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How to Do Research at YIVO
The Archives and Library at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research represent the single largest and most comprehensive collection of materials on Eastern European Jewish civilization in the world. With 24 million unique items in the YIVO Archives and nearly 400,000 volumes in all European languages in YIVO's Library, the possibilities for research are endless. Join YIVO archivists Hallel Yadin and Ruby Landau-Pincus for overviews and how-to guides for newcomers and tips for researchers to access the collections more easily.
Upcoming
Reading a Finding Aid
Thursday, May 2, 2024 | 1:00pm ET
Learn what information researchers can expect to discover in a finding aid. This workshop will provide an overview of a range of finding aid formats, from digital finding aids to legacy finding aids and other resources available for navigating collections in the YIVO Archives.
Past Sessions
Pursuing Research Projects
Tuesday, October 24, 2023 | 1:00pm ET
Learn how to pursue a research project using the YIVO Archives. This program will cover the very basics of doing research at YIVO, including formulating a research question, finding existing research, identifying sources through bibliographies, and effectively using the Center for Jewish History’s catalog.
Accessing Digitized Materials
Monday, October 31, 2022 | 1:00pm ET
Go over the portals that contain digitized archival and library materials, as well as tips for navigating each portal effectively.
What is an Archive?
Thursday, September 29, 2022 | 1:00pm ET
Explore crucial and fundamental questions including: What is an archive? How is an archive different from a library? How are archives and libraries used, and by whom? What key terminologies associated with archives and libraries are useful to know? Learn the basics of how to search for material at YIVO.
A Practical Introduction
Monday, March 14, 2022 | 1:00pm ET
Find out what one can expect to find in YIVO's extensive archival and library holdings and how to access the collections. Learn tips on how to use YIVO's databases to effectively search for and organize materials.
Related
Researching with the Edward Blank YIVO Vilna Online Collections Project
Tuesday, February 22, 2022 | 1:00pm ET
Director of the YIVO Archives Dr. Stefanie Halpern offers a brief introduction to doing research with the digitized materials of the Edward Blank YIVO Vilna Online Collections project.