Registration for the New York State Family History Conference Opens Wednesday, Feb 11th

The second New York State Family History Conference will take place in Syracuse, NY, September 17–19, 2015 and bring together hundreds of researchers from across the country who want to learn about their New York roots.

The Central New York Genealogical Society and the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society are cosponsoring the 2015 New York Family History Conference. This year’s event will also be a Federation of Genealogical Societies Regional Conference.

The three-day conference will be held September 17–19 at the Holiday Inn & Conference Center Liverpool, just outside Syracuse, New York. It will attract hundreds of researchers—both amateur and professional—and top experts in the field.

Nationally known speakers, Judy Russell, JD, CG, CGL, The Legal Genealogist; Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, FASG; David E. Rencher, AG, CG, FIGRS, FUGA, FamilySearch.org; Curt B. Witcher, Allen County Public Library; D. Joshua Taylor, Findmypast.com and President, Federation of Genealogical Societies; Dick Eastman, author and publisher; James D. Folts, Ph.D., New York State Archives; Henry B. Hoff, FGBS, editor of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register; Blaine Bettinger, Ph.D., The Genetic Genealogist; Ed Donakey, FamilySearch.org, VP of FGS; Eric G. Grundset, Library Director, DAR Library; Jim Ison, CG, FamilySearch.org; Matt Knutzen, New York Public Library; Jen Baldwin, Findmypast.com; and, New York-specialist, professional genealogists Laura Murphy DeGrazia, CG, FGBS; Karen Mauer Jones, CG, FGBS; Terry Koch-Bostic and Jane E. Wilcox will give lectures.

Registration opens on February 11 at the FGS2015 conference in Salt Lake City and online. The registration fee for the three-day conference (excluding meals and printed syllabus) is $140 for the first 75 registrants (available through March 31 or until sold out); members of the CNYGS or the NYG&B receive a $25 discount. Purchase tickets in the online store at www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org.

The conference responds to the rapid growth in interest in family history research and, in particular, the demand for information about families who lived in New York State.

Attendees will have an opportunity to advance their skills in researching New York families, to build general skills and through 30 lectures in three parallel tracks and learn ways to build their local genealogical and historical societies through the FGS Focus on Societies day. In addition there will be three luncheons and a dinner, all with riveting speakers; and open-to-the-public Society Showcase; and exhibits by vendors and societies. The conference program and exhibitor information may be found on the conference website, www.NYSFHC.org.

New York State poses numerous challenges for even the most experienced family history researcher. The New York State Family History Conference will break down research barriers and provide a forum that brings people together to share their research knowledge and problem-solving experiences and to collaborate on key research issues.

Sponsors of the conference include the Federation of Genealogical Societies, the Capital District Genealogical Society, FamilySearch.org, Findmypast.com, the New England Historic Genealogical Society, the New York Public Library, the New York State Archives and New York State Library, and the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.

For the full press release, please visit: http://www.fgs.org/upload/files/NYSFHC_2015_Press_Release_Registration_Opens.pdf

NYG&B Society Announces Publication of the New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer

Have roots in New York?

If you have research interests in the state of New York, you are going to want to get a copy of the latest publication from the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer.

Read the full press release below for more information about this great resource for New York researchers. If you will be attending FGS 2015 in Salt Lake City next week, you can purchase your copy there at their booth!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

          

Media Contact

Cathy Michelsen

212-755-8532, ext. 208

cmichelsen@nygbs.org

NEW YORK, NY, February 2, 2015 — The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society announced the publication of the New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer, a comprehensive, first-ever, 856-page reference book.

“The book is absolutely unprecedented in its breadth and depth, covering records in the State of New York for all the major ethnic and religious groups that have lived here. As a reference for family historians, it is simply indispensable,” said Jeanne Sloane, the Society’s chairman.

This ambitious volume has been three years in the making. The review committee comprised top experts on New York research, including four former editors of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, the flagship journal for New York genealogy: Laura DeGrazia; Karen Mauer Jones; Henry B. Hoff, current editor of the New England Historic Genealogical Register; and Harry Macy Jr., the unofficial dean of New York genealogists, who served as the book’s consulting editor.

Early praise for the book has come from David S. Ferriero, Archivist of the United States; Ann Thornton, Andrew W. Mellon Director, The New York Public Library; and David Rencher, Chief Genealogical Officer, FamilySearch.

D. Joshua Taylor, Director of Family History at Findmypast, wrote, “This book is an absolute masterpiece. The words ‘essential’ and ‘comprehensive’ are simply not enough to describe it.”

Henry Louis Gates Jr. wrote, “This volume is certain to become the standard for the nation and an indispensable resource for anyone hoping to trace ancestral journeys in—and beyond—the Empire State.”

More than 100 historians, archivists, librarians, and genealogists across the state reviewed and contributed content about local and regional resources and key topics in New York family history. The result is a book of more than 856 pages with:

• Chapters on major record groups and research resources, including the most up-to-date and comprehensive review of New York State’s extremely complicated vital records system
• Information on research resources for sixteen major ethnic and twelve major religious groups that have lived in New York
• Gazetteers, maps, and research guides to each of New York’s  62 counties, including the five boroughs of New York City
• An index of over 11,000 place names and place-name variants past and present--the first published gazetteer of its kind since 1872
• More than 100 separate, categorized, special-topic bibliographies vetted by genealogists
• Timelines of key events in New York history from 1609 to 1945 that impact genealogical research

The book’s annotated table of contents is accessible on the Society’s website NewYorkFamilyHistory.org.

