From its bucolic farms and orchards to its seat as a hotbed of Revolutionary War hostilities, the Hudson Valley is steeped in both beauty and history.
Join the NYG&B and guest experts for an online exploration of resources for tracing ancestors in the Hudson Valley from the 1700s to the 1800s. New York counties covered during these sessions include Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland, Ulster, and Westchester.
Online sessions include:
- Lectures on a range of topics
- Individual consultation sessions with guest expert genealogists
- Group Q&A periods
- Independent research time
Lecture topics (subject to change):
- An Orientation to New York State and Hudson Valley Research
- Using Kinship Books for Hudson Valley Research
- Dutchess County Research with William Tatum, Dutchess County Historian
- Ulster County Research with Deputy Ulster County Clerk Taylor Bruck
Program runs from 11:30 a.m. to approximately 4:30 p.m. ET each day.
Program Fee
- NYG&B Members Early Registration Rate: $399 (ends March 31, 2025; after that registration rate is $469)
- General Registration: $469
Consultant Bios
Marny L. Janson lives in the Hudson Valley, where she has 20 years of experience conducting genealogical research for clients. She teaches genealogy courses and delivers genealogy lectures, along with authoring articles in various genealogical journals. Marny is a member of the New Paltz Historical Society, Vice-President of the Ulster County Genealogical Society, and a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists.
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.
About Empire State Exploration
The Empire State Exploration program is an ideal interactive experience for tracing New York ancestors online under the guidance of genealogy experts. Participants join a small online group of fellow researchers for three daylong, at-home sessions of guided research and learning. Each online session is held live and features a special guest expert genealogist, lectures, individual consultation sessions, and group Q&A periods. Participants have access to materials for 30 days following the program.