The Together Plan at the 44th Annual IAJGS Conference in Philadelphia

This month, we had the privilege of participating in the 44th Annual Conference of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) in downtown Philadelphia. The event, held at the Downtown Sheraton Hotel, brought together approximately 900 genealogy enthusiasts from around the world for an intensive five-day experience. Organised by the IAJGS and hosted by the Jewish Genealogical and Archival Society of Greater Philadelphia (JGASGP), the conference offered a unique opportunity to explore, network, research, learn, and connect with others passionate about genealogy, DNA research, family tree building, and archival studies.

As exhibitors at the conference, we were thrilled to meet attendees and share more about the work of The Together Plan, with a particular focus on our Archive Search Service. This service assists individuals in locating records within the Belarus archives, a resource that has proven invaluable to many who believed their family histories were lost to time. With our office in Minsk and our dedicated team of archivists on the ground, we are uniquely placed to be able to expertly guide people through the complex journey in search of records that are so very difficult to access. We run a very professional and personal service which we are extremely proud of and we love the connections we make as we hand hold our clients every step of the way.

 

 

We hosted a speaker session titled “Tracing Centuries: Challenges of Archive Searches in Belarus Across Shifting Empires,” where we delved into the complexities of researching records in Belarus, a region historically governed by various empires—from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth to the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. Our work has successfully uncovered records dating back to the early 1700s, often surprising those who assumed such documents no longer existed. During the session, Debra Brunner and Carl Kaplan from The Together Plan provided insights into the unique challenges of navigating archives that span centuries and different regimes.

 

 

Our session attracted a significant audience, underscoring the demand and appreciation for our archive search services. Throughout the conference, we had numerous in-depth conversations with attendees who expressed frustration at the difficulties they faced when trying to access records from Belarus. We were pleased to be in a position to offer solutions and break down those barriers for them.

It was an honour to exhibit and present alongside esteemed organisations like Yad Vashem, the Center for Jewish History in New York, MyHeritage, Geni, Ancestry and a whole host of others. The conference itself was a fascinating gathering of like-minded individuals, creating an electrifying atmosphere as people shared their passion for genealogy. Whether they had been investigating their family histories for decades or were just beginning their journeys, attendees were united by a common goal—to uncover their roots.

 

 

With advancements in tools, services, and even AI technology, the field of genealogy is rapidly evolving. From identifying faces in old photographs to accessing rich data from newspapers dating back to the 1600s, the resources available to genealogists are expanding like never before.

 

 

Time and again, we heard from attendees who had hit a brick wall when it came to searching for records in Belarus. It was immensely rewarding to be able to tell them that we are here to help break down those walls. If you are on a quest to build your family tree and need assistance in uncovering information about ancestors from Belarus, we encourage you to reach out to us. We are here to help.

To learn more about our archive search service, click here