Researching Criminal Ancestors

In this presentation, “Researching Criminal Ancestors: Finding the Hidden Stories,” Ron Arons demonstrates how to research “black sheep” ancestors, relatives who might be difficult to research for a variety of reasons. Building a foundation with “standard” genealogical records (census, vital records, city directories, etc.), Ron then moves into the more unique records that exist for likely lawbreakers. He will give specific recommendations regarding the methodology of researching such characters. Research like this enlivens family history as we follow our ancestors off the straight and narrow to a perhaps more crooked but colorful path.

Born in New York, Ron Arons was reared a goodie-two-shoes. Aside from five moving violations, he has never been afoul of the law. Ron worked for many years as a marketer at many high-tech companies, including Texas Instruments, Ashton-Tate, and Sybase, before deciding to work full time on his first book, The Jews of Sing Sing. Ron became…