Genealogist Ellen Kowitt to speak about Jewish archival collections for the Feb. 22, 2026, JGSI hybrid meeting
"Surfing USA: Jewish Archival Collections” will be the lecture topic of genealogist Ellen Kowitt for the Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois hybrid meeting. Her talk will begin at 2 p.m. CST via Zoom and at Temple Beth-El, 3610 Dundee Road, Northbrook, Illinois. Ellen will be speaking remotely, and her talk will be projected onto the wall at Temple Beth-El.
The JGSI meeting facilities at Temple Beth-El will open at 12:30 p.m. CST for those who want to use genealogy library materials, get help with family history websites or ask genealogical questions before the main program begins at 2 p.m. CST.
A registration/RSVP link will be available here in the future.
In her talk, Ellen will inspire you to locate unique Jewish genealogical gems found in American archives, universities, libraries, and on commercial websites. She will explain how to access large and small collections found nationwide; you will learn how to uncover archival treasures utilizing WorldCat, Archivegrid, FamilySearch, Ancestry, and a variety of institutional catalogs. Record examples will include American Jewish orphans, hospital patients, veterans, synagogue records, Jewish newspapers, and an introduction to navigating JewishGen’s Shul Records America finding aid.
Ellen Kowitt is founder and principal genealogist at Sole Searching Genealogy & Historical Research. Specializing in American records and Jewish ancestry, she is a frequent presenter at national conferences and has published articles in Family Tree Magazine and Avotaynu: The International Journal on Jewish Genealogy. Topics include getting started in Jewish genealogy, methodology, Jewish institutional records, comparing Jewish resources on the genealogy giant websites, Russian Empire research, and Holocaust in Ukraine.
Ellen received her B.A. from Alfred University and spent 25 years working in marketing management and communications before transitioning into full-time research. She has completed the ProGen study program and several genealogical institutes, and Ellen is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists. While accepting clients, she continues to volunteer and is JewishGen USA Research Division Director and D.A.R. Jewish Specialty Research National Vice Chair. In 2022, Ellen launched Shul Records America for JewishGen, a unique finding aid pointing to the location of synagogue records in over 130 repositories.
Originally from New York and Washington, D.C., Ellen resides in Colorado with her husband and is mother to two college students. For more information and lecture dates, visit www.EllenKowitt.com
If you plan to attend the JGSI meeting in person, be sure to come to our pre-meeting on Feb. 22, 2026, from 12:30 through 1:45 p.m. CST: Free consultations for JGSI members and non-members alike will be available. Wondering how to begin your family tree search? Have a brickwall? Need assistance with a DNA test—which company to test with or need help interpreting results? Need help navigating a website such as Jewishgen? Need assistance in writing your family history? Several of our volunteer genealogy experts will be on hand to assist you.
Let us help. Prior to our scheduled 2 p.m. Sunday program at Temple Beth-El, we will meet from 12:30 until 1:45 to devote our attention to you and your situation in the social hall, lower level.
The JGSI meeting facilities at Temple Beth-El will open at 12:30 p.m. Central Time for those who want to use genealogy library materials, including our collection of maps; get help with family history websites, ask genealogical questions, or just chat, before the main program begins at 2 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome; however, registration is strongly encouraged.
more information about JGSI, visit our website. For more information about membership benefits, click here.
