Several New York State genealogy societies will be hosting programs in January.
Volunteers of the Buffalo Irish Genealogical Society will be at the Heritage Discovery Center on Saturday, Jan. 6 and Saturday, Jan. 13 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to help with genealogical research. For more information, email librarian@bigswny.org
The Polish Genealogical Society of New York will present “Polish Peasants” on Thursday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. Learn about the history of the Polish peasantry. The presenter will also present the available sources for genealogical research, as well as discuss ways in which they can be used effectively.
To register, go to: https://pgsnys.online/meetings/
The Westchester County Genealogical Society will present on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 10 am. The topic will be “My Surname is Not My Bloodline.” This will be a Zoom presentation. To find out how to receive the link for the program, go to: https://www.facebook.com/WCGSinNewYork
The Rochester Genealogical Society will present “Tracking Down your Eastern European Ancestors” on Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 6:45 p.m. In spite of the many wars, boundary changes, and political and natural catastrophes, an astonishing number of records exist for our Eastern European ancestors, both here and abroad. Even if you don’t speak any foreign languages, you can still find great information about your overseas ancestors. Explore strategies for locating ancestral places of origin, uncovering original names, finding and requesting records, understanding the documents, and coping with language challenges. To register, go to: https://mms.nyrgs.org/Calendar/moreinfo.php?eventid=101636
The New York Genealogical & Biographical Society will present “The Historic New Paltz Project” on Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 6:30 p.m. Learn about the Historic Huguenot Street’s (HHS) three-year project to preserve and digitize significant historical documents from its own archival collections, as well as materials from project partners the Haviland-Heidgerd Historical Collection at Elting Memorial Library, the Reformed Church of New Paltz, and the Town of New Paltz. This project encompasses documents ranging from the mid-1600s to about 1830, and it has allowed the partners to conserve, digitize, and make available online at NYHeritage.org nearly 20,000 pages of documents thus far. These document provide detailed insight into the lives of New Paltz residents. To register, go to: https://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/events/making-history-visible
Volunteers of the Buffalo Irish Genealogical Society will be at the Heritage Discovery Center on Tuesday, Jan. 16 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to help with genealogical research. For more information, email librarian@bigswny.org
The Rochester Genealogical Society will have a DNA Help Session on Wednesday, Jan. 17 from 10 a.m. to noon. It will take place at the Irondequoit Public Library. DNA Help Sessions are designed to assist individuals and/or small groups answer DNA questions and help guide you in utilizing DNA in your research. Please register and complete the short registration form and if you have any questions, please email DNA@nyrgs.org.
The Western New York Genealogical Society will present “Wide World of Passports” on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 10:30 a.m. Look beyond passports issued by the United States government! We’ll examine an array of passports from different countries and time periods, and how to incorporate this information into your research. Be prepared to dig through online and traditional archives to break brick walls. To register, go to: https://www.wnygs.org/meetings
The Jewish Genealogical Society of Central NY will present “Historical Newspapers” on Sunday, Jan. 21 at 1:30 p.m. This will be a Zoom presentation. Colorful family tidbits as well as a wide range of cultural, social, military and historical information can be found in historic newspapers. Buried within them are clues that may suggest and lead you to additional new and important genealogical records and resources. To register for the program, go to the Facebook page of the Central NY Genealogical Society at: https://www.facebook.com/CNYGS
The Jewish Genealogy Society of New York will present “Guide to Cornell’s Jewish Institutional Ledgers Collection” on Sunday, Jan. 21 at 2 p.m. This will be a Zoom presentation. Cornell University Library recently acquired a set of materials offering a vivid picture of continuity and change in Jewish immigrant life, especially in the first half of the twentieth century. The Jewish Institutional Ledgers Collection, given to Cornell by an anonymous donor, contains over 300 items, including accounting books, meeting minutes, memorial books, membership lists and other material from Jewish institutions primarily in New York City. Most of these are synagogues and Landsmanshaft organizations. There is a $5 fee for non-members. For more information, go to: https://jgsny.org/
*The Genealogical Society of Rockland County will present “Old Military Records Available from the National Archives” on Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. This is a Zoom only meeting. Watch a pre-recorded presentation from the National Archives on understanding and locating military records from the Revolutionary War through 1917. It will examine regular military branches as well as state regiments and militias. Learn what information can be gleaned from these records as well as ancillary sources such as military medical records. To register to receive a link to the presentation, go to: https://newcity.librarycalendar.com/event/genealogical-society-rockland-county-meeting-old-military-records-44053
The Captial District Genealogical Society will present “Uncovering Life Stories from Death Records” on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 1 p.m. This program will cover civil death records—what information they include, how to find them, and how to follow clues to ancestral stories. This also will include discussion on how to interpret and evaluate the information provided by considering the informant listed, cause of death, and more. Registration closes at midnight on the Thursday before the meeting. For more information on upcoming meetings, go to: https://www.capitaldistrictgenealogicalsociety.org/saturdays
The Niagara County Genealogical Society will present “Organizing Your Digital Files” on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 10:30 a.m. Using color, consistency and naming conventions, you will learn how to tackle the task and regain control of your digital files. The program will cover cloud storage options, redundant backups and provide many examples of best practices in organization. To register, go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIoc-qprjIiG9y0KjKvuuk_2_8pd0Z9uFZw#/registration
