PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On Thursday, March 5, at 7 p.m., professional genealogist Kathryn Lake Hogan will present "How to Trace Ancestors Through Letters and Postcards," a Jewish Federation of the Berkshires Zoom program examining correspondence as a key resource for family history research.

 

Register on the calendar of events page at jewishberkshires.org.

 

According to a press release:

 

Letters and postcards can open a uniquely intimate window onto family history, and a forthcoming virtual program will explore how these often-overlooked materials can help genealogists uncover powerful personal and historical insights. Hogan will explain how letters and postcards allow researchers to hear ancestors' voices, document family relationships, and capture the details of everyday life. Participants will also learn strategies for locating correspondence within families, archives, and public collections, and how postal routes and geography can illuminate patterns of migration. The program will conclude with guidance on correlating correspondence with census data, directories, and vital records.

 

Kathryn Lake Hogan, UE, PLCGS, is a professional genealogist and educator with deep roots in Canada. She is the founder of Looking4Ancestors and a graduate of ProGen 4 and the International Institute for Genealogical Studies.