As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, please join the NYG&B for an online two-day seminar on conducting research in key repositories needed to tell the stories of our New York ancestors who served in the military. Experts on military research will lead sessions focusing on the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War and on repositories, including the Society of the Cincinnati, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Library, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), and the New York State Archives.
This is an online event only. All sessions will be recorded and made available to registrants for on-demand viewing through April 9, 2026.
Seminar Schedule (Subject to Change)
Friday, February 6
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10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. |
DAR Resources for Tracing Revolutionary War Families and Communities Presented by D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS, FUGA, President, NYG&B |
The DAR maintains rich collections that illuminate not only Revolutionary War soldiers but also the families and communities connected to them. Learn how to use DAR databases, Bible records, genealogical files, manuscripts, and local chapter materials to place your ancestor within their broader social and geographic context. |
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11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. |
Tracing Revolutionary Officers: Connecting Ancestry with Service in the War for Independence Presented by Tom Lannon |
This session explores how genealogical research can reveal the real military experiences of ancestors who served as officers during the American Revolution. Founded in 1783 by those very officers, the Society of the Cincinnati preserves their legacy as the nation’s oldest memory-based organization devoted to the ideals for which they fought. The Society’s American Revolution Institute res arch library has a premier collection of manuscripts, orderly books, military records, rare printed sources, and genealogical materials documenting the lives and service of Revolutionary officers. Drawing on these exceptional resources, this session will demonstrate how family history and military history come together to reveal the human stories behind the War for Independence. |
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12:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. |
Lunch |
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1:45 – 2:45 p.m. |
Revolutionary War Research at the New York State Archives |
Archivists James D. Folts, PhD, FGBS, and Michael Maloney, MLIS, join Susan R. Miller, to explore the resources and records of the New York State Archives (NYSA) to research American Revolutionary War individuals. NYSA records include fiscal documentation of Continental and militia service, land grants to eligible veterans of the war, and prosecution of Loyalists. The session will open with highlights of NYSA resources, and then the presenters will discuss website resources, digitized records, and on-site research materials. Published sources will also be included. |
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3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
Case Study: Ancestral Service in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 Presented by Annette Burke Lyttle, CG® |
This case study focuses on a Massachusetts veteran of the Revolutionary War, who migrated to eastern New York by way of Vermont, and his three sons, who served in the War of 1812 from the town of Bolton, New York. This session will examine how military records can help you reconstruct ancestors’ service as well as their migrations and family connections. |
Saturday, February 7
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10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. |
Tracing New York Ancestors in the War of 1812: Records, Clues, and Hidden Stories Presented by Annette Burke Lyttle, CG® |
New York was on the front lines of the War of 1812, and our ancestors who served left behind a rich trail of military documents that hold useful genealogical information. This session focuses on record groups available at the New York State Archives and other repositories. Attendees will learn how to uncover stories of service during one of America’s often overlooked conflicts. |
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11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. |
War of 1812 Military Records at NARA: A Treasure of Kinship Information Presented by Rick Sayre, CG®, CGL, FUGA |
This session will take a look at the records held at NARA and how they are genealogically significant, including service records, pensions, and lesser-used resources such as payment records. Special attention will be given to the best way to access these records (e.g., what’s online versus what you must get in person at NARA). |
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12:45 – 1:45 p.m. |
Lunch |
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1:45 – 2:45 p.m. |
I Have a Civil War Ancestor. Now What? Presented by Brian Rhinehart |
Civil War soldiers often left a rich genealogical paper trail, many of which are tucked away at NARA in Washington, D.C. In this session, learn which records are only available for your ancestors at NARA, what records are online already, and how to access all of them. These records may unlock some of the family stories that have been forgotten over time as well as break down a brick wall or two! |
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3:00 – 4:00 p.m. |
Archival Routes to New York’s Civil War Soldiers Presented by D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS, FUGA, President, NYG&B |
This session highlights key New York–based archival resources for researching Civil War ancestors, whether they remained in New York or settled elsewhere after the war. Explore core collections at the New York State Archives, Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) materials, manuscript collections, county archives, local histories, and historical newspapers, along with practical strategies for following veterans across state lines. |
Pricing
- NYG&B Member Early Registration: $189 (ends January 27, 2026; after that registration rate for members is $215)
- General Registration: $259
About the Presenters
Thomas Lannon is the Library Director for the American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati in Washington, D.C. A specialist in the American Revolution and the preservation of archives and primary sources, he previously worked at the New York Public Library. His work centers on Revolutionary War officers, the Enlightenment’s influence on the intellectual development of military leadership, and the documentary records that reveal 18-century life. An experienced information professional, Thomas supports democratic institutions through equitable access to knowledge and is committed to making historical collections engaging and accessible to scholars, genealogists, and the public alike.
Annette Burke Lyttle, CG®, owns Heritage Detective, LLC, providing professional genealogical services in research, education, and writing. She speaks on a variety of genealogical topics and loves helping people uncover and share their family stories. Annette is a course coordinator for the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy and the British Institute. She is a published writer whose research interests include Quaker ancestors and ancestral migrations in the United States. She is past president of the Association of Professional Genealogists and editor of The Florida Genealogist.
An NYG&B member since 1993, Susan R. Miller oversees the NYG&B’s print and digital publications. She is the editor of the New York Researcher magazine, New York State Archives Guide: For Family Historians, Biographers, and Historical Researchers, and New York City Municipal Archives Guide and a managing editor of the New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer. A graduate of Brown University, Susan is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and several other genealogical and historical societies.
Brian Rhinehart is a professional genealogist and speaker and is the owner of CivilWarRecords.com. He is a graduate of Boston University’s Certificate of Genealogy Research and is a regular researcher for the television show Finding Your Roots. A direct descendant of eight Civil War soldiers, Brian specializes in research and record retrieval for Civil War and War of 1812 soldiers at NARA in Washington, D.C., and has retrieved military files for hundreds of clients there.
Rick Sayre, CG®, CGL, FUGA, is a long-time researcher, author, course coordinator, instructor, and lecturer at national conferences and seminars. Rick’s areas of expertise encompass records relating to: the U.S. military, the DAR, the Library of Congress, NARA, federal and state land records, government documents, and maps used for genealogy, urban research, and Irish research. Rick a past-president of the Board for the Certification of Genealogists. He is also a fellow of the Utah Genealogical Association.
D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS, FUGA is the President and CEO of the NYG&B and a nationally known and recognized genealogist. 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 (SLIG) and the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP) 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.
