Reconstructing a Family’s Journey: Oral History, Research, and Storytelling

May 27th, 2026 | 6-7:00 PM | Spokane, WA

Author Ken Baronsky explores how memory, research, and storytelling can come together to share stories and honor lives that might otherwise be forgotten.

This Washington State Jewish Historical Society presentation traces the reconstruction of a family history in the early 1900s, spanning Russia, Siberia, Asia, and the Pacific Northwest. Drawing on his family’s oral history interviews, archival materials, and personal discovery, Ken Baronsky explores how memory, research, and storytelling can come together to share stories and honor lives that might otherwise be forgotten.

The talk is based on the research behind his recent historical novel. It highlights the challenges and rewards of working with family materials—from handwritten records in multiple languages to unexpected connections across generations—and reflects on the importance of preserving voices, documents, and images before they are lost.

The presentation starts at 6 pm. 30 minutes prior to the presentation and 30 minutes after it, our Story Booth will be there to record attendees' thoughts and experiences in short-form interviews (about 3 minutes per person) centering on the themes from Ken's presentation as well as Jewish identity in general.

Click here to learn more about Zayde's Crossing. 

Questions? Reach out to sday@spokanelibrary.org or info@wsjhs.org.