My paternal family was itinerant photographers who started in Kedainiai Lithuania in the mid 1850's and migrated to Gomel and Minsk. At the turn of the century they had one of the largest photography studios in Gomel. Aron Gofman was the proprietor, but his children were involved as well. I'm looking for photos with cardstock (cabinet photos) that are embossed with A.I. Gofman Photography on them. I am also looking for family members as we have no idea what happened to them, but we would like to create a photography page with any photographs that were taken by the studio. In Boston, we are already working with the Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center on an exhibit, but we would like to tie that back to Gomel. Louis Hoffman, my great grandfather was the photographer in Boston, Aron was his brother. We also beleive that Girsh (Harry) had a studio in Belarus as well.
One tie between the two, was Aron's son, Jacob. He arrived in Boston in 1907 and filed his first papers in 1909. By 1912 we have a picture of him back in Belarus wearing a Russian uniform. We have no idea what happened. We believe we have found his grave in the Prodkovskoye Cemetery. I don't know anything about him past the 1912 photo.
Anyone having photos with Gofman studio logo, or information about my photography family are welcome to contact me. I'd love to create a photo expose on Jewish life in Belarus using the photographs as the basis.
Suzanne Hoffman
Thegenealogymaven@gmail.com
773-789-7795
