Tracing Hudson Valley Families – Registration
The history and heritage of New York’s Hudson Valley are as rich and varied as its landscape of rolling hills, majestic mountains, and the mighty river that runs through it. Over the centuries, people have been drawn to the region, either looking to put down roots or navigating it as a waypoint for further journeys.
This on-demand New York Family History School course will provide registrants with the resources and skills needed for tracing ancestors in the Hudson Valley, covering counties that include Albany, Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland, Ulster, and Westchester.
Course Fee
- NYG&B Members: $89
- General Registration: $99
Please Note: This Family History School course is available for on-demand viewing. Registrants have 60 days from date of purchase to complete this course in its entirety. For example, if you purchase this course on December 15, 2026, you have until February 15, 2027, to complete it.
Historical Overview: A Genealogical Timeline of the Hudson River Valley
In this session we will: understand the chronological development of the Hudson River Valley; explore key historical events that impact genealogical research in the Hudson River Valley; discover additional resources to learn about the history of the Hudson River Valley.
Led by D. Joshua Taylor
Compiled Records and Related Resources
In this session we will: gain an understanding of the uses and benefits of compiled records and resources; learn some of the best methods to find compiled records and resources; recognize the need to consider the accuracy and completeness of compiled records.
Led by Pam Ricciardi Paschke
Accessing Original Materials, Part I: Statewide Resources
In this session we will: discover statewide repositories; understand access points for materials at New York State Library; learn about collections in NYC for Hudson Valley research; explore additional material sources.
Led by Susan R. Miller
Accessing Original Material, Part II: Local Resources
In this session we will: understand how the information in local records can be used; learn where to access unique collections in the Hudson Valley; explore online Hudson Valley records.
Led by Joan de Vries Kelley
Case Study – Anthony Yelverton
In this session we will: reinforce skills learned in previous sessions; show examples of pertinent information in various primary documents; correlate findings to answer a question and suggest future research related to a local legend about Anthony Yelverton.
Led by Joan de Vries Kelley
About the Presenters
Joan de Vries Kelley has lived in the Hudson Valley for 50 years. Her curiosity about her Dutch ancestors blossomed into serious research when she earned her Boston University Certificate in Genealogical Research. She has published articles about African Americans in the Hudson Valley in the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. Joan also serves as the historian for the Town of Lloyd in Ulster County, New York.
Pam Ricciardi Paschke is a speaker, author, and DNA project administrator with more than 40 years of research experience. She concentrates on colonial and early U.S. conundrums, immigration, and DNA relationship analysis.
Susan R. Miller is the Director of Publications at the NYG&B. She is also the editor of the NYG&B's New York Researcher magazine and the managing editor of the award-winning publication New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer. Sue has been a member of the NYG&B for more than 30 years, researching her family history in New York and New England.
D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS, FUGA, is the President of the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society (NYG&B), an organization dedicated to preserving, documenting, and sharing family history and stories from across New York State. 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.
About the NYG&B's New York Family History School
The New York Family History School lets participants learn at their own pace through guided, on-demand sessions focusing on a specific family history topic. Registration includes access to multiple sessions for 60 days, syllabus materials, and a certificate of completion.