Southern California Genealogical Society Jamoboree, 2015: DNA Day, etc.

Well, check another thing or two off the bucket list! The Southern California Genealogical Society Genealogy Jamboree held each year in Los Angeles, California is one regional conference that has always peaked my interest. Some how it never rose to the level of actually attending. This year my genealogy buddy," Janette, suggested we attend. I'm easy. Sure.

The conference runs from Friday to Sunday, 5 - 7 June 2015. I decided the register for the pre-Jamboree DNA day on Thursday, 4 June and also signed up for Judy Russell's 2 hour workshop on court records. I flew in to Burbank earlt Thursday morning and managed to arrive with time to spare before the first session on Thursday.

I've been doing some self-education on DNA testing and results in an effort to better understand and integrate findings into my research. One of the things I've noticed is that most conferences do not (and probably cannot) get into DNA beyond entry-level presentations. So, when I saw that Jamboree was devoting a full day to DNA, I was anxious to participate.

My take home message from the DNA talks: explore the ISOGG website and especially their wiki.

I love this logo!

Tim Janzen, "Programs to Help You Analyze Your Autosomal DNA Data"

Tim Janzen, M.D., is quite technically astute regarding DNA. He discussed GEDmatch, as well as tools designed by several other genealogy DNA researchers including Felix Immanuel and Kitty Cooper (also a conference presenter). Janzen has also developed his own utilities. He makes use of Excel spreadsheets in his analyses.

This was exactly the type of presentation I was hoping for. Something that goes beyond "here-are-the-four-type-of-DNA-tests" to get into some of the grit associated with analysis. The content of Janzen's presentation was quite good. He could use a little work on PowerPoint slide design: too much written information on most slides.
 

Kitty Cooper, "How to Do an Autosomal DNA Triangulation to Confirm a Specific Ancestor"

In some ways it might have been better if I'd heard Kitty's presentation before Tom's. Kitty, the triangulation queen, based her presentation on her blog post about triangulation as an analysis technique.

She explained the why behind going to the effort of triangulating/mapping results among one's matches and oneself. It is not enough that one matches two other people at the same spot on one of the 22 chromosomes. Each chromosome has two strands of DNA at each location representing one's autosomal genetic inheritance from one's father and mother. One person might match with one's mother and the other with one's father. In that case, they would not match each other. 

Kitty walked through some examples triangulating testing results. Like Janzen, spreadsheets for data management are an important part of her toolbox. She also discussed tools at Family Tree DNA, 23andme, GEDmatch and on her website.
 

Angie Bush, "Trump Cards, Magic Bullets and DNA"

Trump card: a decisive answer to or the deciding factor in an argument of questions
Magic bullet: quick and easy solution to a difficult question 

Angie Bush's presentation was well organized and presented. I think this is the kind of presentation that many researchers, early in their foray into genetic testing, need to hear. 

Yes, DNA testing can answer some intractable questions, but one needs to select the test based upon one's research question and be aware of the pros and cons of each type of DNA result. DNA testing is another tool in the research toolbox.

The key question: does genetic and non-genetic evidence support the biological relationship proposed?

Tim Janzen, "Using Autosomal DNA as a Means to Trace Your Family Tree"

The hand out for this talk consisted of a four page table comparing characteristics of the three genealogical testing companies: 23andMe, Family Tree DNA and Ancestry. The elements for comparison include everything from price to ease of contacting matches to ease of results analyses to special features.

Based upon the handout, I did not quite expect the content of the presentation. I'm not complaining. 

Tim presented some basics of autosomal DNA results including information on the concepts Identical by Descent (true matches) and Identical by State (chance match with no actual common ancestor). He discussed recent work on thresh holds for predicting relatedness.

His recommendations? Test parent-cchild trios or duos, if possible. Test at all three companies (or test at Ancestry and 23andMe and load results onto Family Tree DNA). Test as many relatives as possible. Create a match list spreadsheet and keep it current.

