Scholar in Residence Program
Many libraries, historical societies, and other archival institutions hold extensive research materials that have never been formally studied or evaluated for their use in genealogy or family history. Through its Scholar in Residence program, the NYG&B engages an expert genealogist for a short-term appointment to survey an institution’s holdings for relevant historical documents and research related to a particular family history topic.
The NYG&B began its Scholar in Residence program in 2023, with an initial project to research the documentation of Jewish families in the NYG&B’s holdings, which encompass collections of original and compiled materials, beginning in 1869, as well as transcriptions, abstracts, and compiled genealogies found in the NYG&B Record, the NYG&B's scholarly journal continuously in print since 1870. Many of the NYG&B's physical collections reside at the New York Public Library (NYPL), where more than 28,500 cataloged items are accessible to researchers. Additionally, the NYG&B’s online collections contain tens of thousands of records.
Future projects could explore materials at other institutions or within the NYG&B’s holdings on a diverse range of subjects for tracing ancestors throughout New York State. The NYG&B welcomes funding proposals for additional projects at development@nygbs.org.
Projects
Documenting Jewish Families from the Colonial Times to the Present in New York State
In January 2026, Michael Waas, MA, was reappointed as the NYG&B’s Scholar in Residence to resume research on documenting Jewish families in the NYG&B’s materials.
Mr. Waas was previously appointed as the NYG&B's first scholar in residence in 2023 to examine the NYG&B materials (both at the New York Public Library and online) and evaluate them for Jewish scholarship. Nearly 45% of the resources Mr. Waas reviewed were identified as pertinent to Jewish genealogy. Based on this initial research, in 2024 he produced a first-of-its-kind survey of NYG&B resources available for tracing Jewish heritage. This first phase of the project was supported by Ambassador John L. Loeb, Jr., through a grant.
Under the next phase of this project in 2026, Mr. Waas will continue surveying materials in NYG&B’s archives held at the New York Public Library at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. The focus in this phase is examining the manuscripts and other loose materials for relevance to Jewish genealogy and research. The NYG&B’s manuscript and loose materials archive contains several thousand pieces and collections that have made their way to NYG&B over the course of its 157-year history.
The 2026 Scholar in Residence project is made possible through a generous grant from Adrienne P. Auerbach, Vice Chairman, NYG&B.
Related Links
- A Q&A with Michael Waas: Mr. Waas shares highlights of the project and what researchers can expect.
- The NYG&B's New Scholar in Residence: An article on Mr. Waas’ appointment as the NYG&B’s first scholar in residence
Tracing Immigrants to New York
In January 2025 Karen Kowallis was appointed as the NYG&B’s 2025 scholar in residence to focus on NYG&B resources for tracing immigrants. Under this project, Ms. Kowallis surveyed and identified specific groups covered within the NYG&B’s collections relating to immigrants to New York between 1840 and 1924. This project is made possible through a generous grant from Adrienne P. Auerbach, Vice Chairman, NYG&B. Ms. Kowallis examined materials at the NYG&B headquarters, the New York Public Library, and online.
Explore a report of her findings and a list of some resources here.
Related Links
- The NYG&B’s 2025 Scholar in Residence: Read more about Ms. Kowallis’ appointment.
Forced Settlement: Documenting Descendants of Enslaved Americans and Their Scottish Connections
Millions descend from the more than 150,000 Scots who settled in North America by 1785. Many of those settlers took part in the transatlantic slave trade. With a generous grant from the Scottish Government’s Scottish Connections Fund, in 2024 the NYG&B engaged the services of expert researchers Pauline Jarvis and Dr. Shelley Viola Murphy to compile a guide and accompanying resources that will assist researchers in tracing biographical and genealogical connections to those enslaved individuals. The information gathered provides an introductory framework for those seeking to identify connections to this important—but unexamined—element of the Scottish diaspora.
