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Genealogy Guide: Resources at the Center for Jewish History

Introduction

The YIVO Library has many memoirs, autobiographies, biographies, and family histories.

Biographical Dictionaries

The following Yiddish-language books contain biographical information about individuals who were prominent in political movements, occupations, and culture. For biographical resources on rabbis, please see our online Rabbinical Genealogy research guide.

Herts, Jacob Sholem (ed.). Doyres Bundistn. Nyu York: Unzer Tsayt Farlag, 1956-1968. Profiles of activists involved in the Jewish Labor Bund.
000047591

Jeshurin, Ephim H. (ed.). Arbeter Ring boyer un tuer.  Nyu York: Arbeter Ring boyer un tuer komitet, 1962.  Profiles of founders and leading activists in the Workmen’s Circle.
000065630

Kagan, Berl. Leksikon fun yidish-shraybers. New York: Rayah Ilman, 1986. A dictionary of Yiddish writers.
Reading Room  PJ 5121 .K3 1986

Niger, Sh. and Shatzky, Jacob (eds.) Leksikon fun der nayer Yidisher literatur. Nyu-York: Alveltlekher Yidishn Kultur Kongres, 1956-1981. A dictionary of Yiddish writers.
Reading Room  PJ 5121 .L4

Reisen, Z. Leksikon fun Yidisher literatur, prese, un filologye. Vilne: B. Kletskin, 1926-30. A dictionary of Yiddish writers, journalists, and scholars.
Reading Room  PJ 5121 .R38

Shvaytser, Shelomoh (compiled and ed.). Shures Poyle-Tsi'en:­ portretn. Tel-Aviv: ­Y. L. Perets,­ 1981. Biographical descriptions of Socialist-Zionist activists.
Reading Room  DS 150 .L4 S39

Zylbercwaig, Zalman. Leksikon fun yidishn teater. New York: Hebrew Actors Union of America, 1931-1969. A dictionary of people who worked in Yiddish theater.*
Reading Room  PN 3035 .Z9
* The New York Public Library has posted an online alphabetical index of names in the Leksikon (in Yiddish). It is highly recommended that you consult the index prior to using the Leksikon.

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