Historical Research, Family Histories, Biographies, Communal and Institutional Histories

Ros has been commissioned to undertake a number of projects.
In 1993 she was commissioned to research and write the history of the Harrogate Jewish Community in memory of Stanley Burton. Ros interviewed many members of the Harrogate community and researched the local communal records, the local press, censuses and histories and the Jewish Chronicle and other national Jewish sources. The book ‘The History of the Harrogate Jewish Community’ was published by Leeds University Press in 1995. It is available for £15 via Ros Livshin.

In 1995 she was commissioned to write the biography of Dr Bernard Sandler, by his son Michael Sandler. Dr Sandler was born in Sheffield to immigrant parents in 1907 and grew up in Manchester. After school he attended Manchester University to read medicine and qualified as a doctor in 1930. Whilst acting as a GP he became interested in the treatment of infertility and in 1940 was appointed Gynaecological Registrar at the Manchester Jewish Hospital. He became an expert in infertility and wrote a number of papers on the subject in different medical journals. The biography not only covers his medical career as a pioneer in infertility treatment, but also his whole life history, from early childhood, to marriage and his involvement in communal affairs, both Jewish and non Jewish. The biography draws upon oral testimony and documentary sources and is illustrated. ‘Dr Bernard Sandler. A Biography’ was privately published in Manchester in 1997.

Ros was then asked by Michael Sandler to research and write the history of a long standing firm of solicitors in Altrincham. The origins of the firm lay in the 1730s in Altrincham. Part of the research for this involved Ros working on the papers of the Earls of Stamford located at the John Rylands Library, Deansgate. She also worked on many local sources from censuses and newspapers to published histories of Altrincham, as well as interviewing members of the firm and sifting its documentation. The book, ‘The History of Keoghs and Nicholls, Lindsell and Harris’ was privately published in Manchester in 1998.

From 1998 Ros’ family asked her to work on the family history of her great grandfather, Reb Chatze Cohen of Sunderland, originally of Kretinga. Ros interviewed family members from each branch of the family and copied photographs and documents. Not only has information been gathered on each of Reb Chatze’s 16 children but also on the families of his 4 siblings, his two wives and 3 of his father’s siblings. These families are spread all over the world and the project has enabled contact to be re-established with many of the branches, especially through the internet. It is hoped that a family web site will be established shortly.

Ros has also been commissioned to undertake research for the research projects of other people. In 1999-2000 she researched the obituaries of prominent people in Manchester for Prof Bill Rubinstein Department of History, University of Wales. In 2000 she researched the Murray papers, held at the John Rylands Library, Deansgate, for a book by Paul Pace on the History of the 42nd or Royal Highland Regiment (the Black Watch), 1775-1784. The Murray papers consisted of correspondence between General Lord John Murray in Britain and his Regiment in America, during the American War of Independence.

For research/family histories/biographies/ in-depth life story interviews contact Ros.

Publications

Rosalyn contributed a chapter to the book, The Making of Modern Anglo-Jewry, edited by David Cesarani. (Oxford )1990

The History of the Harrogate Jewish Community, Rosalyn D Livshin (Leeds) 1995

Dr Bernard Sandler - A Biography, Rosalyn D Livshin (Manchester)1997

The History of Keoghs, Nicholls, Lindsell and Harris, Rosalyn D Livshin (Manchester) 1998.