From its original Indigenous inhabitants to successive waves of Dutch, English, and other European colonists to communities of free and enslaved people of color, Long Island has had a long, rich history as a place of settlement over the centuries.
Join the NYG&B and guest experts for an online exploration of resources and approaches for tracing ancestors on historic Long Island (with a particular focus on Suffolk, Nassau, and Queens counties) from the 1600s to the 1900s.
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 Long Island Research
- Queens County Research with the Archives at Queens Library
- Suffolk County Research
- Nassau County Research
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 January 9, 2025; after that registration rate is $469)
- General Registration: $469
Consultant Bios
Terry Koch-Bostic, FNGS, is a professional genealogist specializing in New York City, New York State, Long Island, early Dutch and English in New York and New Jersey, and Irish research. She is a frequent lecturer nationally on diverse topics such as city directories, religious records, surname variations, and Irish, Loyalists, and Civil War records. Terry is an author and editorial reviewer for NYG&B’s award-winning book, the New York Family History Guide and Gazetteer. She currently serves as the New York Chapter manager and representative for the Association of Professional Genealogists. Terry is a Fellow and long-time volunteer for the National Genealogical Society (NGS); she volunteers on its education, marketing/communications, conference, and NGS Magazine editorial committees. She led the strategy, content, and design for the NGS website. Terry previously served on the NGS Board of Directors for eight years, two of those as Vice President. She is a retired Global Brand Director for Société Bic S.A. and senior managing executive for several New York City advertising and marketing firms.
Kerri Tannenbaum is a professional genealogist and researcher who works with people looking to learn more about their family history. She specializes in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Irish research. Kerri is a graduate of Boston University’s Certificate Program in Genealogical Research and the ProGen Peer Study Groups. She serves as contributing editor of the Irish Family History Forum newsletter, a recipient of many awards from the National Genealogical Society. She also serves as a guest lecturer and research consultant for several genealogy societies. Kerri founded her company Family Dot Connector LLC in 2018 and has served hundreds of clients since then. She lives on Long Island with her husband and two daughters.
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.