NYSFHC @ Home 2021 features a wide variety of sessions that will help you find more ancestors. Unlimited viewing of on-demand sessions runs September 1 through October 18. Live sessions on Saturday, September 25 will be broadcast again on Sunday, September 26, and will be available to watch on-demand after that date.
Read below for details about each session.
The Truth about Family History
Russell Shorto | September 1, 6:30 pm ET
As we open NYSFHC @ Home 2021, noted author Russell Shorto explores the truth behind family history, including the collision of facts and stories, and the journey of self-discovery.
All are welcome to view this session (no ticket or registration required). Visit newyorkfamilyhistory.org at 6:30 pm ET / 3:30 pm PT on Wednesday, September 1 to view the broadcast.
Your First Steps After Taking A DNA Test
Shannon S. Christmas, MCP | September 10, 1:00 pm ET
Learn easy ways to position yourself for genetic genealogy success. Hear how, with a few simple steps, you can use your DNA results to help demolish genealogical brick walls, answer seemingly unanswerable questions, uncover family secrets, and discover secret families.
This free session will stream LIVE on Friday, September 10. Following the broadcast, a recording will be available on-demand through October 18 for NYSFHC @ Home 2021 ticket holders.
How Do I Approach New York
Susan R. Miller | September 10, 2:00 pm ET
Whether you are starting or restarting New York research, knowing a few fundamental points about the state will set you in the right direction. This session covers a bit of history, governmental organization, and several key resources to move forward in New York genealogy.
This free session will stream LIVE on Friday, September 10. Following the broadcast, a recording will be available on-demand through October 18 for NYSFHC @ Home 2021 ticket holders.
What's the Difference: NYS and NYC Genealogy
Susan R. Miller | September 10, 3:00 pm ET
My people were from New York! But which New York? Understanding of the State and the City can lead to success. An overview of historical boundaries and discussion of key record sets will aid you in finding ancestors. Please note this session will be held on Friday, September 10 live for our community.
This free session will stream LIVE on Friday, September 10. Following the broadcast, a recording will be available on-demand through October 18 for NYSFHC @ Home 2021 ticket holders.
Researching Online: Best Practices and Avoiding Mistakes
D. Joshua Taylor, MLS | September 10, 4:00 pm ET
Billions of records can be found online. Knowing where (and how) to conduct your research is vital. Together we will explore tips and resources to maximize your success when searching online.
This free session will stream LIVE on Friday, September 10. Following the broadcast, a recording will be available on-demand through October 18 for NYSFHC @ Home 2021 ticket holders.
What’s Next? Where to Learn More about New York Research
NYG&B Team | September 10, 5:00 pm ET
Ready to explore the next steps in your New York research? Using the resources of the NYG&B and more, members of the team explore using online records, identify online and offline resources to deepen your understanding, and show more about organizations and projects to further explore New York.
This free session will stream LIVE on Friday, September 10. Following the broadcast, a recording will be available on-demand through October 18 for NYSFHC @ Home 2021 ticket holders.
21st-century Italian Genealogy
Michael Cassara | On-demand
There has never been a better time to pursue Italian genealogical research! With more and more records available online, this talk provides a strong overview for the beginning researcher, while including some lesser-known resources that will be of interest to even the most advanced researchers.
Michael Cassara is a professional genealogist and lecturer based in NYC, specializing in Italian/Sicilian genealogy, NY and NJ research, and genealogical technology.
African American Families: The Hills Community, 1830–90s, Westchester County, NY
Edythe Ann Quinn, Ph.D. | On-demand
Family, church, and land ownership provided stability for The Hills community. The Civil War service of 35 Hills men resulted in six deaths, multiple injuries and illnesses, and influenced increased poverty, outmigration, and community decline in the 1890s. Primaries include Civil War letters, service and pension records, and newspaper accounts.
Edythe Ann Quinn, Ph.D. is an Emerita Professor of History at Hartwick College. She is the author of Freedom Journey: Black Civil War Soldiers & The Hills Community, Westchester County, NY. SUNY PRESS: 2015
Beginning Family History Research in the Island of Enchantment: Puerto Rico
Debbie Gurtler, AG | September 25, 1:15 pm ET, repeats September 26, 1:15 pm ET
This presentation will demonstrate the basic resources used for researching your ancestors from Puerto Rico. This includes census, civil registration, and Catholic Church records.
Please note this session will be held on Saturday, September 25, and repeat on Sunday, September 26 to accommodate the schedules of all attendees. A live Q&A will follow each broadcast, and the session will then be available to watch on-demand through October 18.
Debbie Gurtler, AG, works at the Family History Libary in Salt Lake City where she helps guests with ancestors from Spain, Latin America, Italy, Portugal, and France.
