Family Story Finder

The sweep of family history across the generations

Janis Brenner—a Ratner in motion
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An innovator in modern dance and choreography since breaking in with the Murray Lewis Dance Company in the 1980s. The Ratners moved geographically. Janis moves artistically.

Mel Brenner
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Mel accomplished many things in life, but his life’s greatest moments happened during the Battle of the Bulge

Our Brenner cousins
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Janis, Leslie and Amy grew up—each a star in her own way.

Sandy Klein
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A precocious Ratner girl takes on life in midcentury America.

Seymour Rabinowitz and Harriet Berkowitz
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Seymour, also called Samuel, was partly estranged from the family. He worked as a truant officer in the New York City schools. His daughter Harriet Berkowitz discovered our blog and contributed a trove of precious documents.

The Bennetts in Scobey and Helena
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Of the four Bennett children who grew up on the Scobey ranch, Judith was the little sister

The Stetson family’s manifest destiny
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From stalwart Yankee roots, Herbert and Hattie Stetson went west with the country