Currently accepting clients for...

• Family History Research
• Speaking / Presenting
• Writing /Publishing

I have conducted genealogy research since 1975 and have done research for others since 2000. My specialties are Jewish, Black American, forensic (heirs and dual citizenship), and newspaper research; I have experience with East Indian, English, German, Irish, Russian, and Scottish family research. I also do research for corporations and teach classes in genealogical research techniques.
I have worked in publishing for more than 40 years. I have experience in every stage of production, from manuscript acquisition to printing and distribution. My primary expertise is in editing and indexing.
Specialties:
• Genealogical Research and Instruction
• Publishing (editing, indexing, translation, layout)
• Event Management (planning, on-site coordination, vendors)

Geographic Specialities
United States, Russian Empire, United Kingdom

Testimonials
My genealogy project had ground to a halt before I started working with Janice. Then it accelerated to warp speed, and here I am submitting my application for citizenship, much sooner and with better documentation than I ever imagined. I would never have arrived to this point without Janice's help, for which I am very grateful." - Brian R.

"Thank you for all the work you've been putting into researching my family! It is exciting to see pieces of their lives and learn where they came from." - Wendy B.

"I have included all your research. It made quite a difference." - Daniel K.

"EVERYONE appreciated all of the excellent information that you provided. Several people, with years of genealogy experience, came up and congratulated me for finding you. ... Your talk was detailed and well organized, and answered everyone s questions before they could even think of them. Your handout was excellent ....

Additional specialities or search keywords
Jewish; Black American; newspapers; editing; indexing

Publications/Media
Where I'm From", Santa Clara County Connections, Santa Clara County Historical and Genealogical Society, Fall 2016

"Unspoken Tragedies" (second author with Angela Williams Brown), The Baobab Tree, AAGSNC, Summer 2016

"Finding and Following the Paths of My Cuban Cousins", Avotaynu, Avotaynu, Inc., Summer 2016

"A Black Baker at the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition", The Baobab Tree, AAGSNC, Spring 2015

"When I Almost Cooked Dinner for Leonard Nimoy", ZichronNote, SFBAJGS, May 2015

"Zalmon Reuben Orlowsky: Portrait of a World War I Veteran", California Nugget, California Genealogical Society, December 2014

"The Chaotic Saga of Oil in Galicia" (translator), The Galitzianer, Gesher Galicia, December 2012; original article by Jerome Segal and Renaud Lavergne, "L'Epopee oubliee du petrole de Galicie", Geo-Histoire, October November 2012

"International Jewish Genealogy Month", ZichronNote, San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society, November 2010 (with Jeremy Frankel)

"Napoleon's Finest", Roots-Key, Jewish Genealogical Society of Los Angeles, Summer/Fall 2006

"The Value of Family History Travel", ZichronNote, San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society", February 2005

"Clues in Religious Traditions", More Brickwall Solutions to Genealogy Problems, Moorshead Magazines Ltd., 2004

"Keep Talking to Relatives!", More Brickwall Solutions to Genealogy Problems, Moorshead Magazines Ltd., 2004

"Lucky Thirteen", 500 Brickwall Solutions to Genealogy Problems, Moorshead Magazines Ltd., 2003

Lectures
Newspapers
• Read All about It!:  Using Online Newspapers for Genealogical Research
• All the New York News That's Fit to Read Online
• Using Online Historical Jewish Newspapers for Genealogical Research
• Using Online Historical Black Newspapers for Genealogical Research
• Using the Subscription Newspaper Web Sites at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries
• Follow a Family through 150 Years of Newspapers

Jewish
• Introduction to Jewish Genealogy
• Jewish Genealogy:  How Is This Research Different from All Other Research?
• Online Resources for Jewish Genealogy
• Using Online Historical Jewish Newspapers for Genealogical Research
• Bubbie, Who Are You?:  Finding the Maiden Names in Your Family Tree
• Isaac Joseph of South Carolina and Daniel Joseph of Virginia:  Brothers?
• Finding and Following the Paths of My Cuban Cousins

Black American
• Introduction to Black American Genealogy
• Online Resources for Black American Genealogy
• Freedmen's Bureau 2.0:  A Better Way to Do Slave Research
• Finding Family Members in Freedman's Bank Records
• Using Online Historical Black Newspapers for Genealogical Research

Introduction to Genealogy
• Introduction to Genealogy:  Family History to Share with Your Family
• Introduction to Jewish Genealogy
• Introduction to Black American Genealogy

Records
• The Census Survey:  The First Step in Your Research
• So You Found Them in the Census:  That's Only the Start!
• Vital Records and the Calendar Change of 1752
• Get Me to the Church on Time:  Finding Religious Records
• Where There's a Will:  Probate Records Can Prove Family Connections
• Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust:  What's Buried in Cemetery Records
• Anybody Home?:  Using City (and Other) Directories in Your Research
• Grandma, Who Are You?:  Finding the Maiden Names in Your Family Tree
• Immigration and Naturalization Research
• They Died in San Francisco:  A Little Used Source of Pre-1906 Deaths

Online Research
• Digging Deeper on FamilySearch
• Irish Research Online
• Online Resources for Jewish Genealogy
• Online Resources for Black American Genealogy
• Read All about It!:  Using Online Newspapers for Genealogical Research
• Using Online Historical Black Newspapers for Genealogical Research
• Using Online Historical Jewish Newspapers for Genealogical Research
• Using the Subscription Newspaper Web Sites at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries

Other Topics
• Dual Citizenship and Right of Return
• But It Wasn't a Foreign Language to Your Ancestors
• Researching Historic LGBT Relatives
• Why Would They Put It Online If They Didn't Want Me to Use It?:  Copyright Issues for Genealogy
• Cite This:  Citing Your Sources in Genealogical Research
• Reading and Transcribing American Colonial Handwriting
• What Is Forensic Genealogy Really?
• Reconstructing Family Information When You Start with Almost Nothing:  A Case Study
• Using Finding Aids for Jewish Records to Help Research Non-Jewish Ancestors

Shorter Presentations (suitable for luncheon and dinner events)
• A Tale of Two Brothers:  The Patriot and the Outlaw
• Amazing Things You Can Find in the Newspaper about Your Relatives

Repositories
Genealogical Forum of Oregon, Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon Archives, Clackamas County Family History Society, Oregon Historical Society, Oregon State Archives, Washington County (Oregon) Museum, Willamette Heritage Center, Yamhill County Historical Society

Research Time Periods

• 21st Century
• 20th Century
• 19th Century

Languages
French, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, Italian

Certificates
Forensic Genealogy Institute; ProGen Study Group 4

Affiliations
Genealogical Speakers Guild ; Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy ; APG Forensic Special Interest Group ; San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society ; Jewish Genealogical Society of Oregon ; Jewish Genealogical Society of Long Island ; Genealogical Forum of Oregon African American Special Interest Group

Degrees
BA (French (Spanish & Russian minors))