Ted Gostin

   Jewish Genealogy  

Have you ever wanted to trace your Jewish roots, but weren't sure where to start?  It is possible! As a professional Jewish genealogist, I can help you:

• Document your family's arrival and early years in the U.S.
• Learn where your family came from in the "Old Country"
• Trace your family back through European Records

Check out my Jewish Genealogy page for more information about how a professional genealogist can help you trace your family history.

  So. California Research

Since I live in Southern California, I naturally specialize in genealogical research in this region.  I can help clients research their family histories in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura Counties.   Check out this section for more information on what to expect from genealogical research here in Southern California.

 Generations Press Books 

My publishing company, Generations Press, publishes books on Jewish genealogy, Southern California resources, and immigration research.  We also sell new and used books from other publishers in the same subject areas.

Research Rates

Click here for information on current research rates, minimum charges, reimbursable expenses, billing procedures, etc.

Upcoming Speaking Engagements

Ted Gostin lectures frequently throughout Southern California.  His lecture schedule is listed below.

• Sunday, January 18, 2015, 1:00 - 3:30 p.m.  Questing Heirs Genealogical Society.  "Breaking Down Brick Walls:  Three Case Studies."  All genealogists eventually run up against a “brick wall” in their research; that is, a research problem that they just can’t seem to solve. This lecture reviews three cases studies where brick walls were successfully overcome, and from those experiences draws out a series of research strategies that might be applied to other difficult-to-solve problems. The three case studies involved trying to determine the parents of an early, post-revolutionary American ancestor in New York State (Metcalf); trying to determine Juaneño Indian ancestry (from Mission San Juan Capistrano) in a California Latino family (Mireles); and trying to find any trace of a Polish-Jewish immigrant tailor in England in the mid-1800s (Stargatt/Stargratt).  Parish Hall of Resurrection Lutheran Church at 1900 East Carson Street, Long Beach, CA 90807.  Admission is free.

• Tuesday, January 20, 2015, 7:00 p.m.  Los Angeles Westside Genealogical Society.  "Emigration Records:  Tracking Immigrants from the Other Side."  Reviews several types of emigration records, including emigration passenger lists; permissions to emigrate; and passports and passport applications.  Reviews the availability of emigration passenger lists at major European ports.  Compares information in emigration records to that in U.S. immigration records, and illustrates the additional information that can be found in emigration records.  Los Angeles Family History Library, 10741 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024.  Admission is free.

• Wednesday, February 18, 2015, 7:00 p.m.  South Bay Cities Genealogical Society.  "Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor Online."  In the last decade and a half, a variety of immigration and emigration databases have become available over the Internet. These databases have the potential to make searching for immigrant ancestors much easier and quicker than the older microfilm or print databases. A number of such databases are discussed in this lecture, including the Ellis Island Database, Ancestry.com immigration and emigration databases, and FamilySearch.org immigration databases. The limitations of these databases are discussed, and search tips offered for each database.  Katy Geissert Civic Center Library Community Meeting Room, Torrance, CA.

• 2015 Southern California Genealogy Jamboree, Saturday, June 6 & Sunday, June 7, 2015.  Southern California Genealogical Society.  1) "Polish State Archives Databases," Saturday, June 6, 2015, 2:00; 2) "Reading Russian-Jewish Vital Records for the Non-Russian Speaker," Sunday, June 7, 2015, 8:30 a.m.; 3) "Finding Anatevka:  Maps & Gazetteers in Jewish Genealogy," Sunday, June 7, 2015, 2:30. Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel, Burbank, CA.  Requires separate conference registration, from $70 to $195. 

• Saturday, July 11, 2015, 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.  Orange County California Genealogical Society.  "Finding Vital Records Online - Beyond FamilySearch and Ancestry.com;" and "Breaking Down Brick Walls:  Three Case Studies."  The first lecture illustrates some of the many different types of websites where one can find information on births, marriages and deaths beyond the obvious genealogy sites of Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.  These include the vital records agencies of different states, counties and localities; archival agencies at the same three governmental levels; various libraries, including state, local and university libraries; and historical and genealogical societies.  The second lecture is described in a previous entry.  Huntington Beach Library, 7111 Talbert Ave. (at Goldenwest Ave.), Huntington Beach, CA 92648, Rooms C & D, Lower Level.  $5.00 charge for non-members.