Finding family in the Big Apple can seem like a daunting task. This New York Family History School course provides attendees with a concrete understanding of New York City’s history, its boroughs, and the essential records and repositories available for research.
This course in its entirety is available to watch on demand, and registrants have 60 days to complete the full course.
Two live group sessions will also be offered for Q&A with the presenter (dates to be determined).
New York City—A Historical Overview for Genealogists
In this session we will: define what New York City means; review historical events (1800–1950); understand the boundaries and wards.
New York City Vital Records
In this session we will: explore what vital records exist (1800–1950); learn to use indexes and other methods to find records; discover how to access records.
Essential New York City Records: Census, Tax, City Directories, and Others
In this session we will: understand which essential records exist for tracing New York City residents (beyond vital records); discover online resources to find New York City’s essential records; explore on-site repositories that hold New York City’s essential records.
Locating and Using Religious Records in New York City
In this session we will: understand why religious records are important for New York City research; learn to identify potential religious institutions in New York City; explore methods to locate and find religious records related to New York City.
Records and Resources of the New York City Municipal Archives
In this session we will: learn about the Municipal Archives holdings; explore online collections and resources; discover more in-person collections.
About the Presenters
D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS, FUGA, is the President of the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society (NYG&B), an organization dedicated to preserving, documenting, and sharing family history and stories from across New York State. A nationally known and recognized genealogist, Joshua was named President of the NYG&B in 2016 and is an Officer, Trustee ex Officio, on NYG&B’s Board of Trustees.
Susan R. Miller is the Director of Publications at the NYG&B. She is also the editor of the NYG&B's award-winning publication the New York Researcher and the managing editor of the New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer. Sue has been with the NYG&B for over 25 years, researching her family history in New York and New England.