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Judy G. Russell, "Order in the Court: Hands-on With Court Records"

I knew in registering for this 2-hour workshop that I would, unfortunately miss some good DNA talks. Nevertheless, based on my previous experience listening to Judy Russell and my desire to better understand legalese, I knew this workshop was not not be missed.

Judy provided a thick handout of criminal and civil case studies and other court-generated documents for the class to read through and dissect. This was a platform for learning several legal concepts. A great way to learn. 

In the process she told us about several important sources, such as Black's Law Dictionary (various editions available online and in CD format) and Bovier's (mostly related to Southern US court).

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This first day of Jamboree was worth waiting for. I look forward to Friday's offerings.

Treasure Chest Thursday: FLPBA Ladies Auxiliary photo, 1949 anniversary publication

Last year I received photos from two anniversary publications for the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association, the landsmanshaft society of Jewish immigrants from Lubin (aka Labun, Volhynia Gubernia, Russian Empire; aka Yurovshchina, Khmelnitsky Oblast, Ukraine). During the last several months I have posted items from the 25th anniversary (1936) publication. Today I start a selection of items from the 1949 anniversary. 

First Lubiner Ladies Auxiliary

Officers 1949 

Mrs. Rose Blumfield, President

Mrs. Dora Goldberg, Vice-President

Mrs. Esther Myers, Cashier

Mrs. B. Levy, Financial Secretary

Mrs. D. Pearlman, Recording Secretary

There are, obviously several women in this photo who are not identified in the list provided.
 
Dora Waxenberg Myers Alperin is seated, second from left. She was from Lubin; had first married Lubiner Louis Myers (my great great uncle); divorced him and then married Lubiner Jacob Alpern.

Yetta Myers, wife of Louis Myer's brother, Myer Myers (and another of my great great uncles), is seated on the far right. Her maiden name was Fell. Myer Myers was born in Lubin as was his and Yetta's daughter, Dorothy.  

I do not know the identities of most of the women in this photo. I have contacted a few Lubin community descendants to ask if their relatives are in the photo. If you can identify anyone in the photo, please let me know. 

-------- 

Of those listed as officers:

Rose Blumfield was previously identified in the 1936 anniversary publication. [Update (6 Apr 2021): Her descendant, Alyssa Strauss, has  contacted me and identifies Rose as the woman with the pearl necklace who was seated in the center.] There is an unresolved (so far) question about Rose's surname. It variously appears in records as Blumfield, Blumfeld and Blumenfeld. She is buried in the block 89, gate 156N plot in Montefiore Cemetery.

Dora Goldberg is not buried in any of the FLPBA plots and I know nothing about her.

Esther Myers is likely the woman married to Samuel Myers, Treasurer of the FLPBA in 1936. Esther's maiden name was Newman and, while she was from the Russian Empire, she was not from Lubin.[1] Neither Esther nor Sam are buried in FLPBA plots.

B. Levy is possibly Ida Sarah Levy. Her husband's name was Benson Levy (originally Liwak) - so the publication's compiler may have used Ida's husband's initial to identify her. Benson was an immigrant from Lubin. Benson and Ida are buried in block 5, gate 567W at Montefiore Cemetery.

D. Pearlman's first initial may also be her husband's. Lillian Perlman was married to David Perlman. They are buried in block 89, gate 156 N at Montefiore Cemetery

Notes:
1. Kings County, New York, marriage certificate no. 2284 (10 February 1917), Samuel Myers and Esther Newman, Municipal Archives, New York City.

Tombstone Tuesday: Reuben and Ray Dansker Minkowitz, Montefiore Cemetery, Queens, NY

Rachel daughter of Tsvi

RAY

MINKOWITZ

BELOVED WIFE

MOTHER

GRANDMOTHER

APR. 14, 1898

JAN. 11, 1952

FOREVER LOVED

Last Tuesday, I posted about Harry and Ethel Dansker. Today we note the burial of one of their daughters, Ray, and her husband, Reuben Minkowitz. Like Harry and Ethel, they are also interred in one of the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association plots at Montefiore Cemetery, Queens, NY.

