Finding Treasure in the Archives

If you've never worked in an archive, that first visit may feel a little daunting. But archives aren't just for professional or academic scholars, they are open to everyone and can open up doors for your family history. This webinar will be presented from two perspectives, an archivist and a user. Kate Dietrick, archivist for the Berman Jewish Archives will prepare you for what you can expect when you visit the archives and advise you on how to plan for your visit so you use your time wisely. Susan Weinberg, author and genealogist, will share the experience of a user of both the MN Historical Society and the Jewish Archives and the treasures she discovered on individuals and the broader Jewish community while doing research for her book, We Spoke Jewish.

Kate Dietrick has been the Archivist for the Upper Midwest Jewish Archives at the University of Minnesota Libraries for the past seven years. Prior to her time at the University of Minnesota she lived in New York and worked as an archivist at the Whitney Museum of American Art and with the Kress Foundation. She has her Masters of Information and Library Science from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, with certificates in both Archives and Museum Libraries, and her Bachelor of Arts in History and Women's Studies from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. 

Susan Weinberg is an artist, writer and professional genealogist. She enjoys solving puzzles and telling stories and genealogy offers her many opportunities to do so. Weinberg serves as President of MNJGS and is on the board of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest. She is the author of We Spoke Jewish: A Legacy in Stories, a book based on the stories of Jewish elders in Minnesota. She has done research in many archives around the world and loves the feeling of anticipation that she feels upon entering one.