late nineteenth century.  He has researched the Gomez Mill House in Ulster County and will discuss Jewish people in New York prior to the Civil War.

Special Feature: Jane begins and ends each episode asking her guests to share information about their backgrounds and their interests in their areas of expertise. Often times the responses are some of the most compelling portions of the show.

Access: 

• live via WHVW 950 AM in Poughkeepsie, New York - 10 A.M. (Eastern time) on the first Wednesday of the month.
• via Blog Talk Radio - 9:00 P.M. (Eastern time) on the first and third Wednesdays of the month.
• via iTunes: One may download individual episodes or subscribe to the show from free on iTunes.  The most recent show is usually available immediately after the live show airs. If you subscribe, new episodes will automatically be delivered to your iTunes podcast folder. The shows may be listened to via you computer or uploaded on an iPod.

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Previous Gen Podcast posts:
Gen Podcasts: BackStory Radio
Gen Podcasts: Geneabloggers Radio
Gen Podcasts: Shpatseer!
Cooke-ing at the Arizona Family History Expo