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 Ted Gostin
Professional Genealogist
Welcome to the home page of Ted Gostin! I am a professional genealogist with
over 30
years experience. Regardless of whether you are a beginner or an experienced
genealogist, I may be able to help you reach your research goals. I am available
for research on families from all geographic regions, but my specialties include Jewish
genealogy, Central and Eastern European research, and Southern California resources.
I am also the the owner of Generations Press, and the heir search firm Gostin
Research Associates. I am a longtime member of the Association of Professional
Genealogists. This site provides some details about my
services, as well as some examples of the types of records I work with and can obtain for
clients. It also contains links to other parts of my business, including my publishing
company, Generations Press.
View a "Who Do You Think You Are"
segment featuring Ted Gostin.
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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.
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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. |
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 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.
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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.
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Saturday, May
21, 2016, 1:00 p.m., Ventura County Genealogical Society, "Emigration
Records: Tracking Immigrants from the Other Side."
U.S. immigration records of the 19th century are often not very
informative, and emigration records – those documenting someone leaving
Europe – can often provide more information. This lecture reviews and
illustrates a number of different types of emigration records, including
emigration passenger lists; convict transport records; permissions to
emigrate; police registrations; and passports and passport applications;
and compares the information they contain to that in U.S. passenger
lists. Free admission.
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Tuesday, May 24, 2016, 6:30 p.m., Glendora Genealogy
Group. "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). La Tetra Center,
333 E. Foothill Blvd., Glendora, CA. Free admission.
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Saturday,
June 4, 2016, 8:30-9:30 a.m., SCGS 47th Annual Jamboree 2016.
"Finding Vital Records
Online - Beyond
Ancestry and FamilySearch". While many genealogists will
stop their search for online vital records after reviewing the
commercial site Ancestry.com and the Mormons’ FamilySearch website,
there are a multitude of other places on the internet where one might
find birth, marriage and death information. This lecture reviews and
illustrates the breadth of other vital records sources available,
including other online genealogy sites; local, county, and state level
public agencies; public, university and college libraries; and
historical and genealogical societies. Los Angeles Marriott
Burbank Airport Hotel, 2500 Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505.
Conference registration required.
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Saturday,
June 4, 2016, 3:30-4:30 p.m., SCGS 47th Annual Jamboree 2016. "Polish State
Archives Databases." Reviews the databases on the website
of The Polish State Archives, as well as its AGAD branch in Warsaw. Four
of the databases on the main website provide catalog or inventory
information on the holdings of the archives: inventories of vital
records (PRADZIAD) and census materials (ELA), and fond (record group)
descriptions (SEZAM) and deatiled inventories (IZA). The newest
database, ZoSIA, is an integrated database that incorporates the
descriptions and inventories of the four previous databases, and adds
scanned images of the records themselves. The AGAD branch has its own
digitization program on its own website, including many records from
eastern Galicia, now in Ukraine. Los Angeles Marriott Burbank
Airport Hotel, 2500 Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505. Conference
registration required.
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Wednesday,
September 21, 7:00 p.m., South Bay Cities Genealogical Society.
"Finding Vital Records Online - Beyond Ancestry and FamilySearch."
While many genealogists will stop their search for online vital records
after reviewing the commercial site Ancestry.com and the Mormons’
FamilySearch website, there are a multitude of other places on the
internet where one might find birth, marriage and death information.
This lecture reviews and illustrates the breadth of other vital records
sources available, including other online genealogy sites; local,
county, and state level public agencies; and from public, university and
college libraries, and historical and genealogical societies.
Torrance Civic Center Library, 3301 Torrance Blvd, Torrance, CA.
Free Admission.
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Sunday,
September 25, 1:30 p.m., Orange County Jewish Genealogical Society.
"Finding Vital Records Online - Beyond Ancestry and FamilySearch."
See description above. Temple Bat Yahm, 1011 Camelback St.,
Newport Beach, CA 92660. Free Admission.
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Saturday, October 15, 1:00 p.m., Whittier Area 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). Masonic Lodge, 7604
Greenleaf Ave., Whittier, CA 91602. Free admission.
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If you'd like to know more about my research services, please send me an
e-mail by clicking on the link above. Include a description of type of research
you're interested in, as much background about your family as possible, and the details of
research you've already done. I'll put together a research proposal letting you know
what my fees are and how I might be able to help. Please be sure to include your
full name (I don't generally respond to people who don't sign their correspondence) and
let me know where you are located. Because my work load may prevent me from getting
back to you immediately, please allow 1-2 weeks for a response to your inquiry.
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