JGSO: U.S. Immigration and Naturalization – AND – Jewish Fraternal Organizations of the Early 20th Century

Hal Bookbinder has graciously agreed to present two of his very popular programs on the same day. Hal is a former president of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies and currently serves on the JewishGen Board of Governors. In 2010 he was honored with the IAJGS Lifetime Achievement Award.

The first presentation will start promptly at 10:30 am. It will be followed by a 15-20 minute intermission. Light refreshments will be provided. The second presentation will begin Immediately afterwards. Please join us for this special event.

U.S. IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION:
Description: One of the first things that the newly created United States of America did was to establish laws covering naturalization. These laws were administered by the states with many variations. Over the years, the laws were changed. In 1906 the Federal Government took control of the entire process. The standardized documentation after 1906 has proven invaluable to genealogical researchers. Similarly, laws controlling immigration have also changed over time with the Federal Government taking control in 1890. The speaker’s maternal grandmother was born in St. Louis, Missouri and so was an American citizen by birth. In 1917 she married a man who was brought to the U.S. as a toddler. Upon marriage she lost her American citizenship and was not to be an American again until being naturalized in 1936. This lecture will provide a short history of immigration and naturalization laws and provide general guidance in finding your ancestor’s documentation.

JEWISH FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS OF THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY:
Description: Our ancestors created a wide variety of organizations to provide mutual support, from religious to social, educational, insurance and burial services. “Landsmanshaften” brought together individuals who came from the same town in Europe. Sometimes they were formed as lodges of a fraternal organization, like the Independent Order, Sons of Jacob. These organizations paralleled existing American ones incorporating the pomp and secrecy of Masonry, Pythians and Odd Fellows. They provided a safety net through life and health insurance and offered social opportunities to lead and to be recognized. Hundreds of thousands of our immigrant ancestors participated during the heyday of these organizations in the first half of the 20th century. While most were male-focused, women participated through auxiliaries and occasionally fully independent orders. Understanding these organizations provides important insights into the experiences of our immigrant ancestors.