The New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer may be purchased either in the  online store at NewYorkFamilyHistory.org, by calling (212) 755-8532, or by mailing a completed order form (from the website) with a check to the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 36 West 44th Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10036-8105. The book retails for $85 and is available to NYG&B members for $65 and to libraries and societies for $75.

New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer

Prepared by the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society 2015. Softcover, 8.5 x 11, 856 pages, including place-name index. Retail $85

ISBN 978-0-692-31998-7

About the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society

The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society has been a primary resource for research on New York families since 1869.  By offering educational programs, scholarly and informational publications, and online resources, the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society helps people of all backgrounds build connections with their families and their communities, especially those linked to New York City, State, and region,­ and to appreciate their families’ experience in the broader context of American history.  The NYG&B maintains an eLibrary of unique digital material, including the entire run of its quarterly scholarly journal The NYG&B Record, for its members at newyorkfamilyhistory.org.

FGS Marshals Its Hundreds of Member Societies to Help Global Family Reunion Fight Alzheimer's

The Federation of Genealogical Societies and the Global Family Reunion Join Forces for the Largest Family Reunion in History

As genealogists and family historians, visiting and interviewing family members is one of the first steps we do when we begin to discover our family history. In fact, capturing our families' stories is an integral part of the research process. For many, it can even be the paramount reason for beginning the search in the first place.

Many times, family historians are left to lament the fact they didn't start sooner...didn't capture those stories...didn't ask...didn't try to find answers and stories...until it was too late.

Moreover, it can be absolutely devastating when the reason we cannot learn the family stories from those who came before us is because of a disease like Alzheimer's, which robs people of their minds...their stories...their self-identity...their lives.

And best-selling author and three-time TED talk speaker A.J. Jacobs along with, well, the world is planning the Global Family Reunion to show how everyone is connected and to show how finding how everyone is connected can be a powerful thing. Powerful enough to fight Alzheimer's.

Because of the amazing advances in technology, the Internet, genealogy, and DNA research, we can find out how we are all connected to each other. According to Jacobs in his most recent TED talk, finding how we are related gives us, "...an unprecedented history of the human race..." and a sense of "interconnectedness." Watch his less than 10 minutes inspiring TED talk below:





The plans for the Global Family Reunion on June 6, 2015 in New York are well under way to include presentations by celebrities, genealogists, and famous scientists, music, comedy, games, interactive exhibits, and food. (You can't really have a family reunion without the food, right?)

Plus, FGS is joining forces with Global Family Reunion to facilitate the organization of branch parties at genealogical societies across the United States and around the world to bring the live-streamed event to the branch parties. It will be a global event of epic proportions.

But there's just one essential element missing. And that's you. Using the tools available on the Global Family Reunion website, find out today how you are connected to the rest of the world, and then share it with everyone...your whole family! How are you connected? How are you a cousin?

Because, after all, we are cousins in this one big Human Family coming together for our family reunion in order to fight Alzheimer's. Together, we can save our family members...and our family stories.

Genealogical Societies: Interested in organizing a Global Family Reunion branch party to live-stream this epic event and take part in connecting the world to fight Alzheimer's? Contact Randy Whited at info@fgs.org

Media: For a full press release with more information, please visit our Media Center. 

FGS Announces Upcoming Events for 2015 and 2016

2013 FGS National Conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

FGS Hosts 2015 Alaskan Cruise, 2015 New York Regional Conference, and 

Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary in Springfield, Illinois in 2016 

The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) is excited to announce its upcoming events lineup, which includes a 2015 FGS Alaskan Cruise, August 28th - September 4th; a 2015 New York Regional Conference in Syracuse in conjunction with the New York State Family History Conference, September 17th-19th; and the 2016 FGS National Conference in Springfield, Illinois, August 31st – September 3rd.

2015 Alaskan Cruise 
Join your friends and fellow genealogists on the first FGS Cruise in the fall of 2015. This 
event promises to deliver a memorable vacation and education from leading 
genealogists on a variety of topics. Watch for additional information in late 2014. 

2015 New York Regional Conference 
The New York State Family History Conference returns to Syracuse, New 
York September 17-19, 2015. Organized by the New York Genealogical and 
Biographical Society and the Central New York Genealogical Society, the second 
biennial conference has expanded to include three tracks of lectures, a significant 
increase in attendance, and an enlarged space that will accommodate many more 
exhibitors and societies of interest to attendees. One of the conference focal points is 
researching New York families, a pursuit that offers unique challenges and requires 
special techniques and knowledge; the other focal point is building general research 
skills. In 2015, the event will be hosted as a regional conference of the Federation of 
Genealogical Societies (FGS) who will provide topics and events for genealogical 
society leaders and volunteers as part of the conference's activities. 

2016 National Conference 
Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Federation of Genealogical Societies as we return 
to Illinois in 2016. Hosted in the Land of Lincoln, the 2016 conference will feature the 
latest news and updates from the family history community, a full exhibit hall, the 
popular Society Showcase, and sessions related to the Midwestern states, research 
methods, and other topics. 

FGS President D. Joshua Taylor states, “As we watch our organizations meet the needs 
of today's genealogists, we are delighted to offer a variety of activities for 2015 and our 
return to Springfield for our 40th Anniversary in 2016.” 

Currently, registration is open for the Federation’s 2014 National Conference, “Gone to 
Texas,” to be held in San Antonio, Texas, August 27th-30th. Further, the Federation has 
a Call for Papers for its 2015 National Conference, “Connect. Explore. Refresh.” to be 
held concurrently with Rootstech in Salt Lake City, Utah, February, 11th-14th.