Trace Your New York Ancestors with the NYG&B in New York City!
Join us April 29–May 1, 2025, for three days of uncovering your New York ancestors. With the NYG&B headquarters as home base, you will be steps away from our statewide collections at the New York Public Library (NYPL). To guide your search, participants will receive a personal, one-on-one consultation with a New York expert genealogist at our offices, helping to uncover the right collections and hone research techniques. The program will also include topical lectures throughout the three days, as well as social events—see full agenda below. Confirmed on-site consultants for this tour are Aaron Goodwin and Susan R. Miller.
In addition to our own archives at the NYPL, you will also benefit from being in close proximity to some of the nation’s best repositories for New York research, including the New York Historical Society, the Center for Jewish History, and county and borough repositories, all of which are easily accessible.* Plus, you can access millions of additional records on FamilySearch.org with the NYG&B’s Affiliate Library status.
*Please note that this trip only includes individual tours of some research repositories; an orientation to the resources available at the major repositories will be given before the tour commences.
Act now! Given the nature of this program, the number of participants is extremely limited.
Program Schedule (Subject to change)
March/April 2025
- Overview and Q&A Session, held online via Zoom and recorded for those unable to participate (date and time TBD). Advanced one-on-one consultation with the NYG&B (scheduled at a mutually agreeable time).
Monday, April 28
- Arrive in New York City
Tuesday, April 29
- 9:15–11:00 a.m. | Continental breakfast, welcome, and introductions at the NYG&B offices, followed by an Orientation to New York City research repositories, including those with statewide collections (NYG&B team)
- 11:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m. | Individual research and one-on-one consultations (schedule to be provided); Lunch on your own
- 2 p.m. | Orientation to the New York Public Library (NYPL team)
- 3–5:30 p.m. | Individual research and one-on-one consultations (schedule to be provided)
- 5:30–6:30 p.m. | Light dinner at the NYG&B offices
Wednesday, April 30
- 9 a.m. | Continental breakfast at the NYG&B offices
- 9:15 a.m. | Session: Searching the NYG&B’s Collections at NYPL (NYG&B team)
- 10:30 a.m.–4 p.m. | Individual research at NYPL or New York City Municipal Archives (if desired) and one-on-one consultations (schedule to be provided); Lunch on your own
- 4:30–5 p.m. | Light refreshments at the NYG&B offices
Thursday, May 1
- 9 a.m. | Continental breakfast at the NYG&B offices
- 9:15 a.m. | Discussion: Researching in Brooklyn and Queens (Led by the NYG&B team)
- 10:15 | Depart for the Center for Brooklyn History
- 11:00 a.m. | Orientation to the Center for Brooklyn History (CBH staff)
- 10:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. | Individual research at the Center for Brooklyn History, NYPL, or a repository of your choosing; Lunch on your own. The Center for Brooklyn History is open until 3:45 p.m. You may also return to NYPL or the NYG&B offices if needed.
- 4:30 p.m. | Wrap-up and light refreshments
Please feel free to arrange your own accommodation during your New York City stay or email education@nygbs.org for local options.
Registration
Registration includes the program at the NYG&B and research facilities visited and consultations (transportation and accommodations are not included).
- NYG&B Member Early Registration: $875 (ends January 27, 2025; after that registration rate is $995)
- General Registration: $995
NOTE: This same research tour will be offered November 12–14, 2025, for those who cannot not attend this spring tour.
Consultant Bios
Aaron Goodwin is the author of the award-winning New York City Municipal Archives: An Authorized Guide for Family Historians. He specializes in New York City research across all time periods, from the Dutch colonial era to the 21st century.
An NYG&B member since 1993, Susan R. Miller oversees the NYG&B’s print and digital publications. She is the editor of the New York Researcher magazine and a managing editor of the New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer and the NYG&B county guide series. Susan also presents genealogical lectures on a national, regional, and local basis. Prior to her genealogical career, Susan worked in the sailing industry and for Emigrant Savings Bank in New York City for 23 years. A graduate of Brown University, she is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and several other genealogical and historical societies.