2024 New York State Family History Conference

Now Available On Demand: 2024 New York State Family History Conference

You can still purchase access to all sessions from New York’s largest statewide family history conference, available to watch at your own pace through November 1, 2024. From the essentials needed for navigating New York research to using maps, newspapers, letters, and journals on your historical journey to understanding immigration and migration patterns, the conference offers a rich array of sessions to help participants hone their skills. See all session descriptions.

What to Expect

  • Some of the top voices and experts in the genealogy field lead these sessions, including Skip Duett, Annette Burke Lyttle, Jeanette Sheliga, D. Joshua Taylor, Jane E. Wilcox, and more.
  • With these on-demand sessions, you can learn at your own pace and refine your skills under three separate tracks: People of New York, Methods and Tools, and Records.
  • In addition to on-demand viewing of all sessions through November 1, 2024, you’ll have access to a downloadable 134-page conference syllabus with detailed notes and information on all of the sessions (hard-copy also available for purchase).
Medley of Syracuse and Erie Canal photos, illustrations and stamps

Pricing

  • On-Demand Viewing for Members: $209
  • On-Demand Viewing for General Attendance: $245
 

Keynote Address

Watch a recording of this year’s keynote address by Brian Keough, Archivist of New York State.

Mr. Keough is the 6th Archivist of New York State, appointed by the New York State Board of Regents in August 2024. His passion is for history, primary source research, and telling the story of all of the people who live in New York State. As the Assistant Commissioner leading the New York State Archives, Mr. Keough serves the people of New York State and continues the tradition of strong leadership within the local, state, and national archival and history community. See Mr. Keough’s full bio.

Brian Keough headshot

 


 

What is the New York State Family History Conference? 

Researchers, genealogists, and all those interested in family history gather for the New York State Family History Conference, the largest statewide family history event held in New York. Over the years we’ve travelled to places like Tarrytown, Albany, Buffalo, and Syracuse—all while hosting hundreds of other researchers online. Last year's conference featured in-person and virtual programming as well as on-demand viewing of all 35 sessions.

What do I learn at the conference? 

Experts on New York, genealogy, family history, and various subject material teach the sessions. Many of these sessions cover advanced topics like DNA research and searching migratory records, but others can help you build your genealogy skills and get you ready to tackle some difficult situations in your research.

Who organizes the New York State Family History Conference?

The conference is organized and run by the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B), a nonprofit organization based in New York City serving all parts of the State and region.

Our members are mostly from New York State but are also found around the country and world. This conference is the State’s largest event for family history and a place for all researchers to connect with others who share their interests, no matter how much experience you may have.

NYG&B members receive discounts to events like the New York State Family History Conference. Learn more about NYG&B membership.

What does my registration cost include?

You will receive access to 19 pre-recorded sessions and 11 sessions that were livestreamed and recorded, which are now all available for on-demand viewing. You also receive a downloadable PDF of a 134-page conference syllabus with detailed notes and information on all of the sessions (a hard-copy version is also available for registrants to order). This means that for less than $10 per session, you will hear from some of the most knowledgeable genealogists and historians in the industry.

I didn’t watch in real time the livestreamed sessions that aired September 20 and September 21. What about those sessions?

All the livestreamed programming has been recorded and is now available with all of the other on-demand sessions for viewing through November 1, 2024 (30 sessions in total to watch at your own pace, plus the unlocked Keynote Address and New York Stories).

How long will I have access to the on-demand programming?

All the sessions will be available for on-demand viewing through November 1, 2024.

What is New York Stories?

New York Stories are pre-recorded, livestreamed video clips from the genealogy and family history community sharing memorable and notable stories. Watch the 2024 New York Stories Day One and Day Two.