Searching for your New York ancestors online? Explore how to use search engines (such as Google) alongside key websites such as FamilySearch and Ancestry and online newspapers and digital collections. These unique sessions will include guided tours of key online resources and one-on-one consultations, enabling you to focus on your research. These sessions are ideal for those desiring to learn how to better explore the Empire State through online resources and will be applicable to any time period or area within New York State.
Online sessions include:
- Lectures on a range of topics
- Individual consultation sessions with guest expert genealogists
- Group Q&A periods
Lecture topics (subject to change):
- Advanced Google Techniques: Hands-on
- Using the NYG&B Online Collections
- Finding New York Ancestors at FamilySearch: Best Practices and Tips
- Understanding JSTOR: Hands-on
Courses run 11:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., ET each day.
This same course was offered February 12–14, 2024, for those who could not attend the summer sessions.
Course Fee
- NYG&B Member Early Registration: $399
- General Registration: $469
Consultant Bios
Jeanette Sheliga of Jeanette’s Genealogy lives in Lockport, New York, and has been lecturing about genealogy since 2011. Jeanette is the President of the Virtual Genealogical Association (VGA) and she holds positions in local, state, and national societies. Jeannette has completed the study groups of ProGen 49 and ProGen Practicum 02 and has attended many genealogy institutes.
D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS, FUGA, is the president of the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society (NYG&B). 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. Previously, Joshua held senior leadership positions with Findmypast and the New England Historic Genealogical Society and has volunteered in leadership positions for the Federation of Genealogical Societies and other organizations. A prolific author and popular speaker, Joshua has been a coordinator for courses at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy and the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh and is the recipient of RootsTech’s Distinguished Presenter Award. He has been a featured genealogist on Who Do You Think You Are? and was a host on the PBS series Genealogy Roadshow. Joshua holds a Master of Library Science degree in archival management and a Master of Arts degree in history from Simmons College. In 2017, Joshua was named as one of Library Journal’s Movers and Shakers, and in 2022, he was named as a Fellow of the Utah Genealogical Association.
About Empire State Exploration
The Empire State Exploration program is an ideal interactive experience for tracing New York ancestors online under the guidance of genealogy experts. Participants join a small online group of fellow researchers for three daylong, at-home sessions of guided research and learning. Each online session is held live and features a special guest expert genealogist, lectures, individual consultation sessions, and group Q&A periods. Participants have access to materials for 30 days following the program.