Risa Daitzman Heywood
Get to know your Jewish immigrant ancestors...
Research by Risa
Currently accepting clients for...
- Speaking / Presenting
Family History Research
- Ethnicity / Religion
- Family History Research
- Immigration / Naturalization
- Tutor / Coach
Speaking/Presenting
- Family History Research
- Methodology & Resources
- Available for in-person events
- Available for virtual events
Writing/Publishing
- Author/Writer
- Tutor / Coach
I am a professional genealogist specializing in Jewish ancestry research. I love helping my clients solve their genealogy puzzles, especially finding that elusive shtetl name. I have been involved with Jewish genealogy for almost 30 years.
I am past-President of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Colorado, served as co-chair of the original Belarus Special Interest Group, and travelled to Belarus as a JewishGen ShtetlSchleppers liaison. Although, I split my time between Arizona and Portugal, I make regular research trips to New York and have also traveled internationally with clients.
I am past-President of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Colorado, served as co-chair of the original Belarus Special Interest Group, and travelled to Belarus as a JewishGen ShtetlSchleppers liaison. Although, I split my time between Arizona and Portugal, I make regular research trips to New York and have also traveled internationally with clients.
Geographic Specialities
- Russian Empire (Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and eastern Poland)
- United States
- Great Britain
- South Africa
Testimonials
Over and above her facility in researching records, Risa has the experience to analyze those records and to put the information she finds in context. I feel like I know my great-great-grandmother - where she lived, what she wore and how many cows & chickens they had. We went together to her small town in Slovakia which was amazing. S.D.
I want to thank you sincerely for your help and expertise over the past year in uncovering key details about my somewhat murky family history. R.B.
You did such a great job with all of this research -- thank you! M.S.
Over and above her facility in researching records, Risa has the experience to analyze those records and to put the information she finds in context. I feel like I know my great-great-grandmother - where she lived, what she wore and how many cows & chickens they had. We went together to her small town in Slovakia which was amazing. S.D.
I want to thank you sincerely for your help and expertise over the past year in uncovering key details about my somewhat murky family history. R.B.
You did such a great job with all of this research -- thank you! M.S.
Publications/Media
Risa Daitzman Heywood, "The Industrial Removal Office: How a Little-Known Program Scattered Jews Throughout the United States," DOROT, vol. 45 (Summer 2024): 1, 5-8.
Risa Daitzman Heywood, "The Power of the Catalog: How to Find Unindexed Records," Avotaynu: The International Review of Jewish Genealogy, vol. 36 (Spring 2020): 15-17.
Risa Daitzman Heywood, "The Industrial Removal Office: How a Little-Known Program Scattered Jews Throughout the United States," DOROT, vol. 45 (Summer 2024): 1, 5-8.
Risa Daitzman Heywood, "The Power of the Catalog: How to Find Unindexed Records," Avotaynu: The International Review of Jewish Genealogy, vol. 36 (Spring 2020): 15-17.
Lectures
My lectures include:
My lectures include:
- For the Protection of Girls and Women – The Crisis of Jewish “White Slavery,” 1880-1920
- The Industrial Removal Office - How a little-known program scattered Jews throughout the United States
- The Proven Path to Finding your Family’s Town and Original Surname
- Missing Manifests: Tips for Finding Those Elusive Passenger Lists
- Hungarian Holocaust Journey - A Daughter's Search for Family
- The Importance of Thorough American Research
- Jewish Genealogy for the non-Jewish Genealogist
- Introduction to Jewish Genealogy – Getting Started
Research Time Periods
- 20th Century
- 19th Century
Languages
English - native fluency
Russian, German and Yiddish - research languages
Portuguese and Spanish - spoken, written and research
English - native fluency
Russian, German and Yiddish - research languages
Portuguese and Spanish - spoken, written and research
Certificates
ProGen 45 Certificate in Genealogical Research (Boston University)
ProGen 45 Certificate in Genealogical Research (Boston University)