JGSO: Handwriting Analysis For Genealogists

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Oregon is pleased to present Handwriting Analysis for Genealogists by Ron Arons

Description:     This presentation will cover both document examination and graphology. The former is the more accepted discipline of comparing questioned samples with known handwriting samples. For decades courts have allowed document analysis as evidence in probate cases, etc. Graphology is the more questionable “art” of trying to determine personality characteristics and behavior based on the analysis of signatures and handwriting in general. Although a “soft science” graphology has some merit. Examples of both how document examination and graphology can be used in genealogical research will be provided. Also, various software packages and books that can help understand these two topics will be discussed.

Bio:     Ron has presented at 12 of the past 15 IAJGS conferences on a wide variety of subjects and has also been behind the scenes at 3 IAJGS conferences to help produce “Game Show Night/Jewish Genealogy Jeopardy”. Ron has traced his roots to Lithuania, Poland, Romania, England, Belarus, and the Ukraine. In 2006 Ron appeared on the PBS TV series The Jewish Americans. He has published three books including The Jews of Sing Sing and, most recently, Mind Maps for Genealogy. Ron earned a B.S. in Engineering from Princeton and an MBA from the Univ. of Chicago.