Finding Your Swedish and Danish Parish of Birth
Jill Morelli, CG | On-demand
Intimidated about international records? Think that not knowing the language is an impediment? Then this is for you! Danish and Swedish records are some of the easiest to understand and if you can read one you likely can read the other. Using country-wide indexes has made finding your parish of birth and accessing the records easier.
Jill Morelli, CG is a writer and lecturer specializing in the Midwest and Scandinavia. In 2017, she founded the online Certification Discussion Group sharing her journey to receive the credential.
Six Elements of Success for Beginning Ashkenazi Genetic Genealogists
Emily Garber | On-demand
You've received your DNA test results. Now what? This talk will provide guidelines for conducting simple analyses of autosomal test results. The emphasis will be on cousin matching: selecting the most promising matches to research further. Examples will include results on Ancestry, MyHeritage, 23andMe, and Family Tree DNA.
Emily Garber is a Jewish genealogy researcher and speaker, who has worked in the USA and Europe. She holds a certificate from Boston University's Genealogical Research program, is on the board of the IAJGS.
Tracing West Indian Ancestors: Strategies & Resources
Diane M. Warmsley, MS | On-demand
This presentation will introduce participants to a 5-Step Research Model to guide genealogical research in the West Indies. Civil and church records will be illustrated to demonstrate the technique of connecting family lines. A host of resources will be shared and emphasis is given to the British West Indian experience.
Diane M. Warmsley holds a certificate in Professional Genealogical Research from Boston University's Center for Professional Education. She presents on a variety of genealogical topics.
Colonial Research: New York and Dutch
William T. Ruddock | On-demand
Early colonization of what is now New York State resulted in challenges which can be overcome through understanding the available records.
William T. Ruddock has deep roots in the Hudson Valley; has authored books and articles concerning New York colonial families and is a contributing editor to The NYG&B Record.
Courting the Empire State: New York’s Early Court Records
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL | September 25, 4:00 pm ET, repeats September 26, 4:00 pm ET
New York’s laws—Dutch, English, early Statehood, and post-1847—created a confusing plethora of courts with differing names and records. But with perseverance and persistence—and a little bit of luck—the records of the Empire State's courts offer much for the genealogist researching ancestors from colonial times to the present.
Please note this session will be held on Saturday, September 25, and repeat on Sunday, September 26 to accommodate the schedules of all attendees. A live Q&A will follow each broadcast, and the session will then be available to watch on-demand through October 18.
The Legal Genealogist, Judy G. Russell, is a genealogist with a law degree who provides expert guidance through the murky territory where law, history, and genealogy intersect.
FamilySearch.org for New York Researchers
Robert Raymond | On-demand
Learn about resources on FamilySearch.org for New York researchers. Resources old and new, beginner and advanced, records and more.
Robert Raymond is a FamilySearch deputy CGO and a former director of NGS. He is a popular speaker and writer. Robert is a genealogical technologist with 40 years of experience in technology and genealogy.
Lesser-known Collections at the NYC Municipal Archives
Susan R. Miller | On-demand
Learn about six New York city-agency created collections held by the New York City Municipal Archives—beyond birth, marriage, and death records. Access varies—including online, partially online, microfilm, and manuscript on site—and will be covered. Don’t miss the Bodies in Transit Registers collection for people nationwide.
Susan R. Miller is NYG&B’s Director of Programs; New York Researcher editor; and a managing editor of the New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer.
New York Records on Ancestry
Crista Cowan | September 25, 12:00 pm ET, repeats September 26, 12:00 pm ET
Ancestry has more than 120 million historical records specific to the state of New York. There are an additional 27 billion records on the site and more than 100 million family trees. Join Crista Cowan for a look at what records are available and how best to navigate them.
Please note this session will be held on Saturday, September 25, and repeat on Sunday, September 26 to accommodate the schedules of all attendees. A live Q&A will follow each broadcast, and the session will then be available to watch on-demand through October 18.
Crista Cowan has been a professional genealogist since 2002, and she has been employed by Ancestry since 2004. Known as The Barefoot Genealogist, Crista has a regular YouTube show designed to help people discover their stories
New York State Maps and Atlases: Genealogical Research Applications
Phillip Sutton, MSLIS | On-demand
This session will explore the cartographic collections of The New York Public Library, and how they can be used to further genealogical research. The focus will be on New York state and New York City maps and atlases.
Philip Sutton is a research librarian at The New York Public Library Irma and Paul Milstein Division of US History, Local History and Genealogy, where he teaches and writes about genealogy research.
