Writing family history to be topic of Jewish Genealogical Society

Genealogist, copy editor and writer Martin Fischer will give a presentation called “Write It! Tips for Saving and Sharing Family History in Written Form” at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, at the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois meeting at Temple Beth-El, 3610 Dundee Road, Northbrook, Ill.

Sign-in, networking, and the JGSI genealogy help desk and research library will open at 12:30 p.m. before the main program begins at 2 p.m. For more information, see https://jgsi.org/event-3151691 or phone 312-666-0100.

In this presentation, Fischer will discuss the many different forms genealogical writing can take, describe the writing process and explain how to organize a piece of family history writing. He will offer tips on writing problems to avoid and suggest possible topics family historians may want to write about. His presentation will include a brief introduction to pre-writing techniques of outlining, mind-mapping and stream-of-consciousness rough drafting. He will also explain the value of focusing on a family history topic by creating a thesis statement and will share several examples from his own family history writing.

This presentation is intended to inspire even the most reluctant writer to take the steps necessary to start a genealogy writing project that will be worth saving and sharing.

Martin Fischer has been doing family history research since the 1970s and created an extensive family history website, martinfischer.webs.com, which he started in 2004. The vice president of publicity for the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois, he is also a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, International Society of Family History Writers and Editors, St. Louis Genealogical Society, American Copy Editors Society and Editorial Freelancers Association.

Fischer has written articles for the St. Louis Genealogical Society Quarterly; Avotaynu: The International Review of Jewish Genealogy; Morasha, the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois newsletter; Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly, Archives.com and Chicago Tribune.

He works part-time as a copy editor for the Chicago Tribune’s Production and Design Studio and is an adjunct online sociology faculty member of the City Colleges of Chicago. Until a few years ago he also taught introductory college writing and sociology courses for the University of Phoenix.

At most regular JGSI monthly meetings, its genealogy help desk operates from 12:30 to 1:55 p.m. Member volunteers access online databases and answer genealogical questions one-on-one for members and visitors as time allows.

The JGSI research library has more than 800 volumes of interest to Jewish family historians. Many are available for borrowing by JGSI members for a limited time. All are available for perusing from 12:30 to 1:55 p.m. at most regular monthly meeting.