Preserving Your New York Story: Unique Aspects of Researching Enslaved People in New York State

Thursday, May 29 from 12:00pm EDT - 12:45pm EDT
In-person and Online
36 West 44th Street, Suite 711, New York, NY
Presented By LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson and the NYG&B Team
Sponsored by New York Genealogical and Biographical Society

Family history is a fascinating and personal way for everyone to better understand who they are and how our past has shaped us. Genealogy also helps to reveal and strengthen connections between individuals and communities. But how do you get started?

Join the NYG&B and guest speaker LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson for a look at the key essentials for beginning your genealogy journey; resources and tips specific to researching enslaved people in New York State history; and how you can preserve your own New York family stories.

Participants can join us in person at the NYG&B New York City office or virtually. This is a free program, but registration is required.

Speaker Bio

LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson headshot

LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, JD, LLM, CG®, FASG, earned a BA from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, and both a Law degree and a Master of Laws degree from New York University. She enjoyed a 35-year career as a tax lawyer before her 2013 retirement from a partner-level position at Ernst & Young, and is now a full-time genealogist focused on teaching and writing. Her research centers on African American families that survived American slavery. She has been a trustee of the Board for Certification of Genealogists® since 2016 and served three terms as BCG President from 2019-2022. In 2021 LaBrenda was elected as the 170th Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists (ASG), the field’s honorary scholarly society.


This series is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

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