Ray or Rachel was born in Labun, Volhynia Gubernia, Russian Empire.[1] The birth date listed on her tombstone (14 April 1898) does not match that shown on her naturalization record (10 March 1897).[2] On the manifest for her arrival in the United States with her mother and siblings in June 1905, she is listed as eight years old.[3] That would calculate to birth in 1897.

Harry and Ray married on 6 June 1922.[4] She reported being 22 (for a birth year of 1900).

Here lies

Reuven son of Eileya

Died 18 Tammuz 5730

May his soul be bound in the bonds of the living

REUBEN

MINKOWITZ

DIED JULY 22, 1970

AGE 78 YEARS

BELOVED HUSBAND

FATHER-GRANDFATHER 

Reuben was one of at least eight children born to Elias and Yetta Minkowitz. His father was a tea merchant in the USA.[4] Reuben, his mother and several siblings emigrated from Vilna, Russian Empire and landed at Ellis Island on 17 May 1904.[5]

Reuben worked in the garment industry as a cutter. He and Ray had three children who lived to adulthood: Sylvia (born 1924), Arthur (b. 1927) and Harriet (b. ca. 1937). In the 1940 census, Ray was one of the two people on her census page who was asked to respond to supplemental questions.[6] She reported that she had had four children - although only three are listed on the page. I have not located any listing for the death of a child of Reuben and Ray Minkowitz in New York City. 

Ray is buried in block 89, gate 156N, line 4R, grave 4. Reuben is in line 11R, grave 6.

Notes:
1. Kings County, New York, marriage certificate no. 6221 (6 June 1922), Reuben Minkowitz and Rachel E. Donsker, New York City Municipal Archives, New York.
2. Ray Minkowitz, naturalization petition number 184619 (1933), Eastern District of New York; Records of the District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives - Northeast Region, New York City.
3. "New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 18 December 2010), manifest, S.S. Patricia, Hamburg to New York, arriving 16 June 1905, p. 40, line 6, Rachel Danzker; citing National Archives Microfilm Serial T715, Roll 589.
4. 1905 New York State census, New York County, New York, population schedule, Manhattan, assembly district 4, election district 12, sheet 18, Elias and Yetta Minkowitz family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 26 December 2010); New York State Archives, Albany.
5. "New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 18 December 2010), manifest, S.S. Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, Bremen to New York, arriving 17 May 1904, list B , line 8, Ruben Mankowitz; citing National Archives Microfilm Serial T715, Roll 459.
6. 1940 U.S. Census, Queens County, New York, population schedule, Queens, numeration district 41-635, sheet 6B, household 152, line 68, Ray Minkowitz; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 May 2015); NARA microfilm publication T627, roll 2733.

Treasure Chest Thursday: FLPBA 25th anniversary publication: sister members

On the past three Treasure Chest Thursday posts I've listed the 72 male members of the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association (FLPBA) - the landsmanshaft organization for those who settle in New York City after emigration from Lubin (Labun), Russian Empire. Only a handful of female members were listed in the 25th anniversary publication in 1936. They all appear to be widows of members and may have been from Lubin, themselves.

Of those I have been able to identify, all were buried in the FLPBA burial plot in block 89, gate 156N in Montefiore Cemetery, Queens, New York.

• R. Blumfield - Rose Blumenfeld

• Brawerman - likely Ida Braverman (widow of Isidore, who died in 1933)

• H. Dausker - likely Ethel Dansker (Harry, d. 1930)

• Z. Goldberg - Zlote (Lottie) Goldberg (Bernard, d. 1925)

• R. Klein - unknown

• H. Kargman - (H)Anna Kargman (Joseph, d. 1931)

• H. Kurman - Yetta Kurman (Harry, d. 1931)

• S. Meyers - Sarah Myers (Elias, died in Europe)

• S. Moskowitz - unknown

• D. Reitman - Dora Reitman (Morris, d. 1935)

• I. Schachter - possibly Fannie Schecter (Shimon, d. unknown)

Tombstone Tuesday: Harry and Ethel Dansker, Montefiore Cemetery, Queens, NY

Harry and Ethel Dansker were married in the Russian Empire and came to the United States early in the 20th Century, settling initially in Lower Manhattan and later in Queens.

