Barbara Krasner | History Writer

My Home Is Gone - Remnants of Jewish Poland
Available for exhibit and sale. Contact Barbara at barbarakrasner@att.net.

Survivor: The History of the Library
History Magazine article that explores the birth of the library and its survivability through time

Cane River: From Oral History to Best-selling Novel

Lady Liberty
The colossus we know as the Statue of Liberty owes its beginning to a humble dinner party that took place outside Paris in 1865.

Driving the Adoption Curve
Article for Enriching Communications, the custom customer publication for Alcatel-Lucent

The Kearny Public Library and Its Town: A Pictorial History
Years of planning came to fruition on a Saturday afternoon, July 27, 1907, when several hundred Kearny residents gathered to officially dedicate and open the Kearny Free Public Library. Local personalities including Kearny's mayor, Dr. Eugene Goldberg, John Cotton Dana, head of Newark's public library, and Father Thomas Conroy of St. Cecelia's carried a serious but inspiring message for the day: the opening of a door of learning for generations to come. They also expressed gratitude to philanthropist Andrew Carnegie for his donation that made it possible to build the library. A red ribbon bookmark with the golden words "Knowledge Is Power" accompanied an open book made completely of white carnations and pansies.

Come along on this journey and meet the people who helped make the library the soul and cornerstone of Kearny. You'll meet Mary Peck, who began Kearny's first lending library from her Beech Street home; Mayor Eugene Goldberg, who dedciated the library and in his role as physician, gave first aid lessons in the library during World War I; the KilGour sisters, Edna and Belle, who served as the town's first library directors; Jessie Hipp, who documented the town's history through significant milestone events such as Kearny's Centennial and the American Bicentennial and helped establish the Kearny Museum; and current and former Kearny residents who shared their experiences for this book. Whether you're new to the town or your family has lived in Kearny for generations, your journey through The Kearny Public Library and Its Town will prove to be unforgettable.

Images of America: Kearny’s Immigrant Heritage
New!

"This book provides a visual record of the many threads that make up the ethnic tapestry of Kearny. While attesting to the richness and diversity of Kearny's immigrant communities, what struck me the most was the commonality shared by all. Immigrants of all ethnicities settled in the area seeking jobs and cherishing the freedoms enjoyed in our nation. Along the way, each immigrant community celebrated and remembered their traditions while seeing their children and grandchildren reach heights that their forebears dreamt
about."

Images of America: Kearny, New Jersey
“By using black-and-white photos from the early 19th century, the author allows you to imagine yourself or distant relatives walking through Kearny. Photos of the past light up one’s imagination more effectively than words can.”

Discovering Your Jewish Ancestors
“Using a step-by-step, easy to follow approach, Krasner-Khait takes you by the hand in exploring historical records, archives, libraries, Web sites and more. Woven into the instruction are tons of success stories that will motivate and inspire.”