Ella Barkan, in addition to being a genealogist, is also a teacher, arts therapist, biography writer and artist.

She was involved in the Liepaja memorial project heading by Prof. Edward Anders and assisted in locating and obtaining information from survivors.

Ella has also assisted with translation of Hebrew portions of the Yad Vashem database, the Liepaja Jewish cemetery book and the work of Christine Usdin.

She has contributed to a project of interviewing holocaust survivors.

She has instructed genealogy courses and advised researchers regarding their Latvian ancestors. She gave talks in Salt Lake City (2014) and in Jerusalem (2015) IAJGS conferences.

Latvia SIG Luncheon*: “Two Lines in a Praying Book” (Mon-123), 11:45 A.M.-1:15 P.M.

Vague memories, an old picture and a praying book – that was all I had and, of course, many doubts, as well.

Are those leads enough to divulge new discoveries?

Given the fact that there was no name or surname. Besides lack of information, some of my relatives had a common surname, which directed me into uncertain paths. Some of them emigrated from Latvia to US, but most perished in the Holocaust in Latvia and in Lithuania.

What tools did I use? What sources contributed to my research? What could I learn about their lives? Did I find names only and no stories? And finally, did I find my relatives?

Category: Beginning genealogists

Topic: Ashkenazic research, Cemetery research, Immigration and migration over the ages, Jewish history and culture, Jewish surname adoption and naming patterns

*Note: Attendance at SIG luncheons requires registration for the event and an additional fee of $44 (non-Kosher meal) or $54 (Kosher meal) per person.