Here lies

My husband and our beloved father

Tzvi son of Aizik Dov

Died 10 Kislev 5691

May his soul be bound in the bonds of the living

----------

HARRY DANSKER

BELOVED HUSBAND

AND DEAR FATHER

DIED NOV. 30, 1930

AGE 69 YEARS

----------

FATHER

Harry was born in Labun, Volhynia Gubernia, Russian Empire (also called Lubin in Yiddish and today, Yurovshchina, Ukraine) in about 1865. His parents (as reported on his death certificate) were Isaac Dansker and Sophie Goldberg.[1] 

Ethel was born in Radzivilov, Volhynia Gubernia, Russian Empire to Yale Bresner and Pessie Gittleman.[2] 

Our beloved elderly mother

Etel daughter of Yoel

Died 15 Sivan 5707

May her soul be bound in the bonds of the living

----------

ETHEL DANSKER

OUR BELOVED

MOTHER

DIED JUNE 7, 1947

AGE 90 YEARS

----------

MOTHER 

Ethel traveled to the United States with her children Mottel (age 19), Malke (17) and Rachel (8) following their father Harry. They landed in New York on 16 June 1905.[3] While I have a candidate record, I am not yet certain that I have found Harry's manifest.

 

I have located the family in the 1910 census living at 274-6 Henry Street, New York, New York.[4] Harry was reportedly an operator at a skirt factory. The family consisted of Harry, Zeitl, Mollie and Rachel. Son Mottel is not with the family.  The census record reports that Zeitl had had 7 children, only two of whom were still living. I have not found any other records regarding son Mottel.

Daughter Rachel married Reuben Minkowitz on 6 June 1922.[5] She reported that she, like her father, was born in Lubin. I have not located a marriage record for her sister Mollie. 

Harry's death certificate indicates that he had become a glazier. He is among many Lubin immigrants who took that profession in New York City. 

Ethel's death certificate indicates that she died at the age of 89. The tombstone says 90. But, the manifest for her arrival in New York indicated that she was 40 years old in June 1905. That would calculate to a birth year of about 1865. The 1910 U.S. Census provides information that agrees: she was listed as 46 years old in 1910. Based on this, she was probably about 82 years old at death.

There is inconsistency regarding the Dansker surname in Ethel's death records. Ethel's death certificate lists her surname as Dansky and Montefiore Cemetery has her identified in their index using that surname. However, both her and her husband's tombstones indicate that the surname was Dansker. That name is in agreement with the 1910 U.S. Census record for the family, Ethel's manifest and Rachel's marriage certificate. "Dansky" is a mistake on the Ethel's death certificate - a mistake carried forward by the cemetery.

The Danskers are buried next to each other in one of the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association plots in Montefiore Cemetery, Queens, NY: block 89, gate 156N, line 4R, graves 5 and 6.

Notes:
1. Queens County, New York, certificate of death no. 7008 (30 November 1930), Harry Dansker, New York City Municipal Archives, New York.
2. "New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 18 December 2010), manifest, S.S. Patricia, Hamburg to New York, arriving 16 June 1905, p. 40, line 3, Zwettel Danzker; citing National Archives Microfilm Serial T715, Roll 589. 
Queens County, New York, certificate of death no. 11895 (7 June 1947), Ethel Dansky, New York City Municipal Archives, New York.
3. "New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," digital images, Ancestry.com, manifest, S.S. Patricia, Hamburg to New York, arriving 16 June 1905, p. 40, Zwettel Danzker.
4. New York County, New York, 1910 U.S. Census, population schedule, Manhattan, enumeration district 91, sheet 1A, dwelling 1, family 5, Harry and Zeitl Donsker; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 May 2015); citing NARA microfilm publication T624, roll 1008.
5. Kings County, New York, marriage certificate no. 6221 (6 June 1922), Reuben Minkowitz and Rachel E. Donsker, New York City Municipal Archives, New York.