Turnpikes, Canals, and Railroads: Transportation and Migration in New York State
Karen Mauer Jones, CG, FGBS, FUGA | On-demand
This lecture examines the history, impact, and records associated with each of these modes of transportation. Each mode affected New York State history, generated different records, and necessitate different research strategies.
Karen Mauer Jones, CG, FGBS, FUGA, is an author, lecturer, professional genealogist, and former editor of The NYG&B Record.
Unlocking Roman Catholic Records on Findmypast
Jen Baldwin | September 25, 2:45 pm ET, repeats September 26, 2:45 pm ET
Learn about the home of the Catholic Heritage Archive, including the Archdiocese of New York, on Findmypast—a must-use resource. Get a glimpse of Catholic records from across North America, and the British Isles.
Please note this session will be held on Saturday, September 25, and repeat on Sunday, September 26 to accommodate the schedules of all attendees. A live Q&A will follow each broadcast, and the session will then be available to watch on-demand through October 18.
Jen Baldwin is the North American Data Acquisition Manager, and Project Manager, Catholic Heritage Archive, Findmypast. She writes, lectures, and consults on a variety of genealogy topics.
10 Essentials for New York Research
Jane E. Wilcox | September 25, 10:45 am ET, repeats September 26, 10:45 am ET
By understanding 10 key concepts, records, and resources for researching NY, gain more success navigating the challenges of NY research. Featured: governmental jurisdictions; vital, probate, and land records; state censuses; online and offline resources; NY State Library & Archives; cluster research, and NY Family History Research Guide/Gazetteer.
Please note this session will be held on Saturday, September 25, and repeat on Sunday, September 26 to accommodate the schedules of all attendees. A live Q&A will follow each broadcast, and the session will then be available to watch on-demand through October 18.
Jane E. Wilcox serves on the NY State Archives Advisory Committee and the NYG&B’s Family History Advisory Committee. With her company Forget-Me-Not Ancestry, she specializes in pre-Civil War NY research.
A Tour of Genealogical Research Repositories for Western New York: Some Gems
Jane E. Wilcox | On-demand
Explore unique resources and collections held by public libraries, county archives, town historians, historical and genealogical societies, universities, ethnic societies, museums, and online holdings for Western New York research. Apply what you learn to any repository in New York or elsewhere.
Jane E. Wilcox serves on the NY State Archives Advisory Committee and the NYG&B’s Family History Advisory Committee. With her company Forget-Me-Not Ancestry, she specializes in pre-Civil War NY research.
Using NYPL's Research Guides to Further Your Genealogy Research
Sue Kriete, JD, MSLIS | On-demand
Not sure how to begin researching your family home or business? Confused about the 1890 Police census? Need help searching the census by address? Is it possible your ancestor was a suffragette? NYPL's growing library of research guides and blogs can help you with all of these topics and so many more.
Sue Kriete is a Reference Librarian at the Irma and Paul Milstein Division of US History, Local History and Genealogy, New York Public Library.
Creating Family Archives
Margot Note | On-demand
Learn the easy steps to take to save what's meaningful to you. In this session, you will learn the tips and tricks professional archivists use to preserve materials. Get quicker, easier, affordable results for organizing your personal and familial history collections.
Margot Note is the author of Creating Family Archives: A Step-by-Step Guide for Saving Your Memories for Future Generations.
Location is Everything. In Real Estate and Genealogy
Daniel Horowitz | On-demand
Locations are some of the key points of genealogy research. Recognizing when the places you've recorded were misspelled, incomplete, or wrong can pave the way to discovering new clues about your ancestors' lives. Daniel will show you the correct tools and methodology for analyzing locations and gaining new insights.
Daniel Horowitz has been dedicated to genealogy since 1986. Since 2006 Daniel has been working at MyHeritage, liaising with genealogy societies, lecturing, and attending conferences around the world.
Picture This! Images We Can Freely Use
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL | On-demand
Copyright. Licensed. Public Domain. The difference between an image that’s covered by one of these terms rather than another can be the difference between getting sued for using an image in your genealogy report or book or blog or website – and having no problems at all.
The Legal Genealogist, Judy G. Russell, is a genealogist with a law degree who provides expert guidance through the murky territory where law, history, and genealogy intersect.
Timelines: A Path to Your Next Research Steps
Annette Burke Lyttle, MA | On-demand
Organizing research results is a perennial problem for genealogists. Timelines are a powerful tool, allowing us to see relationships between information items and enabling us to draw conclusions and see what research remains to be done. They can help us turn seemingly impossible research projects into manageable ones.
Annette Burke Lyttle specializes in teaching how to uncover and share family stories. She is on the board of the Association of Professional Genealogists and is editor of The Florida Genealogist.